No matter whether you're dressed black-tie or for the gym, if your, ah, foundation garments are showing, you look a mess. Of course, you could be going for that look. In that case, skip this post.

But for those women who want their lingerie to match their skin tone and therefore be invisible under clothing, particularly under the white clothes that dominate summer outfits, there's MySkins. This line comes in 20 shades, about 17 more than the traditional black, white, and "nude" (which only works if your skin is that beige-y tone) colors found in stores.

The line features bras ($48) and panties ($12) in three styles each. It's a short list, but my guess is that if the line takes off, it will add more styles. If you're not sure what color is for you, request a free Color Match Card.

Princess Maha al-Sudairi, the wife of Saudi Arabia's Interior Minister, is holed up in a Paris luxury hotel claiming diplomatic immunity after refusing to pay a $24 million tab she ran up at the city's ritziest boutiques. Al-Sudairi, whose husband Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz is a member of Saudi Arabia's royal family and is second-in-line to the throne, racked up the impressive debt on a year-long spree at the French capital's high-end clothing, jewelry and lingerie boutiques, the London Telegraph reports. In all some 30 businesses have been stiffed including Dior, jewelry shops Chaumet and Victoria Casal, lingerie emporium O Caprices De Lili, and the famed Hotel de Crillon.

The Princess is currently holed up in a $4,000-per-night suite at the ultra-luxe Four Seasons George V hotel (above), which is partly owned by her nephew, Prince Al Waleed bin Talal. After some of those owed money initiated legal proceedings, the plaintiffs' lawyer Jacky Benazerah obtained a court order for bailiffs to go to the George V and seize the Princess' belongings. However, the Princess has invoked diplomatic immunity and will likely refuse them entry, in which case the French interior ministry and senior police officials would have to be consulted to authorize a police escort, the BBC reports.

Jamila Boushaba, owner of Paris' O Caprices De Lili lingerie shop, located directly across from the George V, was left holding a $100,000 bill for lacy underthings. "She was a very good customer for eight years, but then simply stopped paying," Boushaba tells the Telegraph. "I made a delivery of lingerie to the George V, but payment never arrived. Every time we called, we were told the bill would be settled the next day. It never was. When we contacted the Saudi ambassador in Paris he said there was nothing he could do for us." An aide to the Saudi royal family was similarly unhelpful, sniffing, "I'm afraid we can't go around settling bills for the Princess's knickers."

Jacky Giami, proprietor of luxury clothing boutique Key Largo, said the Princess stripped his shelves of some $215,000 worth of casual wear. "We know the family well – they're in Paris a lot," Giami tells the Telegraph. "She's not the kind of customer where you ask for a deposit, or to ask to see a piece of identity." Every time the Princess and her entourage visited Giami's and others' shops a representative would offer staff an embossed card stating "Payment to Follow". And of course having all those exquisite clothes cleaned cost quite a bit as well; the Princess is also said to have run up a drycleaning bill of $50,000 - per week.

Luxe British lingerie brand Agent Provocateur, known for their ultra-sexy ad campaigns, has just come out with a new swimwear collection featuring a wide range of eye-catching styles. Described as "the perfect beach wear for all seductive sirens," the collection is heavy on cleavage and cutaway sides, naturally. Looks include classic polka dots, a Daisy Duke-style red-and-white gingham and denim bikini, a trio of 60's-inspired one-piece swimsuits (above) with oversized silver buttons, and some decidedly more '80s-inspired pieces in black wet-look fabric with fishnet panels.

Luxe British lingerie line Agent Provocateur continues its sexy take on mythological themes with its latest collection of bridal lingerie for spring / summer. Titled "The Brides of Ulysses," the campaign features the brand's usual racy vignettes, showcasing a collection of "sumptuous white and cream designs in luxurious lace, alluring sheer tulle and sexy silk." Pictured above is the Kate corset in a "gorgeous wedding white detailed with intricate floral embroidery on the front and a traditional lace-up back." The Brides campaign also features a cameo by British model Karen Elson, wife of rock star Jack White of the White Stripes.

In the past we've written about sexy Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova's ad campaigns for the likes of Versace and Calvin Klein. Now she's turning her hand to designing as well, starting with a lingerie collection for French label Etam. Vodianova, who recently signed a three-year deal to be the brand's global ambassador, will produce a capsule collection each season called Natalia pour Etam. Initial pieces include a silk nightgown inspired by a vintage piece from her personal collection, a gray lace corset, and polka dot bra and pantie sets. "What I realized when designing this is how feminine I am," Vodianova says. "I'm feminine to the bone." We won't argue with that. You can check out some pix and video of Natalia cavorting in Etam lingerie here.

The thought of confused men wandering aimlessly around the lingerie sections of department stores this time of year makes me laugh, and it also makes me wonder how many men actually buy lingerie as Valentine's Day gifts? I think these days it's more about women buying it for themselves, and then the wearing of it is the gift for the man in their lives. Lingerie can be expensive, but I think it's totally worth the splurge. After all, it's one of the few things that makes both people happy.

So ... red, white, or black? That is the question.

