Paris Undressed

American women wear underwear. French women wear lingerie. French women seem inherently more confident in their bodies, able to embrace the sensuality of life and love. What's their secret? Lingerie.

Despite an insatiable curiosity for all things French, most women still find lingerie an enigma, a tangled melange of silk and lace, and are confused about how, when, and where to wear it. (Hint: it's not just for special occasions.) Many aspire to having a drawer full of silky, lacy undergarments, but have no idea where to start: How should my bra fit? How exactly do I wear a garter belt? Do bras and undies always have to match?

With illustrations by French lingerie designer Paloma Casile, Paris Undressed: The Secrets of French Lingerie will help women feel at ease with their figures and show them how to integrate a lingerie lifestyle a la francaise to enhance their own femininity, confidence, and joie de vivre. It will transform the way women perceive their undergarments - and their bodies - and reveal how to co-ordinate a lingerie wardrobe to reflect personality and to meet lifestyle needs with the right dose of reverie. The book also includes a hand-selected guide to the most confidential addresses and lingerie boutiques in Paris, and discloses where to find the perfect bra, couture camisole, or cheeky knickers.

Paris Undressed goes behind the seams, combining cultural references, expertise, and practical advice to inspire every woman to reconsider her underwear drawer.

About the Author

Kathryn Kemp-Griffin is a journalist and entrepreneur. She has been living in Paris and working in the lingerie industry since 1990. She started her own lingerie company, Soyelle, which specialized in accessories and beauty products, before founding Paris Lingerie Tours - the ultimate luxury rendez-vous for helping women fulfill their lingerie dreams.

In 2009, she founded Pink Bra Bazaar, a charitable organization dedicated to breast health education and supporting women with breast cancer, by helping them rediscover the beauty of their body. Born in Canada, she lives in an old millhouse outside of Paris with her husband, five children, and assorted pets.