Fashion Statements, Cultural Influences or Stereotypes?

Ah, April in Paris. I guess if tourists had to pick a time to be stranded by volcanic ash, this is the time. Although late this year, Spring has bloomed so beautifully. This is our reward for a terribly dreary, cold and rainy winter.

The city is filled with people milling about the tourist sites. Behemoth busses line the boulevards and block intersections. And then there’s me, with nearly four months of experience, dodging the crowds, ducking down alleys and skirting the crowds of t-shirted, baseball cap donning, backpack toting guided tour groups.

Ever observant, I have noticed some tendencies of various groups visiting Paris. Whether by nationality, age or gender, there are some “tells” of the fashion ilk leading me to my conclusions. For example, American students visiting Paris sport kitschy t-shirts, jeans (boys are wearing Calvin Klein, Old Navy, Joe Boxer briefs...as the exposed waist bands advertise), sneakers or flip flops, hoodies and iPhones as their couture du tour. They are spending more time text-ing or taking photos of each other...oh youth is wasted on the young.

American families on vacation dress similarly but with slight variations depending on who one is in the family unit...let’s take the average American Family...Dad, Mom, teen-aged Susie and pre-teen Sam...Mom is wearing Capri pants, flip flops or Crocs, a striped long sleeve tee shirt (one size too small) and has her windbreaker tied around her waist and a small black back pack. Dad is in faded jeans, a sports themed tee shirt, white sneakers, baseball cap not related to the team on his shirt, a windbreaker, badly refolded map and fanny pack. Susie is adorned, first with an attitude and overly plucked eyebrows, dark sunglasses, hair pulled back in a tight, tight ponytail, an “I heart Paris” t-shirt, pencil jeans, flip flops, and a “insert designer label here” knock off purse, complete with head phones running from clandestine MP3 player...and then there’s Sam...wait where it Sam? “Excuse me lady with the dog...did you see a little boy about 10 years old wearing a Yankees cap, navy blue “I heart Paris” t-shirt with ice cream stains, khaki cargo shorts and untied sneakers. He has a blue back pack...” “Yes, there he is over at that sidewalk stall which features nude photos and porno magazines. Bon journée!” “SAMMY!!”

The Upscale American family can be identified by the labels on every other inch of their bodies...so let’s look at Mom, Dad, teenaged Suzanne and pre-teen Samuel. Mom, skin bronzed, hair colored and coiffed and kept kempt with a pink flamingo beribboned headband is wearing a Ralph Lauren, pink pullover with a white polo shirt, collar popped with tight, white RL jeans and high heeled Anne Klein sandals...a short floral scarf at the neck is jauntily tied, knot slightly askew and borne over one shoulder is this season’s Coach bag. On her wrist is a huge Tommy Bahama watch. Her sunglasses are Gucci and there are diamonds on her fingers, ears and yes, one toe. Dad is decked out in a navy RL pullover, white polo with collar popped, khakis and Sperry topsiders...no socks. His glasses are Oakleys and his watch, Tag Heuer. Instead of a fanny pack, he is toting a small, shiny, silver, hard-sided roller suitcase. He doesn’t have a map because his Blackberry has GPS. Teen queen Suzanne, sports an attitude of ennui and her fashion is straight off the cover of Glamour...black skinny jeans, long oversized white tee shirt adorned with silvered Michael Jackson, belted at the hips, worn over black spaghetti strap cami, metallic grey ballet flats, cropped black leather jacket and black hobo bag, black Gucci sunglasses, black iPhone, complete with Glamour phone app...Young Samuel is his father in miniature minus the Blackberry and his watch is Flik Flak with skulls...edgy! Instead of deck shoes, Samuel is wearing white classic Converse All-Stars. Their most impressive accessory is the Mercedes Benz taxi cab they’ve hired to take them around the city...no slumming it on the streets of Paree...no siree.

American college students assimilate quickly to French culture/couture...somber colors, European cuts, but with a splash of Americana...a pin or pop culture t-shirt, sneakers instead of pricey Italian shoes...they do a good job of blending in. It is the language that gives them away. I don’t know what it is about young Americans, but they tend to speak poorly, profusely and profanely ...it is a shame.

Europeans, stranded in Europe by the volcanic ash have opted to visit Paris this month as well. I have noticed that German visitors dress as though they are going to hike the Matterhorn...polar fleece jackets, hiking boots, cargo pants with pockets filled with bottles, maps, Swiss Army knives and I think a battle plan of the Maginot Line... and everyone has a backpack...the men usually have a cap with a German Flag, beer, car or sports logo on it. Men and women dress alike!

Italians visiting Paris, much like Americans come in two groups...average and upscale. The average Italians wear jeans and tee shirts and appropriate outerwear (they understand the climate) but the women wear heels and jewels. The men wear a variation on smart casual...jeans, a button down shirt and a sport coat and dark sports shoes...not sneakers. The upscale Italian tourist wears much the same as their average counterparts, but more expensively and a bit more fashion forward.

Many Asian tourists dress for touring: comfortable, utilitarian clothing and shoes...and if with a group, matching caps usually in some unbelievably bright, fluorescent color! Over the shoulder tote bags and cameras are a must. The interesting observation about these tourists is their “go get’em attitude”...no standing on line for them. I have experienced this sadly stereotypical tourist bum’s rush at the Louvre, Notre Dame and on-line for the Open Tour busses...it doesn’t matter if it is a tour group, family or individual...by gum these people are on vacation and no one is going to stand in their way of seeing something RIGHT NOW! My only advice is to gird your loins and hold your ground!

Young Japanese women are a real phenomenon in Paris. First, these adventurers either travel arm and arm, in pairs, or small groups with a token male or two. These women are here to shop. Wearing identical clothing styles, with some minor individual flair, the young Japanese woman in Paris can be identified by her skinny jeans, Hello Kitty tee shirt, and a white sweatshirt hoodie or nylon trench coat. She wears ballet flats that coordinate with a color from the tee shirt. Her make-up is heavy but flawless. Her purse is gi-normous...all the better to put purchases in, my dear. She has an iPhone or camera used to take pictures of the fashions in the couture houses...but she shops at POP, GAP, United Colors of Benetton, Pimkie and Jennyfer.

The French vacation in Paris too. The major differences between French average and upscale families and American average and upscale families are shoes...the French only where sneakers for working out or sports...so they wear dark colored Skecher-style shoes or boots and most women wear heels. I am still wearing flats...too many cobbles for me. I often watch in amazement as French women parade down the walks in heels of 2, 3 or 4 inches high, ankles twisting, teetering and turning, yet never falling and breaking...I trip at least once a day on something! The other difference is the French, having the home court advantage and a strange sensitivity to cold, dress for the weather, (it is 65 degrees today...that’s about 18 degrees Celsius and many a Parisian/French are clad in dark heavy coats), chic belted trench coats, long gauzy scarves and carry umbrellas. Much time is spent outside monuments, museums and sites, discussing animatedly whether or not they should go in or head to a café.

As the weather warms, it will be interesting and perhaps horrifying to observe trends in tourist fashion...I’ll keep you posted!