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Charnos in Grazia

Big knickers are back (have you seen those pics of Britney on her way to dance class recently?) and they don't come much bigger than this glamorous take on controlwear by Charnos. Here's the waistnipper brief from the brand's Hourglass range, as seen in glossy weekly Grazia. Breathe in.

Autumn/winter preview

Some pics from our autumn/winter press preview, which was held yesterday at the Mayfair hotel in London. On the left we have senior press officer Dieter, who's chuffed to bits that this Lejaby bra matches the curtains. Press officer Elisa (middle) has a well earned loll on the chaise after organising the whole event and the figleaves.com fit team, Kate and Philippa, are on hand to dispense fitting advice to the press.   

Fashion cups, weird bikinis and a terrorist kidnapping

• You have to love Triumph. In no way an official sponsor of the Port America's Cup, the brand nevertheless rolled up to Valencia yesterday for the Triumph Fashion Cup (above) - a catwalk lingerie show featuring models from the participating sailing nations. Presenter Ray Cokes got so carried away he jumped into the water, we hear.
• In The Sun today: the world's weirdest bikinis. Enjoy.
• So you've splashed out on some fabulous new swimwear... but where to wear it? We'll all be taking a day trip to Birmingham, home to not one but two new city beaches, reports The Times.
• And finally, we've spent the past couple of days scratching our heads wondering which underwear manufacturer the Red Army Faction could possibly have been hoping to kidnap. Karl Lagerfeld was also on this German terror group's hit list, says The Guardian.

Fantasie in InStyle

 

Here's Fantasie's one-piece gracing the pages of the May issue of InStyle in the States - one to minimize a large bust, they say, in their guide to figure flattery on the beach. Elsewhere, the magazine had some kind words about figleaves.com in its online shopping guide: "Rest assured, here, you will have no trouble finding a top that fits." We're officially chuffed.

Colour under cover

 

Some jaunty men's underwear today, from Ginch Gonch (left) and Hom (right). Why? It's the latest thing, apparently - growing numbers of American men are ditching their boring old white pants in favour of more glamorous underwear. One for the watercooler, says upi.com.

Russia, Oz and sailing ships

• Pleasure State (above) has arrived in Russia - and it's a sensation, says news.com.au.
• And while we're talking about globetrotting lingerie designers, Elle Macpherson visited her native Oz recently to promote her Boudoir range. An audience of wealthy men was treated to a lesson in how to buy lingerie for their partners, reports the NZ Herald.
• It's National Hanging Out day today, people, so turn off that wasteful tumble dryer and let the world see your smalls. Not loving your greying undies now that you've had a good look in broad daylight? You know what to do.
• Who cares about the sailing? It's Triumph that is set to, er, triumph at this year's Port America's Cup with the Triumph Fashion Cup, a lingerie fashion show on 24 April. Models from the competing nations will show off the latest looks from the brand, with a special appearance by team members of the Spanish challenger Desafio Espanol. 

He shoots, he scores

Blackburn Rovers have Jockey's 3D Innovations pants to thank for David Bentley's current run of good form in Europe - he's a firm believer in their lucky powers.

"I bought a pair before we played against Salzburg. I scored and we won so I decided to wear them for the next game, and I scored again in the Krakow game in Poland."

Have we unearthed the secret of football success? Send some over to Watford - and quickly.

Eva's thongs, Kimberly's contract and Paris sans panties

• Love wearing thongs? You're in good company. "Every girl should have a Brazilian wax," Eva Longoria tells Now magazine. "It's my sexy secret. And I only ever wear thongs. I don't own a pair of knickers with a proper back to them."
• This celebs-without-panties madness has got to stop. Apart from anything else, it's just so unsanitary when you're trying on swimwear. A knickerless Paris Hilton has already had her knuckles rapped.
• Never mind the Kate/Wills break-up; we're gripped by the latest twist in the Ultimo modelling saga. As The Sun reminds us, Ultimo made headlines by hiring Rod Stewart's fiancee Penny Lancaster as the face of the brand - and then dropping her for his ex Rachel Hunter. Rod, you might recall, was not pleased. Who better, then, to model the new Adore Moi collection than Rod's daughter Kimberly?

