...no thank you: Keep you knickers to yourself

There's nothing clever about showing your undies through your clothes, so buy nude

LETTING your undies show through your clothes is not classy, nor is it racy even, it's just lazy. And this summer, because the shops are teaming with lots of nice pale linen stuff, (M&S has the best selection) it's likely that we'll be faced with lots of outlined boobies and highlighted bottoms. It needn't be the case. There are enough skin-tone bras, knickers and thongs around for underwear to keep itself to itself under white linens. Department stores are always a good bet for finding what you're after, and the following brands have undies which won't show.

Warners has two ranges: the quite famous "Not So Innocent Nudes" (totally opaque second-skin bras in body beige and toffee) and the newer and rather dramatic sounding "Naked Truth". Both will put a stop to unwanted bras and knickers gate-crashing white linen outfits. Prices start at pounds 16 for bras and pounds 9 for briefs and thongs.

Triumph does some cracking smooth skin-tone undies too. "Allya Comfort" is a nice and soft range with a choice of bra shapes and briefs (bras from pounds 11), and if you're tiny upstairs then choose the skin-tone bra from Triumph's "Stepy Soft" range - it starts at 30AA.

"Gossard Glossies" include both sheer and opaque bras and knickers and thongs for black and white skins. Bras costs pounds 17 and both types of bottoms cost pounds 11. Worth mentioning is the strapless bra, one of the Gossard Glossies opaque pieces, which is pounds 17.50 and would be great under anything in pretty white linen with spaghetti straps (but only if you don't exceed a C cup).

Finally, Sloggi maxi briefs, pounds 5, come in three natural shades, in sizes 10-26. They manage to be comfy but private at the same time.

Marks and Spencer: 0171 935 4422; Warners: 0115 9795796; Triumph: 01793 720232

Gossard: 01525 851122; Sloggi: 01793 720232.