What to Wear in Paris

Start with your feet. A normal sightseeing day in Paris is ten kilometres or more, a good part of it on cobblestones in the Marais and Montmartre, plus more metro stairs than you'd believe. Bring shoes you've already worn in. New ones will punish you by day two.

The weather changes through the day, and it's often windier by the river than a few streets back. A thin layer you can take off and put back on does more work than a heavy coat, except in winter. Summer has its own problem: many older buildings and some metro lines have no air conditioning, so on a hot day the lightest clothes you have are the right ones.

Parisians dress simply, in plain, well-cut clothes and a lot of navy, black and beige. Nobody expects visitors to copy that, but it's why full sportswear stands out on the street. For dinner somewhere nice, one step up from your sightseeing outfit is enough.

Packing list

• Worn-in walking shoes
• A light layer, or a warm coat from November to March
• A scarf, for the wind on the bridges and for covering your shoulders in churches
• A small umbrella
• One outfit for a proper dinner
• A bag that zips shut

The big museums make you leave large bags and backpacks at the cloakroom, so a small day bag gets you in faster. For the Catacombs, bring an extra layer. It's cool and damp down there in any season.