Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Men's Clothing › help with upcoming trip to Paris?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

help with upcoming trip to Paris?

post #1 of 40
12/3/11 at 5:22pm
Thread Starter 
Guys--
will be in Paris for a very short new year's visit, thought I would request some help from those in the know; here is the rundown:

1. Arriving morning of Dec 31st, out on 3 Jan-- so it is a very brief first trip. Staying in the athenee on avenue Montaigne,close to the Champs Élysées:
avenuemontaignemap.jpg

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I've seen many forum posts with great recommendations on shops, but am more interested in recommendations for an excellent cafe/ brasserie or three within walking distance of the hotel if possible (or short cab ride). This will be a fairly casual trip, no five star dining this time .


2. The coat I'm taking is this black label "escape" jacket, along with dark jeans, grey flannnel trousers, black laceup boots, grey suede cole haan winter boots, an olive with blue windowpanes sportcoat, solid blue dress shirt, and black cashmere 1/4 zip sweater. Any ideas on what else I might wear with this jacket, that I might grab in Paris or before the trip?
escapetz.jpg

Uploaded with ImageShack.us


3. Given the very short stay, what are the MUST SEE/ must do's?


Any advice, comments, etc. appreciated!
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 40
12/3/11 at 5:33pm
There is so much to see.

If you are an art fan I recomment L'Orangerie, as it is small and thus manageable. In the basement is a complete series of Monet waterlilly paintings/murals. The are configured in a continuous band around two entire rooms so you are essentially completely surrounded by the paintings.

Now I know - nothing could be more 'trite' than Monet. But you'll never see his work like this in any other place in the world.

It's been so long since I've been I wouldn't know anything about shops or restaurants, sorry.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 40
12/4/11 at 5:55am
Buy a tourist guide and follow that. You may well be able to do a city tour by coach to see the main sites.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 40
12/4/11 at 5:59am
The Montmarte district and Basilique du Sacré-Cœur offer better views than the Eiffel Tower.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 40
12/4/11 at 6:10am
I was in Paris for one night (about 30 hours total) in March.

A good way of seeing a fair bit is getting the metro to Chatelet - walk over to Cite and see the Notre Dame. Head back towards Chatelet along the Seine, taking in the Louvre. Then, head towards Place de la Concorde, onto the Champs Elysee, to the Arc de Triomphe. You'll also see the Eiffel Tower wherever you are. That's probably a 2.5 hour walk, taking in the main sights.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 40
12/4/11 at 7:39am
Thread Starter 
great stuff, keep it coming please! GBR, I actually prefer to hear from folks on the forum, as I enjoy getting recommendations from people with similar interests/ tastes. seems like those with an interest in tailored clothing also have an affinity for the finer things in life, such as food, art, architecture.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 40
12/4/11 at 8:10am
I'd hightly recomend the louvre, unless you get to paris on a regular basis. the trick to the louvre is to get there very early in the morning, and be waiting pretty far forward in the line when it opens, and only plan on seeing a small part of the collection on the one visit. I've probably been back 30 times, and I will probably keep going back. if you are going to have one good meal in town this is the place
http://www.restoaoc.com/

a reasonable walking distance, or short cab ride for you.

enjoy
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 40
12/4/11 at 9:33am
facepalm.gif That jacket screams you are American from a mile away. Please don't wear a baseball cap backwards with it (or sideways, that's even worse shog[1].gif).

Since it's your first time there, try one of those couple hour bus tours of the city. It's well worth it to get get an idea of the city
Take the RER, simple and efficient way to get around town. Avoid the rush hour gridlock in that area. There are tourist multiday passes. Ask at your hotel.

Clothing wise
Visit Charvet. It's in the Place Vendôme.
John Lobb (Paris store)
You should be there for the after xmas sales. Don't forget to get your VAT back.

