What do you wear to a bar in Paris?
A practical guide to Parisian bar style
Sooooo, what is great to wear for a bar in Paris? There’s a lot to say about this.
First of all, Paris is a synonym of a thing called smart casual. That’s the general outfit expected everywhere every time in the capital. Parisian bars, they don’t usually ask you to be formal, but it’s kind of the city policy. If you’re in doubt, aim for the most elegant, fancy side but not the try hard version.
Let’s have some examples.
Understanding what to wear to a bar in Paris: the smart casual rule
It can be clean jeans or a nice shirt or top, a fancy top, and also presentable new shoes. To avoid 100%: joggers, anything sporty, anything you can wear in the gym, even if it is expensive, bouncers just don’t want anything with a big logo, anything sporty. Even for bars without any door restriction, just don’t bring your gym outfit inside.
Maybe if you go to a more relaxed arrondissement, you can wear whatever you want. There are some more bohemian, old school ones. But in general, like in the Paris Centre, just aim for the fancy. In some places, they can even decide to not let you in.
Shoes and colours: key details when deciding what to wear to a Paris bar
Shoes, like sneakers, you can wear them, no problem, but aim for the minimalistic side. Nothing extravagant, just the normal, clean, simple white shoes with a discreet design. That could work for many bars. Avoid shiny shoes or something that attracts the attention a bit too much. In general, use neutral colours and wear something sober.
What if you want to look effortless?
A white shirt or any shirt or blouse, well-chosen. It’s a great thing for boys and girls. Those items, they raise the appearance of anything you wear. For the girls, if you want to wear a dress, you can choose a typical little black dress for a night out, for a club, or any simple dress. It’s just perfect. That’s what the bouncers are looking for. Also for bars and lounges, it works. You just don’t bring one that shows too much. Just feel comfortable and also feel that it’s okay for you.
What do you wear to a bar in Paris at night, season after season?
Clean shoes with style. Even if they are expensive, it’s preferable to bring some nice boots or some nice sandals, but not sporty ones or any flip-flops… Like, never.
When we talk about accessories, maybe a cross purse or something shiny, like an expensive watch or small jewelry with good taste. That would help complement your look without attracting too much attention.
Paris bar crawl outfit rules: logos, fabrics, and first impressions
As I said before, big logos are as forbidden as in Wimbledon. Clean, neat, plain colors with quality fabrics have always been and are still looked for as the best thing in Paris. It’s true, some bars allow a more relaxed coat, but the exclusive ones, they just are extremely conscious about your outfit. They won’t let you in even if you are on the higher casual side. You just have to be super fancy.
Apart from that, in other places, it can be defined as a fusion between elegance and functionality. If you can own it and be very comfortable about it, then almost anything can also be called a good look.
Final tips on what to wear to a bar in Paris like a local
In the fashion line, locals combine simple stuff like basic shirts with a nice coat and some jeans and clean shoes. That’s more than enough and that’s exactly what they are looking for.
Another last tip would be to look like you tried, something that shows you have good taste when choosing how to dress.
In general lines, there’s not a strict universal rule, but the code is something of an unspoken rule. Our pub crawl.paris rule is “dress to be confy all the night”
Also, before leaving yourself to your luck, look out for the places you’re going to be before getting there. Can find more information about the night in our party blog. You can check them on Instagram and check the people that go there and how they are dressed. Good luck!
