Ooooh La La...The Allure of French Maids

by Mary Pereira

C'est La Vie

The Allure of French Maids

Ahh...the 19th Century gave birth to the French Maid. Just like all fads, most fade away and some just become classics. My Cleaning Service, Maids In Madison has a French Maid with a feather duster Silhouette for the Logo. I choose it because it is attractive and compelling due to the undeniable allure of the French Maid.

French Maids were imported to England during the 19th Century as personal assistants to wealthy women of higher stature. If by chance, they could not obtain an authentic little Frenchie, then an English Lass, who spoke some French passed off as the "real thing". That is how much the fad was in style, faking it a little was okay as long as you were not left out of  the loop. No one needed to know if your maid wasn't actually born in France.

Up Close and Personal

These personal French maids were seen by the public and in the midst of friends and colleagues of the English Ladies of the House. Appearances set a precedence, as with certain employed positions of today, such as retail associates and hostesses. These women were beautiful and were the frontrunners of the female employed society. 

The term, personal French maid, is not deemed loosely here at all. The maid's level of intimacy included helping English women by entering the sleeping chambers, assisting with undergarments such as corsets and she became the ultimate confidant for sharing secrets and private conversations. Therefore the Allure began. 

C'est Si Bon
French Maids were laced with different cultural styles, held exotic flair, started from the bottom of the social ladder and therefore had uninhibited mannerisms. They were not expected to hold up the prim and proper etiquette that was an everyday pressure in the life of an English woman in the 19th Century. Then add a sexy French accent to the mix and....VIOLA! They exuded an inexplicable attraction that was charming, seductive and beckoning with beauty.

 

The French are Sexy

Oooh La La...

French Maids eventually became iconic characters in fictional stories and especially in Burlesque Theater. From then on the costumes became racier and racier.  These saucy characters were usually dressed in formal black and white attire. The dresses were black silk or perhaps satin with white lace, always holding a feather duster. The neckline became lower and the hem line shorter and shorter over the years. Last but not least, there was a white petticoat underneath. Come to think of it these costumes remind me  so much of the Can Can shows and their costumes, which was also around the 19th Century, Mon Ami 

 Pin Me Up

Sexy French maid postcards started being all the rage around the 1910's to 1950's. Pin Up Girls were everywhere around the world but of course France's attraction was the French Maid.

C'est Magnifique

 Pinups are still popular today. I see dozens of make-up and hair tutorials on Youtube for Pinups, so you can recreate the look for yourself. Burlesque shows have also increased throughout the Country. The French maid costumes are here to stay and some of them certainly should stay in the bedroom only. The Allure of the French maid keeps us engaged and paying attention. There is something about a woman who is beautiful and submissive yet strong enough to correct you when you have crossed the line.

A Servant's Heart  

With that being said, Maids in Madison holds a level of integrity. I am in this line of work because I have a heart for service. I always keep in mind that God sees all that we do. It does not matter whether anyone is looking or not, or giving us credit where credit is due. I perform my life as if there is a video camera filming me at all times. My Boss is ultimately God...no one else.





Bondservants and Masters

Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters, according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of Heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the Heart, with good will during service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality in Him.         Ephesians 6: 5-9 

Au Revoir
All good things must come to and end, Mon Ami...so I must say good-bye and Au Revoir, until next time, we will meet here again for another Rendezvous, Oui? Oui! & que Dieu vous benisse. Remember Bien Aime, Cleanliness is next to Godliness