blogleaves

Bravado mamas

Rex

With Mother's Day just weeks away, here's a look at one of our most popular maternity brands - Bravado. It's always been known for comfortable nursing bras designed with the needs of the breastfeeding mother in mind; recently, however, it's gained a whole new roster of celebrity fans. Jennifer Garner (above left) wore the company's nursing bras while breastfeeding (and had the good manners to send a handwritten thank you note), as did Angelina Jolie (who wore the nursing tanks in black) and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Oh look, we made it through this entire post without using that ghastly, over-used phrase 'Yummy Mummy'.

Miaow!

Your Cat magazine: not the most obvious publication in which to find Dolce & Gabanna Intimo lingerie - but look! Here's the animal print bra and shorty in a leopard-themed fashion story in the mag's March issue. We like the way you're thinking, cat lovers.

Tara, body hair and more Helen

• Not arriving soon on figleaves.com - lingerie made out of the body hair of various celebs. Looked good on the London Fashion Week catwalk, though. Shazia Mirza explains all to The Guardian.
• No pjs for Tara. As Tara P-T prepares to enter the Celebrity Fame Academy in aid of Comic Relief, she reveals to The Sun that her bedtime attire consists of high heels and a bra.
• In today's Oscar-related news, Best Supporting Actor nominee Djimon Hounsou is the latest face (and body) of Calvin Klein underwear.
• And more Oscars... Helen Mirren thanks her padded knickers, says eonline.com.
• Australia news from news.com.au... A motel boss in the gold-mining town of Kalgoorlie creates a storm when he gives one of his workers $30 to buy a bra.

Best Supporting Lingerie

How wonderful to wake up to wall-to-wall Oscar frocks coverage on the telly... don't know about you, but my faves included Cate Blanchett's metallic charcoal Armani number, Nicole Kidman's red Balenciaga and Anne Hathaway's black and white strapless dress.

As is now traditional at figleaves.com, we've whipped up a quick guide to what to wear under your Oscar dress (for while we might not take regular sashays down the red carpet, we can certainly take inspiration from those who do).

Celeb images: wireimage.com

DD+ news

Love French lingerie but wish there were more of those delicious Gallic confections available in a DD+ cup size? Then take a look at this.

New at figleaves.com today is the first offering from Elixir de Lingerie, Lejaby's new brand dedicated to larger cup sizes. The very pretty garment on the left, par example, is a three quarter cup plunge bra (available up to an F cup) from the Olympe range - and you can rest assured that forthcoming collections will be just as lovely.

Abi loves Jenna

Is it just me or does anyone else believe that Abigail Clancy was cruelly robbed of the title of Britain's Next Top Model?  Here she is in the March edition of InStyle, picking her favourite items for spring - including this one-piece in chocolate brown (the season's new swim neutral, people) with rik rak trim by Jenna de Rosnay.

Celeb bikini watch

It’s our favourite time of year – when we pounce on all the celeb mags to see what the beautiful (and not so beautiful) people are wearing on the beach right now. If it’s gratuitous cellulite shots you’re after, I’m afraid we can’t oblige; if, on the other hand, you’d like a heads up on summer’s hottest swim trends, check out our celeb gallery here.

Pictured left is Myleene Klass, looking dazzling in this season's Op Art take on the traditional polka dot bikini.

celeb images: bigpicturesphoto.com

Aqua Aerobics

It might be the workout of choice for pregnant women and the over-50s, but here at figleaves.com we love a good session of aqua aerobics - and now that USA PRO has given it an image makeover, we'll all be signing up. USA PRO, of course, is famous for its high performance yet fashionable activewear (Madonna, Kylie and, er, Geri Halliwell are all fans) and so we had high hopes of its first swimwear range.

And you know what? With features like longer length bottoms (to maintain your modesty), mesh backs (for moisture wicking) and wide necklines (we still like to look feminine, after all), it's every bit as good as we'd hoped.

Body Shaping, Borat's swimwear and Funny Women

• Lucky Borat fans who happen to live in Singapore can now pop to their local department store and pick up the famous swimsuit. For the rest of us, there's always eBay.
• Nearer to home (and not available in the US, I'm afraid), Speedo's new body shaping swimwear (pictured above) has arrived - sporty styles that sculpt your body.
• Do you have a pair of lucky pants? American Idol contestant William Hung does - sadly, mercurynews.com couldn't enlighten us as to what these famous undies look like.
• Finally, we are proud to be supporting Funny Women Stand Up, a fundraiser taking place on 8th March at the Hammersmith Palais, London. The funny likes of Jo Brand, Jan Ravens and newcomer Suzy Bennett will all be performing in aid of women's charities ActionAid and V-Day: Until the Violence Stops. More info and tickets from www.funnywomen.com

The Lingerie Bowl, Beyonce, and Tyra's ten year old bikini

• In a dark day for feminism, it looks as thought the Lingerie Bowl is back on. The city of Scottsdale doesn't mind, says azcentral.com.
• Singer, actress and now swimwear model... is there anything Beyonce cannot do? She's on the cover of the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated, says Hello magazine.
• Speaking of SI, Tyra Banks is squeezing back into her ten year old bikini to mark a decade since she became the first black covergirl of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Check out her show next Monday.
• Nights out in your bikini? Oh do put it away Britney.
• American men have discovered the joys of buying their own underwear, reports Newsweek. Sales climbed 14 per cent last year thanks to fun fashion from the likes of Ginch Gonch, Calvin Klein 365 (below) and C-in2. Or perhaps it's all the fault of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.
• Back in the UK, the Project Catwalk contestants tackle lingerie next week. Can't wait.