What is "bon ton"

Ton \Ton\ (t[^o]n), n. [F. See Tone.] The prevailing fashion or mode; vogue; as, things of ton.
--Byron.

If our people of ton are selfish, at any rate they show they are selfish.
--Thackeray.

Bon ton. See in the Vocabulary.

Bon ton \Bon" ton"\ [F., good tone, manner.] The height of the fashion; fashionable society.

n. (context dated English) The height of fashion; fashionable society.

n. the fashionable elite [syn: society, high society, beau monde, smart set]

Bon Ton may refer to:

• "The ton" or "bon ton", a term used to refer to Britain's high society in the early 19th century
• Bon Ton (brothel), a brothel chain in New Zealand
• The Bon-Ton, a department store company based in York, Pennsylvania
• Bon Ton (play), a play by David Garrick

Bon Ton; or, High Life About Stairs is a comedy act in two acts by David Garrick, first performed at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 18 March 1775. According to Garrick's introductory notice to the play, it had been written many years before.

Bon Ton is a high-end brothel chain in New Zealand. It operates two brothels in the country – one in the capital city Wellington and the other in the nation's largest city Auckland. "Bon Ton" is a French term which means "good taste". The brothel is owned by Jennifer Souness, a former model who modeled for various European fashion labels.

In a feature story on prostitution in New Zealand, the BBC News Online described Bon Ton as "an ideal showcase for New Zealand-style liberalisation." The brothel is characterized by quality rooms resembling luxury suites and a professionally maintained office. Louise Jolliffe writing in The Wellington Guide asserted that Bon Ton looks closer to "a luxury lodge than a brothel".

All the women working at Bon Ton have other occupations and work as prostitutes on a part-time basis. During employment testing, applicants are asked whether they like sex. Brothel owner Souness asserted these women like their work. According to the BBC News Online, the escorts working at Bon Ton say they find the work environment respectful.

Bon Ton bills itself as "a boutique agency for a select clientele" and states that it intends "to provide a tasteful and discreet haven for gentlemen to enjoy the attentions of elegant, beautifully groomed, intelligent women". The website of the brothel makes invitation calls to potential clients to come into what is describes as a "safe and secret oasis where the outside world melts away".

The Bon Ton website publishes biographies of their prostitutes – whom they refer to as " courtesans" – which include their age and brassiere measurement. As per the requirement by the Prostitution Reform Act 2003, Bon Ton has a safe sex policy that requires customers to wear condoms. One hour service at Bon Ton costs 400 New Zealand dollars.

Two members of the United Kingdom-based Women's Institute (WI) who visited various brothels throughout the world to check their quality and was featured in a BBC documentary titled The WI And The Search For The Perfect Brothel, voted Bon Ton the world's best brothel.