Trinny and Susannah

Well folks, they've landed in Australia. Together with their sometimes embarrassingly candid comments about women's bodies and clothing styles. But you've got to admit it, most of the time, even though they say what they think and we sometimes cringe, it's usually spot on!

I've watched their TV shows over a number of years, I've read a lot about what they think, and their advice to women to dress more in line with their body shapes. They've had responses ranging from absolute ecstasy to tears and tantrums. But you've got to give it to them, they say what they mean, and what they say makes sense - most of the time.

But there's one aspect of their philosophy that I come back to again and again and again. Both Sussanah and Trinny are obsessed with the fact that women don't wear the correct bras for their shape or their size. I agree wholeheartedly. In fact I'll stand up on their soapbox with them, because I've been saying this same thing for decades. But this is where the whole thing unravels.

You see, here in Australia at any rate, a plus-size woman does NOT have the same options of beautiful bras and cami sets that we see on television in make-overs - whether it be Susannah and Trinny or Carson Kressley or any other make-over specialist. The selection is sparse to say the least. We now have bras that go up to H fitting, but only in small sizes! What a contradiction. Women with small breasts seem to have deeper breasts nowdays. And their market must be catered to. But honestly, why are the big breasted women still waiting for beautiful bras and cami sets to be made available here? I recall Intimate Attitudes lingerie, of which I purchased a great many through Australian agents, but I can't even find anyone here in Australia who still deals with this brand. They used to go up to size 4X which was a generous sizing in any one's language. Anyone know of a local agent?

But back to the point. When I speak about plus size, I am not only speaking of size 14-16 (Aust size) which according to the media and fashion industry is "large"; I'm referring to the woman who is size 24, 26 28. She can, with the help of a good dressmaker or by buying clothing from overseas, look stunning. But her bra lets her down. Literally.

Heavy, restrictive, bulky contraptions made from fabric which should have gone out of fashion decades ago. Nothing lacy, ribbony, embroidered, satiny, velevety even. Oh no, they're for the small and trim and slim. Please don't get me wrong, they deserve to have beautiful bras. But then so do we. Fair's fair after all, and aren't we supposed to be equal?

For those of you interested in some of the "Rules" of dressing (according to Trinny and Susannah) go to their website at www.trinnyandsusannah.com.rules