What to wear in France?

Question

I'm going there on a class trip (I'm in high school) and I was wondering about what sports brands exist in America and France, specifically Under Armor and Nike. Because even though my spoken French will give away me being a tourist, in a crowd I don't want to broadcast I'm American to potential pickpockets, and I don't want them to see me as a target because what I wear is American.

Answer 1

OMG do not listen to this first guy who says wear a money belt.

totally not necessary especially in france.

i'm also in high school and i wouldnt wear a money belt or bum bag or f***y pack or whatever theyre called to save my life.

a plain backpack will be just fine.

i agree with who ever said to wear nicer clothes than you generally would back home.

the europeans are generally more conservative.

i'd stick with jeans and a nice shirt and comfy (but not white trainers) shoes. I like to wear converse.

have fun!

Answer 2

When I was at Uni we used to go American spotting - sit outside a café and see how many we could spot at a distance then listen for their accent. Not in a mean way - it's just that we noticed that although we dressed similarly there was something that always stood out.

Usually it was a baseball cap - particularly on older men and women as in Europe they are reserved for the young. Often it was something about the socks and trainers - again more obvious on the older generation.

It's nothing to do with brands and in France the young people are less obsessed with brands than in the UK (I noticed that straight away when we moved here with our children).

Like the previous poster said just be careful like you would anywhere - don't take out wads of money when you only need to pay for something small. A fashionable small bag that you wear across your body and hangs at the front is preferable to one you wear over your shoulder and hangs at the back etc.

Most of all remember to be friendly and smile. Say "s'il vous plaît" and "merci" and you'll be treated well.

Basically just take the same precautions you would if you went to New York or any big city.

Answer 3

All the major brands that exist in the USA are also found in France.

The way to avoid having your pockets picked is to wear a money belt. It is absolutely foolish not to.

I've traveled all over the world and to lots of places that are several orders of magnitude more dangerous than France (which is not very dangerous) and never once lost a single penny.

The idea that you don't stand out as a tourist because of your dress is simply silly. You'll see lots of people wearing jeans, nikes, and sweatshirts that say UCLA or University of Ohio, smoking Marlboros  and, guess what, they'll be native Parisians.

Go to the Paris Zoom TV site here: http://www.paris-zoom.com/map.asp Just pick any video. Look at what the people are wearing. Do they really look any different than people in any big city in the USA? Of course not. This is the effect of globalization and the fact that France is part of the Western industrialized world which it influences and which influences France.

Answer 4

Not because of the reasons that you have brought up, since neither is pickpocketing a major problem in France, nor is there a major difference in fashion brands that exists in virtually all over the world.

But, for everyone sake, leave the track pants, Rapper pants,

and simiar at home.  Pack a few of you nicest clothing and have a time of your life.