From the 19th-century Parisian corset to 9 a.m. Pilates: Ernest Leoty transforms its corsetry heritage into bodysuits, leggings, and second-skin pieces designed for movement, yet elegant enough for a day out in Saint-Germain.
According to Havelock Ellis, the art of living lies in a fine blending of letting go and holding on. Ernest Leoty, a 19th-century Parisian corset maker, struck that balance perfectly. Corsets that support, yet never suffocate. Why bring up this piece of history? Because the maison is reborn today, as activewear.
Before heading to Saint Roch to unwind, a quick session on the Reformer is in order. Like a tightrope walker in a corset, I let go, engage my core, and embrace myself so as not to lose the thread of my own story. The true work-thread balance, after all.
A brief history...
At the end of the 19th century, the Parisian corset maker set up shop at 8 place de la Madeleine. His specialty was crafting pieces that supported the body while granting it greater freedom of movement—a surprisingly modern pursuit for a house born in the era of the corset.
More than a century later, his name still graces the bodies of Parisians. They have simply changed activities.
The house of Ernest Leoty now designs in Paris a wardrobe somewhere between athleisure, athlingerie, loungewear, and partywear. Second-skin bodysuits, leggings, knits, swimwear, and technical pieces echo the lines of historic corsetry through their cuts and seams. Fabrics are sourced primarily from Italy, some knits are French, and production takes place in France or Portugal.
10:41 AM. The Reformer session is over.
As a chill sets in, I slip the Studio Henley sweatshirt by Adanola over my corset-bodysuit. In Coffee Bean—my first dose of coffee for the morning.
I head to Boulevard Saint-Germain to meet Diego at Blitz Society on Rue Sabot. Our Sunday ritual, the only one neither of us has ever missed. A chessboard, a flat white, a touch of Central Perk, Left Bank style, to share with friends or lovers. "Pau, I’ve finally finished." Diego, my official soundtrack provider (yes, that’s a job), scribbles a sequence of numbers and letters on my napkin. "The link you’ve been waiting months for. The MERIQ Office* playlist. Checkmate."
*Discover the playlist on Spotify - MERIQ
