French Knickers

A properly cut pair of French knickers will cover the hip, part of the upper thigh and most of the buttocks. In comparison with more recently developed examples of sexy lingerie such as the thong, the French knicker could readily be described as modest, if not prudish. But one accusation that can never be leveled at the nation of France is that of prudery. Simply, they realize that in order to look sexy it is not necessary to put everything on show. Sometimes sexy lingerie is sexy because of what it does not show, instead what it hints at. In the vast majority of cases, French knickers are characterised by a loose-fitting, open leg. Unlike many types of lingerie on the market, the leg cuff of French knickers is not elasticised. Although this renders the French knicker slightly less figure-hugging, this does not seem to do any harm to its sexiness.

Although the idea of renaming French knickers to "Freedom Knickers" or "Liberty Lingerie" is perhaps ridiculous, the fact that it did not happen when the situation at the time saw many other, perhaps more ridiculous changes in nomenclature, is something that we should pause and think about for a moment. It may have something to do with the fact that the style is actually more prevalent in the United Kingdom than anywhere else and, despite a long-term rivalry with their neighbors across the Channel, the British are still ill-disposed to being a hundred per cent dismissive of the French, whose reputation in war may not sit well with everyone, but whose reputation for seduction lives on.

The reason that French knickers are so called is because of their similarity in style to the knickerbockers worn by the Parisienne dancing girls famed for the Can-Can and so influential even today on movies like "Moulin Rouge" and songs like "Lady Marmalade". Over the years, the French style of knickers became popular in the United Kingdom to the extent that they were the most popular form for decades. Although other forms of sexy lingerie have perhaps overtaken them in recent years, the popularity among many women - and men - of French knickers is something that endures to this day. And no amount of thongs or microkinis will change that.