Sassy French You Need to Know: What Snarky Socks Can Teach You About la Culture Française

Plus a Sunny Appetizer for Cold Winter Nights and a Slightly Inappropriate (but Classic) Vintage Video

Salut Mes Petits Chatons (Hello My Little Kittens),

Qu’est-ce qu’on va faire aujourd’hui ? (What are we going to do today?)

Well, we’re going to do more of what we always do here. Tell stories about life in France, laugh a lot and get inspired to do the things we love.

To all those who are new to La Flâneuse, bienvenue ! Vous êtes chez vous (make yourselves at home). For those who wander often with me, it’s fantastic to see you again. Bisou bisou (Kiss kiss).

If you’re just here for the slightly inappropriate vintage French comedy video, pas de soucis (no worries)—scroll it on down. And if you want an update on The Continuing Saga of Karen-Joins-a-Band, you’ll find that at the very end. 🎶🎤🙆‍♀️

Bon, c’est parti ! (Alrighty, let’s go!)

In Case You Missed It: The First-Ever La Flâneuse Meetup is Coming Soon

Last week I told you about the online conversation I’ll be hosting to talk about Reigniting Your Creativity so that you can honor and follow your dreams. The response has been amazing and I can’t wait to see you there.

As a published author, a designer, an events and home entertaining pro with two wine certifications, a self-taught master florist and a four-time entrepreneur—I’ve gained a lot of experience and insight into building a creative life.

I believe so strongly in the power of creativity to enhance our human experience that I want to build a special place where we can share and support each other in following our hearts’ desires.

Cet événement aura lieu (this event will take place) on Tuesday, February 11th, and if you’re interested in looking at the exact time in your area and all the deets, just click the button below. You can register there as well. And although I do like to pepper my messages to you with un peu de français, we’ll be speaking in English at the meetup.

What French Socks Can Tell You About French Culture

I saw these chaussettes adorables in a very cool concept store on our trip to Lyon. They reminded me that once you’ve learned how to conjugate verbs and craft sentences, you have to start working on the jokes, the word games and les réfs (the cultural references).

This is why, if you do want to really speak French in a more-than-touristy way, you have to get into the culture—you know, watching series or films, listening to podcasts, or even checking out my favorite French stand-up humoriste (comedian). I ask all my American friends here if they know Gad Elmaleh and 100% of them say no. Friends, this guy is the Jerry Seinfeld of France. You gotta know him.

Fun French Fact: In French, un(e) comédien(ne) is an acteur/actress. If you want to say the equivalent of what we (in English) call a comedian, it’s better to use the word “humoriste.” But Gad Elmaleh is both—il est humoriste et comédien.

But these socks ⬆️ are a whole (free) French culture lesson if you stop to really examine them. Even the name of the brand is a reference. How many can you understand? If you want to see a list of what they mean, scroll down toward the bottom of the post.

On the other hand, if you just want to see the amazingly impressive but easy appetizer I made the other night when we had friends over, regarde-moi ça ! (have a look at this!)

With just four ingredients, a half hour, and your wrists, you can take credit for one of these tasty beauties.

I B(r)ake for Puff Pastry

Recette: Tarte au soleil

I learned how to make Tarte au soleil last September when I was on a women’s retreat in the South of France. We spent a few hours with an inspiring couple who are former restaurateurs, and they showed us some wonderful secrets, including this show-stopping centerpiece for a drinks party or to welcome guests as they arrive for ta prochaine soirée (your next dinner party).

I’ve since lost the recipe, but it’s so very easy that I was able to recreate it at home. You only need four ingredients: store-bought puff pastry discs, a good jar of pesto, one egg and some sesame seeds. Find the recipe page (complete with a chill French party playlist I made for you) or just click below.

Recette: Tarte au Soleil (Sun Tart)

And Now, Literally All Your French Sock🧦Slang Answers

Top row, left to right (except the ones in English, which by the way is very popular among the French—using English words in your French sentences, but with French pronunciation). Can you say, drah-ma-KWEEEEEN ? 👑

Warning: there are some colorful words here, but they’re used on the socks in a funny French way. Keep in mind there may be subtle variations on these, just as there would be in English:

PETIT LOUP = LITTLE WOLF
An affectionate name French moms sometimes call their sons, or that lovers call each other as in, “mon petit loup” or “mon loulou” or in my case, “mon grand loup” because my husband is a tall wolf. 🧔🏻‍♂️

MORUE = WHORE
Literally: COD, as in the fish. Yep, it’s vulgar, and it can also be used to mean kind of the equivalent of “dumb b*tch,” but you know what? Kudos to the lady who buys these for herself I guess? (Also, don’t use this word to describe someone in the room unless you’re fittin’ to flip tables. Je t’en prie.)

