I was very excited to recently be invited by one of my absolute favourite online retailers, BraStop, to be part of their Fuller Focus group. I’ve shopped at BraStop for ages and I love their dedication to finding great brands for bigger busts, and the fact they hunt for new reader models every month, letting their customers show off the different sets brilliantly and never airbrushing their pictures. Being part of their reviews team is a great honour, but before I began my official duties, I was sent a special set from one of their key brands – Curvy Kate – to review for this site. They obviously did their research into the styles I love, as the set I got was their very best retro-inspired favourite, the ‘Tease Me’…

Tease Me is a longstanding Curvy Kate favourite – what makes it so special is that it doesn’t really comply with the usual stereotypes of DD+ lingerie. There are no thick straps or full cups, no frumpy prints, white lace or wide back bands. The bottoms aren’t the usual predictable boring briefs or diggy-in thongs, either.

Instead, you get a lace and ribbon trim balconette bra with a tiny bit of subtle padding (for shape and support, rather than adding any more fullness) and retro-style bottoms with frills across the back and detachable suspenders. There’s also a frilled thong for those who prefer. This set is just like the stuff that comes in ‘standard’ A – D sizes, but with the benefits of being created by a brand that really understands how to fit for the larger bust.

I tried the set in the Black / Almond colourway, which was a lovely fit and very comfy. I know a lot of women have trouble with balconette bras but I actually love them as I find the deeper central panel is more comfy and gives a better shape. I did find it came up a bit big on me though, and the top of the padded cups sat out from my chest a bit. Dramatically shortening the shoulder straps made a big difference, but if I got this set it in another colour (and it comes in plenty) I’d definitely go down a cup size so the cups sit completely flush to my body at the top like they do on the model above (who is, coincidentally, one of my fellow Fuller Focus panelists, Lauren Colfer – isn’t she gorgeous?).

The real selling point of this set as far as I’m concerned is the lovely briefs. I’m not a thong fan at all. I love a pair of big pants, but I like them to be cute and retro, not frumpy and mumsy. These are perfect. Still hipster, not high-waist (which can dig in a bit) but with frills on the back and lovely details.

I’m so happy about the amount of lingerie that’s no available with suspender clips / belts. I remember trying to find a decent (cheap) suspender belt about five years ago and the only nice ones I could find were from speciality vintage lingerie brands. Now stockings are enjoying a bit of a renaissance, there’s plenty of choice which is brilliant for fans like me, and the little clips on these bottoms are a lovely touch. They’re easily removed too, if you’re more of a tights girl!

Overall, I really like this set. It has real style and doesn’t feel like standard, boring DD+ lingerie. I’d say the bra comes up a bit big (go down a cup if you’re between sizes) while the briefs are true to size. Running up to Christmas, I’d recommend nabbing it in the Emerald colourway for a bit of a festive feel!

Disclosure: The lingerie was provided free of charge for review purposes. However, all thoughts are my own and I was not paid to publish them.