I am told, although I haven't investigated it too thoroughly myself, that it is good for women with fuller cup-sizes who happen to be visiting France to buy their bras there, because in the US there is usually a trade-off between style & support (as I thought B suggested somewhere in there), but all French bras go for style. I have a friend who always loads up on bras when she is there.
Perhaps B can look into this rumor and provide a full report.
If one is not a daintily shaped French women, one can sometimes have trouble finding functional bras. One may opt for stylish non-functional bras for les soirees speciales, but one had better rely on a few Wacoal stand-bys for everyday use.
ac, if you want to buy me a ticket to Paris, I will happily do some research and report back.
(I will say, however, that the nice French brands that get exported--e.g. La Perla--don't go for a particulary broad size range; as my boyfriend once said, "lingerie designers, like all designers, prefer the small women." Alas, it seems to be true.)
I have a tendency to buy whatever's in my size and on sale, because I really can't stomach the prices for decent bras (yeah, yeah, I know, I've also ruined my feet buying cheap shoes), but I was entertained, after an earlier bra post, to look at the tag on a particularly comfortable bra and find out it was a Wacoal.
Yeah, I've been buying bras in France for years, though now some of the brands are available here and the American ones for big boobs are not
quite as hideous as they used to be. I always go to the basement of the big department store, Printemps, which has an enormous big
selection. It's a whole sociological experience: the bras are organized in stalls by brand, not size, so you have to go around to which one until you figure out what you like. Men lurk in the dressing
ac's comments are reminding me of a Zola novel that a friend recommended last year, which I can see from where I'm sitting, but which I have still not read.
I don't know about France, but American designers seem to assume anything over a C cup = fat woman who can't wear anything but sweatpants and has no taste anyway, so we'll make the bands six inches wide, the colors garish, and further more, said whore must be ashamed over her boobs, so we will make them corsette-like and minimizing.
Yeah, what the fuck is up with that? Why are all the larger cup size bras "minimizers"?
B. has excellent advice. I am mostly a cheap-ass when it comes to clothes and shoes (my most recent purchase was two lovely shirts from the thrift store for $3 apiece), but I drop $50 on a bra without thinking. That shit's important.
okay printemps claims they have the "biggest beauty section in the world" with some gazillion brands, and lots of lingerie too, but galeries lafayette is more exciting. for one thing, all the art deco balconies with red glass in them; and for another, the strange promotional events like a mariachi band wandering inside the store, and free fortune-telling set up year-round in many departments, but predominantly in the men's clothing i noticed.
but. what is UP with all the advertising of US Green Cards plastered everywhere here? i thought americans didn't want immigrants anymore? the t.v. spots have lots of stars and stripes waving about, and women in bikinis hopping around in the sand...not only does my country have to sell itself (poorly) now, but it looks like baywatch!
maybe condoleeza rice could be part of the spot, saying something about how the US does not torture anybody, and by the way simultaneously the Geneva Code doesn't apply to us...that would also bring many french immigrants in i am sure.
(that is the end of my rant, back to your regular programming now)
And what is your tailor's opinion on your bras?
Posted by SP | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 11:13 AM
I think tonight, a lot of men are going to be drugging then measuring their wives.
Posted by Adam Kotsko | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 11:15 AM
Is this a ploy to get me to link to a tit shot?
Posted by bitchphd | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 11:22 AM
I think tonight, a lot of men are going to be drugging then measuring their wives.
Dude! You can just ask! Even better! Offer to measure them!
ash
['No! No woman ever wants new clothing for Xmas! They want chainsaws and beer and subscriptions to Field and Stream!']
Posted by ash | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 11:25 AM
Finally! A post from the Blogger With Ovaries.
Posted by Armsmasher | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 11:26 AM
I am told, although I haven't investigated it too thoroughly myself, that it is good for women with fuller cup-sizes who happen to be visiting France to buy their bras there, because in the US there is usually a trade-off between style & support (as I thought B suggested somewhere in there), but all French bras go for style. I have a friend who always loads up on bras when she is there.
Perhaps B can look into this rumor and provide a full report.
Posted by ac | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 11:29 AM
If one is not a daintily shaped French women, one can sometimes have trouble finding functional bras. One may opt for stylish non-functional bras for les soirees speciales, but one had better rely on a few Wacoal stand-bys for everyday use.
