Gransnet forums

Chat

A new twist on life in France!

(46 Posts)
Dinahmo Wed 15-Dec-21 18:55:29

Owners of small underwear shops are sending lingerie items to the French PM in protest against their shops remaining closed as they are considered "non essential" in this period of partial confinement.

Other news on the underwear front - a survey of 3000 women found that in 2020 after the first lockdown, 1 in 6 under 25 year olds said they never wear a bra. According to manufacturers women are moving away from the underwired, push up bras in favour of comfort.

Hetty58 Sat 18-Dec-21 21:58:01

I keep a couple of bras (sports type) in the top of my shoe cupboard by the front door - in case I want to wear one while I'm out.

Tapdance6 Sat 18-Dec-21 21:48:31

I have always wore matching underwear. Each time we went abroad I would buy a couple of sets of underwear as they were always prettier than the one's you buy in England. Mind you there is some pretty underwear in some of our shops at reasonable prices.

123kitty Fri 17-Dec-21 09:01:54

My elderly, French MinL wouldn't dream of her underwear not matching. As for not wearing a bra- for her, comfort is way below her pride in her appearance.

nanna8 Thu 16-Dec-21 22:51:01

Doesn’t it make you sag,though,if you don’t wear a bra? I always wear one , wouldn’t feel ‘dressed’ without one.

Mummer Thu 16-Dec-21 22:02:11

Used to frequently"go commando" in my youf!! Nowadays I wear what I use to call my work knix all time things have been banished for about ooh 20 years! As for bras! Well I have enough trouble with me knees without flinging off the old büsten halter!!?? But comfort v style? Can do both with jumper/tees I suppose but I had to dress ultra smart so sports bras were great! All y shirts and suits/jackets lay properly and looked smart.if boobs allow, don't bother I say!

hicaz46 Thu 16-Dec-21 17:41:02

I abandoned my bra and now only wear one on the rare occasions I go out. Don’t get too many unexpected visitors so it’s safe most of the time!

TwinLolly Thu 16-Dec-21 16:21:47

Swing low, sweet chariot...... ???

I ditched the bra about 7 years ago and never looked back!

Reminds me of a song - have a watch and listen - it is hilarious. Sung by Rodney Carrington: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX9_mU4-aMM

HiPpyChick57 Thu 16-Dec-21 14:48:21

Haven’t worn an underwired bra for ages I wear sports bra/crop tops now. Much more comfortable I’m 64 but I’m quite small in the boob area so I’m fortunate that I don’t have the problems some bigger ladies may have.

EllanVannin Thu 16-Dec-21 14:32:35

Oh goodness the last time I wore an underwired bra, one wire found its way up and through my jumper nearly poking my eye out.
I haven't got too much there so going without doesn't matter too much except that they're a bit further downwards than I'd like. However I do prefer wearing a bra I feel that it prevents any more slacking.

Love sets, as I used to wear but they're not the same covered with a vestgrin

grandtanteJE65 Thu 16-Dec-21 14:20:02

In the Scandinavian countries a lot of women of our age group haven't worn a bra since the 1970s.

Others, myself included, wore one to work and if going out all dolled up and took it off the minute we got home.

A chacune son goût!

Riggie Thu 16-Dec-21 13:21:42

Bra is essential here too. Proper size underwired and I never find it uncomfortable.

Jane43 Thu 16-Dec-21 12:02:26

I stopped wearing wired bras after I had a lumpectomy and wouldn’t go back to them because they are so uncomfortable. I am 36C so can cope without them..

tictacnana Thu 16-Dec-21 11:59:54

The actress was Jane Russell. She wasn’t really very well endowed but the bras made her look busty. There was trouble for the studio that showed too much of her cleavage in one film.

Lucca Thu 16-Dec-21 11:58:04

Josianne

Funny how words trigger expressions with other meanings.

I wonder how French say flat as a pancake? Plate comme une crepe?!

Une planche à pain

Moggycuddler Thu 16-Dec-21 11:25:23

I stopped bothering to wear a bra during lockdown. Now I find wearing one very uncomfortable and only do so if I have to go out or if someone is coming to the house. My boobs are rather droopy but so what?

Josianne Thu 16-Dec-21 11:17:41

Coastpath

I can't think of a more French protest than sending lingerie to the PM.

I wonder if I should send a pair of my greying supermarket 5 pack full briefs to Boris Johnson?

Oops, wrong quote above.

Not John Lewis ones.

I'm in a hurry, off out to lunch, posted without checking!

Josianne Thu 16-Dec-21 11:16:39

Josianne

Funny how words trigger expressions with other meanings.

I wonder how French say flat as a pancake? Plate comme une crepe?!

Not John Lewis ones!

Grandmagrim Thu 16-Dec-21 10:49:22

My mind leaps to all the Walts claiming they were “on the balcony” during the Iranian embassy siege.
But we digress grin

Coastpath Thu 16-Dec-21 10:13:08

I can't think of a more French protest than sending lingerie to the PM.

I wonder if I should send a pair of my greying supermarket 5 pack full briefs to Boris Johnson?

Josianne Thu 16-Dec-21 08:31:22

Funny how words trigger expressions with other meanings.

I wonder how French say flat as a pancake? Plate comme une crepe?!

Lucca Thu 16-Dec-21 08:27:54

Grandmagrim

Years ago when the Balcony bra was the fashion my daughter (16 at the time) quipped that I didn’t need a balcony I needed a whole blooming veranda ! Anything other than full scaffolding and I start to get eczema under my bra line. I won’t be ditching mine any time soon I’m afraid.

Did you know the French expression “il y a du monde au balcon” ?
(The balcony is full/there’s a lot of people on the balcony)

Means you’re well endowed.

Lucca Thu 16-Dec-21 08:26:26

Josianne

Wow, even back to 1300s Greece they rigged up some form of bra!

Moi, je n’ai pas beaucoup de monde au balcon….?

Grandmagrim Thu 16-Dec-21 08:17:06

Years ago when the Balcony bra was the fashion my daughter (16 at the time) quipped that I didn’t need a balcony I needed a whole blooming veranda ! Anything other than full scaffolding and I start to get eczema under my bra line. I won’t be ditching mine any time soon I’m afraid.

Josianne Thu 16-Dec-21 07:55:45

Wow, even back to 1300s Greece they rigged up some form of bra!

Ladyleftfieldlover Thu 16-Dec-21 07:34:14

Josianne

I'm guessing the bra was one invention that wasn't invented by a man!

Didn’t Howard Hughes develop a bra for a well endowed actress whose name I’ve forgotten?