The American lingerie brand will open its London flagship store on 25 July. The brand will showcase its thongs, boy shorts and bikini briefs across 16,000 square feet of selling space at the corner of New Bond Street and Brook Street.

A second store will open at Westfield Stratford City the following day, just in time for the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony on 27 July.

But before the world’s leading athletes take to the track/field/pool, some of the world’s sexiest models will high-step down the runway. Expect a lingerie spectacular along the lines of the retailer’s annual fashion show, which last year saw Angels Miranda Kerr, Karlie Kloss and Alessandra Ambrosio don fantastical designs for a $12m ode to underwear. Kind of like an Olympics for the lingerie world, you might say...

Read our report from the 2011 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show