Summers in Paris just keep getting hotter and hotter. While exploring the city in a heatwave can be a bit of a sweaty affair, wearing the right clothes makes a huge difference. I cover everything you need about dressing for your trip in my Paris Packing Guide, but if you’re visiting during one of those scorching weeks, here’s exactly what to wear in Paris during a heatwave so you stay cool while also blending in with the locals.
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Wide or straight-legged linen pants
If there’s one fabric the French absolutely love in summer, it’s linen. It’s light, breathable, and effortlessly chic. You’ll see Parisians wearing linen in everything from classic white and beige to softer greens, blues and pinks.
Wide-leg or straight-leg styles are by far the most common—they’re breezy, comfortable and look polished without trying too hard. When you’re shopping for your trip, look for something like these women’s linen pants or this men’s version.
Image Courtesy of Sezane
Mid-knee shorts
When I first moved to Paris 20 years ago, nobody, and I mean NOBODY, wore shorts. It was the quickest way to announce, “I’m a tourist!”. But with increasingly hotter summers, the French have definitely warmed (pun intended) to wearing shorts… but a chic version, of course.
Known as un short (yes, singular!) or sometimes un bermuda, the local style leans towards relaxed, knee-length shorts rather than tiny denim cut-offs or activewear style (except on the cyclists of the Tour de France bike race). If you want to blend in, go for a looser fit like these from Uniqlo, this cute stripey pair for women, or this relaxed-but-tailored men’s pair.
Flowy short-sleeve tops
There are really no rules of what to wear with your breezy trousers or shorts, but I’d recommend a nice flowy short-sleeve top. You can wear a tank top, but you have to be careful which day you wear it, because if you plan to go inside Notre Dame or Sacré-Coeur, you need to have your shoulders covered (other churches in Paris do not have security guards enforcing this rule).
A breezy short-sleeve blouse or T-shirt with a little detail works perfectly. I love this airy top from Sézane, and this one from Free People is another great option. For men, a polo is always a classic, or do as lots of French men do and throw an open short-sleeve shirt over a simple T-shirt, like this look.
Image Courtesy of Sezane
Lightweight knee-length dresses
If I had to pick one Paris heatwave hero for women, it’d be a breezy knee-length dress. They’re cool, comfortable, easy to dress up or down, and you’ll see Parisiennes wearing them everywhere. Floral prints, bold colours, neutrals, pretty much anything goes.
If you’re looking for some inspiration, this patterned dress is perfect, as is this mini dress from Banana Republic. For the hottest days, a strappy dress is even cooler, like this nice one also by Sezane. Just remember that if you’re visiting Notre-Dame or Sacré-Cœur, you’ll need to cover your shoulders, so tuck a light scarf into your bag, and you’re good to go.
Adjustable sandals
When it’s roasting outside, sandals are incredibly tempting, and they’re a great idea as long as they’re comfortable and supportive. You’ll be walking a lot in Paris, and your feet will probably swell a little in the heat, so look for sandals with adjustable straps that you can loosen as the day goes on. Your feet will thank you by dinner.
Something like these women’s sandals from Toms, this pair, or these men’s sandals from Ecco are all great options. I walk a ton and have been really happy with the Eccos I’ve bought over the years.
Image Courtesy of Rothy’s
Lightweight walking shoes
Another alternative for your Paris heatwave sightseeing days is a pair of lightweight running or walking shoes. The more breathable, the better, you want as much airflow as possible when you’re clocking up those Parisian steps.
Luckily, walking shoes have become much more stylish in recent years. Look at this pair, or Mary Janes, and these great men’s runners are comfy and come in lots of different colors.
Wide-brim straw hat
A straw hat isn’t just cute, it’s one of the easiest ways to escape the blazing sun. You’ll spot plenty of Parisians wearing them in summer too, so you’ll fit right in while keeping your face a little cooler.
This floppy hat seems like it came straight from a Parisian shop. For men, I’d go for a fedora or Panama hat vibe, like this packable straw hat.
Hair accessories
This one often gets forgotten, but if you have medium or long hair, you’ll almost certainly want it off your neck during a Paris heatwave. Don’t forget to pack a few hair ties or a claw clip, or treat yourself to one of these cute Big Effing Clips, famous for working well even for the thickest hair.
Portable fan
A portable travel fan can be a real lifesaver during a Paris heatwave. It can make sightseeing, metro rides, and long lunches on café terraces so much more comfortable.
Some wrap around your neck (a bit over-the-top IMO), while others fold into little desk fans, perfect if you end up in one of Paris’s many restaurants without air-conditioning. You can find them at all kinds of shops in Paris, but if you want to order a great quality one before you leave, like this one.
Image Courtesy of La Roche Posay
Sunscreen
Lastly, you’ll definitely need some sunscreen as those extra-strong rays can be pretty harmful. You certainly don’t want to nurse a sunburn as you’re dealing with an intense heatwave in Paris.
This is one thing you actually don’t have to pack, because some of the best skincare products are made in France. Just pop into a pharmacy when you arrive and grab a bottle. If you’re not sure what to get, La Roche Posay has a fabulous face sunscreen that’s really lightweight so it doesn’t leave that sticky feeling. You can find out where to pick this up, and tons of other amazing tips in my guide to shopping at a French pharmacy.
If you don’t want to have to go buy your sunscreen once you arrive though, here’s what I’d grab from Sephora before you hop on the plane to Paris:
- This SPF stick, to top up throughout your day without having to deal with sticky liquids
- This facial sunscreen, to put on every morning before you head out for your first croissant of the day
- This full body sunscreen lotion, to protect your skin all over
- This aloe vera tube, just in case you still get too much sun…
If you liked my guide to what to wear in Paris in summer during a heatwave, you might be looking for other tips for summertime in Paris. Read these next:
