I am a plus size woman and my boyfriend is a big guy too.I need advice on places to avoid while in Paris that might be to confining to accomodate us.We both fit in the airplane seats but are aware that Paris is a place for thin people.I also love to shop.Is there any place to buy plus sized clothing there?I am really worried.Any tips would be appreciated.
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Hello Babs,
Please dont worry. It will not be a problem in Paris.....
If you are okay with the seats in the plane you should have no trouble anywhere in Paris, except maybe the %26quot;petite%26quot; sections of the department stores! Look around them and surely you will find something.........And there are always scarves, shoes, hats, purses, purfume etc. There is at least one speciality shop with plus sizes but I dont remember where...sorry.
The overweight thing has been overblown here. There are many overweight people in Paris...........just that the beautiful young women really do shine. Dont worry about it...Noone will say or do anything unless they are plain jerks.
Even if there were no Parisians overweight (and there are) a zillion tourists from all over the world are wandering around....all sizes...all shapes...all colors.
Just relax and you will love Paris,
Bea
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Bea%26#39;s right. The one thing you might want to do, though, is to be sure to ask for a table in the middle of the room when reserving at a restaurant. Restaurants are frequently very small, and they line the walls with tables. The tables must be pulled out for one person to get in behind. Doing it gracefully is a challenge for even the thinnest of us!
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Check with your hotel reservation and see if you can get a lower floor. Otherwise, in hotels, there will be typically lots of tight spiral stairwell climbing or uncomfortably small elevators.
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i think elena miro and helena rinaldi sell plus size clothes (it%26#39;s their specialty), they are i think at galeries lafayette, and they have some great stuffs (they advertise).
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Bonjour Babs.
As a plus size American woman that loves to visit Paris, I can totally relate to your questions.
This may sound off the mark, but first, learn some French. No matter who you are, if you at least try to speak their beautiful language, they will warm to you. Even if you mangle it. Everytime you enter your hotel lobby or a restaurant or a store -- greet the people with %26quot;bonjour%26quot;. Apologize, in French, for not speaking French and ask them, in French, if they speak English. (My favorite CD language program is Pimsleur -- it helps if you know a bit about the language, though, as there is no book with this set. The $20 Euro edition is good for the basics. That and a basic phrase book, my fave is %26quot;French at a Glance%26quot; published by Barrons, about $7 or $8 -- get the one with the plastic cover if you can -- and you%26#39;ll have the basics in your head and at your fingertips) After you have thoroughly butchered their beloved language (they won%26#39;t laugh at you and will genuinely appreciate your efforts) they will no longer be embarrassed to speak English -- they all think their English is bad when it isn%26#39;t. Be charming. Pretend you are French. Use your feminine %26quot;whiles%26quot;.
That said, if you are comfortable with who you are and well, your own sensuality, you are actually going to be more comfortable in Paris than in some parts of the US. France is a country where s*x and the senses are celebrated. If you enjoy being a woman, let it show! Unlike the States where sometimes I think we dress to not stand out, or just fit in with the men, or to hide our %26quot;womanliness%26quot;. Dress up; dress pretty; do your hair and make-up, everyday; don%26#39;t wear sneakers or a track/sweat suit; wear your favorite jewelry. Do whatever makes you feel good in your own skin. Use body lotion. Wear perfume. Wear your best lingerie (what are you saving it for anyway?)
You could even shop for a wonderful perfume or fabulous silk scarf (they fit all sizes, all the time.) Notice how every French woman wears a scarf -- it%26#39;s ingrained in them from the time they are children on how to wear and wrap and tie and -- it just makes them look so pulled together!
For me, clothing is just too expensive in France, and now with the poor dollar/euro exchange rate -- there%26#39;s nothing really that I can%26#39;t get at home, less expensively. And, I have to admit, as much as I admire all that gorgeous French lingerie, I have not attempted to try-on and bring any of it home. Again, the really beautiful stuff is expensive, too.
As for the size of things -- the stairway up Notre Dame is quite narrow and very steep and over 300 steps (if I remember correctly.) The view is nice but if you%26#39;re not in shape, there%26#39;s other views as good or nicer in Paris.
The only other thing I have to watch out for are cafes and restaurants that have chairs with narrow arms. Many have those white, plastic patio chairs that can cut into the sides of your thighs (if you like me, bigger on the bottom than on the top). We look for %26quot;armless%26quot; chairs and banquettes.
Take a deep breath. Relax. Hold hands with you boyfriend. Enjoy being together in Paris -- the most romantic city in the world!
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300 steps to the top of Notre Dame? Poop. That will be a workout, but nothing is stopping me from getting a close up picture of those gargoyles!!
I guess those skinny fitness instructors climbing up behind me will just have to wait!!! ~grin~
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Hi Babs,
I am also a plus-size, but have found that in europe I have been treated far better then some places in the US.
The only things that I found were if it is not a plus-size shop don%26#39;t even try to see if something will maybe be ok. When in Venice I went into a mens store and saw some jackets that I really liked, not even the XL fit. The sales man was so helpful and kept trying to find a coat that I would like and fit in but it was my own disapointment at not being able to buy any clothing that was the worst.
I did buy lots of jewerly and scarfs in a bunch of colors and I get to wear something different everyday.
People always comment on your jewerly but not always on you shirt.
I hope you have a great time and if you are there in July then don%26#39;t worry they wil all be looking at my big behind not yours.
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