Places to see:
Louvre
Eiffel Tower (take a boat ride below of the Seine at night, try a dinner boat ride)
Versailles (a bit outside of Paris, if you have time, it's well worth it)
Montmatre
Sacré-Coeur (go by furnicular)
Notre Dame (some nice cafes nearby off the isle)/ Sorbonne/ St. Michel
Moulin Rouge
Arc de Triomphe ( down the street from you)
Jardin des Tuileries (really nice park)
La Defence (biz park)

If you are into Hemingway and all that stuff try Les Deux Magots and the Latin Quarter (watch that movie, Midnight in Paris for some inspiration)

Book some of these in advance since you are going at peak season

Avoid places like Clichy sous Bois, St Denis in the Northeast with the housing estates.

Look at Frommer's http://www.frommers.com/destinations/paris/0062010001.html
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 40
12/4/11 at 9:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by supercarl View Post

I was in Paris for one night (about 30 hours total) in March.
A good way of seeing a fair bit is getting the metro to Chatelet - walk over to Cite and see the Notre Dame. Head back towards Chatelet along the Seine, taking in the Louvre. Then, head towards Place de la Concorde, onto the Champs Elysee, to the Arc de Triomphe. You'll also see the Eiffel Tower wherever you are. That's probably a 2.5 hour walk, taking in the main sights.

^ this... I did a slight variation of this when I was there for 24+ hrs last year...
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 40
12/4/11 at 9:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by GBer View Post

facepalm.gif That jacket screams you are American from a mile away.

... and the problem with being/looking american is ????

... that jacket is actually quite nice... I'ts not a tweed sportscoat or whatever, but it's nice and if it fits like the model in the pic I don't have any objections to it...
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 40
12/4/11 at 12:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by anginaprinzmetal View Post

... and the problem with being/looking american is ????
... that jacket is actually quite nice... I'ts not a tweed sportscoat or whatever, but it's nice and if it fits like the model in the pic I don't have any objections to it...


Correction American tourist... Think of National Lampoon's European Vacation


263

280

262

Please no fanny packs!

BTW I am American, just don't dress like a tourist.

Wouldn't these alternatives be better?

Quote:
Originally Posted by GBer View Post

Moncler Gamme Bleu by Thom Browne
242
These are the ultimate in city wear down coats. Just so difficult to find.
Here are some more:
349
392
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 40
12/4/11 at 2:02pm
As far as restaurants go:

-Up the street, opposite Dior there is a trendy restaurant where celebrities from the Plaza often go, l'Avenue.

Down the street is place de l'Alma:
-One of the very best fish restaurant in Paris is Marius et Jeannette.
-Don't go to the others, especially not Chez Francis - it's dogfood. But ok for a cup of coffee, looking over at the Eiffel tower.

Across the river and towards the Eiffel tower is a newish museum, called 'Musée des arts premiers". The top floor has a well-rated restaurant with a glass ceiling, through which you look up at the Eiffel tower. Les Ombres.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 40
12/4/11 at 5:01pm
Thread Starter 
wow, didn't figure the black label jacket with a cashmere sweater and gray flannels would be touristy-- i'm also bringing a nice sportcoat and dark jeans, but still. figured that with sunglasses would be more euro than USA.

thanks much for the short list of restaurants and places to see, like the Orangerie-- seems ideal for a short trip like this one.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 40
12/4/11 at 5:09pm
That RLBL jacket is anything but touristy... On the contrary it's quite nice...
That Thom Browne is too fashion for my taste, matter of fact a whole lot harder to pull off without looking like a mess...
just my $ 0.02
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 40
12/4/11 at 5:28pm
Good thread Foxx, as I have arranged a 24 hour Paris layover a couple of weeks after you're there. it will be my first time out of the airport.

Any idea where to stash luggage while I'm in the city? Are there lockers at CDG?

So, what do Lobbs on sale run...
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Men's Clothing
Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Men's Clothing › help with upcoming trip to Paris?