tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738017584518403684.post5355980493274302614..comments2023-11-03T08:55:26.653+01:00Comments on Living Cheap in France: Wearing Shorts in Parisjp4tne77http://www.blogger.com/profile/00577572336584422056noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738017584518403684.post-27995280905343349312011-12-24T02:35:27.797+01:002011-12-24T02:35:27.797+01:00I would assume that it's a catholic thing that...I would assume that it's a catholic thing thats become so imbedded within french culture that they've forgotten that it's all right to show a bit of flesh out side of a church.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738017584518403684.post-55315286073097682232011-10-06T02:05:15.204+02:002011-10-06T02:05:15.204+02:00Also JP, I agree, sure you wear nice clothes when ...Also JP, I agree, sure you wear nice clothes when you KNOW your going to a show, to dinner, etc... but the people here freak over you wearing them period and that's just silly. Also,let me be clear, I am not talking about the entire population of Paris, as I met a few nice folks here. I am talking about those who are so stuck on "fashion", designer labels, status, etc...which is a majority of the population.<br /><br />I also agree with you that they are hypocritical. They don't wear shorts, yet thy wear stuff that makes you truely say..WTF!!! Bottom line, I think the French would be much happier people if they got off the "we are prim and proper people - almost trying to act like royalty" and just had some fun and relaxed. :)Robnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738017584518403684.post-21934857934699560382011-10-06T01:58:34.915+02:002011-10-06T01:58:34.915+02:00I have been here for 4 days and I will say this, t...I have been here for 4 days and I will say this, this city and country are not worth ever coming back too. There is nothing here outside the historical attractions in my opinion. Sure if all your worried about in life is your looks, the label on your clothes, what people think of you on the outside, and can you act "cool", then damn move here, because this is the place for you. I will never come back to Paris! <br /><br />I wore shorts the first day here and one guy said to me, you can be arrested for that. I knodded and said well if the lovely French Police have nothing better to do with their time then be worried about how comfortable I am in this heat, then so be it, but unlike you, I enjoy my life to be comfortable and NOT be revolved around what others think of me. He said nothing and walked away. Anyway, my point is, if you want to get fully dressed to impress for EVERYTHING you do, then so be it, I will dress for comfort. If you want to bitch because I am comfortable and still as educated and good looking as you in your designer clothes sweating as you stand on the metro line...then please...bitch away..I will smile and carry on...wee wee!!!!Robhttp://www.facebook.com/zechariah105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738017584518403684.post-85385536724282223682011-08-18T11:00:16.167+02:002011-08-18T11:00:16.167+02:00Hello Anonymous,
I totally agree that the quickes...Hello Anonymous,<br /><br />I totally agree that the quickest way to gain respect when living abroad is to try one's best to assimilate into the culture. And believe me, if I'm in a situation where I think that wearing shorts might be considered an issue, then I'll play it safe and wear slacks. I also agree that there is a bit of a double standard in terms of being expected to assimilate: I think this is why oftentimes people that immigrate to the U.S. refuse to speak their native tongue with their children. I cannot think of country other than the United States where this is a common practice.<br /><br />The point of this article wasn't to point out my inability to adapt, rather it was to point out a cultural difference between what I knew growing up in the United States as opposed to what is a cultural norm in Paris. Shorts are worn by younger people here, though certainly less frequently than in the United States. Once outside of Paris, they are pretty commonplace. <br /><br />In essence, I wanted to show that something that would receive little thought in the United States could actually be a big deal here in France. Believe me, if more Americans knew about this coming over to France, fewer would be walking around in shorts.