What NOT to Wear in Paris | How To Avoid Looking Like a Tourist in Paris & Europe

You mean I've been doing it wrong with my stripey top and the string of garlic bulbs around my neck? Why is this so complicated? /nibbles on baguette

I recently went to Paris for the first time and took as many suggestions from many videos including this one. Nobody follows these tips, nobody cares, there are so many people that what you decide will no matter. Dress however makes you happy!

French elegance is basically modern, simple, beautifully cut and understated. Contrary to popular (non-French) belief, not all of it is necessarily expensive either.

I visited Paris last year with my family. I did all I could to not look like a tourist. And then. For the whole trip, my dad was wearing shorts, running shoes, high socks, a hiking backpack and a HAT. He's from the Czech republic but still😂

a group of people ALL wearing berets. That would be hilarious.

French street wear simplified: business casual.

As an American, I think you're always going to stick out. But there are things one can do to respect the city/ country/ culture. Keep in mind that I'm middle-aged (though I look younger) and my style goes between classic and bohemian depending on the circumstance so someone with entirely different tastes might think differently. 1. More than anything you wear, try to speak the language even just a little. They'll automatically know you're not local but almost everyone I encountered treated me better for trying. In some cases, the person ahead or behind me who didn't try got worse service. After hearing me speak, they'd switch to English! I found Parisians to be friendly and people would offer me help spontaneously if I looked confused or opened my map. One shopkeeper gave me a souvenir for talking to him about a city he wanted to visit in the US where I had lived and a baker chased me down to street to return my change when I messed up giving her more. 2. Wear what you wear with pride/ confidence but not arrogance. The city was great for people watching and people wearing the most interesting clothes would walk by with grace. Perhaps a person wearing the same clothes with head down, shoulders slumped, etc. would look awkward but the confidence with which clothes were worn really stood out. 3. Bring neutral colored clothes in classic cuts. (For examples of classic, look at styles like Audrey Hepburn, Francois Hardy, Grace Kelly, Ralph Lauren, etc.) Neutral= black, white, navy, brown, grey, olive. Stick to 1-2 neutrals and accessorize with a colorful costume jewelry, belts, hats, or -- a Euro favorite - scarves. Think about texture and fabric as well: linen for summer, wool for winter, etc. Bringing simple clothes and using accessories also helps cut down on what you need to pack as you can mix and match things easier. (Another way to lessen clothes needed: find and use a laundry nearby and/or bring items you can launder by hand easily and dry in your bathroom.) 4. Bring comfortable shoes. I find if I cannot walk comfortably, I'm going to feel awkward and that doesn't help the way I carry myself. Neutral colored simple, comfortable sneakers like Keds or -- for the opposite effect - Converse are fine. Sandals in leather and classic styles - e.g. gladiator - are good. Do enjoy yourself and don't let others' impressions affect you too much. If anything, steal the confidence Parisians have about having their own personal style no matter their budget.

I’m French, and I live in Paris. Everyone wears Huggs, heels, leggings and « shows off their clevage » Some of these advices are true, but some are very cliché.

I'd lived in Paris for years until graduation and to be honest I've never considered tourists as unelegant people. On the contrary, whenever I saw beautiful and well-dressed guys in the street, I realized they were tourists. Maybe the video's message is "Try to be as simple as you can" :)

One other thing that makes you stand out as a tourist is being loud. Parisians aren’t loud people and talk very low to each other even in restaurants.

I'm French, and some of the things that you said were right : like the Disney t-shirt, the beret and the red lipstick together... But some were pretty wrong, like the too tight clothes, sweatpants... A lot of young french people nowadays are very fond of really tight jeans and tights tops and dresses... What you described can work but just for some people... You do you! Wear what you want to, and that's it. And if you want to look like a tourist, then great! People will be nice... And yes, probably some will treat you differently... But it's like that in every country, so... Still a very interesting video tho, I don't hate you, at all!! I just wanted to tell you my opinion...

Mhhh I get your vision but if woman in paris avoid the "too sexy" look it is because we get catcalled all the time. I don't live in Paris anymore but everytime I visit I get a new story... All in All I would say wear whatever you want, be your own brilliant self and don't care too much about anything but how you feel in your clothes

I’m French, these rules are made by foreigners for tourists

You're both really sweet but I think your video would be way more interesting if you broke it up with example images of what you are discussing 😘

Trying not to look like a tourist is unrealistic for most of us e.g. our skin color. It’s okay to look like a Tourist – it’s how we act that’s more important than what we wear. Sadly, it seems to be a reaction to poor Tourist behaviour, or simple ignorance. I felt so strongly about this I’ve made a video to help new Tourists become travelling ambassadors for their own country so we can all be proud of where we come from and not have to worry about blending in. Ciao.

Just a little point for men you forgot to mention: Bermuda shorts and board shorts (any above-the-knee colourful shorts) are usually a dead giveaway that you're a tourist. French men do not wear shorts at all typically. Sometimes, cargo shorts (below the knee, un-colourful shorts) are worn by French men but they are seen as unfashionable themselves. Also some very avant-garde dressers might go for a bold short-short but thats not at all common either.

Short version: dress classy, not Kardashian or Spring Break.

I'm very surprised by the rules you talk about in your video. What you are describing is not what French people wear but what 35+year old Parisian women wear. There are so many much more interesting fashion styles in Paris and in the rest of France. Also saying sportswear can't be worn outside of the gym is absolutely false! Athleisure wear is worn by so many people in Paris (1er arrondissement included.)   I also disagree with what you said about acrylic nails, a lot of women get them because they're easier to maintain. (What IS true though is the fact that Uggs are awful and should not be worn by anyone ever)

Actually, trainers (sneakers) are very in vogue in Paris at the moment, everyone is wearing them. Converse trainers are extremely popular, especially the Black high lace ones. Also colours are now beginning to trend too.

Un homme qui porte des sandales c'est un Allemand.🤣