July 13, 2026
I’m finally ready to tell you about my trip to Paris! I think the “big picture” insight that I took from this trip is that things change… Our planet is changing, and the way people live as they adapt is full of changes, small and large!
First up: you know how you’re always told that Parisians don’t drink cold drinks? And that it’s really hard to get ice in drinks? And that you don’t get coffee with milk after breakfast? And that they NEVER drink coffee any way except hot and strong?
Well brace yourself:
Iced lattes were on all of the cafe menus in my neighborhood. And they would even put sugar in them for you, so it replicated your usual American latte! I would be embarrassed to tell you how many of these I drank…
And the other staple food of my vacation? Gazpacho! I’m SO going to find a good recipe for this, such as it is. We have a splendid blender…
I must admit that I was only in Paris for one truly painfully hot day – the day I arrived. I made a big mistake with this; I should have taken my suitcase into a toilet at the airport and changed into a dress and sandals, and OUT of the jeans and sneakers which I wear to travel.
Barring that, I should have asked at the hotel for a place to change. I couldn’t get into my hotel room immediately upon arrive (which is very normal), but I’m absolutely certain that there was someplace in the hotel common area where I could have changed clothes.
But instead, I wandered out and roamed the streets for hours wearing jeans and sneakers, and ended the day feeling like a wrung out filthy dishrag. I believe that I carried the bad effects of that day with me for the entire week…
I really can’t be blamed though – Paris is fascinating under the most ordinary of circumstances, and a “canicule” is NOT ordinary circumstances.
First up, if you’re planned to visit Paris in the summer and you want to fit in, just pack this:
Black linen tee – Eileen Fisher; black linen tank top – Eileen Fisher; white linen pants – Eileen Fisher; undyed natural linen shorts – Eileen Fisher; sandals – Birkenstock
or maybe this:
Black ribbed tank top – L.L.Bean; second tank top – Alex Mill; beige hemp skirt – Madewell; shorts – Madewell
You really didn’t think Parisiennes would give up wearing black, did you? But I did notice a significant number of people wearing fabrics which appeared to be a “natural” color i.e. unbleached and undyed. It looked great…
But what they wore was DRESSES! Lots of brightly color florals:
And a tremendous number of shirtdresses:
Of course people were wearing black – I WAS in Paris, after all. But they were keeping things both bare and breezy:
I’m making a bold prediction that dots are going to be popular everywhere, very soon. Especially white dots on a brown background!
And I thought that it was sort of interesting to see so many dresses in shades of rust, russet or a reddish brown!
I saw white shirts – enormous white shirts – worn over everything. Shorts, skirts, capris….
And the color of tee shirt that I saw most often (after black, of course)? Sage green, faded olive, all kinds of light and warm green:
The weird factor in all of this? A surprising frequency of socks and loafers! And the occasional cowboy boots or combat-ish boots. I don’t know HOW they could stand it…
I, on the other hand, wore sandals the entire time I was in the city! Yes, I packed THREE pairs of Abeo – it gave them a chance to dry out and cool down between wearings.
The airport days would have been much more difficult without flawlessly comfortable sneakers. I can honestly say that I never once thought about the comfort of my feet, the entire trip!
And to be honest, I don’t remember seeing anybody wearing high heels the entire time I was there. It just seemed to be too much of a chore, when just breathing required so much energy!
This was the most common footwear I saw. I was especially amazed to see SO MANY PEOPLE wearing Birkenstock clogs. Sandals didn’t surprise me, but clogs?
Clogs – Birkenstock; bone sandals – Birkenstock; honey slides – Dansko; strappy sandals – Steve Madden
My favorite “Chic Sighting” wasn’t a woman – it was a man in a linen shirt and a turban. Not just anybody could pull this off! He matched the contrast hem of the scarf to his shirt…
MEN’S faded indigo linen shirt – J.Crew; silk scarf – Hermès
And the best color story of the week? A flawlessly coordinated Vespa and helmet!
Helmet – Biltwell; scooter – Vespa
I still have some additional photographs to share – I will get on that project right away!
love,
Janice
p.s. Five years ago, I thought of a few good reasons to shop during a sale. Still true, and handy to have in mind if you’re headed to the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!
Paris, July 2026, save it to Pinterest!
Linen, cotton and loose dresses. Though It’s the only way to survive this heat. Although the blue gingham dress reminds me of my school summer dresses. I love the matching helmet to moped. I wear closed toes shoes and sandals as ny feet are horrible. It also stops me tripping up.over uneven paving slabs. I wear ankle socks with summer shoes to prevent blisters.
It’s slightly cooler in the UK, if you can call 28/29C cool. This heatwave has broken all the records of the famous 1976 heatwave. Thankfully, a very wet winter means that water stocks are good but hosepipe loans have been implemented in several areas. The heat will rise again next week. No rain forecast. 🥵
We had “summer” uniforms, too, in high school, circa 1968-1972! They were such a cool, delightful break from the usual navy blue serge jumper and white blouse (I must say it took me until my 60’s to wear navy and white again after that stint!). Our uniforms were striped or pastel shirtwaists with a belt until we switched to the cutest little button-down shirt that hugged our curves and won as miniskirts, the bain of the nuns existence but our moms wore minis too! Happy memories, thank you!