Posted by Jackmormon | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 11:37 AM
Ash, Dude, that totally ruins the surprise.
Posted by Adam Kotsko | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 11:37 AM
The tip is specifically for women with C & D cups, not small, frail people. Supposedly you get the support with the style.
Posted by ac | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 11:40 AM
That has not been my experience.
Posted by Jackmormon | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 11:47 AM
ac, if you want to buy me a ticket to Paris, I will happily do some research and report back.
(I will say, however, that the nice French brands that get exported--e.g. La Perla--don't go for a particulary broad size range; as my boyfriend once said, "lingerie designers, like all designers, prefer the small women." Alas, it seems to be true.)
Posted by bitchphd | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 11:57 AM
A friend of mine was fond of saying that it was not the style of the bra, but rather what's inside that counts.
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 12:10 PM
You mean like the material?
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 12:11 PM
Yes, flesh is much better than what they make those display mannequins out of.
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 12:13 PM
I have a tendency to buy whatever's in my size and on sale, because I really can't stomach the prices for decent bras (yeah, yeah, I know, I've also ruined my feet buying cheap shoes), but I was entertained, after an earlier bra post, to look at the tag on a particularly comfortable bra and find out it was a Wacoal.
Posted by LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 12:15 PM
My friend (who is not small) says:
Yeah, I've been buying bras in France for years, though now some of the brands are available here and the American ones for big boobs are not
quite as hideous as they used to be. I always go to the basement of the big department store, Printemps, which has an enormous big
selection. It's a whole sociological experience: the bras are organized in stalls by brand, not size, so you have to go around to which one until you figure out what you like. Men lurk in the dressing
rooms, but the salespeople will help fit you...
Posted by ac | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 12:16 PM
But how does it compare to, say, satin? I imagine a flesh bra would be endlessly complicated to clean.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 12:16 PM
a flesh bra would be endlessly complicated to clean.
And one made of the same material they make mannequins from would be uncomfortably stiff, I should think.
Posted by Jeremy Osner | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 12:19 PM
I suppose if you have low standards of personal hygiene, a simple shower would seem complicated.
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 12:20 PM
ac's comments are reminding me of a Zola novel that a friend recommended last year, which I can see from where I'm sitting, but which I have still not read.
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 12:22 PM
Why? Are there titties on the cover?
Posted by Jeremy Osner | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 12:23 PM
Because.
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 12:26 PM
Oh. Printemps. Yes, I imagine they would have good stuff there.
Posted by Jackmormon | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 12:44 PM
I don't know about France, but American designers seem to assume anything over a C cup = fat woman who can't wear anything but sweatpants and has no taste anyway, so we'll make the bands six inches wide, the colors garish, and further more, said whore must be ashamed over her boobs, so we will make them corsette-like and minimizing.
Posted by Cala | Link to this comment | 12- 9-05 3:44 PM
Yeah, what the fuck is up with that? Why are all the larger cup size bras "minimizers"?
B. has excellent advice. I am mostly a cheap-ass when it comes to clothes and shoes (my most recent purchase was two lovely shirts from the thrift store for $3 apiece), but I drop $50 on a bra without thinking. That shit's important.
Posted by silvana | Link to this comment | 12-10-05 1:10 PM
okay printemps claims they have the "biggest beauty section in the world" with some gazillion brands, and lots of lingerie too, but galeries lafayette is more exciting. for one thing, all the art deco balconies with red glass in them; and for another, the strange promotional events like a mariachi band wandering inside the store, and free fortune-telling set up year-round in many departments, but predominantly in the men's clothing i noticed.
but. what is UP with all the advertising of US Green Cards plastered everywhere here? i thought americans didn't want immigrants anymore? the t.v. spots have lots of stars and stripes waving about, and women in bikinis hopping around in the sand...not only does my country have to sell itself (poorly) now, but it looks like baywatch!
maybe condoleeza rice could be part of the spot, saying something about how the US does not torture anybody, and by the way simultaneously the Geneva Code doesn't apply to us...that would also bring many french immigrants in i am sure.
(that is the end of my rant, back to your regular programming now)
Posted by mmf! | Link to this comment | 12-10-05 5:21 PM