What should my teen boys wear in Paris?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Paris, we saw a lot of 90s style sweatshirts with "New York" on them. I was surprised to see this there, but there you go.

I spent two weeks in Paris and some smaller towns and didn't notice teen boys wearing the big basketball shorts and hoodies that boys wear here. I'd definitely go with jeans and a shirt that doesn't have words on it. My teens wore black stretchy pants (they hate jeans) and tee-shirts without words.

They will know you are American no matter what and bring you ketchup.

Other times, I was surprised to have French people start speaking to me in French. I think this is because I wore a scarf. Parisians love their scarves!

I also told my family they HAD to use knives. Americans tend to use their forks to cut instead of a knife. To be polite, I felt we should use utensils the French way.

LOL -Americans use their forks to cut? That’s a new one.

This is totally true! I very much grew up in a knife-using family and DH (and now my kids) don’t even put knives out for dinner unless we’re eating steak. Drives me batty but it’s not a hill I’m dying on

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do they have facial hair yet? They should wear striped Breton shirts with red bandanas and little mustaches.

Also teach them to say "hon hon hon" when they laugh

this is gross and xenophobic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No advertising that you are an American. Keep your sports hoodies and hats at home.

It's not the sports hoodies and hats. Europeans can spot an American man from a mile away. They walk differently, carry themselves differently, etc., and one is highly unlikely to nail European fashion unless they've been living there for a while.

And really, trying to fit in in Europe is sort of cringey. Respect is what you need to aim for, not fitting in.

There is no distinct European fashion anymore. In the last 20 years, fashion has become homogeneous.

Hmm, disagree. I think there are pockets of fashion norms everywhere, even within the US. But the main thing that gives it away is the walk and the body shape.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Paris, we saw a lot of 90s style sweatshirts with "New York" on them. I was surprised to see this there, but there you go.

I spent two weeks in Paris and some smaller towns and didn't notice teen boys wearing the big basketball shorts and hoodies that boys wear here. I'd definitely go with jeans and a shirt that doesn't have words on it. My teens wore black stretchy pants (they hate jeans) and tee-shirts without words.

They will know you are American no matter what and bring you ketchup.

Other times, I was surprised to have French people start speaking to me in French. I think this is because I wore a scarf. Parisians love their scarves!

I also told my family they HAD to use knives. Americans tend to use their forks to cut instead of a knife. To be polite, I felt we should use utensils the French way.

LOL -Americans use their forks to cut? That’s a new one.

This is totally true! I very much grew up in a knife-using family and DH (and now my kids) don’t even put knives out for dinner unless we’re eating steak. Drives me batty but it’s not a hill I’m dying on

I have lived a few decades and have yet to witness this fork-only phenomena.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Not worried about fitting in or passing as French. Just don’t want to show up for lunch and museums with great aunt with kids in adidas shorts and crocs and come off as totally… dare I say it… gauche. These kids don’t even own jeans after years of buying them just to sit in drawers so I’m just trying to figure out what I need to buy and to pack.

I’m a boy mom whose kids hate jeans. Your boys will be fine in black or dark gray joggers. I promise. When sightseeing they should layer a shortsleeved tee with a pullover. A quarter zip looks dressier than a hoodie, but the reality is a hoodie might be more practical if it’s chilly or raining. Either is fine. Just aim for neutral colors.

If you are meeting relatives for a meal, dress up. My boys would wear khakis with a button down and quarter zip or sweater.

Do your boys have decent coats? If not, invest there.

Nice sneakers are fine and make sense. I buy my kids new sneakers before big trips and make sure they break them in at least two or three weeks before we fly. My kids also have leather shoes to wear with khakis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do they have facial hair yet? They should wear striped Breton shirts with red bandanas and little mustaches.

Also teach them to say "hon hon hon" when they laugh

this is gross and xenophobic.

Ha yeah that was the joke. Listing out ridiculous stereotypes.

