Editor's Note: This is your 56th known stopped pick-pocket in Paris. Scott was wearing a pair of Convertible Travel Pants on the trip.
Dear Clothing Arts,
Long overdue getting you this, but here’s a good and bad news event. Four friends and I did a Germany to France tour from May 25 through June 10, 2023. Before the trip, I purchased two pairs of your convertible pants (unbelievable for all sorts of reasons – great looks, comfort, feel, washability, and incredible pick-pocket safety). At that time, I highly recommended getting a pair or two to the guys. One bought a pair of shorts (he should have purchased at least a pair of convertibles, which he regretted, but he’s cheap), and the other two guys didn’t buy at all (they’re even cheaper.)
Bad news. We’re now on the last leg of our trip in France, heading to the Eiffel Tour by subway. Of course, we stick out like real knuckleheads (which we are – but fun) from the U.S. trying to navigate subway directions. We might have well shouted we’re here, “Come all “pick-pocketers.” In my defense, I had pleaded with the guys to be extremely careful with their wallets. Keep your hands in your pocket, hold onto your wallet, stick close together, and don’t get caught surrounded by a bunch of kids asking questions. I might as well have been talking to a brick wall to one of the guys. It didn’t take two seconds getting on the train (I didn’t even notice) when, unbelievably, a lady held up a wallet and said, anyone named John Baptiste (our buddy) here? As you would expect, $500 is gone. But that’s all they took. John got his wallet back with everything in it except the money (I guess there “is honor among thieves.) I asked John what happened. I don’t think he knew, but his brother said he got surrounded by four or five kids asking him questions and just like you read about, a “textbook hit” – amazing.
Good news. This may sound crazy, but my other buddy (the semi-cheap guy) who bought your shorts had the same thing happen the next day. I had noticed two boys a little further back the aisle from us and two girls close behind one of my friends. It seemed like they were just there. (I bumped into my friend, who had his back to the group, and he guarded his wallet.) As we got off the train, my buddy, who was wearing your shorts, felt his pocket tugged long enough to realize what was going on and slapped a girl's hand away. He said she then just looked at him with a cold, unblinking stare – like, what are you doing? It bothered me enough that he mentioned how cold the stare was a couple of times after that – there was absolutely no feeling.
Forgot. Funny, but not funny to John. After the incident going to the Eiffel Tour after John got taken, one of the other “cheap” guys immediately handed me his wallet and said, “Hold on to this for me.” I did, but I never gave him his money back – just kidding.
In summation, I’m so glad I found out about you guys. Your pants provided me unbelievable comfort, knowing nothing was getting out of my pockets. As a note, I kept everything in my front pockets. (If there is one complaint, it was even hard for me to get stuff out of my pockets – a good problem to have!) I'm heading to Ireland soon. It's great comfort to have your convertible pants ready to go.
Thank you, Clothing Arts.
- Scott
