Paris Plage

The Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny
Paris Plage Bikini

Parler Paris Nouvellettre^®
Your taste of life in Paris and France
ParlerParis.com
Wednesday, July 28, 2010 • Paris, France

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Charles_Bremner The Times

Dear Parler Paris Reader,

Now that Paris Plage is open, the city is struggling with the nudity that goes hand in hand with sun and sand. On the seashores, toplessness and even nudity are not rare in France and mostly all over Europe, but on the "bord de la Seine?" "Quelle horreur!"

The truth is that the "bikini" is a French invention. Louis Réard presented his collection at the Piscine Molitor on July 5th, 1946 and the "bikini" was born, conquering the world from that point on with many different forms of ways to emancipate women's bodies. (Have some fun with these videos of Réard's news-breaking fashion:ina.fr)

Today the bikini is virtually microscopic -- the "Brazilian" and the "Microkini" have replaced the traditional bikini, but is it legal to don one at Paris Plage or the Jardin du Luxembourg without being an affront to public decency?

There is no law to prevent wearing a bikini in Paris, however, the Parcs et Jardins de la Mairie de Paris regulations (article 5) say that there must be a certain level of decency or one risks a fine of 38€ and the Penal Code (article 222-32) imposes a year of imprisonment and a fine of 15,000€ for public sexual exhibition.

But who is to judge what is indecent?

Since 2009, topless became "passé" and women reverted back to a level of prudishness on French beaches. You won't see as many bare-breasted ladies as you had in the past, putting a pause if not an end to the "Monokini." Nudity became so commonplace that its sexy appeal has perhaps worn off...especially when it's a 60 year-old with sagging breasts. (Uh oh! That could be me!)

An American friend recently started a new line of 'itsy bitsy teeny weeny bikinis' at "TeenyB Bikini Couture" -- luxury micro bikinis, Brazilian bikinis, thong bikinis and more. Here's your chance to show off your body, if you dare! To see her collection, visit teenyb.com

So, will the Plage this year be peppered with Microkinis or bare breasts or will women be a bit more discrete? Hard to tell... but let's just hope at least the old ladies like me will be!

A la prochaine...

Adrian Leeds
Editor, Parler Paris

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