British lingerie doyenne dies at 69 after battle with cancer
Iconic lingerie retailer Janet Reger died lateTuesday night at the age of 69 from cancer. Reger made a name as a designer of up-market underwear to the stars. She is regarded as the forerunner to lingerie retailers such as Agent Provocateur and Victoria's Secret. In the 40 years she operated as an underwear designer, retailer and supplier, her more famous customers were Princess Diana, Jerry Hall and Rod Stewart.

Reger studied corsetry and underwear design in Leicester and established Reger Creations in 1967. In ten years, she built up the business to a factory in Derbyshire and shops in Bond Street and Beauchamp Place in London. However, over expansion led to the company being sold to Berlei. In 1986, however, Reger managed to buy back the company, which her daughter Aliza has helped to run since 1998.