CHAUSSETTES DES GRANDS JOURS = DRESS-UP SOCKS
Literally: SOCKS FOR BIG DAYS

PATATE = FEELING GREAT
Literally: POTATO, but from the expression j’ai la patate/I have the potato, aka I’m feeling fantastic. Monsieur B wants me to tell you that in this expression, patate refers to the heart. 💖

CHELOU = WEIRDO
Chelou is verlan/slang for louche, which means weird. Can you see how the word is inverted, from louche to chelou ? Now you speak verlan quoi ! This one is hard to see in the photo. It’s the pair of white socks in the middle.

CHAUSSETTES POUR PÉCHO = HOOKUP SOCKS
Pécho is verlan/slang for choper which means “to grab” or in the familiar sense “to make out/to hook up.” Once again, you can see how the syllables are reversed.

CHAUSSETTES POUR DANSER = DANCING SOCKS

CHAUSSETTES QUI COURENT VITE = SOCKS THAT RUN FAST

Bottom row, left to right:

SAUCISSE = DUMMY
Literally: SAUSAGE

CHAUSSETTES POUR DORMIR = SLEEPING SOCKS

JE NE TRAVAIL PAS ICI = I DON’T WORK HERE

BICHETTE = BAMBI
or more literally, LITTLE BABY FEMALE DEER

CHATON = KITTEN
Something sweethearts call each other, “mon petit chaton” — my little kitten, and apparently available in four colors 😻)

If you liked these silly socks, you can find a whole mess more of them on their website, in English and French. But do you know the origin of the name of the brand, Félicie Aussi ? It refers a legendary (and admittedly salty) old French comedy song (and sing-along) that describes an evening spent with a young woman from la Bourgogne.

Hint: The “adventure” begins in the Bois de Boulogne and ends in a cheap hotel, so if you know your French culture, you’ll already have an idea. You’ve been warned!🙊

Funny French Story: I mailed my friend Erica a box of Parisian goodies, including a un joli pull (a cute sweater) that said BICHETTE in big letters.

Before I explained what it meant, she thought I was calling her a little b*tch 🤣😂😇

Only for Those Who’ve Read Alllll the Way Down to Here

If you saw my post last week, you already know that I am in a creative battle royale with myself. Why? Well because my dear husband heard about my dream to sing in a band, and he went out and found me a band and volunteered me for an actual audition. I know!

Most of you who voted in the last poll have encouraged me to go for it, and so I decided to sing every day, to try to really learn the seven (!) songs I’d have to sing at la séance d’essai (the try-out), which—if I do it—is coming up soon.

Please leave me encouraging thoughts and anti-nausea wishes. Maybe light a candle for my dear vocal chords?

If—and it’s still a big if—if all goes well, I am planning to do the audition, even though I received a disturbing message from the band yesterday. It informed me that the musicians generally wear des chemises Hawaïennes (Hawaiian shirts) for rehearsals. 😱

My dears, I can assure you that you will never, ever see La Flâneuse in such a get-up. If that tanks my singing career, well then, I’ll still have my fashion dignity.

But what’s exciting is…those who attend our first-ever online meetup on February 11 will be the first to get the dirt on whether:

• J’ai foutu le camp (I ran away)

• J’ai réussi (I succeeded)

• J’ai tout raté (I screwed everything up)

Cimer, mes chers (Thank you my dears)

Do you see what I did there? Now that you speak verlan, you’ll know that cimer is slang for … merci. If you know any more verlan, pop it in the comments and help us all understand those young whippersnappers and their funny talk.

Whichever way you say it—I’m very grateful for you and for the community we have here. This weekend, if you can, I hope you’ll find just a little time to think about your own dreams. Maybe you can take one tiny step toward making them real?

xoxo 💋

Karen