Our star reviewer

Meet Rachel - she's the lucky winner of our Customer Reviews prize draw.

This Scottish lingerie lover is currently studying for a PhD in German philosophy but she has also started her own business, making silk vintage style lingerie with a burlesque feel.

Rachel clearly knows her stuff - she's submitted an amazing 78 reviews so far, sharing her thoughts on brands as diverse as Mimi Holliday, Rigby & Peller, Sexy Panties and Naughty Knickers and Sloggi. We've picked some of the best; continue reading to see more or see her winning review here.

Caprice, baroque prints and fifty years of Gottex

• "Caprice is in full control and she loves it," says The Telegraph in an interview with the model turned lingerie mogul this weekend.
• Israeli swimwear brand Gottex celebrates fifty years this season, says the New York Amsterdam News.
• Our exclusive Mimi Holliday range is picking up the press mentions: find it today on the Heat Diet Coke Break site.
• Aussie swim brand Seafolly made it onto vogue.co.uk yesterday - even lil' Sahara Jolie Pitt has been wearing this celeb favourite, we hear. Certain department stores might have sold out of the Baroque print but we've still got some.

Lindsay's bra

Lindsay Lohan has had a bit of stick from some quarters for baring her bra in public, but not here at figleaves.com - it's a very pretty one, after all. Sheer black bras are looking good all of a sudden... a summer lingerie trend, do we think?

image: rex

Princesse Tam-Tam in Lucky

Swimwear featured heavily in the May issue of Lucky - and what's this on the opening page of its "best swimsuits of the season" story? Princesse Tam-Tam's wonderful gingham bikini (like a modern Bardot, no?), that's what.

Also gracing the pages of Lucky this month: Princesse Tam-Tam's boat print bikini, La Blanca's plunging one-piece, and Vitamin A's show-stopping cutaway.

Big pants on the beach

Interesting piece in The Telegraph about the "Bridget Jones bikini" - yes, the high waisted bikini bottom is making a comeback. Not great for tanning your tummy but on the plus side you run no risk of a muffin top. Uma Thurman (below) was spotted on the beach in some big knickers recently; meanwhile, you can get the look from Freya, Princesse Tam-Tam and Ballet.

image: bigpicturesphoto

No knickers and supermodel knickers

• Emmerdale star Roxanne Pallett would rather starve than go without new lingerie, says Life Style Extra.
• Move over, Elle: Naomi Campbell is the latest super to consider her own lingerie line, according to Fametastic.
• As the stars-without-underwear craze reaches epidemic proportions, The Sun accuses Joss Stone of joining the no-knickers brigade.
• And don't forget to sing a rousing happy birthday to the bra - hitting its hundredth birthday round about now.

Carmen's Sexy Panties

Over here to promote her new (British) movie I Want Candy, Carmen Electra has been in the news a lot lately (what is with those Joan Jett rumours?). She looks fabulous as always in this FHM shoot, pictured here wearing some lovely frillies by Sexy Panties and Naughty Knickers.

In Vogue

Never mind the Kate Moss interview, when the April issue of Vogue arrived a couple of weeks ago we flipped straight to the swimwear shoot. And look! Here's a whole page devoted to Lepel's dotty bandeau. The flirty range arrived on site today - and we're loving its retro, Dirty Dancing feel. Have the time of your life from £22 for the bikini top.

Mimi's moment

OK, we've been lusting after this particular set ever since we first saw the samples - so there was much celebration at figleaves HQ when this exclusive range finally arrived on the site.

The beautiful Mimi Holliday creation on the left is designer Damaris Turl's tribute to the bra, which celebrates its centenary round about now. Why to love it? Swarovski crystals, vintagey peach silk and the famous Damaris bow at the back of the knickers.

Beautiful, no? Best of all, it's available all the way from a 28AA up to a GG cup.