Breakfast at Le Coucou — a delightful way to start a Sunday morning, particularly so during the frenzy of New York Fashion Week. Laura Vassar and Kris Brock chose the restaurant, one of their favorites, as the venue for their spring Brock Collection show, imagining throughout the design process how the clothes would look in the setting.

The answer: Clothes and space looked made for each other, the undone gentility of the exposed brick walls reflecting the subtle touch of toughness beneath the collection’s prettiness. In their show notes, the designers said they had considered “this notion of raw American romance.” “We wanted it to be a breath of fresh air, and for [it to] feel alive and courageous,” Vassar said backstage post-show. “Reading about and looking at Georgia O’Keeffe’s work and how she approached it — expressing that [which] she couldn’t find words for, a feeling of wanting to do something vibrant and alive.”

For the Brock duo, vibrant and alive is synonymous with romantic and sexy-pretty. Here, they imbued their lingerie-derived signatures with a casual attitude in washed, rumpled fabrics. Wallpaper prints had a vintage feel while ikat patterns most specifically referenced O’Keeffe’s Southwest. The designers love a corset construction, and this time out delivered it in frilled, linear silhouettes with a hint of prairie vixen. There were also slips that fell from the body.

It was all lovely, yet with a specificity that will require some diversification if significant growth is a goal. To that end, a sportswear presence, including a charming strapless, ruched peplum top over striped pants, was but one indication that the brand-building wheels are turning. As for the two others, whether or not a millinery collaboration with Nick Fouquet will cross over from runway trope to real-life headgear remains to be seen. But Tabitha Simmons’ footwear — no question. Sometimes raw-and-refined step out together. Bring on those feathered, beribboned slides.

Sex and the City fans know that Carrie Bradshaw’s bras were just as crucial to her wardrobe as her Manolos. She wore them over clothes, under sheer shirts and even on occasion just hit the streets of Manhattan in a good brassiere. Essentially, CB was the O.G. of underwear as outerwear (sorry, Kim Kardashian West), a trend which is very present in 2018.

And while Sarah Jessica Parker usually likes to differentiate herself from her character, she does maintain that wearing lingerie outside of the bedroom is one thing they both have in common.

“I’m liberated that it’s back,” Parker, 53, told PEOPLE of the trend during an international press conference announcing her role as brand ambassador for Italian lingerie brand Intimissimi’s new fall campaign. “I’m so happy because I never stopped doing it. It’s one thing that we did [on the show] that did overlap with me and that character Carrie.”

Parker credits her collaborative relationship with SATC‘s iconic costume designer Patricia Field for creating Bradshaw’s boundary breaking, lingerie-forward wardrobe.

“Pat Field who was our brilliant costume designer and is an extraordinary creative mind, we just did that,” Parker said of the lingerie influence in her character’s wardrobe. “She was so happy that it was something I wanted to do and I was so thrilled that it was something she wanted to do. But once again everyone has their own version of that. Everyone is different. And everyone’s body is different. And everyone’s figure is different. So people should do with it what they want.”

The fashion set gathered Thursday in Verona, Italy, to celebrate the actress’s new role with the brand and welcome her as ambassador. She sat front row at the label’s fall/winter 2018 fashion show, also attended by fashion influencers Chiara Ferragni and Alexa Chung.

Top models Irina Shayk, Anne V and Isabeli Fontana led the runway show wearing sexy bodysuits, bras and cheeky thongs teamed with everything from glittering capes to feather headdresses to over-the-knee boots.

For her campaign, Parker stayed true to her roots, hitting the streets of N.Y.C. in a silky pajama set and the brand’s new black lace balconette bra.

“My entire collaborative time with Intimissimi has really been lovely. It’s a great group to work with,” she shared. “Their creative, exciting, and they don’t mind challenges and of course shooting in New York presents challenges — it’s not always easy. It was a total delight to shoot and it’s a thrill to work with this company.”

