blogleaves

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…"

Customer faves

Lots of you have been sending in your customer favourites:

"My favourite range is the Kalyani range of bras as they are so comfortable and yet still pretty." Joanne

"I would be completely lost without my Vix bikinis. It’s either a Vix or I have to have them made to order. I have a very small bottom and narrow hips which means that even the smallest pair of bikini bottoms hang off me and look baggy and totally unflattering. The fabric used by Vix for their bikinis means that the fit is superb. I can also buy the tops and bottoms separately which is a huge bonus given that I am a 30 D cup!" Anna

"Have to agree that Freya Rio bra is the best ever!" Ann

"I have found the most amazing bra, it's called Fantasie Smoothing t-shirt bra.  This bra is wonderful in every way - it has good support, thin shoulder straps and is so soft and comfortable to wear, the nude colour is virtually invisible under tight fitting clothes." Jo

left to right: Kalyani, Vix, Freya Rio, Fantasie Smoothing

Keep 'em coming - leave a comment below to tell us about your favourites. (Mine is the Huit Muse, since we're sharing).

Cruise collection

So we were thinking of hosting a little Boxing Day at-home round my house this Christmas but it turns out that everyone - everyone - will be away, having had the good sense to book a winter holiday.

A trend, clearly - hence the growing importance of cruise collections. figleaves.com swimwear buyer Amanda Lepar gave me a sneak peek at the swimwear due to hit the site this month - so those of you clever souls who are jetting off somewhere hot can wow 'em on the beaches this Christmas.

"Red is the hot colour for next summer," promises Amanda - so get a head start courtesy of Freya and Fantasie.

More trends: stripes (see Seafolly, below right) chocolate (Moontide, below left), the new gold - a creamy champagne (Aguaclara and Aubade) and olive green (Aguaclara again, above).

And if you don't fancy embarking on a bikini diet right now (madness once the party season kicks in, after all) there's always Seaspray's New Plain one piece with a touch of control.

More new swimwear after the click.