It seems that when it comes to underwear, women only want the best. Rigby & Peller, the upmarket lingerie firm owned by female entrepreneur and doyenne of the brassiere world June Kenton, is defying the recession, reporting a rise in sales, which were up 14 per cent to £10 million in the year to the end of January.

Ms Kenton attributed its success to the increasing amount of time women have been spending at home during the credit crunch. She said: “We are chugging along really well. People are going out less so women want to look good at home.” Although the number of shoppers in Rigby & Peller stores have fallen, women were spending more – over £100 on average.