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You hear it all the time from your fellow Americans. “Waiters in Paris are rude.” But as with everything, there are two sides to every story. Are these serve your beef tartare or wear the latest pieces from the French fashion shows, the eternal grinches? Or could it be that Americans are truly unpleasant travelers?
On the cover of our summer issue, entirely devoted to Paris, a love note for the city who will experience the storm of couture week, men's fashion week, Olympic Gamesand bitter elections in a single summer–freedom, equalityAnd scandal are emblazoned in red. Are you going to Paris this summer? We asked Parisians and other French speakers for some advice to avoid having the last word in this trio.
What is Paris syndrome?
“There are so many videos online about 'how to dress French',” says Joost Van Der Ree, a fashion photographer based in Paris. General conditions. “Tourists often try too hard, looking for misguided tutorials on how to dress like a Parisian. True Parisian style is about being original and yourself. Have a little humor with it and put on the beret.” It's like someone is driving towards Raoul's downtown in a Bass Pros Shop look.
This What… Oat milk?
Comedian Andy Haynes once said, “I ordered oat milk in Paris and the waiter said no.” the TikTok sketch below illustrates the situation. While trendy Parisian cafés like Custom Café , Hello JacobAnd The Peleton Café If you have alternative milk options, it might be harder to find them at traditional breweries. Asking for it isn't really a question of etiquette, it's just a very American behavior.
Save Athleisure for Los Angeles
'It's not hot or chic,' says fashion designer Steven Passaro General conditions. “Sportswear should only be worn in the gym.” According to him, you won't fit in with the local population if you are seen wearing your Lululemon. But those who maintain their fitness should not worry. He says he runs on the Seine or wears sports clothes to the sports club The Hot Air Balloon (which would be designer Simon Porte de Jacquemus' go-to gym) is of course acceptable.
No, not everyone needs to hear your conversation
It was a quiet morning in the lobby of the Bulgari Hotel Paris during sewing week in January. The sun slowly peeked through the cloudy haze and the smell of fresh espresso hung in the air. Suddenly: a booming voice with a typical American accent echoes through the room. “Parisians speak very quietly,” Sofia Achaval de Montaigue, Parisian-Argentinian socialite and founder of a clothing brand Acheval Pampatell General conditions. “It's like a city without noise. When you are in a restaurant or a cafe, you always notice the presence of Americans because they speak very loudly.”
And let's not talk about work
Unlike Americans, the French are quite serious about their work-life balance and there's nothing ruder than talking business after 5 p.m. In fact, it's a pretty big faux pas to lead a conversation with “What do you do for work?” Try instead: a conversation about a new art exhibition. Extra points if the exposure is at a lesser known museum.
Is Duo Lingo enough?
Who knows, but it's a start. It's a no-brainer whatever your destination: try to speak the language of the place you're visiting. A simple “Hello Sir/Madam” can go a long way, even if your interlocutor responds in English. When I started going to The Counter of Saint Fathers (an unpretentious café on the left bank where some big names in fashion frequent), they did not receive my butchered French well. But after about a month, they let me stay at my table during the lunch rush. The two English speakers next to me were expelled. It was like being back in middle school when the mean girl was finally nice to you: the ultimate approval.
Coffee is a luxurious ritual, not a rushed necessity
I have never felt more American (and out of place in a European country) than when I had an espresso early in my clichéd Hemingway life in Paris. “The whole take-out coffee thing, of course,” replies Achavel de Montaigue when asked what sets Americans apart. “Parisians like to have coffee in cafes. There is a ritual around that, and having a moment to stop and have a coffee is important to us.”
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