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What we loved in 2008...

David Beckham for Emporio Armani
White briefs benefited from the Becks effect this year; can Victoria Beckham do the same for the women's lingerie in 2009?

Speedo
In an Olympic year, Speedo's LZR Racer suit wiped the floor with the competition.

Red tights
As seen on everyone from Agyness Deyn to Fern Britton - and the quickest way to update your party frock this winter.

Sexy sets
We all stayed in thanks to the credit crunch - and sales of suspenders soared.

Sex and the City
From Samantha's big bikini pants to Carrie's knee socks and The Lake and Stars romper, SATC style ruled our lingerie drawers too this year.

... and what's coming up for 2009

Barbie
'Fraid so. The world's favourite doll turns fifty next year - so is it a coincidence that the spring/summer lingerie collections are a riot of Barbie pink?

Yellow
Pantone has dubbed mimosa the colour of spring - and this sunny shade of yellow has cropped up in the palette of more than a few swimwear brands.

Reversible swimwear
Two bikinis for the price of one? Credit crunch-tastic.

Cutaways
As seen on the Miami catwalks, this long-running swim trend (Vitamin A, pictured) looks set to be a big story again in 2009.

Florals
Think sweet, ditsy prints for lingerie; bolder, splashy florals for swim.

Rugby players in D&G

Merry Christmas, everyone! As a festive treat, let's have a look at some Italian rugby players in their D&G underwear - it's the Skin Sensation range. Enjoy.

Eva's lingerie-buying tips

OK we're talking very, very last minute here (Christmas delivery is available from figleaves.com if you order by noon today and select special delivery) but if you are still contemplating treating your loved one to some lingerie for Christmas there are yet more underwear buying tips floating around. The Mail on Sunday had some handy hints yesterday, but we much prefer to listen to Calvin Klein spokesmodel Eva Mendes, who insists that there's nothing to be afraid of, according to ITN. "I think the best tip is, men, when you go out and buy these gifts for your wife the sales people think it's so adorable there's no reason to feel shy or embarrassed." Well said, Eva.

The wonderful one-piece

Only two days to go if you want your order to arrive by Christmas, everyone... but let's not talk about that today. Instead, we have some important style news for anyone jetting off on a winter holiday: yes, the one-piece looks set to wallop the bikini in the style stakes, according to the New Zealand Herald. It all sounds very modest, but in truth many of these one-pieces are just as sexy as their two-pieced sisters - like this Aguaclara embroidered cutaway, for example, which has just arrived on figleaves.com. More cruise arrivals? Check out Melissa Odabash and Vitamin A for some equally sizzling examples.

What to wear under your sweater dress

Not long to go now... and come Christmas Day, it's a fair bet that a lot of you will be slipping into one of this season's sweater dresses. The Times showed us how to wear it yesterday, and recommended popping a silk slip from figleaves.com underneath to combat the dreaded static cling effect. We've got a couple of suggestions below, plus the good old Spanx control slip for those of us who'd like a little help in the holding-your-tummy-in department (although be warned: this well might limit your mince pie intake on the day).

Left to right: Chaslyn, Julianne, Spanx.

Ultimo news: Melinda Messenger and Nicola McLean

Some Ultimo news today. First, a heartwarming tale: we hear that Ultimo D-G girl Melinda Messenger has made it up with husband Wayne and called off her divorce. Meanwhile, Nicola McLean of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here fame has taken time out from feuding with Jordan to make some appearances as the new face of the brand - she's revealed that she uses her bras to teach her two year old son the alphabet, reports PopSugar.

Fantasie in InStyle

A real figleaves favourite (check out the reviews), Fantasie's Bridgette range makes an appearance in the January issue of InStyle too. The bra is currently reduced from £36 to £28.80; the briefs from £18 to £14.40.

Lingerie gifting with The Sunday Times

Carollers? Inflatable santas? Pah. The surest sign that Christmas is nearly here is the sudden appearance of men's lingerie guides in the newspapers. The SundayTimes ran a good one yesterday, with advice that boiled down to: one, get the right size; and, two, think sweet not sexy. Chantelle's Rive Gauche set came recommended, as did Mimi Holliday, Elle Macpherson Boudoir, Odille, Karen Millen, and, for larger cup sizes, Panache, Fantasie and Fauve. One final word: only buy her a red lacy thong if you are very, very sure.

