Underneath It All :

We all know two things about Britney Spears: She gets a full Brazilian bikini wax, and she definitely did not have her children naturally (note the C-section scar). Awhile back, Britney gave new meaning to "the little black dress" when she went on her postpartum, post-divorce notice rampage with Paris Hilton.

After flashing photographers repeatedly in itsy-bitsy dresses and skirts with no undies, Britney proclaimed on her Web site "Every move I make at this point has been magnified more than I expected, and I probably did take my new found freedom a little too far. Anyway, thank God for Victoria's Secret's new underwear line !" If Victoria's Secret is Britney's favorite line of lingerie, let's hope she and other stars start wearing it!Lingerie, a French word meaning women's underwear and nightclothes, is something women -- and men -- desire. Some lingerie is so expensive that celebrities are among the few that can afford to spend between $200 and $300 on a bra and around $50 on panties. And that's only the beginning; there are garters, negligees, bustiers, slips, teddies, merrywidows and corsets, which all cost much more.

The first lingerie company that attracted Hollywood glamour was Frederick's of Hollywood. Frederick believed that great lingerie made women feel beautiful , from the inside out. During Hollywood's golden days he opened his first boutique (still standing) on Hollywood Boulevard. Stars from Greta Garbo and Marilyn Monroe to Madonna were fans, many of whose panties, bras and bustiers can be seen in the store's Celebrity Lingerie Hall of Fame.

The top luxury lingerie lines of today are: La Perla, Wolford, Cosabella and Agent Provocateur. La Perla is an Italian company that also designs beachwear and clothes. Recently, La Perla was in the news for allegedly being the go-to source for TomKat's sexy underthings, post-wedding. Wolford is a Dutch company, and aside from their lingerie, is especially known for their stockings and hosiery. Cosabella , meaning "beautiful thing," is known more for their simple designs and comfortable, high-quality lingerie. Recently, they have branched into swimwear and claim to have various celeb followers. The company hosted a "Luxury Lounge" post-Oscar ceremony last year, where stars picked up some of their favorite underthings. Agent Provocateur is from London, very costly, and segues into the high-class fetish market. Kate Moss can be seen modeling on its Web site home page.

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