October 2, 2006

"You must wear the maillot de bain sportif."

An America guy freaks out at the news that American-style bathing suits are forbidden at the Parisian swimming pool. Why, you're basically wearing your shorts into the pool! "A person could wear one all over the city — on a filthy bus, a park bench. And then he could just jump in the pool, covered in germs!"

The maillot de bain sportif, you need to know, is a Speedo.

19 comments:

Maxine Weiss said...

I thought a 'maillot' was a woman's one piece....or is that a 'bandeau' ???

One piece or two?

After a certain age, no self-respecting lady would wear anything but a one-piece.

I like the ones that look like a two-piece from the back, but really a one-piece from the front!

Peace,
Maxine

Maxine Weiss said...

Are you saying Parisians have no self-respect?

Peace,
Maxine

MadisonMan said...

At any age, no self-respecting man would wear a speedo.

Even Ann makes a shorts allowance for sports playing. The son wears one when he swims competitively, as les maillots de bain sportif are de rigeur in that case.

Laura Reynolds said...

Reminds me of a horrifying experience with some Europeans at a Disneyworld water park 10 years ago. A speedo on a short man 50 pounds over weight w/o deoderant is not a good thing, repeated dozens of times over a day, gross.

Germs? 1. That's why they Chlorinate and 2. Don't plan on drinking it.

Ann Althouse said...

Well, if you're in a race, you'd be an idiot to wear American bathing "trunks."

Maxine Weiss said...

...much less some of the skimpy women's swimsuits....for racing.

I just wonder when they'll institute mandatory bathing caps for everyone.

French plumbing and French toilets, in general, (the 'bidet' notwithstanding) are not exactly the most sterile and germ free.

I

Peace, Maxine

Unknown said...

Actually, for racing, swimsuits are going in the opposite direction, and now cover more, not less---although they are skintight.

Maxine Weiss said...

Yeah, tell that to Sports Illustrated !

I'm sure they'll take note.

Peace, Maxine

Brian O'Connell said...

I'm sure there's no skimpy dress code the French will institute for Muslim women, health reasons notwithstanding.

Paddy O said...

"Actually, for racing, swimsuits are going in the opposite direction, and now cover more, not less---although they are skintight."

Let's hear it for technology!

Anonymous said...

banana hammocks

Synova said...

My daughter insists on wearing knee length men's swim trunks over her two piece with a rather modest halter style top (no triangles on strings).

I approve.

JohnF said...

Thank you S.Cottage! I was trying to think of that expression, used so effectively by Phoebe Buffay on Friends.

Doug said...

banana hammocks

I was going to throw that term out there, but you beat me to it.

Speaking of suits, when my father was in high school, they swam in the nude during swim class.

Ann Althouse said...

Well, Johnny, now that you mention it, it seems that women ought to demand it as a point of equality. How is it fair that men are able to easily see the size of women's body parts if they choose to make a comparison and count size as significant, while women are deprived of the equivalent information?

KCFleming said...

Re: "women ought to demand it as a point of equality"

Of course. But the cumulative damage from being forced to see 50 ugly men in Speedos for every one worth perusing seems an awful price to bear for equality.

And then, as with more and more women today, one will have to wonder if Spinal Tap-type prosthetics are being used.

A government-issued codpiece with verified dimensions would then be the only alternative. Like a car license, excpet renewal at the DPM would be a bit more onerous.

Ann Althouse said...

Pogo: Well, women wear padded bras, so the men can go equal with padded codpieces. It's perfectly fair.

KCFleming said...

I dunno, but the thought of 50 ugly men in Speedos, especially if padded....the mind reels.

Oh, the humanity!

(And wasn't "50 Ugly Men in Speedos" a minor midwestern new wave band circa 1986?)

Ann Althouse said...

Pogo: Well, I never go to the beach, but I do enjoy thinking about people embarrassing themselves there.