Niki, Nicole and bra angels - this week's lingerie news

• Congratulations to designer lingerie brand Made By Niki, which has just won its first award, beating off the competition in the New Export category at the East Midlands Business Awards.
• White lingerie under a white dress? No, no Nicole.
• Mobile phone g-string, anyone?  The Secret Life of Syrian Lingerie is still getting people talking; the book is reviewed in The Independent today.
• Never mind leaves on the line; in Honolulu, commuters have been slowed down by underwear on the freeway.
• What to do when the underwire starts to break through your favourite bra? Save it from the bin with a Bra Angel, says Wales Online.

A ripping good trend for tights

Courtney Love is on the cover of Elle magazine this month with her Falke tights ripped to shreds, and she's not the only one: Girls Aloud's Kimberley turned up to the Children of Courage awards this week with a great big ladder in the back of her tights too, noticed the Daily Mail. A fashion faux pas or the makings of a trend? We'll go with the former. Below, some tights worth looking after this season - and if you do spot any ladders, repair them with clear nail varnish (or, at a push, soap) before you too do a Kimberley.

Above left to right: Falke, Figleaves Italian Hosiery, Jonathan Aston

Take the airbrush with you

Poor old Jessica Alba, eh? No sooner had we all stopped gasping over how quickly she got her figure back after having a baby to pose in swimwear for the 2009 Campari calendar than the pre-airbrush pictures start to appear. Anyway, while it's comforting to know that even the A-list need a little help, what can the rest of us do? Control swimwear could be the answer; check out these new arrivals from PourMoi? if you're headed somewhere sunny this Christmas and need a little cinching in.

image: Getty

Top marks for Freya Active

Let's look at sports bras today - something best saved for January, perhaps, except that this guide to making a sports bra out of a pair of men's underpants was too good not to share.

If it's proper support you're after, though, Health & Fitness mag recently recommended the Freya Active underwired sports bra, which topped its wearer trial. "This is definitely the most stylish, comfortable and supportive sports bra for big busted ladies I've ever tried," raved the reviewer.

Pinups and next year's bikinis

• Spare a thought for a lingerie legend today: pinup Bettie Page has been hospitalized after a heart attack, says the New York Post.
• "Bikini season... in December?" wails The Huffington Post. 'Fraid so - they've even included a yoga video so that you can start working on that bikini bod now, thus saving a panic when you try to shape up in a hurry next May.
• Watch out Miami: the first Australian Swim Fashion Week next February could steal your crown.
• Look out for some itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikinis next year - the future is yellow, says Pantone. Can we be more specific? Yup - mimosa.
• Helen Mirren on that bikini: "It was just a flattering picture," she tells The Australian.

Louise loves...

Let's have a picture of Louise Redknapp again - well, she is our favourite lingerie spokesmodel, after all. She's the face of a new lifestyle website, Louise Loves - it's very Triumph-heavy, of course, but worth a look, featuring fashion, beauty and restaurant recommendations from the community.

Trend alert: in the navy

Black might be classic, but navy is emerging as the classy fashionista's choice this season. New arrivals? Left to right: Malizia by La Perla, Simone Perele and The Lake and Stars (complete with saucy suspender belt with pocket) all offer a chic take on this high fashion shade - just the thing to pop under a navy cashmere v-neck, party frock or shift dress.

DT in New!

New! magazine suggested some Christmas gifts for celebrity couples this week. For Ashley from Cheryl? These DT briefs were among the suggestions - now reduced to £9.50, available in green and grey if you're quick.

Huit in InStyle

InStyle was loving all things lacy in its January issue. Here's Huit's chic navy and purple bra £39 and brief £30.

Now up to 90 per cent off our US site

Here's an offer you can't refuse - there is now up to 90 per cent off everything at our US site. No, we're not kidding - just call it an early holiday gift. Enjoy.

What the papers say: va-va voom shapewear

It's "goodbye to those humiliating Bridget Jones big knickers," reports The Daily Mail gleefully; yes, shapewear just got sexy.

"Despite the seamless magic knicker phenomenon, customers are investing in more traditional shapewear which resembles the underwear of the Fifties," says Denise Fraser, lingerie buyer at figleaves.com in the paper's report.

Our recommendations for the sexy way to get that hourglass silhouette? The Charnos corselette, Chantelle's Boudoir corset (below), and glamorous shapewear from Made by Niki.