Picture this: I’m in a second-hand store with my Paris shopping guide, Clara, trying on a very cute LBD. But the dress isn’t fitting quite right in the bust. The saleswoman who is assisting us whispers something to Clara in French. “What did she say?” I asked. Clara translates: “She says you’re not wearing a French bra, it would fit better if you had a good French bra.”
This was before I began my adventures in lingerie, but right in the middle of my “I want to feel how Parisiennes look” research. I had just started to dip my toe into the pool of the mysterious je ne sais quoi those fabulous Parisian women possessed. And, yes, the lingerie effect was one of the ingredients, according to most things I’d read.
Part Two of my adventures in lingerie details the rest of my journey and continues where Part One leaves off, and offers some places and recommendations. Basically, I did indeed find French brands superior to American versions. The construction, material, and form are simply better. They perform super well after wear and wash (no random threads, no underwire popping out, no misshapen cups). Also, I didn’t have to constantly adjust myself throughout the day. No migration, excellent support, quality materials. Now, keep in mind that I did not duo-test lower priced options from, say Target or Monoprix (which is kind of the equivalent to Target in the States). I invested.
Experiment completed. Now I wanted to shop in Paris for matching bras and panties, but finding a lingerie tour was next to impossible. I asked Clara why there weren’t any lingerie tours and if she’d ever considered creating one. Clara said that there really wasn’t a demand, and she ventured that it was probably due to women viewing bra shopping as a private experience–and one that they did not want to share with a tour guide that they didn’t know. Point taken.
The only tour option I could identify was led by Kathryn Kemp-Griffin, author of Paris Undressed, but after contacting her, our dates didn’t match up. So, it was up to me. Luckily, my friend J was joining me for a few days on that particular trip, and she happened to be one of my only friends who was intrigued by my experiment. J was game for letting me play tour guide. Her one request: fuller cup sizes. Challenge accepted.
Hours (hours!) of research, scouring books and websites, searching for stores that had “extended” sizes (and finding very few), reading reviews, collecting locations, entering on a Google sheet, mapping on Google Maps. Curated itinerary ready!
Where did we go? The 6th arrondissement offered the most brand stores in one walkable location. And, importantly, the 6th is home to Sabbia Rosa, the storied boutique with a long history of dressing Parisiennes of taste and style (along with the price tag to match). We had to see it. Other stops included: Aubade, Maison Lejaby, Lise Charmel, Simone Perele, Etam.
But the quest for fuller cup sizes went unrealized within the boutiques (with the exception of Sabbia Rosa). For those items, Galeries Lafayette was a gold mine. Almost an entire floor of lingerie, every brand represented, huge selection, and very attentive saleswomen. It was here that J made several purchases (and I did too).
What did I buy? Here’s what I was looking for: underwired, unlined, no push-up feature. Something pretty. Underwire means I have support. Unlined means my natural shape isn’t molded. Same for no push-up technology. The “pretty” criteria was just for me.
There is a slight chance that I purchased a few more sets than I needed. Slight. But I couldn’t resist my favorite brands in the newest style or color…that I purchased in Paris.
By far, Chantelle is at the top of my list, specifically the Day to Night Underwire Demi and matching Hipster Panties. I reach for the black or blush set more than any other, and I stalk other colors (red, green, blue). The Chantelle site has extended sizes, styles that you can’t find other places, and is sometimes lower in price than at Nordstrom, but you can find the Demi and matching Panties there as well.
I like Aubade for embellished styles, and selected a gorgeous set that caught my eye as soon as I walked into the boutique (Stardust Dreams Half Cup (aka Demi) and panties in Cosmo Silver). Simone Pérèle for classic femininity is a great choice, and I grabbed a combo that is like the Intrigue Sheer Demi and Boy Short Panties.
And, of course, Etam for pretty, fun designs at affordable price points. I picked up three sets on that trip that are no longer available, but my bag included items similar to an unlined version of Bra No 4 Idole and Boy Shorts; as well as Bra No. 9 Flowers.
Tips:
- TRY IT ON. I was shocked to learn that there is no standardized bra sizing system. So, not all 38Ds are equivalent from brand to brand. Even within the same brand, the different cuts and styles will vary and may fit differently.
- If it’s “uncomfortable” (in other words, it actually rubs, pokes, or hurts), then you might be wearing the wrong size, or the style just isn’t right for you.
- Know your French size equivalent, although the sales attendants will know a fairly comparable size. But if something caught your eye in Monoprix, then take a look at a conversion chart.
- Buy two pairs of the panties so you can wear the bra twice without having to launder the matching panties. And, avoid wearing the same bra two days in a row. Let it air out so the oils in our body can dissipate a bit.
The stores in other arrondissements are a bit more spread out, location-wise, although the 3rd and 4th are good options. We did pop into one store in the 9th that apparently specializes in extended sizes, but it was not a good experience. There are other locations still on my list (it’s long), and I will pepper those boutiques into future trips.
And, like the Parisian saleswoman guessed, the LBD did indeed fit better with a French bra.
Au revoir until next time,
~Valerie’s Granddaughter