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

Last call to win a weekend in Edinburgh

Fancy an all expenses paid weekend exploring Scotland's capital city? (A Glaswegian myself, even I must admit that Edinburgh is well worth a visit). You have until 16 February to enter our prize draw to win a 5-star Winter White break, with two nights at a 19th century coach house, a spa visit and £300 spending money all part of the prize. For more details and to enter, click here.

If you go down to the site today...

... you'll see that we've had a bit of a makeover. What's new? Left hand navigation, links to popular brands, loads more content, more pictures, and, of course, a sleeker, more contemporary look. The aim is to make it easier than ever to find your way around the site, so let us know how you get on. Love it? Loathe it? Do tell.

Back to the site: in the UK, in the US.

Drew's bikini

 

We've all seen the pics of Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz enjoying a girly holiday in Hawaii recently; now buy the bikini. Here's Drew in the colour of the season (it's olive, everyone) courtesy of this lovely bandeau bikini by American designer Lisa Curran.

Drew image: bigpicturesphoto.com

Pink pants

Something for the men today... a symphony of pinks. Yes, it looks like pink is sneaking in there to become the surprise hit of the season. Above, from left: fresh, spring-like offerings from DT, Paul Smith and swimwear from Hom.

top picks from Marie Claire.co.uk

We asked Carla Bevan (left), editor of MarieClaire.co.uk, to pick her favourite new season lingerie and swimwear buys from figleaves.com.

Discover the polka dot bra, the low rise knickers and the oh-so-cute bikini that all get the Marie Claire seal of approval after the click.

How the West was won

In the news today:

• One for your next book club meeting: "Underwear built the West as much as railways and one-room schoolrooms," asserts historian Nancy Millar, whose book about the role of underwear in Western frontier life has just been published in the US.
• Not coming to a TV screen near you: Doctor Who's new assistant in her underwear. The scene has been cut, says femalefirst.
• Tempted to slip into your pjs next time you take a flight? Not a good idea, reports Catwalk Queen, if you are sitting next to Tom Ford, as Victoria Beckham discovered.
• And resist the temptation to commit a crime in Glasgow if the thought of not-entirely-clean underwear makes you feel a bit icky. The Sunday Herald has been investigating the "underpants lottery" at Barlinnie.

She's getting married in the morning...

We're feeling ever so romantic today, what with Liz Hurley getting married tomorrow and everything (and what a blessed relief it will be not to have to read about the guest list, the pink sari and the draconian dress code any more).

So what better day for the new bridal lingerie range by PourMoi? to arrive on figleaves.com? Made from mesh and stretch satin, it covers all your lingerie needs for the big day - choose from a basque, full cup or strapless bra and don't forget your suspenders - but with prices from £22 for a bra, you'll have plenty of cash left over to ply your guests with bubbly.

Sneak peek at autumn07

Never mind Paris Fashion Week, we're more interested in what the lingerie houses have in store for autumn/winter. figleaves.com's communications director Jo Jeffery had a sneak preview.

"We’re just back from three days in Harrogate looking at next autumn/winter’s lingerie collections where the big story was sizing and fit. There was good news for us larger cup sized women with a new launch from the house of Panache. Don’t be put off by the name – Frillies – this new range delivers fashionable, colourful and sexy styles – with sets around the £20 price point. And all up to a G cup. At the other end of the spectrum, Playtex unveiled its My Size collection which will offer A1/2, B1/2 and C1/2 sizes for inbetweenies. Huit is introducing sleepwear and like the lingerie it’s stunning, while the big colour stories at the show were black, chocolate, deeps reds, purple and rich blues (Valisere pictured). While you’ll have to wait until autumn for these new lines, you can buy into the blues now…"

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.