If you’re planning a deep autumn trip to Paris, hurray! You’re going to love it.
Thanksgiving break is a popular time for Americans to visit Paris. In fact, this is exactly how we’ve timed a few of our Paris trips. Paris in November offers fewer crowds, bright yellow foliage, and brisk weather. Parisian architecture looks especially striking against moody fall skies, and there’s nothing cozier than ducking out of the cold into the intimate lights of brasseries and cafés. Even the outdoor café culture continues under the warmth of heat lamps.
What should you pack? Here are six tips I’ve learned about packing for Paris in November.
1. First things first: pack for the weather.
Paris is rainy in deep autumn, so bring a good compact umbrella and a pair of rain-friendly shoes. You don’t necessarily need full on rainboots, but pack at least one pair of shoes that can tolerate showers. Paris can also be cold in November, with daytime highs in the mid-50s F and evening lows that can fall below 40 F. Don’t panic and overpack for all possible weather permutations; you can always buy what you need in Paris. In fact, one of my favorite Paris stops is the ubiquitous Monoprix (“the Target of France”) for well-priced and useful souvenirs: grocery items, household items, kitchen towels, decor, makeup, clothes, stationery, and yes, umbrellas. It’s always fun to bring home regular items, but make them French! Most important: check the forecast.
2. Jeans and tennis shoes (sneakers) are okay.
Contrary to popular belief, Parisians do not wear kitten heels and pencil skirts to run errands. I always see plenty of jeans and sneakers in Paris. However, you will observe that Parisian casual often retains a polished, neutral minimalism with few brands or logos. I’ve rarely seen anyone in Paris wearing gym shorts, leggings, sweats, or athletic clothing unless they were literally jogging or working out. You can definitely pack casual outfits, but for a trip to Paris I like to level up for one primary reason: photos. You’re going to take a ton of photos, and you won’t regret looking polished against those iconic Paris backdrops.
3. Pick a palette.
French street style is often very neutral, but not colorless. A greater difference with American style is the lack of bright logos or branding. Personally, I always pack something red for Paris—red brightens up your face and looks striking in photos against all that gray architecture. Whatever you choose, I recommend packing a limited palette so your pieces can mix and match most easily.
4. Wear a scarf.
It's chilly weather and you’re in the scarf capital of the world, so now’s your prime chance to wrap up in your coziest scarf. Even better, buy a beautiful scarf in Paris to wear during your trip and then bring home a wearable souvenir (both of these scarves were Paris purchases).
5. Happy feet are non-negotiable.
Paris shines most brightly when you wander and walk the city, so pack truly comfortable shoes. You won’t enjoy a single minute if your feet hurt. Heels will cause only trouble on the cobblestones, so leave them behind. Flats, loafers, and neutral sneakers are all are great options that pair well with both casual and dressier outfits. On past Paris trips, I have happily paired white sneakers with skirts, dresses, pants, and jeans. (See also this post on travel shoes.)
6. Style with socks.
Socks can add a lot of style bang for your buck with only a little suitcase space. These scalloped socks are well-made of textured cotton and add a bit of charm to your outfit. These socks add a pop of unexpected red to your regular neutrals and basics (they also come in several other colorways.)
I also love these merino wool socks. I find the no-show cream colorway offers the best versatility. Merino feels pleasantly nubby on your feet, holds up to tons of use, never smells funky, and wicks moisture. (Some merino enthusiasts even say they wear these socks multiple times before a wash, and I can understand why they say that, but y'all. Wash your socks.)
If you're not worried about cold ankles and are hunting for truly no-show that do not slip down, stop testing random brands and get these. These are quite simply a product that does what it's supposed to do. And a parting low-cut sock hack: Tuck the back of your sock over the heel of your shoe; they'll stay up and you will stay blister-free. De rien.
Things I'd always pack for Paris in November:
Straight leg jeans in a darker wash without distressing or holes
Black straight or wide leg pants
Black sweater: After all, one black top may be all you need for a trip!
Black slip skirt: It's wise to bring a piece that can elevate your outfit for visiting sacred places, going to Mass, dressing for dinner, or just looking nice in your photos. I always pack a black slip skirt to mix and match with different tops. I love that this one feels silky but is super low-maintenance. You can roll it up and stuff it into whatever random corner of your suitcase is available.
Non-bulky but warm sweaters: Try merino, cashmere, or a finely-knit wool blend.
Long sleeve base layers: I have several of these silky base layers for adding warmth without bulk under sweaters.
Short sleeve base layers: I also pack these ultrathin, ultrasoft cotton undershirts for every trip. They disappear under everything and protect your sweaters, dresses, tops, and other clothes so you can extend re-wears, which helps for packing lighter.
Warm longer-length coat: I’m admittedly operating on Louisiana-girl standards of cold, but Paris in November can get cold enough that I’ve been grateful to have my full-length wool coat or even a down puffer coat and gloves. Check the forecast! Cold is so subjective; you know best what you’ll need to stay warm according to the forecast.
Trench coat or rain jacket: This piece should be roomy enough to layer over your other layers in case of heavier rain.
Comfortable shoes: Pack no more than three pairs of shoes; wear the heaviest or bulkiest pair on the plane. Good options for Paris in late autumn include flats, loafers, minimalist sneakers, or flat heeled boots. I love my Thousand Fell white sneakers and lately have been into unisex sneakers like the black retro Sauconys or the black leather Nike Cortez.
Don't forget your packing sketch!
Two more general packing tips:
Identify how you want to feel on your trip—casual chic? date-nightish? funky? colorful? minimal? fancy? sporty? If your trip will include special photos, try to identify how you want to feel in those, too. If you focus on how you want to feel on your trip, this will help you streamline and eliminate pieces that don't serve this end, as well as avoid random packing, overpacking, and unnecessary panic-shopping (aka overspending).
Draw your potential packing list and then draw all the outfits you can make with those pieces. I make packing sketches for our trips, and I always end up taking several things out of my bags when I realize how little I need to make lots of great combinations. Bonus: your packing sketch will be a sweet souvenir. (The packing sketch above is from a 2008 Paris trip—how about those early-aughts wide belts?!)
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