What To Wear In France
To sum it up - understated chic
- Paris is well known as the home of Haute Couture and Parisian women dress with great style and throughout France women dress with understated style.
- If you want to blend in and feel at your most comfortable pack smart casual dress.
- There is no doubt that the best way to see the Paris is on foot and be sure to include a stroll down the famous Champs - Elysee dotted with cinemas, cafes and fashionable boutiques. So our advice is to take comfy footwear for daytime. daytime.
- Black is always a colour that works well here.
- A few well chosen pieces of costume jewellery and a scarf (very popular with French women) will transform any outfit.
- The weather is very changeable, temperatures can vary rapidly and dressing in layers is the best way to cope with this.
- A light raincoat and umbrella are useful all year.
- Winter ( November – March) can be very cold so wrap up warmer, with layers, and take a warm smart coat, gloves, hat and scarf.
- When visiting restaurants, leave trainers behind; this is a time to get those stylish shoes on.
- Restaurant dress is smart casual and for men there is no need for ties.
- If you are visiting the big cities, leave your swimsuit at home as it's very unlikely that you will find facilities to use it.
- Outside of Paris, whether you are in the countryside or at the beach, dress is more relaxed, conservative and practical but still stylish and smart and you're best advised to leave your high heels at home in favour of stylish flats.
- If your trip is in winter for the skiing then you may also like to check out our skiing packing guide.
- Or if you plan on visiting the South of France in the summer you may wish to also check out our beach holiday packing guide.
Great Clothes to Pack for France
Click on the pictures below for more info or to buy.
City Break
Anything we missed?
Send us your tips about what to pack for France - we'd love to learn from your experiences!
Didn't find what you need?
Use our personalised 'advice by email' service - for £55, request more information by sending us an email with details about your trip (where you're going, when and what you expect to be doing there).
Request info about what to wear in France >
