Gok it goin' on

As the proud owner of Double D breasts, I loathe underwear shopping. Just awful. You ping into Agent Provocateur, or Myla, or even good ol' Marks & Sparkles, hoping for... silk! Satin! Pretty, frothy knickers! Little slips of delicate fabric, chiffon ribbons, gorgeous colours, yummy delicious girlie smalls.

And yeah, you find them. In an A cup. As you progress through the racks, the frills 'n' froth disappear, to be replaced with inch-wide straps. Four-hook bras. Giant cups that cover everything. Some of that is just practical: I like a wide back to my bra as much as the next large-breasted girl. Wide straps under a T-shirt for day? Great. But what about when you're wearing a low-cut top? Not even necessarily in a racy way, just... nothing makes you look more sow-like than encasing large boobs in a poloneck. I can't see how covering the top of the breast with the cup provides any extra support. Whither the balconettes, the 3/4 cups?

A bunch of you emailed the Ask TFFF hotline asking this very question. A special shout-out to reader Sarah, who we were too late to help, but kindly emailed us some pics of her awesome finds, and who's basically eye-meltingly hot. So, well done her! But clearly, we're all having trouble finding everything from fancy bras to basic knicks.

Thank heavens then for women's champion Gok Wan, who has teamed up with online lingerie purveyor Simply Yours to create an 11-piece range of underwear in non-electric-shock-giving fabrics, not repellant to the eye (I know I'm not alone in owning any number of grandma-esque parachute bras that have to be kept firmly hidden away), in the following sizes:

• Sizes 8 to 32 (UK)
• Cup sizes A to G
• Back size 30 to 46

On the downside, Gok was also responsible for the naming of the pieces. Those familiar with his TV shows, How To Look Good Naked and Miss Naked Beauty, will be aware that he is fond of a stupid name or two for faintly titallating body parts. 'Bangers' is, I think, my least favourite - we're adults, for goodness' sake. They're called breasts. I'll also except boobs, but a banger is, in any case, a sausage, and heaven help you if your breasts look like sausages. Anyhoo, names for the Simply Yours range:

• Banger Booster (aaaaargh)
• Slicker Knicker (ugh)
• Boobylicious Basque (please, please stop)
• and Sex Kitten Corset (when will the lambs stop screaming?)

However, one thing I love, love, love about the collection is the styling in the photographs:


Clockwise from top left: Divine Outline, £45; Curve Controller, £55; Sex Kitten Corset, £45; and Sassy Slip, £55; all Gok Wan Lingerie For Simply Yours
You know why? These are photos styled and shot by people that are genuinely plus-size friendly. You might not be able to see in these smaller sized shots, but the high-res versions I have show that the stretchmarks on the model's stretchmarks have not been airbrushed out. There's nothing shaming about stretchmarks, and if you're big, you're likely to have them. These photos acknowledge that.

My most favourite thing though? The dude in the background. It's subtle, but brilliant, and something I'd love to see more of when marketing clothing for plus-sizes: the acknowledgement of plus-size sexuality. These pictures are sexy.

I think the general theme of the shoot is basically your average lingerie ad: Sunday morning, airy loft apartment, you've got the newspapers and you're trying to figure out where to go for brunch. Boyfriend wears his pyjama bottoms, girlfriend the top. Pillow fights, slo-mo, so far, so familiar.

In this scenario, girlfriend eventually gets it together to get dressed, amusingly modelling her new underwear, while her hottie mctotty of a boyfriend takes photos of her, flirts away, and tries to persuade her that pancakes are lame anyway, they should just stay in and have some awesome sex.

Seriously. This is how a straight-size underwear shoot would be styled. The extra-special cherry on the awesome icing on the yummy cake? That's a straight-size male model right there. It would have been so easy, and so wrong, to hire a plus-size male model to be the plus-size model's fake photoshoot boyfriend. I've nothing against plus-size men or plus-size models of any gender getting work, obviously, but how great that the photos acknowledge that hey, not only are plus-size women attractive and sexy, but universally so.

There's no qualifier, no 'attractive... to other fat people' or 'attractive... for what they are'. No weird plus/thin miscegenation-style antics going on. No. It's just a lovely curvy girl being admired. Which, frankly, rocks. I may even forgive Gok the name 'Banger Booster'.

Gok Wan Lingerie For Simply Yours, from £22. Simply Yours; 0871 231 2000

Sweet Little Nothings: Bras for Bigger Busts

Once you pass a certain cup size finding a cute bra is a needle in a haystack search. Everything tends towards representing one of the three Bs - Blah, Beige or Boring. Its as though lingerie designers think aesthetic sensibility decreases as cup size increases. Past a C cup and the lingo becomes all about "support" possibly because after taking one look at the myriad of plain beige bras a girl really does need a group hug - as such were going to focus on three brands that provide some much needed eye candy.

FREYA
Now this is some seriously cute stuff - if you've ever wondered where Elle Woods would buy her undies look no further. While there is a good mix of basic and bold the really over the top bras are what make this line special. As far as sizing goes Freya has the biggest selection of all the brands - they extend up to a J cup though make sure to measure and follow the sizing guide carefully. As I said what I love about these are their penchant for brightness. The whimsical color combinations and details really make the bras fun. I personally love The Daisy bra for its sheer joie de vivre. The lime green and hot pink are so relentlessly girly I can't help but smile.

Pricing: $$$
Sizes: C - J
Sugar or Spice?: Sugar
Available @: Figleaves.com & Several retail locations

FAYREFORM
Ooh la la! These are among the more decadent offerings with styles that scream boudoir moreso than bedroom. Lots of lace and little bows - it all screams French coquette or madame depending on who you ask. Everything is very sensual and elegant - the sort of stuff one might wish to save for a special occasion but nuts to that, every day is special. Since I mentioned coquettes before I have to say that the Paragon bra is absolutely perfect if one is feeling particularly coquettish. Its sexy black lace but the pastel accents make it just a little delicate.

Pricing: $$$ - $$$
Sizes:
Sugar or Spice?: Spice
Available @: Bare Necessities.com & Several retail locations


CACIQUE
I am going to have to give credit where credit is due - when it comes to cute underthings Lane Bryant actually delivers. While the vast majority of their product line underwhelms me the Cacique intimates line is chock full of very attractive non-run of the mill bras in a wide range of sizes. Granted, the styles tend to be more sugar than spice but high five to LB for doing something right for once. The Polka Dot Plunge bra is a particularly cute option with its retro styled polka dots.

Pricing: $
Sizes: B - H
Sugar or Spice: Sugar
Available @ : Lane Bryant nationwide

Alright ladies, I've put up my picks for cute bras. What are yours? Where do you look for cute bras?