subject: Where To Shop For French Lingerie In Paris [print this page] Paris is by no stretch a one-trick city; there are so many things to see and do beyond the comfortable, cosy confines of your Paris boutique hotel room. If youre here in a romantic break with a loved one [and so many are], aside from the usual sights and attractions, the citys famous lingerie shops are a must-see - if only to window shop.
The Chic and High End
Ask the staff of your Paris boutique hotel about whats currently the hottest in lingerie, and theyll probably tell you that its Aubade. This high-end genuine French brand is currently running a popular advertising campaign called lessons in seduction, and some of it can be considered controversial in less exciting societies. Traditionally, people thought that the right lingerie should be dark in colour. But Aubade changed that perception with its shockingly bright-coloured lingerie with printed motifs. Thats coming from a company that is more than a hundred years old, which certainly seems to mean they know what theyre doing.
Innovators
1889 was the momentous year when women everywhere (at least, in the Western world) were emancipated from the tyranny of the corset. When Herminie Cadolle invented what is now known as the bra, women were finally saved from their shackles. But even since then, Cadolle (dont let the quaintness of its little shop fool you, whose location is known by any Paris boutique hotel in the area) has continued to revolutionise the world of unmentionables by producing undergarments that are not only sexy by themselves, but can also mold the body into a sexier shape.
Moreover, as lingerie doesnt need to be so utterly serious, the creations of singer/fashion designer Fifi Chachnil tend to be on the fun side, with a lot of flirtatious wispiness going on. If you like the sexy things worn by 1950s bombshells such as Brigitte Bardot, mixed with playful undertones, then Chachnil will not fail to impress.
The Classic, the New, the Ultimate
Of course, thats not all. Because when it comes to lingerie (your own Paris boutique hotel may even have its own in-house lingerie shop), the City of Love has an astonishing array of offerings - from the oldest brands and shops, to the glitziest, to even the most boldy innovative. For example, when it comes to having a solid gold reputation, nothing beats Le Bon Marche - the oldest and distinctly Parisian department store whose lingerie section is something to drool over. Le Bon Marche carries a respectable assortment of different brands, from newer names to even the most established, priciest creations. Theres also Sabbia Rosa, which is usually the first choice of the most avid fan of the female body form - its quite a common sight to see a movie star queueing up for the latest offerings. And if money is no object, theres Carrie Gilsons obscenely expensive line of hand-crafted silk lingerie - lacy, refined, and ultimately seductive. Gilsons shop on rue de Grenelle is a popular destination among the more adventurous, moneyed set.
