nanthompson2

We are a very casual suburban American family. My 15 year-old son wears shorts year round - winter here rarely gets below 35 F. Can he get by with shorts on our July trip to London, Paris and Normandy? Could he wear shorts MOST of the time? How about middle age hubby-would he be out of place wearing shorts most of the time?

skibumette

Admittedly, at tourist sites you will probably see almost any kind of dress -- but dress in European CITIES is certainly more formal than the US. European men rarely wear shorts -- generally only for sports activities. Your 15-year old may get away with shorts for daytime wear, but it depends on size/build: is he adult size or still kid-size? This doesn't mean they have to suffer -- chinos or khakis (especially those with a bit of stretch) can be very comfortable...and still blend in better with European styles than wearing shorts. Yes, it's different from home, but isn't that part of the reason people travel?

sap

This is always an interesting, but often contentious topic.

Search kerouac's name and you'll see similar threads wherein he has posted pictures of locals and tourists to give you a sense of the local Parisian street scenes.

I think skibumette has it right. IMO and FWIW, your son could blend in fine with longer, cargo-type shorts and collared polo-type shirts, button-ups or solid, dark-colored tees; but hubby should lean more toward the chinos/khakis and slacks skibumette described above.

I'm thinking "casual, suburban American family" could actually mean a lot of things to different people. As long as you're not talking baggy, ripped jeans and t-shirts with printed statements on them, you'll probably be fine.
A lot of people will tell you to wear whatever the heck you want, though, so it's entirely up to you and your level of comfort (physically and socially).

Also, I think it might depend on whether you're planning to eat in slightly more upscale places for dinner; whether you will have the opportunity to go back to your place to change before dinner; or if you need dayclothes that will transition more easily into evening. (In which case, darker slacks and decent collared casual shirts are your best bet. Your son could wear a solid tee during the day and then throw on a button-up over that for dinner.)

Above all, I think one needs to keep in mind that Europeans pay a lot more attention to the style and quality of shoes than Americans. I noticed in London that the same holds true for jeans.

sap

One other thought: Relative to London & Paris, people might also tell you to wear whatever you would wear in New York City (as opposed to L.A.).

november_moon

I think teenagers can wear whatever and fit in. As long as he is relatively presentable. No jeans so baggy that his a$$ is hanging out. Jeans and shorts should be fine with t-shirts, sweatshirts, etc. I won't make him wear chinos except if you go to a nice restaurant - otherwise he will look like an American who's mom made him dress up to fit in while all the other boys his age are wearing jeans and t-shirts.

In summer time in Europe, my husband (aged 39) wears longer shorts or jeans, t-shirts, nicer knit shirts, and button up shirts with collars. Chinos if we go to a nicer restaurant. He always looks nice - nicer than a lot of men who are dressed more formally, but wearing ill-fitting clothing.

nytraveler

There are 2 issues. Even though it's summer the weather in europe may not cooperate and you can get rainy, windy and chilly - when someone wearing shorts would freeze. So they will definitely need some pants as well as a windbreaker (preferably with hood).

Separately, shorts will look very odd if you plan on ay more upscale restaurants - in fact you won;t be admitted to some. If you plan only on eating in casual places they will be OK. (Locals won;t be wearing shorts all the time and you will obviously American tourists but I assume you don;t care about that.)

kerouac

No need to be "presentable" -- Paris has seen it all and people absolutely do not care what you wear. When you see my upcoming 'fashion' (???) thread for summer 2010, all doubts will be removed from your mind, because you will see what the French wear when they are not at work.

That is the most amazing worry that I see here -- the fact that people are worried about what to wear when matching themselves to people going to work every day in a city. When you are on vacation, do you want to look like the people going to the office? Wait until you see how people dress when they have taken off their work clothes in my neighborhood.

sap

Looking forward to it, kerouac! If it's anything like last year's fashion report, it's somehow amusing, horrifying and comforting all at the same time.

