With Agent Provocateur posting an 8% rise in sales and Killing Kittens (Emma Sayles' club for the sexually elite) claiming membership rises in line with City redundancies, it seems Brits are literally riding out the recession.

So where we're saving on candlelit dinners and big bar tabs, there's money to spend on smalls. Conceived by ex-model Kenya Cretegny, Apartment C promises to bring a little of the decadence and escapism back into buying lingerie. Taking inspiration from 'cool girls' apartments', the space houses American exclusives like The Lake & Stars and VPL, innovative Dutch label Marlies Dekkers, French lacy loungewear by Elise Aucoutourier, and a staff trained by the De Montfort University of erm, bra fitters presumably. Bet that's an uplifting course.

Split into two sections, The Library and The Lounge, the store is all black and gold Art Deco styling, vintage chandeliers, and silk cushions.