Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 195 On today’s episode, I chat with David Palachek about how to dress for Paris. We’ll be sharing actionable advice you can use to pack your suitcase for Paris and look great in the city of light. Some of the tricks French women use to look good are surprisingly simple. Annie asked a lot of stylish French women how they do it, and it turns out that they all follow the same basic rules! If you’re interested in dressing sharp in Paris, also listen to Paris Packing List, Episode 137. • [03:05] We’re not fashion professional, but rather regular people who care about packing the right clothes for Paris. • [04:03] You don’t have to change how you dress unless you enjoy the process of figuring out how to look best and what to pack to look stylish in Paris. • [05:33] The advice Annie will be sharing comes from stylish women in her life, not from professionals. These are opinions, not commandments! • [06:14] Take basic clothes that can travel well and can be mixed and matched, and buy accessories when you get to Paris. • [07:31] Don’t bring clothes that need to be ironed. If something needs a little help, the steam produced in the shower can help de-wrinkle to some extent. Or you could get a product such as this one that gets great review from travelers. Or get shirts like this one made for travel. • [09:35] The secret sauce that most French fashion-conscious people follow and that you can apply to yourself as well. • [10:03] Break the codes on purpose and thoughtfully. • [11:21] Mix and match formal and casual. • [13:27] Beware of blacks, various colors hide inside of blacks. • [14:13] Mix old and new. • [16:02] Own your clothes, don’t let your clothes own you. • [16:14] Pushing the boundaries with the color wheel. • [16:48] Clothes choices for people who are not afraid of color. • [17:48] Great-looking clothes choices for more conservative dressers. • [18:44] Tie dye is not a thing in France for the most part. I saw a tiny bit of it last summer, but it didn’t catch on. • [19:44] You don’t have to wear heels to go visit the Eiffel Tower or do any of the other things tourists enjoy. • [20:02] There are a lot of cobbled streets in Paris, which is one reason why heels are not be ideal. • [20:52] It’s good if you can pick tennis shoes with some texture or a hint of color. • [21:08] Classy Sunday dress goes with tennis shoes and either a perfecto leather jacket or a jean jacket. • [22:13] Casual cotton dress goes with dressy shoes or dressy accessories. • [22:42] Jeans with holes go with dressy heels, women over age 50 really shouldn’t wear holey jeans. • [23:48] Slacks with a dress shirt and tennis shoes. Dressy shorts with tennis shoes. Jean shorts with dressier shoes. Shorts and heels is trashy. • [24:13] You can either show off your legs or your boobs, but not both. • [25:08] No shirts with the arms cut off on men. • [26:10] T-shirts are OK if they are plain. No Mickey Mouse t-shirts, no bright colors, no t-shirts with jokes. Men can dress up a t-shirt with a jacket or sport coat. • [26:54] Leggings and yoga pants are not really worn besides when doing sports, but if you love them, pair them up with something dressy on top. • [27:17] Fashions change so fast for tights that you’re better off buying your tights when you get to France after you’ve seen what other people wear. • [27:47] Get a nice haircut before you come, so you feel happy with your hair. • [28:16] French women wear big necklaces. • [28:56] French women often own (and bring out!) different color purses. • [29:12] Caps for me are OK, but it depends on the cap. No sports team mascots on your hats! • [30:07] Choose caps that look different from your regular baseball cap. • [30:59] T-shirts are OK, but don’t just throw on a t-shirt just to get dressed. Jokes t-shirts are not big in France. Wear t-shirts that are more “passe-partout” (something that goes everywhere, a master key). • [32:25] Leggings and yoga pants are not pants, which d