The other day we wrote about the sexy new Virgins collection from Agent Provocateur. Now the luxe British lingerie line has come out with an incendiary Valentine's Day reminder in video form, entitled Love Me Tender. Starring stunning upper class British model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (above), who's said to be a distant cousin of the Queen of England, the video involves "a rudimentary plot involving office work, trenchcoats, bondage-by-sock, revenge, and cleaning ladies" - plus, of course, an eyeful of Rosie. We're not sure how effective this will be in terms of selling more lingerie, but it's certainly an attention-getter to say the least. You can check out the video here.

[Refinery 29 via A Continuous Lean]

Luxe Italian lingerie brand La Perla has put together a sexy collection of Valentine's Day gifts, presented in the form of a narrative photographed by Bjorn Iooss at Robert De Niro's plush Greenwich Hotel in New York. La Perla's rich tradition dates back to the 1950's when the company's founder, Ada Masotti, started making corsets for wealthy Italian women. Since then they've branched out but costly lingerie is still the core. La Perla's Valentine's Day story goes something like this:

"The La Perla woman makes the effort, but makes things look effortless. For Valentine's Day she wants to look her best and makes sure she takes care of her man. On Valentine's Day, she reserves a suite at the Greenwich Hotel, complete with a view of the New York harbor and a cozy fireplace. She buys several sets of La Perla lingerie, and takes her time to prepare so everything is just so. She then awaits for her man's arrival and presents the ultimate Valentine's gift - herself."

Just in time for Valentine's Day, luxe British lingerie line Agent Provocateur has come out with its new spring collection, called Virgins. The accompanying ad campaign (above and in the gallery) features surreal and sexed-up scenes drawn from Greek mythology and so forth, with nymphs and satyrs cavorting in approved Dionysian style. Luxurious fabrics including satin, lace and tulle are used in the line. It's the label's first new collection since its Pirates range that we wrote about in November, the ad campaign for which starred Helena Christensen. Also in the Valentine's Day spirit, Agent Provocateur has assembled a number of sexy gift suggestions here.

La Perla has come through with one of the finest holiday collections we've seen in years.

Above, you see a delicious pile of some of the items from the Holiday Song Collection:

• a scalloped lace pushup bra for $289
• a stretch lace panty with "flirty scalloped hem" for $168
• a silk lace-up slip with lace detail and adjustable straps for $489

Each of the items, along with the rest of the Holiday Song Collection in tasteful, lovely colors, is available for purchase from their website, LaPerlaUSA.com, or click here to locate a store near you. All pieces are displayed in artful little heaps, as above.

Supermodel Helena Christensen is the newest face (and body) of hip British lingerie brand Agent Provocateur. The Danish siren stars as a sexy pirate in Agent Provocateur's latest ad campaign (above), the story line of which involves her seducing the captain of a ship she's attempting to plunder. The Pirate-inspired lingerie also features in a video clip containing cryptic clues, along with pix of AP's other new line, Witches. As we reported in August, Agent Provocateur has big plans for expansion. See the gallery for more.

As any sophisticate knows, every layer of what you're wearing contributes to how you feel. Many people love the comfort of a cashmere sweater or a silk camisole, and many people also like to have a secret under their clothes.

Wearing an unusually fancy or sexy article of underwear will instantly give you a confidence boost. All day long, you'll smile as you remember what nobody knows you're wearing. And you don't have to pay La Perla prices to get this feeling (though if you can, you should; La Perla is exquisite).

One great source for sexy underthings at a bargain price? H&M. H&M has underwear for men and women. The materials may be cheaper, but the styles are lovely, and mostly under $10. Keep an eye on their sleepwear, as well; occasionally a sweet-dream-inducing nightie makes it to the rack for a guilt-free price.

It's just another easy way to make life more lux for cheap or free.

Haute-burlesque queen Dita Von Teese, whose controversial Cointreau ads we told you about in April, will debut her new collection for Wonderbra in Europe on Sept. 23rd.

The limited-edition, vintage-esque pieces, inspired by old Hollywood glamour with a touch of Bettie Page, come in three lines dubbed Multi-Teese, Spot-Teese and Satin-Teese, and also include panties and garter belts. Some of the bras feature an innovation of Dita's own devising: quick-release clasps so they're easier to remove than conventional models.

"Lingerie shouldn't be something you just put on for your lover; you should do it for you," Dita said in a statement announcing the collection. "It's not about seducing men, it's about embracing womanhood."

Luxe British lingerie brand Agent Provocateur, known for its sexy ad campaigns featuring Kate Moss (right), is expanding rapidly following its $120 million acquisition by a private equity firm last year.

The label, designed by Vivienne Westwood's son Joe Corre, already has 40 boutiques worldwide including eight in the U.S., with new locations planned for Boston and Chicago this fall, in addition to others around the globe.

"I just opened a boutique in Bahrain [in July], as well as Geneva and Puerto Barres in Spain," Corre tells WWD. "There also are more openings [planned] in Madrid, St. Petersburg and Germany." The brand, which was founded in 1996, plans to unveil its latest round of racy adverts next month.