From Bridget-style big pants to vegan make-up, what we bought in 2017

‘Much more about how the woman feels’

IN Bridget Jones they were considered unsightly, embarrassing and definitely not a fashion statement.

But big pants have proved their worth this year with sales soaring as millions of women chose comfort over style.

The resurgence of big knickers has been one of the shopping trends of 2017 – along with gin, vegan cosmetics and unicorn-themed products.

Our changing tastes are spotlighted by retail guru Mary Portas in her Channel 4 show What Britain Bought In 2017, which looks at what we spent £7.5billion a week on this year.

The growing appeal of big pants has seen some retailers reporting a 10 per cent increase in sales this year and predicting even greater growth in 2018. Marks and Spencer has revealed that ‘full briefs’ have become its best- selling style of underwear, knocking Brazilian-style knickers, which have a cutaway back, off the top spot.

While Renee Zellweger’s film character Bridget Jones is considered one of the inspirations, experts have also suggested that Hillary Clinton, Angela Merkel, Beyonce and Rihanna could be driving the trend.

Miss Portas, whose programme is on tomorrow at 9pm, spoke to women shoppers who love the comfort of big knickers. She said: ‘Big pants are up 10 per cent this year [while] thong sales are hanging by a thread.’

Carla Buzasi, managing director at trend forecasting company WGSN, told her: ‘Now if you look at advertising it is much more about how the woman feels. I can tell you from first-hand experience that larger pants are much more comfortable.’

Soozie Jenkinson, the head of design in lingerie at M& S, appears to agree that Mrs Clinton and Mrs Merkel could be part of the reason for the sales surge. She said: ‘ They wouldn’t be having VPL [visible panty line]. They are thinking about how their underwear really makes their outerwear look great.’ And an M&S spokesman said: ‘Sales of the full brief increased 7 per cent, and this year we have sold 13million.’ Miss Portas found that midweek gin drinking as a treat is also on the up, with Waitrose saying gin sales have risen 33 per cent on last year and have doubled in the last five years. Other 2017 trends include ‘free-from’ groceries, vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics, fidget spinners, gender- neutral children’s clothes, and even unicorn-themed products such as make-up brushes.