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Ladies, let’s talk about French Lingerie!

 

Ok, well let’s start with just lingerie then.

 

How many of you are planning to put on a beautiful lace or satin bra and panties under your clothes today, tomorrow, and every day?

 

Just for you.

 

I thought so.

 

I bet that if I were to ask a Parisian woman the same question, the answer might be wildly different.

 

That’s because most of us wear underwear, and in Paris, women wear lingerie.

 

This is pretty much how my conversation started with Kathryn Kemp-Griffin, author of Paris Undressed: The Secrets of French Lingerie.

 

 

 

We had decided to meet for coffee in a funky Paris cafe called Merci and three hours later I will still be enraptured by what Kate (as she prefers to be called) was talking about.

 

Katherine Kemp-Griffin lives in a village north of Paris called Saclas with her husband and 5 children.

 

Your First Bra

 

“Do you remember your first bra?” Kate asked me.

“I do,” I replied with a sigh.

 

It happened as a result of this stupid boy sitting behind me in my grade 8 class. He leaned forward and started to draw in thick black felt marker an outline of the undershirt I was still wearing under my blouse.

 

I ran home sobbing to my mother who the next day took me to the nearest department store.

 

My Triple AAA “training bra” was white, itchy, and unattractive,” I told Kate.

 

“And think of how that made you feel!” Kate added.  Like it was going to be embarrassing to reach womanhood was what I was thinking.

 

Then Kate described the experience a young French girl has in this situation.

 

“It’s an event!” says Kathryn. The girl’s mother, maybe even her grandmother and aunt, will escort the young lady to their favourite lingerie boutique. A lingerie expert will help her pick out the most beautiful bra she can find (and one that fits!).

 

Thus begins a life where the young woman “inhabits her body and her life with effortless grace and sensuality,” says Kate.

 

Oh my.

 

 

Lingerie In Paris

 

There are lingerie stores all over Paris, where women buy lingerie not as a luxury to be worn once in a while (like now during the holiday season or on a hot date where sex is the goal), but as something that makes them feel good.

 

It’s just part of one’s overall wardrobe.

 

And I bet that you do not see too many shop windows in our cities or towns where displays have advertisements that say — Libérer vos seins/Liberate your Breasts!

 

And I don’t think they mean “go bra-less” which made me curious enough to want to go in and have a look!  But I didn’t! I was too intimidated.

 

French Lingerie

 

French Lingerie For Me!

 

Oh, there is so much more to talk about on this subject so have a look at my experience buying a French bra in another blog post CLICK HERE TO READ IT!

 

Brought to you by www.womanofacertainageinparis.com

 

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17 Comments

  1. Shardie Stevenson on December 15, 2019 at 11:16 am

    It’s incredible what a different experience we as young girls had “ in the Day”. Getting your first bra and everything surrounding it It was the height of embarrassment!!
    Even the word underwear is ? versus lingerie ?!
    Love this and must get the book!!
    Looking forward to spending quality time with you over the holidays BFF! ❤️

    • Anne Teichroew on December 15, 2019 at 11:32 am

      Happiest of Christmases, Diana!
      I am so thankful I discovered your wonderful blog this year.. looking forward to your 2020 French stories and insights,
      Amicalement,
      Anne?

      • Diana Bishop on December 16, 2019 at 9:59 am

        Anne, Thank you so much! I have enjoyed hearing from you in 2019. Best, Diana

    • Diana Bishop on December 16, 2019 at 10:00 am

      Me to BFF! Love you! Diana

  2. Peg McPhedran on December 15, 2019 at 12:59 pm

    You’ve inspired me, Diana!
    I’m going to plan a shopping trip for sexy Lingerie for myself for the holidays and for every day after that!
    Enjoy your holidays!

    • Diana Bishop on December 16, 2019 at 10:01 am

      You go girl!

  3. Trudy Van Buskirk on December 15, 2019 at 1:27 pm

    Merry Christmas Diana. I always enjoy reading your posts here. See you in 2020!!!!!!!

    • Diana Bishop on December 16, 2019 at 9:39 am

      Yes indeed Trudy! Happy Holidays to you and your family. Diana

  4. Luci on December 15, 2019 at 3:07 pm

    Merry Christmas Diana!

    • Diana Bishop on December 16, 2019 at 9:38 am

      Thank you Luci! I look forward to hearing from you in the New Year! Diana

  5. lagatta à montréal on December 15, 2019 at 6:54 pm

    Alas at that age I was a 30d. Tiny shoulders and ribcage, overendowed.

    Actually, I know quite a few modern Parisiennes who prefer a sleek sportive aesthetic to lace and the sharp knives known as underwires. No, they don’t wear ugly white “foundation garments” but refuse to “souffrir pour être belles”. Think of Knix for example, and other brands with an athletic aesthetic. And these aren’t only young girls, but also women of our cohort – as long as the bras and other undies support and DO NOT HURT.

  6. lagatta à montréal on December 15, 2019 at 6:55 pm

    En passant, Joyeuses fêtes et bonne année!

    • Diana Bishop on December 16, 2019 at 9:38 am

      Lagatta,

      I always look forward to hearing from you to get that French perspective.
      And I do notice that more and more stores offer an athletic style of undergarments, as the young French woman’s life style is different from her mother or grandmothers for sure. Always a pleasure reading your comments. Best to you! And Joyeux Noel!

  7. Karen on December 16, 2019 at 7:44 am

    I can’t wait to read Kate’s book now! This post is awesome and fun to read. I used to sell bras and yes… Most women wear the wrong size. Wearing a proper bra can make you look slimmer and help your clothes fit better.

    • Diana Bishop on December 16, 2019 at 9:36 am

      It is a wonderful book. And I will be giving one away in 2020!
      Hope you have a wonderful Christmas Karen and look forward to our next chat. Thanks so much for the comment!

  8. Gabrielle on January 13, 2020 at 5:52 am

    Just catching up on this, and I think I need to go to one of these retreats. In the meantime, I’ve ordered the book, because the lead character of the book I’m working on now (set in Paris, of course!) is a lingerie designer.

    Happy new year!

    • Diana Bishop on January 13, 2020 at 10:19 am

      Gabrielle,
      So wonderful to hear from you! Yes me too! I want to go to one of these retreats. You will love her book. I hope you bought it through clicking through from my site. These provide small commissions for me to pay for my administrative costs. Many thanks. Diana

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