The actress may look like she’s channeling Bradshaw in the new campaign, but insists that she is very different from her on-screen alter ego.

“I always say we look alike but everything else is different,” she shared. “For me it’s an association which doesn’t feel like a problem. I don’t feel encumbered by it. I have had amazing experiences with designers and working in fashion myself or collaborating and those experiences have been very meaningful to me.

“I have friends in the industry, I’ve watched them as they were emerging designers become globally recognized,” she added. “I’ve had designer friends who are passed because of age or tragic circumstances. If there is an association with me and fashion, I don’t mind it. It doesn’t feel limiting. It’s my job to make choices professionally to remind people that I am an actor and I can do lots of things.”

Buying fancy lingerie can work wonders for your self confidence.

It can make you feel more body positive, as well as spicing up your sex life.

So you’ll probably be pleased to know there are plenty of saucy styles available this autumn.

Bluebella has just unveiled its new collection – and it’s one of its sexiest yet.

Daily Star Online spoke to the brand’s fashion experts to find out more.

Lace, mesh and embroidery are common themes in the range.

Bluebella also appears to have drawn inspiration from the dominatrix lingerie trend.

Most of the garments feature multiple straps, which criss-cross over the body in kinky formations.

These extra lines add power and structure to the clothing items, as well as drawing attention to the natural curves of the body.

One of the stand-out items in the line is the Nyane Soft Bra set.

The wire-free bralette is embellished with wide bands of delicate lace.

This feminine fabric is also used on the briefs, adorning the bikini line.

Shoppers who feel nervous about stripping off in front of their partners can throw a matching kimono over the lingerie.

Another eye-catching garment provides a twist on Bluebella’s naked trend.

The famous bra features large cut-outs at the breasts, flashing plenty of skin.

For autumn, the style has been given a more conservative re-vamp.

Instead of leaving the body completely exposed, mesh material helps to hold the boobs in place.

Anyone who wants to wear something to feel sexier has my support.

Whether it’s a good suit or a pair of heels, many garments can give you an indescribable sense of sensuality or swagger.

When it comes to lingerie, however, you might wonder if there’s any point. Why put something on, only to take it straight off minutes after you’ve been seen in it?

Lingerie isn’t for your partner, though. Not really. Yes, they do get to see you in a sexy costume-of-sorts, but that’s only at the end of the process of wearing such things.

See, lingerie isn’t really about how you look. The purpose is not to put on a strip show. It’s not limited to those with supermodel bodies, nor do you put it on so you have sex appeal to your partner.

Lingerie is about a feeling. It makes you feel sensual, it puts you in touch with your body, and it focuses your mind on your sexuality.

Clothes can give you confidence, and lingerie – or any other kind of sexy undergarment – is a way to give you sky-high self-conviction. Worn under regular clothes, lingerie is like having a sexy little secret. Only you know it’s there, and only you know what’s going on inside your mind.

Lingerie doesn’t have to be expensive and complex. Yes, you can go the extravagant Victoria’s Secret route, or get into garments that have straps and zips and buttons galore. Or, you could just go down to Farmers and get some pretty pants. Something made of a nice fabric that you find appealing (simple silk, lace, or lycra, anyone?) in a cut that’s unusual for you.

I think sexy underwear is an ideal way to bring back spark to anyone’s sex life when it dwindles. I believe it gives the wearer the authority to initiate sex where they mightn’t usually feel they have it. This is particularly helpful if you and your partner have identified that interest in sex has become one-way.

It’s understandable to ponder why lingerie isn’t for you. You don’t look like Heidi Klum. You think it’s uncomfortable. You wonder why you’d bother when nobody will see it, or the person who will see it won’t care.

All of these hesitations are valid, which is all the more reason to give lingerie a go. I can guarantee you’ll prove yourself wrong.

Why does lingerie make you feel sexy? It impresses yourself – and when you impress yourself, your attitude will automatically be endearing to another person.

