What To Wear in France’s Waterways
Though it may be tempting to pack berets and stripes, we’re here to help you avoid a dreaded faux pas when travelling to France. Style expert Osman Ahmed leads us through the do’s and don’ts of dressing for a French river cruise as part of our ‘Location Dressing’ series.
Header photograph by Benjamin Pexton
Listen to me carefully: do not pack a Breton top. Sure, you might have an image of yourself as Jean Seberg, but as you cruise through the rural French countryside, you will stick out like Emily in Paris. A voyage on Les Bateaux Belmond through the gently stirring waterways of the French countryside, with stops at Michelin-starred restaurants and wine-and-cheese pairings at sunset, is all about relaxed elegance à la française. This is, I repeat, not Paris Fashion Week.
This is the heartland of discreet chic, where idle days are spent relaxing with a good book and a glass of wine, as a light breeze tenderly resets your nervous system. It’s important to be comfortable on a boat, which is what no one ever tells you. Think lightweight linen shirts, a classic pair of blue jeans, triple-ply cashmere sweaters and minimally branded accessories. The idea is to look like you’re not trying.
The French even came up with a word for it: insouciance. You’ll want to be relaxed enough for an impromptu picnic on a riverbank and elegant enough to pass as a connoisseur at a private wine tasting amidst the vines. And, like a good wine, it’s all about great taste – not over-the-top opulence. This is a grown-up trip for those who enjoy the finer things in life, not just the flashiest.
WHAT TO WEAR IN...
THE MEXICAN CARIBBEAN
There is something about a tropical climate that instantly lifts your mood – so dress to match your serotonin levels.
BOTSWANA
Going on safari is about the truly breathtaking experience of being at one with the raw elements of nature, and part of that is blending into the terrain.
PORTOFINO
The Italian Riviera is a portal to another world; a bygone era of Hollywood glamour and aristocratic grandeur.
THE VENICE-SIMPLON-ORIENT-EXPRESS
Pack your best party looks – black-tie tuxedos, feather-trimmed mules, sequins, velvet and all the fanciful delights that your wardrobe has to offer.
BURGUNDY
In Belmond’s slow TV series ‘Long Shots’ – ultra longform films designed for passive viewing and active dreaming – each production captures the sights and sounds of a Belmond destination in immersive detail.
Enjoy 60 minutes of footage captured aboard Amaryllis, part of Les Bateaux Belmond, and be immersed in the calming canals of Burgundy.
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