Posh underwear ads sizzle

2009-01-14 22:28

Jo Winterbottom

Milan - Victoria Beckham will lie back on giant billboards this year dressed only in bra and panties made by Emporio Armani, echoing husband David's revealing poses for the designer.

In one advertisement, Victoria sits on the edge of a crumpled bed, dressed only in underwear, her eyes darkly rimmed and the shadow stripes of window blinds criss-crossing her body.

In another, she lies on a carpet with her eyes closed, head resting on the seat of a sofa, wearing a spotted bra and panty and screechingly high heels.

The advertisements are due to appear on billboards in New York, Los Angeles, London, Milan, Rome, Paris and Tokyo in the spring, as well as in magazines, luxury designer group Giorgio Armani said in a statement on Wednesday.

Victoria, nicknamed "Posh Spice" in the successful Spice Girls pop group, signed the contract with Emporio Armani last October and posed for the photos in the ritzy beachside community of Malibu where the family lives.

David is currently on loan to AC Milan from Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team and played for most of the match on Sunday in his first outing for the Italian team, which is based in the home city of designer Giorgio Armani.

Beckham's own appearance on billboards for the Emporio Armani menswear line caused heated debate when they first appeared over whether there had been any enhancement of the images. Armani dismissed the suggestions.

Victoria's images were shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, the same duo who took David's underwear ad pictures.

"Great underwear is alluring and provocative, and so I wanted to work with someone who would make a real impression," Giorgio Armani said in the statement.

The underwear will cost upward of €15 ($14.95).

- Reuters