Et les gants? Elegant.

I was the only American at a casual and lively Parisian dinner party last night. Of course I was making my habitual language gaffes, but more or less feeling content that I was keeping up with and participating in the conversation: events, politics, gossip, lifestyle, cuisine, vacations, French education -- the gamut.

Dinnertime talk was animated and impassioned. At one point somehow we were talking about hats. Then other fashion accessories: gloves. Les gants.

Please note: this was not chick-talk. The men were equally engaged in the conversation.

Next came searching discussion of where there are still gantiers in Paris (too few!) and about the fact that gloves aren't much in evidence these days.

One handsome brown-eyed guest in his early 40s proclaimed, "It's such a pity that gloves aren't worn more. I think that gloves -- the sleek, elegant kind -- on a woman are the sexiest thing in the world."

The rest of the men at the table erupted in thunderous approval, exclamations, and recommendations.

Ladies, take note.