freebird
Drama Llama
'cause I'm free as a bird now
Posts: 6,927 
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Post by freebird on Aug 6, 2018 19:34:50 GMT
When I travel, I often wear active wear (leggings) and t-shirts for comfort, breathability, and because they are light. We're going to Paris/London soon and I'm thinking of taking some with me to wear. I'm wondering if I'll stick out like a sore thumb though. from what I'm reading elsewhere, wear what I want, that there's tons of tennis shoes, jeans, etc so it's NBD. I'd like to go with just a couple carry on bags and then maybe an extra bag to check on the way home (maybe buy something there). Well, I do have to take a gown and a suit too - maybe not a suit.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:12:02 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2018 19:52:55 GMT
You'll be fine. I have no idea where this thought that Londoners/Brits don't wear jeans/leggings/tee's and whatever else one mentions came from, I really don't. You'll be fine in Paris too. I've walked round Paris in jeans, shorts and leggings and no one has said or looked at me.
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Post by malibou on Aug 6, 2018 19:58:26 GMT
If the outfit looks like something you would wear to the gym or yoga class, I would say no you will stand out. I think leggings worn with a cute top and a pair of flats, or boots, or cute slip on sneakers (not running shoe type), depending on weather.
If it is still a touristy time, you may see enough leisure wear to feel like you are blending in, but you would be blending in with Americans.
You will see a lot of Europeans wearing cute lace up sneakers that don't look like something you would wear to the gym or for running. But more like the walkable Sketcher type, or Converse.
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Post by sawwhet on Aug 6, 2018 20:03:57 GMT
That's what we generally wear in London/Paris. You'll be fine  |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:12:02 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2018 20:05:03 GMT
If it is still a touristy time, you may see enough leisure wear to feel like you are blending in, but you would be blending in with Americans. It's tourist season in London and Paris all year round. |
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Post by malibou on Aug 6, 2018 20:46:51 GMT
If it is still a touristy time, you may see enough leisure wear to feel like you are blending in, but you would be blending in with Americans. It's tourist season in London and Paris all year round. True, but certainly butt loads more people in summer. Hence upping the blending. |
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Belle
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,309
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Post by Belle on Aug 6, 2018 21:07:10 GMT
I’m leaving for Paris in a couple of weeks. I am definitely planning on wearing my Lucy activewear pants and Nike dry fit shirts. Museums can be very warm so I will be avoiding jeans on days we visit museums. I am planning on bringing a pair of jeans for the night we go to the Eiffel Tower as I hear it can be cool at the top. We can walk up to 12 miles per day on our trips so activewear and athletic shoes make sense for us.
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Post by workingclassdog on Aug 6, 2018 21:15:11 GMT
Nope you can basically wear what you want.. I mean I wouldn't wear an American flag shirt, but you know what I mean... people wore everything from leggings to heels. It's like going anywhere in the US.
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Belle
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,309
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Post by Belle on Aug 6, 2018 21:16:21 GMT
You may already know this but if you are planning to take a larger (bigger than carry-on) suitcase on the metro in Paris or the Tube in London there is the possibility of having to navigate lots of stairs. Not all stations have elevators. We used a car service in London from the airport to our hotel to avoid a suitcase/stairs situation. We will get a taxi from the airport in Paris to our hotel this time, for the same reason.
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Post by workingclassdog on Aug 6, 2018 21:18:40 GMT
I’m leaving for Paris in a couple of weeks. I am definitely planning on wearing my Lucy activewear pants and Nike dry fit shirts. Museums can be very warm so I will be avoiding jeans on days we visit museums. I am planning on bringing a pair of jeans for the night we go to the Eiffel Tower as I hear it can be cool at the top. We can walk up to 12 miles per day on our trips so activewear and athletic shoes make sense for us. I was SHOCKED at the museums... I figured they would be nice and cool.. heck no.. they were warm!! We went up in the Eiffel Tower at 10:30pm and it was hot... and that was in May. Of course weather can change but I was all ready to bundle up... and nope.. not even breezy. |
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Post by workingclassdog on Aug 6, 2018 21:21:10 GMT
You may already know this but if you are planning to take a larger (bigger than carry-on) suitcase on the metro in Paris or the Tube in London there is the possibility of having to navigate lots of stairs. Not all stations have elevators. We used a car service in London from the airport to our hotel to avoid a suitcase/stairs situation. We will get a taxi from the airport in Paris to our hotel this time, for the same reason. LOL.. that was another shock to us.. all the stairs in Paris.. thankfully we only had one smallish bag per person since we were there only a few days.. but that was certainly enough.. by the 3rd day I was ready to chuck my suitcase... we lugged those bags from the train station to the subway station (up and down and up and down) and then four or five blocks to our BNB... uggggg... |
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Belle
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,309
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Post by Belle on Aug 6, 2018 21:24:28 GMT
I’m leaving for Paris in a couple of weeks. I am definitely planning on wearing my Lucy activewear pants and Nike dry fit shirts. Museums can be very warm so I will be avoiding jeans on days we visit museums. I am planning on bringing a pair of jeans for the night we go to the Eiffel Tower as I hear it can be cool at the top. We can walk up to 12 miles per day on our trips so activewear and athletic shoes make sense for us. I was SHOCKED at the museums... I figured they would be nice and cool.. heck no.. they were warm!! We went up in the Eiffel Tower at 10:30pm and it was hot... and that was in May. Of course weather can change but I was all ready to bundle up... and nope.. not even breezy. As for the hot museum, it was the British Museum in March a couple of years ago that had me dying of heat! I was miserable. We were lucky enough to be visiting London while they had a bit of a heat wave and the museum’s temp controls were not keeping up. Good to know about the Eiffel Tower as I have been worrying that we will feel like popsicles at the top! |
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Post by SockMonkey on Aug 6, 2018 21:26:05 GMT
Be comfortable. Wear what you want within reason. You are a tourist, and so are millions of others. Roll with it and enjoy!  |
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Post by mcscrapper on Aug 6, 2018 22:29:10 GMT
I think you'll be fine too but I would pack some real pants or a casual dress, too. There are some places that don't allow jeans to be worn so I'm guessing leggings might be out too but what do I know.
