Talking French

The photograph above illustrates what is frustrating about the underwear widely available – it is just so unflattering! It distorts the model’s rather lovely shape her cheeks are poking out from the bottom, they cut across the widest part of her body in a band -these knickers sabotage your sexiness  no matter what your size. It does make me wonder just what manufacturers are thinking and why we put up with it. It is nigh on impossible to buy anything else, so fortunately being able to sew means I am not restricted to what is available in the shops. 

You can buy these from ‘What Katie did‘

French knickers on the other hand begin at the smallest part – the waist, and follow a woman’s curves gently to finish just at the top of the leg. This makes everyone look beautiful it works with the lines of the female form rather than against them. 

You can buy these from ‘What Katie did’

Of course what comes as a shock when you pick up a pair or make your own – is that they seem huge! 

Used to these mean strips of fabric, the volumes of lace or satin are a big difference but stick with it.  Once you have something around your natural waistline and not cutting across your hips, you will find your ‘muffin’ top becomes a distant memory. 

It feels wonderful to have knickers around the waist again, that you might find you never go back. Make them out of stain or silk, and you have a whole beautiful sensation as it flows round your hips. 

They are bliss to wear under a summer dress as they are cool and have no visible panty line. Of course your man will find it irresistible, all that wonderful accessibility will be on his mind! 

Available from ‘What Katie Did’

The French knickers here are from What Katie Did, they ship world wide, but they are very easy to make. 

You are simply making light, airy shorts which in the warmer weather make summer dresses a pleasure to wear. Especially if you are a little more generously proportioned as I am. Last year in Vienna the temperatures were very high, I had put on a little weight and was shocked at how my thighs rubbed together and became extremely sore. French knickers are perfect for solving this problem as the fabric takes the ‘rub’. In addition if you suffer from Thrush or cystitis they really do help prevent these occurring.  

I will be blogging next how you can make your own glorious pairs of your own – its quick and easy, I made two pairs in an afternoon! And the fabric requirements are not big at all. 

Let slip

The epitome of femininity is enfolded in silk, satin and lace – past decades women had multitudes of layers, petticoats, corsets and undergarments that were the foundations for the dress or outer garment.

I am a lover of the full slip – it has all but disappeared in shops these days, but you can still purchase them in M&S. What a slip or petticoat does is create a slippery surface on which your outer garment can flow. It covers up the unsightly bump of a waistband – or a bra closure giving a smoother silhouette. Silk and Satin are perfect for reducing the amount of static that can be generated with modern fabrics – (avoid if you can the synthetic satin as this actually increases static). There is nothing more frustrating than having the line of a lovely dress ruined as the fabric clings to your legs.

This picture is of the beautiful Elizabeth Taylor: I feel the picture epitomises graceful femininity of the 1950’s – the fabrics are soft and sensual, enhancing her curves. I think it contributes to the art of seduction. We see sex on our screens all the time, but what we rarely see is sensual seduction – the slow process of a man discovering a woman’s body, of allowing him to be the explorer – peeling back the layers of softness – the sensuality comes from process of touch – the anticipation of what lies beneath.

Just look at the beauty of the lace in this slip, wearing something as lovely as that would make me feel like a woman!

There is nothing more sexy for a man to catch a glimpse of a little bit of lace peeping below a hemline – it gives a small glimpse into what may lie beneath, rather than the overt on display shelf for all to see. A man, I believe, whats to explore unchartered territory, and have something for his eyes only – which is why peeling back the layers feels like a flower opening up  at his fingertips.