[Anonymous]

polo with big alligator on it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Not worried about fitting in or passing as French. Just don’t want to show up for lunch and museums with great aunt with kids in adidas shorts and crocs and come off as totally… dare I say it… gauche. These kids don’t even own jeans after years of buying them just to sit in drawers so I’m just trying to figure out what I need to buy and to pack.

All my in laws live in Europe. We don't make our kids dress any differently there than in the US. Like most American kids, they prefer things like joggers and sweatpants. It's fine. No one cares; Europe is pretty casual these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No advertising that you are an American. Keep your sports hoodies and hats at home.

It's not the sports hoodies and hats. Europeans can spot an American man from a mile away. They walk differently, carry themselves differently, etc., and one is highly unlikely to nail European fashion unless they've been living there for a while.

And really, trying to fit in in Europe is sort of cringey. Respect is what you need to aim for, not fitting in.

There is no distinct European fashion anymore. In the last 20 years, fashion has become homogeneous.

Hmm, disagree. I think there are pockets of fashion norms everywhere, even within the US. But the main thing that gives it away is the walk and the body shape.

Not anymore. Europe is rather rotund now.

[Anonymous]

Uniqlo has these stretchy pants that feel like sweatpants but look like jeans. A good option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Paris, we saw a lot of 90s style sweatshirts with "New York" on them. I was surprised to see this there, but there you go.

I spent two weeks in Paris and some smaller towns and didn't notice teen boys wearing the big basketball shorts and hoodies that boys wear here. I'd definitely go with jeans and a shirt that doesn't have words on it. My teens wore black stretchy pants (they hate jeans) and tee-shirts without words.

They will know you are American no matter what and bring you ketchup.

Other times, I was surprised to have French people start speaking to me in French. I think this is because I wore a scarf. Parisians love their scarves!

I also told my family they HAD to use knives. Americans tend to use their forks to cut instead of a knife. To be polite, I felt we should use utensils the French way.

LOL -Americans use their forks to cut? That’s a new one.

This is totally true! I very much grew up in a knife-using family and DH (and now my kids) don’t even put knives out for dinner unless we’re eating steak. Drives me batty but it’s not a hill I’m dying on

I have lived a few decades and have yet to witness this fork-only phenomena.

I cut with my fork for anything soft enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Paris, we saw a lot of 90s style sweatshirts with "New York" on them. I was surprised to see this there, but there you go.

I spent two weeks in Paris and some smaller towns and didn't notice teen boys wearing the big basketball shorts and hoodies that boys wear here. I'd definitely go with jeans and a shirt that doesn't have words on it. My teens wore black stretchy pants (they hate jeans) and tee-shirts without words.

They will know you are American no matter what and bring you ketchup.

Other times, I was surprised to have French people start speaking to me in French. I think this is because I wore a scarf. Parisians love their scarves!

I also told my family they HAD to use knives. Americans tend to use their forks to cut instead of a knife. To be polite, I felt we should use utensils the French way.

LOL -Americans use their forks to cut? That’s a new one.

This is totally true! I very much grew up in a knife-using family and DH (and now my kids) don’t even put knives out for dinner unless we’re eating steak. Drives me batty but it’s not a hill I’m dying on

I have lived a few decades and have yet to witness this fork-only phenomena.

I cut with my fork for anything soft enough.

But are you fork-only? Do you feel puzzled when you encounter a table setting that includes a knife?

[Anonymous]

My 14 yo son recently wore a lot of jogger (pants, not sweatpants) and tees or sweatshirts. Like this: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/249527635588419050/

[Anonymous]

Whatever dafuq they want. Why are you fussing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends when you go. Who are these weird posters who think that teens in Germany and France do not wear shorts? Sure, going to a nice restaurant in the evening would need to wear pants, but for sightseeing shorts are acceptable attire.

+1
It's the same group (or maybe just one person?) who insist no one in Europe wears shorts. Not at this time of year, perhaps, but we go every summer and people (kids AND adults) are all wearing shorts. Shorts and sneakers, to be specific. There is no special attire that Europeans wear, as much as some posters love to claim otherwise.