blogleaves

Britney's new knickers

A quick update on the Britney underwear situation: we're delighted to report that, fresh from a ticking off from no less than Rosie O'Donnell [TMZ.com], Britney Spears has finally been lingerie shopping [All Headline News].

This week's genius lingerie idea: shapewear for the gym

Grimacing your way through two sets of lunges is hard enough without having to look at your wobbly bits in the mirror as you do so. So well done Anita for devising these special sports knickers with a control panel at the front - not that they provide an excuse for skipping your abs work, mind.

 

PS The matching seamless bra (very important, that - no seams = no chafing) looks good too.

A Whole New Robe

Time to confess my small - but, you'll agree, significant - part in launching the career of Peter Andre. Many years ago (way back when Take That were conquering the world as a five piece) I was covering a basketball match for teen mag Just Seventeen when an energetic young Aussie took to the pitch to entertain us at half time. So impressive were his back flips that I mentioned it to the celeb editor, who duly reported this mild case of "swoon, swoon, thud syndrome" in what was possibly the first mention of Peter Andre in the teen press.

Who could have predicted that he would still be with us more than a decade later? In fact, here he is brandishing a roll of toilet paper on the cover of this week's Heat magazine:

Anyway, we're not here to make snide remarks about the duets album he's just released with wife Katie Price. No, what's noteworthy about the cover is the very stylish Playboy robe he's wearing - supplied by figleaves.com, of course.

Elle's Intimate Moments

Here's our favourite supermodel turned lingerie designer Elle Macpherson on the set of her latest campaign shoot. Shot by fashion photographer Regan Cameron, it's a continuation of the brand's 'Intimate Moments' theme - the idea that everybody has an intimate (you see what they're doing there?) story to tell.

Says Elle of the images: "They evoke mystery and intrigue, a sense of what lies beneath the surface. It's up to the viewer to form their own ideas based on the cues they're given."

In other words, you decide what's going on. What is the model, above right, doing in the workshop with the screwdrivers, varnish and that rather spooky doll? You'll have to use your own imagination to find the answers... do let us know what you come up with.

PS shown above - Elle Macpherson Intimates Notorious bra and short

New knickers for Sophie, no knickers for Britney

In a busy day for celeb lingerie news:

• Kate Moss threatens to pull out of the Agent Provocateur ads for personal reasons, says vogue.co.uk
• Sophie Anderton - who made her name as the Gossard girl, some of you might remember - is back modelling lingerie. She's the new face of La Senza's Christmas campaign.
• Resisting the temptation to make the old 'Oops I did it again' joke, it's enough just to note that Paris Hilton's new bf Britney is under fire again - this time for stepping out without her knickers.

Belated birthday greetings to Calvin Klein, who turned 64 last week (sharing a birthday, we notice, with Meg Ryan, Jodie Foster and Allison Janney of The West Wing fame). You can't get enough of the man's undies - not only has Calvin Klein just been voted Best Menswear Brand in the figleaves.com Lingerie Awards for the second year running, but it also picked up the gong for Best Sleepwear Brand too.

What's hot right now? Well, a lot of our nearest and dearest will be finding these cosy sleepwear gift sets under the tree this Christmas, while for men there is some rather nice flannel nightwear and - a big trend, this - striped woven boxers in addition to all the usual logo band favourites.

Poetry Corner

Why we love French lingerie: never mind the delicious laces or traditional techniques; it's the flowery language that gets us every time. Take this from the Princesse Tam-Tam website:

"In Wonderland she unlocks her dreams, gorges herself on confectionery and cages, indulges in enthralling reminiscences that leave her dizzy with delight and opens the cage."

Think you can do better? Princesse Tam-Tam is inviting you to submit your creative writing (or, in their words, "Let the words dance across the page in time to the music you hear in your heart..."). Send you romantic musings to: lemag@princessetam-tam.com

PS. Pictured above - Princessse Tam-Tam's Vanite (left) and Insolente (right)

Lingerie celebs need your vote!

"It seems every hot star in Britain has either launched her own lingerie range lately or helpfully modelled somebody else’s," observes The Sun today.

For those of you who can't get enough of celebs in their lingerie, The Sun's website has very kindly put together galleries featuring the starry likes of Katie Price (George at Asda), Jennifer Ellison (Young Attitude), Kelly Brook (New Look) and Kate Moss (Agent Provocateur).

Cast your vote in the celeb bra wars - Katie Price has the edge so far, but Sarah Harding is not far behind.

The Posh/J-Lo love-in, plus more lifesaving undies

• You've read the book; now wear the knickers. Loving the story about J-Lo and Posh cooking up their own lingerie range together.
• Lifesaving bra update: hot on the heels of the lingerie that monitors your heart rate, news now reaches us of underwear that will administer CPR using nano technology. Only fifteen years or so to wait...
• La Senza and Victoria's Secret kiss and make up.
• The Oprah effect: American women have gone bra crazy, with bra sales up 15 per cent.

Fun with Wonderbra

It's the lingerie equivalent of the 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle. The Wonderbra Multi Plunge has finally arrived and there are 100 - yes, 100 - ways to wear it. Four are pictured above; only another 96 to go...

With detachable straps and eyelets all the way around the bra, it certainly solves a party dress dilemma or two. Even better, it guarantees hours of fun over the Christmas holidays - see if you can figure out all 100 permutations. If you get stuck, Wonderbra has very kindly put together this showreel.