Underwear is worn right on the skin. When it’s stylish and sexy (unlike a pair of granny panties, old boxer shorts, or a sad beige bra) this helps you reconnect with the way thinks touch your skin and your sensitivity to it. It primes you for a sexual mood; it’s an aphrodisiac. It’s even better than champagne, chocolate, or roses, to be honest.

Most importantly, lingerie is about giving you a sense power. Wearing it is a secret that you can choose to reveal, or choose not to. It’s like a weapon and it’s your choice to use it. There’s also something really appealing about holding in such a secret. It’s something you only see in the movies. It’s occasional. It’s indulgent.

Buying lingerie is an investment for your quality of life. Wear it under a power suit to a job interview and you’ll feel more self-assured. Wear it to a party under a cocktail outfit and you’ll feel alluring to everyone in the room. Wear it on holiday to make your time in a posh hotel feel extra special.

It’s not just for sex. Lingerie is about self-confidence. It gives you faith in yourself, which will result in sexual appeal from others. But that should merely a by-product, not the first intention.

From the iconic whale tail Degrassi episode to Cisco’s classic anthem, thongs have long reigned supreme in fashion and pop culture. So what better way to end the summer than with an all out thong-a-thon? This long weekend, ELLE celebrates the best, the worst and the most memorable thongs—on the red carpet, on the beach, and beyond.

Make no mistake: Degrassi: The Next Generation was ahead of its time. The Canadian teen drama never shied away from touching on the good, the bad, and the painfully awkward experiences of being a teen in high school. Ask anyone what the most memorable moment from the series was and their answers may vary, from J.T’s fatal stabbing (still not over this) to the heartbreaking school shooting that left Jimmy (Drake!) paralyzed. But it’d be a crime to not admit that one of the most iconic moments in Degrassi history was Manny Santos’ whale tail look.

Ahead, five women open up about what Manny Santos’ makeover from Emma’s “cute” sidekick to high school bombshell meant to them—including Cassie Steele herself.

Cassie Steele, actress
I was 14 during that episode and I felt like it was a bit shocking and edgy for TV–or at least for someone that was 14 then. When I put the thong on, I was wondering if I looked as hot as I feel. I started to wear them because I really wanted to feel older. I was the youngest of the cast at the time and I was working alongside a bunch of teenagers that were older than me and I felt like I needed to be more mature but I didn’t know what that meant–I just wanted to be cool.

I think everybody wants to feel sexy and attractive and Manny Santos embodied what it meant to be bold at that age when you’re discovering your sexuality and your discovering who you are–I feel like she symbolized that. I think a part of all of us wanted to be like that in high school and wanted to break out. Obviously, at the time slut-shaming was the most prevalent in high school and so you want to do this, you want to embrace your sexuality, but you’re afraid you’ll be judge by your peers. I’ve had girls who come up to be who have been slut-shamed in high school tell me my character meant a lot to them and got them through things.

Kristina, ELLE.com senior beauty editor
Manny Santos was a baddie before baddies were a thing. Sexy, confident, rebellious—she was all the things my goody-two-shoes, Catholic schoolgirl self wanted to be in secret. She was also one of the very first characters on TV I saw who looked like me (she was even Filipino!), so in my eyes she could do no wrong. I remember the thong episode clearly because I didn’t even know what a thong was. It was such the Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman move for the ages and I admired her audacity (and commitment to matching her blue rhinestone underwear to her blue top). Not going to lie, after watching that episode, I snuck away to a cheap lingerie store and shopped for my very first thongs. I was nervous. I felt almost ashamed. I bought five and immediately hid them away in my room so my mom wouldn’t find them. I wore them in secret. Manny’s proclamation, “I wanna be hot! Not cute. Not adorable. HOT!” is extremely memorable—and relatable for any young woman coming into her own sexuality. I loved how clothing could transform you and make you feel in control of the image you put out. That’s a lot of depth to give to a thin piece of fabric, but it’s real.

Following a one-season hiatus from the New York fashion week circuit, Rihanna returns to the bi-annual fashion event to unveil the fall/winter 2018 offerings of her lingerie line Savage x Fenty. The Bajan singer is scheduled to stage a fashion show September 12, dedicated to the lingerie brand she’s developed in partnership with California’s Techstyle Fashion Group.

The Bajan singer’s return to the catwalk will take place in Brooklyn, as opposed to Manhattan where most fashion week collections will be sent down the runway from September 6 till September 14. The recording artist and 2014 CFDA Fashion Awards Style Icon Award winner, will implement a see-now-buy-now approach as part of the collection’s New York unveiling. Pieces from the fashion week presentation shall therefore be available at Savagex.com immediately after the show, followed by pop-ups across New York, Minnesota’s Mall of America and two remaining cities to be announced.

Earlier this year in May – at the time of the Savage x Fenty lingerie brand announcement – the company was praised for the efforts it appears to be making in terms of body inclusivity across its marketing. At present, Savage x Fenty offers bra sizes starting at 70A up to 100F. Besides bras and briefs, the latest Rihanna venture retails robes, corsets, handcuffs, and whips.
In an interview for the May issue of Vogue, the Caribbean pop singer is quoted saying, “Savage is really about taking complete ownership of how you feel and the choices you make. Basically making sure everybody knows the ball is in your court. As women, we’re looked at as the needy ones, the naggy ones, the ones who are going to be heartbroken in a relationship. Savage is just the reverse. And you know, guys don’t like getting the cards flipped on them—ever.”

Rihanna’s most recent New York Fashion Week appearance was marked by the final Fenty x Puma collection she designed in partnership with the German sportswear manufacturer. The capsule collections of fashion-forward athleisure wear, were part of a two-year deal between the self-proclaimed bad girl and Puma. The co-branding project made its debut at New York fashion week, in September 2016. Following that New York City debut, Fenty x Puma staged fashion shows in Paris as well, exploring themes which ranged from Marie Antoinette to motor sports.

American Eagle Outfitters piqued analyst interest yesterday (Aug. 29) when it announced an ambitious plan to open as many as 80 physical stores for its sub-brand, Aerie, over the next three years. On the company’s second-quarter earnings call, chief executive Jay Schottenstein called Aerie “the key growth engine within [American Eagle’s] strategic plan”.

Founded in 2006, Aerie is known for its affordable lingerie, lounge, and activewear, targeted towards 15- to 25-year-old female customers. In 2016, the brand made headlines when it became a forerunner of body-positive marketing with its #aerieREAL no-airbrushing campaign. Aerie has since established itself as a standout in diversity marketing by featuring models of different body types and ethnicities, including women with visible disabilities and illness this past year.

Aerie continues to add in-store features to support #aerieREAL, and its fall campaign for 2018 focuses on men with different body types. (Incidentally, the company came under fire in 2016 for running a satirical #aerieMAN campaign as a tawdry April Fool’s joke, but this latest campaign is a genuine expansion of its body-positive efforts to include men).

Based on Aerie’s expansion plans, it’s clear customers have responded positively to these campaign. The label is starting to pose a serious threat to lingerie giant Victoria’s Secret, which continues to face criticism from customers and experts for its advertising approach, which relies on scantily clad women in racy ad campaigns. Data from brand insights firm YouGov revealed that women’s perception of the company has declined since 2013, particularly in the #MeToo era, largely due to its oversexualized ads.

While Aerie expands its physical and digital footprints, the L Brand-owned Victoria’s Secret (which includes college and teen-oriented intimates label Pink), announced plans to shutter 20 stores in response to poor sales. The downfall of Victoria’s Secret contributed to a swan dive for L Brands that began in 2015 and resulted in a 72% share drop over three years. What’s more, Victoria’s Secret announced the discontinuation of its apparel and swimwear businesses in 2016, the latter of which continues to grow for Aerie. In short, if Aerie’s diversity-driven business strategy is winning out, perhaps struggling brands will get the hint that inclusivity is as important for business as it is for society.