MikeT

Son, yes. Husband, no.

kerouac

Oh, sap, I'm afraid that things are getting 'worse' if one thinks that Parisians are fashion plates.

annhig

Can he get by with shorts on our July trip to London, Paris and Normandy?>> Yes

Could he wear shorts MOST of the time? >> Yes

How about middle age hubby-would he be out of place wearing shorts most of the time? >> possibly, but who cares?

honestly - WE DON'T CARE.

the only thing that might stop them wearing shorts is the weather. bring some trousers just in case.

nanthompson2

Acutally I am more concerned about comfort-not being too hot, getting by with the least amount of luggage, and ability to get into any tourist sites we are interested in. Guide books always throw in disclaimer that some churches don't allow shorts, bare arms etc. I like being somewhat fashionable but am way more interested in comfort and practicality. Sounds like London, Paris and Normandy are generally cooler in summer than here (Virginia Beach area-weather often in the 90'sF and extreme humidity) so I have to think of what I wear here in April or October.

annhig

nan - I am not aware of any clothes rules in any of your destinations, though others may know otherwise. the major places with such stipulations are in Italy, most famously the Vatican and St. Peter's, but many other churches/religious buildings too.

you may want warmer clothes for if the day-time is wetter than you had hoped, and for the evenings, when even the warmest days may turn chilly.

Judy

nanthompson2, I live in Norfolk and my husband and I travel to Europe fairly regularly. My husband wears shorts around the neighborhood and to run errands here. He rarely packs shorts for Europe other than for hiking destinations. He prefers lightweight khakis in cities, however we usually travel May/June or September/October.
As many have said, take and wear what you're comfortable in.

kerouac

Heat waves are always possible. However, if son or husband possess any zip-off pants legs, please don't let them bring them.

BKP

We had a bit of a heatwave in the UK last week. For teenagers: looking like you just stepped out of Hollister or A&F is just fine. The dressier boys had shirts with collars. If I were bringing a teenage boy with me I would let him wear whatever he wanted to (unless it was expressly not permitted, like in a church). I think the fastest way to ruin a trip is to have a sullen teenager!

For the adult men -- we saw lots of manpris -- capris for men or shorts that hit below the knee. We also saw lots of just longer shorts -- hitting right at the knee.

I think though a bigger concern is not if shorts will be fashion appropriate but if they will be weather appropriate!

Christina

I don't know of any clothes rules in any of those places, either. the only place I've ever heard of clothing rules at a tourist site was in italy (and that would be something affiliated with the Vatican). They don't have rules like that in churches in France or England. I've never heard of any tourist site other than those church ones in Italy that have dress codes.

I think wearing cargo shorts, the usual male thing, is okay if you just want to eat at casual fast food, pizza, cafe type places.

sap

Manpris? LOL! I can't wait to see the look on DH's face when I tell him about those. Of course, board shorts can be about that long, so I guess it's all in a name.

BigRuss

The notion that clothing rules in London or Paris are more formal than in the US for general day-to-day sightseeing is a happy fiction that either Euro-philic readers like to promote or various folks have in their heads thanks to movies and public television reruns of BBC serials.

There was a thread on here about what folks wore in Paris that showed some awful outfits.

The issue is that London and Paris are not necessarily warm enough for shorts . . . then again, the Brits wear shorts in 20C weather (saw plenty of that on arrival from the US last year) because to them that's warm.

padams421

Can someone please post a photo of manpris? Father's Day is coming up perhaps I could buy the husband some...lol.

For OP, we live in Atlanta and my sons (12 and 14) wear shorts all year to school unless I force the issue and insist on long pants (my rule is below freezing, they wear pants so the teachers don't think they are total idiots). In Europe, my sons have always worn khakis or the microfiber climbing type pants that one can buy at REI or perhaps LL Bean). Even in European "heat waves", it is not as hot there as it is at home. We never pack jeans because they are too heavy and my kids rarely wear them at home anyway. You do need at least one pair of pants and a windbreaker for rainy, cool weather.