We got off the boat today and while I was patiently waiting at National Car Rentals at the Nice airport, I was watching the men and women picking up cars and dropping off cars. I don't know WHY I started musing about this, BUT it is really easy to pick out French (or German) men when just looking at them.
How, you ask? Well, part of it is their shoes. Their shoes are really long and pointy toed. Like ones that clowns wear. American men wear sturdy shoes, rounded toes, nothing special. French men go that extra mile and not only have the pointy toes, but shiny shiny shoes also. And clothes. Well, that is a whole new way to detect them. See, French men must be proud of themselves. They ALL wear tight (and I do mean tight) pants, particularly the legs part that fit around their buff thighs. And jackets? Well, their suit jackets are fitted -- nipped in at the waist and they fall casually over their tight little butts. You can also tell them because they smoke. A lot. Hair? The men universally have lovely hair. And that scruffy beard thing? It is de riguer among French men.
Yes, you're right. Not ALL French men are in suits with pointy shoes. There is the other kind too. The other kind is in baggy jeans, hairy legs showing, fancy sneakers untied with ankle socks. And muscle shirts. But that scruffy look still prevails. And even men who are working on road projects have a flair. We saw one fellow in short shorts (and I do mean SHORT), with no shirt and flip flops. On a road project, shoveling dirt. Appropriate? Maybe in France. But think about American road workers: little yellow vests over overalls. Jeans, shorts, hardhats, high boots. No thigh showing there! No fashionable short short or flip flops in the U.S. Is that part of the je ne se quoi? the french seem to have??
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Awesome fashion statement! Well done, Kathy! Re: American man vs. Spanish/French...Most of the Continental sorts wouldn't be caught dead in the American gear of trainer shoes and baggy shorts. And American men seem so oblivious to how that looks...even with great or passable legs. But, OMG, I can hardly believe short shorts and flip-flops...I would be wondering about a gender statement here.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I hate flip-flops on anyone esp. Northwestern women volleyball players who won a trophy...and went to the White House in them. Well, maybe GW could appreciate them since his Texan cowboy boots don't pass muster in most of the US.
A place we often stay at in Puerto Vallarta, MX dresses it pool staff (all male) in American country club look of the 50's? Khaki Bermudas, polo shirts, baseball/visor caps and white tennis shoes. Very amusing.
I love your fashion summaries. Do one of the French women, Please.
Did I tell you the one where we were at Moet in Rhoen, France...My feet were killing and I was looking around the champagne cellar for a ride. I spotted two women, one young and old, and a younger man. Women were wearing heels that told Claire and me that these ladies would not be walking far. I asked them for a ride to the train station back to Paris. Of course, they said "yes". Turns out, the daughter was the sommelier at Four Seasons in Santa Barbara. They had just returned from having "lunch" at a Moet propery that had been something of Napoleon.
The young man was a buyer for Ann Taylor and the mother at the wheel would be like me...never shops at Ann Taylor for the petiteness of it all. The guy had the men down as perfectly as you...and he did a great number on the ladies in the Metro with their Chanel suits.
BTW, spent the am in the Cleveland Art Museum. Talk about a hidden gem. Lots of money was and is still there...although not as much as before. Ironically, the O'Keeffe I was planning to see...enormous...and in storage, but God willing, we plan to return in 2013 when the new addition is finished...even though Claire and ERik will have moved on.
Finally got caught up with your journey. You blog is such wonderful fun to read!! Thanks for sharing all this- beautiful pictures, great stories and your tired feet. Cobblestones do a number on the feet and ankles.
ReplyDeleteSigh. Road work with flip flops? Definitely would NOT be allowed on a public works crew! LOL Brent has noticed that the suburban male "plumage" her in Rochester consists of "I have given up" baggy cargo shorts paired with a "I really should have stopped wearing this 20 lbs ago" technical fabric tshirt. I would love to see them have to fit within the French male clothing patterns! :)
ReplyDeleteI should add when we're traveling in warm weather, Bob goes from the American classic...tennis shoes, baggy shoes...I try to ignore.☺
ReplyDeleteTight around their thighs? Are you too polite to say that the pants are tight in the crotch-region, showing off their...um...plummage???
ReplyDelete