Parisian store hopes striptease plan will take off

[papau]

Parisian store hopes striptease plan will take offParis department store to offer free striptease lessons to women shoppers unsure of how to achieve the best effect with purchases from its lingerie department. Special report: France

http://www.guardian.co.uk/france/story/0,11882,1078594,00.html

Parisian store hopes striptease plan will take off

Jon Henley in Paris
Thursday November 6, 2003
The Guardian

A celebrated but hitherto undeniably staid Paris department store is to offer free striptease lessons to women shoppers unsure of how to achieve the best effect with purchases from its lingerie department. "It's completely serious," a spokeswoman for the Galeries Lafayette store said yesterday. "When a woman buys underwear it's to show it off, and you have to know how to do that. We want to teach women how to get undressed in front of their men. It isn't easy to take a pair of trousers off without looking ridiculous, I can tell you."

The half-hour courses will be given to 100 women at a time by two professional striptease artists who will strive for a "lighthearted, amusing and off-the-wall manner," the company said. The courses must be reserved in advance, and a seventh-floor conference room which hosts them will be closed to men.

According to the spokeswoman, striptease hints and tips to be divulged will include: always wear heels; never wear knee-high stockings; always unbutton your blouse from the bottom; try to avoid getting your skirt caught on your shoes; and make sure the whole thing is over in five minutes maximum.

<snip>

Opinions among customers at the store yesterday were divided. "If I'm going to spend this much then I damn well deserve something extra," said Mathilde Clovis, 28, a travel agent, fingering a John Galliano bra (€91, or £62) and knickers (€70). "Striptease lessons are certainly a fun idea and could even be useful." Catherine Billon, 53, said she would be far too embarrassed. "My daughter might be interested, I suppose," she said. "It's for younger people really, isn't it? I think my husband would just laugh at me if I attempted anything like that. If he so much as watched."

[papau]

1. To Mods: this is late breaking - just broke, but also economic

as it deals with new sales efforts in France.

Feel free to move it if you like.

[Bozita]

2. Wondering whether or not Wal-Mart will follow suit

good find, Papau.