<br /><br />Thanks for writing,<br /><br />John-Pauljp4tne77https://www.blogger.com/profile/00577572336584422056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738017584518403684.post-3885613535107853052011-08-17T20:53:42.811+02:002011-08-17T20:53:42.811+02:00I think it is good to try and assimilate where you...I think it is good to try and assimilate where you live. I am American and hate when other expats have this attitude. In America if immigrants or Mexicans don't try to do something we say they don't try to "assimilate." funny, when americans/europeans are abroad they say they don't want to "conform." such different standards for first world and third world people. you are in Paris, get over it and dress like people in the city do or else be prepared to get stared at and don't whine about it later.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738017584518403684.post-16330975257069715692011-07-14T02:21:49.254+02:002011-07-14T02:21:49.254+02:00Excellent post. Makes me think fondly of the first...Excellent post. Makes me think fondly of the first time I walked to the corner store in my yoga pants in Paris. You would have thought I wasn't wearing any pants by the looks I got. Only made that mistake once.Eliza Webbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738017584518403684.post-75090717681939307202011-06-17T03:41:11.479+02:002011-06-17T03:41:11.479+02:00it's easy ... most adults look FAR better in l...it's easy ... most adults look FAR better in long pants than shorts. if it is hot then wear all cotton trousers. <br /><br />French ... slim and chic in long pants and tee shirt.<br />U.S. ... 99% fat and dumpy in shorts, tank top and sandals or white running shoes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738017584518403684.post-10801860820195827822011-04-23T19:54:55.554+02:002011-04-23T19:54:55.554+02:00It's kind of funny isn't it? This is somet...It's kind of funny isn't it? This is something that has come up a lot in the last few days with it being very warm here, and I've asked a few people about it. a friend told me that I should get some capri pants (a lot of French guys wear these), but as those are only slightly longer than the shorts I wear, I don't really see why showing my knees is a big deal.<br /><br />I still haven't gotten 100% to the bottom of this, but if you hear any other insight in regards to the issue, definitely let me know.<br /><br />Thanks for the comment!<br /><br />JPjp4tne77https://www.blogger.com/profile/00577572336584422056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738017584518403684.post-89810707851834118072011-04-23T09:15:59.252+02:002011-04-23T09:15:59.252+02:00I am in Paris for a few days at the moment, and th...I am in Paris for a few days at the moment, and thought I would look up this fact about shorts in Paris after wearing them two days in a row, and feeling decidedly out of place, and uncomfortable! Everyone here seems to have their legs covered, even though it has been hot, and I have had more people than usual 'look me up and down' while walking on the street. Even after reading your blog, it still seems a little ridiculous that people here will go to such lengths in order to be respectable and fit in.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738017584518403684.post-5177902628959909342011-04-12T15:09:24.902+02:002011-04-12T15:09:24.902+02:00Glad you liked it!
I'll have to agree with yo...Glad you liked it!<br /><br />I'll have to agree with you. It takes just a little more effort to get dressed up, and I think people appreciate the effort here. It blows my mind when I go around here when it is in the 90's in summer time, and lots of people, even though they aren't going to work and really have nothing better to do besides hang out in a park, will still wear a suit. I guess the body could probably get used to it, but it still seems a little excessive to be dapper yet uncomfortable.<br /><br />I remember on the first trip for Julie to the US, we were staying in a hotel and she happened to comment how in the U.S., it seems very important for us to be comfortable wherever we go. While hostels are a rarity in the U.S., staying in one room with a lightbulb swinging from the ceiling surrounded by 10 loud 20 year olds is considered "part of the experience" of traveling in Europe. I guess we just have a difference in priorities in France and the U.S.<br /><br />Thanks again for the comment!jp4tne77https://www.blogger.com/profile/00577572336584422056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738017584518403684.post-52198893548995191802011-04-12T14:43:05.479+02:002011-04-12T14:43:05.479+02:00liked this post JP! i think it does have to do wit...liked this post JP! i think it does have to do with the "sloppy" aspect. I don't think it's as much a decency issue as the fact that Parisians just think it looks stupid and lazy. It reminds me a little of how you'll go downtown here in the dead of summer and see guys in business suits when it's over 100. why do it? couldn't everyone just agree it's too hot for suits? you'd think so but tradition has a way of holding on. nevertheless, wear you shorts proudly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com