blogleaves: fashion inspiration, style news, and all that's new in the world of figleaves.com

And the winners are...

You may remember that a couple of weeks ago we ran a competition to win tickets to The Clothes Show Live, which is running from 5 to 10 December - well, here are the lucky winners:

Ms A O'Donovan
Miss J Leigh
Mrs J Sadler
Mrs S Tulloch
Mrs A Cerniavskaja
Miss A Priaulx
Miss L Merrifield
Miss C Richards
Ms R Coldbreath
Ms M Bleicher

Mary Green in Bridal Guide

Winter wedding? If you're tying the knot this season, Bridal Guide recommends this Mary Green chemise, perfect for "breakfast a deux on the patio". It's now half price at a frankly unmissable $28.

Figleaves.com on my-tv

Still wondering what to wear under that party frock? Our very own Louise popped up on my-tv to explain all.

All I want for Christmas is...

... bigger breasts? Not according to the British Chiropractic Association and figleaves.com. Turns out that a quarter of British women would actually like smaller breasts - and back pain is to blame.

As Tim Hutchful from the British Chiropractic Association says: “It really is quite shocking how many women still place how a bra looks over how much support it gives. Bras are like suspension bridges, you need a well engineered bra so your shoulders don’t take all of the strain and end up doing all of the work, spreading the load is important. Bras that don’t fit will affect the shoulders and chest and will almost certainly cause back pain as you get older.”

What to do? Our fitting expert Kate Horrell explains how to make sure your bra fits correctly.

Mimi Holliday and Sista Shei in The Sunday Times

"Treat her to what she deserves," said The Sunday Times Style this weekend. On their Christmas list? Black and red sets by Mimi Holliday, as well as these polka dot briefs by Sista Shei.

Red carpet shoulders

It's party season very soon, so let's get some inspiration from last night's bash to celebrate the opening of the Atlantis resort at the Palm in Dubai, complete with fireworks and a performance by Kylie Minogue. What were they wearing on the red carpet? Well, there were a lot of shoulders being bared:

If you're planning to take some style tips from (above, left to right) Daisy Lowe, Kylie Minogue or Lily Allen, a strapless bra might be in order; for more ideas, see our party solutions here.

images: Getty/Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai

Don't break your ankle this Christmas

Alarming news all the way from China: a woman in Guangdong province was so shocked when her husband gave her sexy lingerie that she kicked him in the leg and broke his ankle, reports China Daily. Anxious to avoid a similar experience this Christmas? Visit the figleaves.com gift shop for lingerie buying made simple; there's no danger of a violent reaction to any of this lot, we promise.

The no-VPL test

Well, someone had to do it - and Daily Mail journo Laura Stott stepped up to the plate to test 17 pairs of no-VPL knickers for the festive season. Did the figleaves.com examples earn glowing reviews? Of course; here's what the paper had to say:

• Miraclesuit high waist brief, below left, £22: "a revelation - completely invisible with no trace of VPL from any angle. Great for pulling on under a party outfit."
• Spanx high waisted power brief, below right, £27: "every woman needs a pair in her underwear drawer. They might look downright ugly, but once on the Spanx were comfortable, VPL free and left me totally streamlined and slinky."

Introducing Made by Niki

Now here's something you don't see every day: flattering, lifting and firming shapewear that's sexy too. Designer Niki McMorrough swapped a career in journalism and marketing for lingerie design - and are we glad she did. Just arrived at figleaves.com, Made by Niki's Fresh Foundations collection will have you looking your best under that party dress thanks to the power panels in its mesh girdle and suspender slip - and all with a sexy twist.

Princesse Tam-Tam in Marie Claire

A sad story today. Here's a lovely cut of Princesse Tam-Tam's pretty floral set in this month's US edition of Marie Claire. Unfortunately, while it's available in the UK, you won't find it on our US site (sometimes these things just happen). Some good news, however: everything that is on the US site is currently 50 per cent off - so what are you waiting for? Go shop.