If you’re jetting off to Paris this summer, it’s worth double-checking your suitcase to ensure your attire complies with a lesser-known fashion rule in the French capital.
With the recent balmy weather, many of us have been donning shorts, T-shirts, and sandals. Given that the warm weather is set to persist, those heading to European destinations like Spain, France, and Italy will likely be packing similar outfits.
However, if Paris is on your itinerary, one woman who recently visited the city has issued a stark warning about what to pack.
Laney Tucker, an American, recently holidayed in Paris with friends and took to Instagram post-trip to advise women to ensure they’ve packed appropriate footwear before jetting off to the city.
She alleged that she was refused entry to several nightclubs during her Parisian nights out because she was wearing sandals, as the clubs’ dress code required heels.
The woman claimed she eventually gained entry to a club by asserting that her sandals were designer, but wished she had packed a pair of heels to avoid the inconvenience.
She stated: “Important note to all the girlies coming to Paris: We didn’t get into a couple of clubs last night because we were wearing sandals. Almost everywhere requires heels.
“I did get us into one club by telling the bouncer my sandals were Valentino, and to be honest, I hate myself for that. Take me straight to jail.”
In the caption, she wrote: “The self-loathing I feel right now… but a girl’s gotta do what she’s gotta do to get into the club.”
Social media users were divided over her actions. Some believed Laney showed poor judgement attempting to enter a nightclub wearing sandals, whilst others maintained the heels-only policy was “outdated” and “nonsense”.
One French commenter posted: “As a French [person], I hoped this nonsense heels in clubs [rule] was over. Seriously. Men enter clubs wearing sports gear, and we have to break our feet on the dance floor.”
However, another user countered: “What kind of adult wears sandals to a club in Paris, or anywhere that’s not on a beach?”.
Several observers suggested the regulation probably doesn’t mandate high heels specifically, but rather demands enclosed footwear for health and safety purposes.
Dress codes in Paris
For the most part, you can wear whatever you want when travelling around the city of Paris itself. However, some evening restaurants and nightclubs have far stricter rules about what you can and can’t wear.
According to Clubbable, women should look to wear “elegant” short dresses, leather jackets and trousers, or “fashionable” jeans. Women should not wear big jumpers, trainers, sportswear, or beachwear.
Clubbable claims men should always wear a shirt on a night out in Paris, whether it’s a casual floral number or a proper dress shirt. This can be paired with casual jeans or trousers.