ROME -- Victoria Beckham, following the footsteps of footballer husband David, stripped to the bare minimum for Emporio Armani to become the star of the Italian fashion house's new lingerie collection.

The provocative black and white pictures, which were unveiled on Thursday, show the former Spice Girl sitting at the end of an unmade bed and draped at the foot of a sofa, wearing just a bra and matching underwear.

Fashion designer Giorgio Armani said in a statement he chose the 34-year-old British mother of three as the new face and body of his lingerie line because she is a "stylish and intriguing woman."

Images of England football star David Beckham's Adonis-like physique in Armani briefs once decorated buses and billboards worldwide.

The pictures of the former Posh Spice will be part of Armani's spring-summer advertising campaign.

The Beckhams are currently staying in Milan, where the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star is playing for AC Milan on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy.