Parler Paris and Parler Nice are long-standing brands of the Adrian Leeds Group. They are in no way associated with the social platform Parler, nor do they share any of the philosophies of that platform.

Your taste of life in Paris!

Subscribe and don't miss an issue!

“Sexy Paris Pantyhose Patterns and Fishnets…or “”Frenchnets?”””

In spite of La Grève (the transportation strikes that started last night at 8 p.m.), Parler Paris Après Midi had a full house of old friends, regulars and newcomers. Visitor to Paris Chrysa Foley walked in “à l’heure” (on time, sharp at 3 p.m.) followed by staff member, Christa Lynn, creating immediate confusion between their names. Within moments, the waitress who regularly manages the wild and wooly group upstairs at “La Pierre du Marais,” a spunky and friendly middle-aged French woman, bestowed on me a pair of patterned pantyhose I once admired — sheer with light swirls, designed to catch any man’s eye.

(Read the Après Midi report from yesterday’s meeting by visiting /parlerparis/apresmidi.html)

I just LOVE patterned stockings, but that wasn’t always the case. I can remember thinking they were “trashy,” but after living in France and ‘crossing to the other side,’ they’ve taken on new meaning. Like perfume, silk scarves and chocolates, these ladies’ “sousvêtements” (lingerie) are stereotypically symbolic of the natural sex appeal of French women. Even the 80-year-old ladies propped on canes to get down the cobblestoned streets can be seen in fishnets hobbling on their stilettos.

Whenever I head to the States, with a bit of humor I bear gifts of fishnets and patterned stockings for my friends and relatives. My sister once asked me upon receipt of a pair of “Dim” brand fishnets (found in any French department store in a wide variety of patterns at a reasonable price), “What am I going to do with these?” I replied, “Wear them to synagogue so everyone will talk about you!” And that’s exactly what they would do.

Some women may think they lack ‘class,’ but one male friend says that they ‘lead to heaven.’ Recently he reported catching himself drooling along with other passers-by in front of a “Wolford” window at a Canadian airport over the “Stay-Ups” with a seam up the back of the leg on a plastic mannequin. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t real, he headed inside anyway to see more styles leaving him with pleasant thoughts for his long flight cross country.

I make a point of wearing some really lacy pattern to all the Living and Investing in France Real Estate Conferences (the next one is in Miami February 16-17, 2008), just to show that it’s possible to be sexy and professional all at the same time. One attendee at a past San Francisco conference, while sitting next to his wife, boldly told confessed he couldn’t keep his eyes off my legs the whole time. Let’s hope she ran soon after to buy a pair to avert his eyes on hers instead.

This year there are more and more of the horizontal striped variety on the streets of Paris. Don’t be fooled into thinking those will do the trick. They don’t lead to anywhere but vicious circles. Leave those for the “Pippi Longstocking” types and stick with the vertical stripes if you’re aiming for attention from the opposite sex.

Tonight is the official opening of Paris Photo annual fair at the Carrousel du Louvre (November 15-18, 2008). Perhaps two of my favorite photos will be there — Famous French model Lisa Fonssagrives Penn’s long shapely legs in gorgeous hose…Horst P. Horst’s “Round the Clock” and Fernand Fonssagrives’ “Stretching Mesh” areboth as beautiful as they get.

Friday I’m headed to the Big Apple to spend Thanksgiving with my daughter, armed with a suitcase full of fishnet and patterned stockings to turn heads on the sidewalks of New York. I’ll let you know next week if American women are beginning to catch on to French sex appeal, now that the two Presidents have become so buddy-buddy and “Freedom Fries” have regained their “nom de naissance” (“French Fries”).

I think we should rename them “Frenchnets,” anyway, don’t you?

A la prochaine…  

Adrian Leeds
Editor, Parler Paris

P.S. Get ready girls. December 27th, Karen Henrich of Nuit Blanche Tours and I are taking you on a Paris Property and Printemps VIP Personal Shopping Spree! It’s going to be a very merry “Paris Chixmas” for a select group of savvy, sexy women who want to take just one day to learn how to Profit from Property in Paris and Pamper themselves with Presents from Printemps (at a 10% discount!), Portraits by Erica Simone and Plenty of Patterned Pantyhose to make those heads turn. (Also includes a gourmet lunch, champagne cocktails, makeover and much more!) Watch Parler Paris for more information or make your reservation now by emailing: [email protected]

SHARE THIS POST

Leave a Comment




Let Us create a custom strategy for you

You can live or invest in France-now.

Property for sale

Read & Subscribe

Dive into more by reading Parler Nice & French Property Insider.

Better yet, subscribe to one or all and get the updates delivered to your inbox.

Global Money Services

Our contacts will help you invest in France.

Moneycorp a foreign exchange and international currency specialist
OFX Global logo

Join us at our monthly Après-Midi.

Become a part of the Paris community.

See Adrian on HHI

Find out how we can help you invest in your own piece of France.