What to wear Paris end of Sept

Unless you are talking about hiking boots, you came to the wrong forum. People will be wearing the same things they would where you live (well maybe not Hemet) but California or New York, depending on the weather. Even though they will be wearing the same things, they will look better wearing them.

@ Richard: Hah! Very droll. Although, alas, very true, IMHO. Gina - the summer-to-fall transition will be happening, depending on the weather. If it's hot, women will still be wearing what they wore this summer, and will be wearing autumn clothing if there is a chill in the air. It finally occurred to me after years of visits to Paris where I felt like an absolute TROLL that the women there are AT HOME. As in, they don't have to dress every day like they are going to be out and about for 16 hours, rushing from pillar to post, and dressed for every conceivable venue/kind of weather. When I'm in Paris, I get up at the crack of dawn and dress with the expectation that I will be out all day. Sometimes I will be in a nice cafe - sometimes I will be tramping around on cobbles - sometimes I will be inside a museum in cooler air - sometimes I'll be stumping along a street market in heat.... so I have to wear sensible shoes, think about a brelly, maybe wear layers... it isn't conducive to high fashion, or even to looking particularly good! The Parisian women are dressing for a regular day. So they can wear a little coktail dress after dark - you might not want to waste time going back to the hotel to change. And they can rock killer pumps at lunchtime - because they are at work during the day, not schlepping around Pere Lachaise. In short, a female tourist from ANY nation cannot win in the "chic and fabulous" sweepstakes. That being said, I wear simple classic basics in Paris, in dark neutrals, and kick outfits up a notch with a scarf, some funky jewelry, a great belt... and I don't realy feel out of place, like I would in a Tilley hat and puffy white American sneakers. Whew! Rant warning!

Gina - Defintely fall clothing in late Sept.

We're not all the hiking boots and pants crowd here... just don't want to be told over and over that no one cares what you wear.... because I care what I wear and although the Parisians may not CARE what you wear they definitely notice. So, I, for one do try to do like Kira, wear clothes that will do for the day, know that I will not look like the stylish french women, but still not feel frumpy. Shallow as it may be, I do feel different when I look my best as well as feel comfortable. So, summer or fall clothes... try to take things that will transition with a layer or two.

Thank you for the Fashion help. Hiking boots ? I did say Paris not Costa Rica . You ladies are so right about the 16 hr fashion having to be different. I wear heels every day at work,
but there is no way I could keep up with my Husband walking the streets of Paris .So flats and leggings with boots or summer shoes . Your post have helped

I tease but this one made me remember that my wife lugged some really expensive high heeled boots all over France and Italy. They never left her bag but, she got a lot of use out of her Toms. I'm all for over dressing while you travel, it has it's advantages. I took a black un-constructed sport coat that I can wear with anything and looks decent wrinkled. I had many people come up to me as if I were a local and I think it's because most tourists dress down. That is certainly the norm among the members here.

The weather is getting chilly and rainy here, so pack things like weatherproof shoes, plenty of scarfs, leggings/tights, a coat that will serve purpose in day and evening wear.

And, you can never go wrong with a scarf. They wear them year-round and scarves really can help when the weather changes. This summer we saw lots of slim jeans, flats,boots and stripes. The weather was in the 60s when we left on Sept 8th and they were pulling out the fall stuff.