blogleaves

In Her Majesty's Secret Speedos

"Licence to wear Speedos", "A spy in Speedos"... the recent news story about the wife of John Sawers, the next head of MI6, posting pictures of her husband in his Speedos on Facebook has been a gift to headline writers everywhere.

The Telegraph was not impressed: "Sorry Sir John, tight trunks are a terrible look," it said. But, given that they look very like the trunks worn by Daniel Craig in Casino Royale, we reckon that every spy should be issued with a pair - even if they don't all have a James Bond body.

Fancy playing at secret agents on the beach this summer? Check out our Speedo selection at figleaves.com.

10 Years Younger Live

Doing anything this weekend? We will be at the 10 Years Younger Live show, hosting the Swimwear Style Clinic along with Grazia's style director Paula Reed. It's the place to be if you want to see the latest trends and how they can work for your body shape, as well as nabbing one of our style advisers for a one-to-one chat.

Some of you are already coming down, of course - the lucky winners of our 10 Years Younger Live competition:

Denise Whiteside
Mandy Hulatt
Claire Sims
Tracy Gladman
Annette de Souza
Martyn Hier
Alison Hush
Emma Louise Forshaw
Barbara Parkins
Micheala Urch

Congratulations, all of you - and we'll see you at Earls Court.

Say no to holiday faux-pas

There's nothing we like better than a jaw-dropping swimwear moment - so thanks to foxnews.com for its celebrity swimwear shockers gallery. Meanwhile, travel company sunshine.co.uk has produced a holiday survey of the worst Euro swimwear blunders of all time. French men in tiny Speedos top the list, with Germans in the nude, Brits in mankinis and Spanish women in thongs not far behind.

Looking to avoid a similar faux-pas this summer? Check out our holiday shop, where you can shop by destination, trend, body shape and more to ensure you don't end up blushing on the beach.

Coleen, Kimberley and itty-bitty trunks: swimwear news

• Bikini news: Coleen Rooney is enjoying her Vix bikini, says Pop Sugar. No green, I'm afraid, but you can find a similar Vix set in fuchsia here at figleaves.com.
• Bikini history: Swimwear through the ages is on show in Sydney, according to the Daily Telegraph in Oz. Not heading that way? Check out the gallery.
• Not everyone can get away with "itty-bitty swim trunks" in public, says the Houston Chronicle. Not sure? Save your Speedos for the pool and take cargo shorts on holiday instead.
• Kimberley Walsh steals bandmate Cheryl Cole's beach style in a zebra print bikini in today's Daily Mail. Zebra prints this way.

Steal Cheryl's style

Girls Aloud and X Factor goddess Cheryl Cole has been in the papers this weekend, looking happy, healthy and thoroughly on trend in her lime green cutaway swimsuit (The Daily Mail approves).

The cutaway has been with us for a good few seasons now and it's easy to see the appeal: it's va-va-voom sexy without being as revealing as a bikini (not to mention a style savvy solution if you have a scar or stretch marks on your tummy).

Above, three hot cutaways for summer: O Beach, Vitamin A (currently 20 per cent off, and Aguaclara (an absolute steal at 70 per cent off in our Designer Outlet).

All the videos from the Designer Beach

Sand, swimwear, male models and plenty of celeb spots (Katie Price, Erin O'Connor and George Lamb, to name just a few)... we had a ball at the Figleaves Designer Beach at the Clothes Show London this weekend. Want the gossip? Our team was busy tweeting away, and there are plenty more videos too - so even if you didn't make it down, you can still catch up on all the trends, from tribal to monochrome. It's a taste of summer - enjoy!

Yes we Cannes

Yesterday saw the start of this year's Cannes film festival - an event that has had a special place in the hearts of swimwear lovers since a bikini clad Brigitte Bardot first caused a sensation there in 1953.

So we say: never mind the movies (although Disney Pixar animation "Up" does sound like a fun way to kick things off); let's take a look at some of the latest bikinis that would do a modern-day Bardot proud. From left: nautical style (think of all those yachts) from Scarlet Rose; French chic from Rasurel; Hollywood favourite Vitamin A.

image: Kristian Dowling/Getty Images

Introducing Minileaves

We've been busy introducing our own ranges this year at figleaves.com, and now your little 'uns can stop throwing all their toys out of the pram because this latest collection is just for them. From super-cute swimwear to cool summer pjs, plus stripey hooded towels for drying off after a day at the beach, Minileaves is packed with summer - and summer holiday - essentials for fashion-conscious tots aged 18-24 months to 7-8 years. And the best bit? We're introducing the collection with a 10 per cent discount - so there's no excuse not to treat your tearaways.

Above: girls' one-piece £13.50 with discount; boys' pj set £13.50 with discount.

Figleaves bambini

Not that children these days are fashion victims, but when I booked a summer holiday this week, the first thing my daughters did was start compiling a holiday wardrobe wish list. Even the most label-conscious tween, though, should be happy with the new kids' department at figleaves: with brands such as Birkenstock, Quiksilver, Speedo and Zoggs for boys and girls, they'll be wiping the floor with their parents in the style stakes this summer.

Pammy, Jessica, festival fashion and another life-saving bra

Warm weather this week - for some of the country, at least - so let's start with the swimwear news.

• Move over, Nigella - Pamela Anderson wants to do a cookery show in a bikini, reports stuff.co.nz.
• Wondering what to wear for all this summer's festivals? Take a fashion tip from this year's Coachella, where music fans were happy to stroll around in their bikinis, says the LA Times.
• Some good news for our favourite weight-battler Jessica Simpson: her swimwear line got a boost thanks to the Miss USA pageant, says Us Magazine.

Meanwhile, in the world of lingerie, there's a new spin on a favourite story this week. Yes, the life-saving bra is back - this time in Detroit, where the underwire on a woman's bra deflected a bullet during a break-in on her neighbour's home, reports AP.