France: Business Dress
From ExecutivePlanet.com
Business Dress
Guidelines for business dress
Senior managers’ dress is formal for both men and women, whether in business or social situations. If you play in that league, you must do your best to make clothing choices that are tasteful and stylish.
Wear only conservative clothing of the highest quality. Men should wear dark suits, particularly during the winter. Women are advised to dress simply and with elegance. Accessorizing, which adds flair to even very simple outfits, is also widely practiced here.
French women often wear more makeup than American women do. In summer, they do not wear stockings.
When you receive an invitation stating "informal" dress, don't assume you'll be welcome arriving in a t-shirt and sweatpants. For a social gathering, informal more often than not means tastefully coordinated clothes, including a jacket for men. You might say that this kind of dress is like casual wear from a Fifth Avenue shop.
If you are not dealing with senior management, anything goes. It depends on the company culture and on the department you work for. As an example, banks will expect their employees dealing with the public to wear a tie and a dark suit. IT people, in the same bank, will come to work in (clean) jeans and T-shirts.
If in doubt, a jacket and coordinated trousers are a safe bet. You can get rid of your tie if your colleagues do not wear one.
The seasons vary, so you will have to dress accordingly. Summers can be hot and humid, and winters can be long, damp, and very cold. There is minimal snow, however, except in the mountain regions to the east. Typically, spring and fall are mild and pleasant.