I am so glad you had a wonderful time and that it wasn’t as miserable the whole time as it could have been. I am shocked by the iced lattes everywhere! But, it’s been more than 15 years since I’ve been back to Paris. There is so much cross-cultural transfer these days. Crepe stands are quite common where I live on the Maine coast now! Who knew?
The clothing. you have posted is such a happy surprise to me. This is basically how I dress all summer long. I live in both colorful and chambray dresses with sandals, as well as neutral colors (though I generally substitute navy for black in the summer) in linen separates. The polka dots are the only surprise to me in this grouping. I don’t remember ever seeing polka dots in Europe…but once again, times change. What a pretty and peppy pattern!
I’m glad you’re back and I wish a happy rest of your summer!
Imteresting! I was instantly reminded of the Nescafe frappes that we lived on during a Greece trip a while back – some things just work in the heat. And that brown polka-dotted dress, of course, is the Pretty Woman dress to me forever (polo park scene).
For myself, black & cream with warm brown/gold has totally been my more formal wardrobe this summer, with maybe an accent color here or there. So easy! I keep trying on pretty, colorful dresses… but the neutrals win most every time. Guess I’m just having a Paris moment!
I live in the upper south of the USA, and I’ve always believed that dresses are the most comfortable choice in hot weather.
I wish I could. Dresses are now a “go” for me thanks to skims preventing thigh-chaffing… but those skims do NOT feel hot-summer-airy. Loose linen shorts or wide leg pants work best for me in the summer… or my current favorite – a really light/semi-sheer breezy dress with a pair of men’s cotton sleepshorts underneath!
You will post your gazpacho recipe I hope!
Seconded, please! We can all use another good recipe for the heat!!
What an interesting visit you had, Janice, and I am so pleased to see both the rusty reds and the sage greens which are favourites of mine. Great to see more skirts and lots of dresses – but I can’t cope with the idea of socks in the summer.
As Beth said, the UK’s third heatwave of the year is past its height now, but there may of course be more to come. You are so right, that we all need to adapt to changes. And hurrah for iced (oat milk please) lattes.
In my own wardrobe, I am discovering that I have far too many patterned summer tops and not enough plain ones. And today I have just been to an art exhibition wearing paisley patterned trousers with a plain T and a striped shirt! Shock horror. I have never before mixed patterns and feel quite the rebel :-) The colours do coordinate though. Phew. And I shall change before this evening’s Fiesta Flamenco concert. (Yes, the King’s Lynn Festival is on.)
p.s. Try rivercottage.net/recipes for a good, simple gazpacho recipe. Yum.
I have already many of the things shown here. The denim dress and three new pairs of the Dingo boots. In White, Black (which are to die for) and the Light Blue. The Dingo boots in White are being used for Boho weddings and garden parties. In fact, the boots are considered Boho for every event occasion. Janice has good taste in Boho attire. I even have the yellow dress but in Navy. An excellent post, today. 😻
One more thing, there are many beautiful wedding photos on the Bridal sites of these boots. With the Brides wearing them with their Wedding dresses and the Bridesmaids in a different colour. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. These Dingo boots in Light Blue.
I just bought a polka dot dress! Forest green with white dots. I had no idea it was trending; I’ve always liked dots. I love the rusty color you show, and I’ve seen. I hope I can find items I like and need in that color.
Here, we are thankful the over 100 days waited until this week.
A tip I’ve used to make all the “first day”difference: I book my hotel for the night before I arrive! You can shower, nap, change clothes and face the day so much better for not a whole lot of money as part of the total trip cost. You do have to let the hotel know your plan so they don’t think you’re a no show though.
This is pretty genius – I would have cheerfully paid for another day in my hotel if I could have changed clothes that first day!
hugs,
Janice
I agree with paying for an extra night at your arrival hotel.
I used to think this was a “waste of money”. Now I realize it’s the “cost of doing business” – an investment in making travel more comfortable and not wasting precious trip days feeling bleary, exhausted and jet-lagged!
This article was timely. Planning a trip to Paris in April and had no idea what I would pack. Thanks for the information.
Glad you celebrated your birthday in style! And so grateful to live on the beautiful West Coast of Canada – hot weather for us is 28 celsius. Although I love Paris, I love it more in the fall/winter/early spring!
Gazpacho recipes:
https://cookieandkate.com/ultimate-gazpacho-recipe/
https://www.loveandlemons.com/gazpacho-recipe/
Love this! Thanks for the insight!
I love the ‘Pretty Woman” dress as another reviewer called it, but my favorite is the Vespa and matching helmet. I live in the beautiful Napa valley, and my husband and I have purchased Vespas so we can enjoy a vacation day now and then without the airfare or jet lag.
I love your posts!
I have to comment on how much I love the last graphic, right down to the little Eiffel Towers with flowers! I can screenshot the image and easily recall all the details from the post. Thank you!
Big Confession Time – I don’t make those last images – there’s a brilliant company in Canada called RockFort Media who does them! As well as hosting The Vivienne Files, taking care of Pinterest, and other things I can’t remember. I would be lost without them!
love,
Janice
And the Vivienne Files is our absolute favourite client. Yvonne did a great job on this Pinterest post (as she always does).