French women, (and men too,) have a passionate affair with food and lingerie. Bakeries and lingerie shops compete with one another on every street. You can buy pretty sexy undergarments at the grocery store, just like bread they come in many styles and shapes…mais oui! Food and the oh la la sort of thing, are food for the soul, why not be sold at the same place? The French do not have as many hang ups about food, nor that which seems sexy. The enjoy la belle vie, and just get on with it.
One day I happened to be drawn into one of those delicate lacy lingerie shops, because through their window I saw an antique statue in the background. The saleslady asked if I need any help, I blushed telling her I came in only to admire the statue up close, and that I wear basic white cotton (if you know what I mean.)
Well, that didn’t stop her from diving into the undie drawer and pulling out untold secrets I never thought about. The statue no longer held my regard, it stood stone face while the saleswoman gave her best pitch. She simply said this:
"Women enjoy feeling pretty, undergarments are underneath and close to their skin, it reminds them that they are feminine, sensual, that they have an untold beauty within. (She had me, I mean wow, had she ever considered writing poetry? But her best line was to come…) She continued, "When you see someone, no matter their age or size, if they are dressed with style they look good, attractive, and their style is pleasing to the eye. You do not have to be a skinny beauty queen to wear nice undergarments. Pretty is pretty, and plain is plain, no matter the size of the hips."
It made me think; I eat whole grain bread, why should I stick to plain white cotton? The French do most things with a certain savoir-faire, they have a knack for making the ordinary extraordinary, and the simple pleasures obtainable.
photo: While taking a bite out of the baguette I had in my hand, I looked at these undergarments tempting me like the snake in the garden of Eden…hum, pretty in pink, ditch the white cotton!
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