Billed as the world's "most comfortable thong", Hanky Panky undies have a lot to live up to. Beloved by Cindy Crawford - who, as her many sexy calendars have testified,  knows a thing or two about underwear - the American lacy slips, which sold out when they were sold at Dover Street Market a few years ago, will be available to buy at Selfridges stores across the UK from 1 September. Founded 30 years ago by Gale Epstein after she gave her friend Lida Orzeck a birthday present of lingerie made from hand-embroidered hankies, the pair  have gone on to make the brand into a global sensation, expanding to sleepwear and sports underwear  (The Metropolitan Museum of Art has even selected the original lingerie for its permanent collection). Priced at £17 (with a boy shorts style also available, at £26), the thongs come in a vast array of juicy colours, including shocking pink, mandarin and Tiffany blue, as well as your standard cream or black. Made from soft, stretchy lace, they are cut low on the hip, so there's no danger of the dreaded so-called whale-tail effect. And, as this writer can testify, they certainly are a dream to wear, comfort-wise.

Picture: Thongs, by Hanky Panky