I don't think jeans were allowed in one of the abbeys and there were definitely not allowed at Herrod's.
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Post by workingclassdog on Aug 6, 2018 22:32:34 GMT
I think you'll be fine too but I would pack some real pants or a casual dress, too. There are some places that don't allow jeans to be worn so I'm guessing leggings might be out too but what do I know. I don't think jeans were allowed in one of the abbeys and there were definitely not allowed at Herrod's. Herrod's? Isn't that a shopping mall? You are not allowed to wear jeans? Ummm, learn something new everyday. I had to Google this.. found this funny blog: www.vice.com/en_uk/article/43dw83/i-tested-the-harrods-dress-code-by-dressing-like-a-complete-idiotI think you really have to look pretty bad before they turn you away.. |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:12:02 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2018 23:21:43 GMT
I think you'll be fine too but I would pack some real pants or a casual dress, too. There are some places that don't allow jeans to be worn so I'm guessing leggings might be out too but what do I know. I don't think jeans were allowed in one of the abbeys and there were definitely not allowed at Herrod's. I've worn jeans in Harrods every time I've gone in and never had a problem. |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:12:02 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2018 0:14:22 GMT
I think you'll be fine too but I would pack some real pants or a casual dress, too. There are some places that don't allow jeans to be worn so I'm guessing leggings might be out too but what do I know. I don't think jeans were allowed in one of the abbeys and there were definitely not allowed at Herrod's. Harrods don't have an official dress code but they do ask that courtesy be shown towards other shoppers in so far that you might be refused entry in ripped jeans, high cut or beach shorts, swim wear, athletic singlets, cycling shorts and not being topless, including men. I don't know of any of the churches/abbeys that don't have the same policies in place. It's disrespectful to visit any church in that kind of clothing. Just common sense dressing really. |
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Post by malibou on Aug 7, 2018 6:34:01 GMT
You may already know this but if you are planning to take a larger (bigger than carry-on) suitcase on the metro in Paris or the Tube in London there is the possibility of having to navigate lots of stairs. Not all stations have elevators. We used a car service in London from the airport to our hotel to avoid a suitcase/stairs situation. We will get a taxi from the airport in Paris to our hotel this time, for the same reason. LOL.. that was another shock to us.. all the stairs in Paris.. thankfully we only had one smallish bag per person since we were there only a few days.. but that was certainly enough.. by the 3rd day I was ready to chuck my suitcase... we lugged those bags from the train station to the subway station (up and down and up and down) and then four or five blocks to our BNB... uggggg... After my first trip to Europe, I realized two things, sticking to carryon was the way to go and that wheeled luggage sucked in a lot of ways - I'm looking at you stairs and cobblestones. By my next trip I had back pack luggage and I've never looked back. When I had a kid it was awesome having both hands free. |
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LeaP
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,939
Location: Los Angeles, CA where 405 meets 101
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Post by LeaP on Aug 7, 2018 14:39:41 GMT
My daughter is flying back from Paris tomorrow. Here in Los Angeles, she is Miss Athleisure, but I wanted her to blend in for her safety so not leggings this trip. She says that in Paris she did not see leggings but that some foreigners wear them in St. Tropez.
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Post by workingclassdog on Aug 7, 2018 20:11:57 GMT
My daughter is flying back from Paris tomorrow. Here in Los Angeles, she is Miss Athleisure, but I wanted her to blend in for her safety so not leggings this trip. She says that in Paris she did not see leggings but that some foreigners wear them in St. Tropez. I literally saw leggings everywhere.... seriously... I personally didn't wear them. I stuck with capris/jeans... but my daughter wore them a few times and I saw them on people almost everywhere in them. Mostly with cute dressier tops/cute comfy shoes. |
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Post by 950nancy on Aug 7, 2018 20:14:01 GMT
I think we romanticize Paris. While it is magical (IMO), everyone there is just getting on with their day like you. Be comfortable and enjoy. Wear shoes you love.
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