Archive for the ‘dresses’ Category

London Fashion Week comes to an end tomorrow, there were some wild and wacky shows as usual and quite frankly some wild and wacky members of the audience (Yes you, Kitty Brucknell, former X-Factor contestant…take a look online). Here are some of highlights from one of the biggest events in the fashion calendar.

Mulberry took their inspiration from the delightful children’s book, Maurice Sendak’s Where The Wild Things Are, with huge Yeti like creatures standing either side of the runway.

The clothes were equally hairy and monster-like. The catwalk was filled with Mongolian fur coats in chocolate brown and black, shaggy gilets and skirts (that we think you may have to blow dry, rather than iron). The hues used were burnt orange, tangerine, caramel and dark browns. An amazing collection (shame about the real fur used) but we all know Mulberry for their luxury bags, and they launched their new Mulberry bag called the Del Rey, named after the American singer Lana Del Rey, the bag was a bit like a 1950’s bowling bag but with that Mulberry classic styling too.

Another designer known for her gorgeous bags is Orla Kiely, her show was based on an ‘afternoon tea dance’. Models and professional dancers were all choreographed as they waltzed around the dance floor, to music played by a live swing band, there was even a glitter ball and cafe. Her collection was pretty and girly, with dresses that looked very vintage 1950’s, in pale ditsy prints and cream and black striped dresses with huge bows, she accessorised her tea dance collection with gold t-bar dance shoes and glittery short socks.

Sarah Burton, the new designer for Alexander McQueen, produced a great collection for the diffusion line McQ. Since designing that very famous wedding dress (for The Duchess of Cambridge) Sarah has carried the McQueen brand on beautifully. A large part of the collection had a military theme with smart stiff tailored coats and jackets clinched in by wide patent belts, some coats patterned with heavy floral embroidery and some without. But Sarah also showcased some huge ball gowns that were absolutely stunning, the upper of some, in all over lace with lace long sleeves and the full skirts adorned with large embroidery, some were made from tulle and some were in deep red velvet. These dresses seem to be inspired by Charles James, who was actually the late Alexander McQueen’s fashion hero. As usual the show was filled with theatre, fun and among all creativity and that’s what London Fashion Week always does best.

Have you done it yet? Have you discovered how a fabulous frock can change your week for the better? Just to remind you, the dress is a great daytime choice, as it is so versatile your look will change completely depending on what you wear with it and how you accessorise it. For picking up the kids, wear it with a chunky knit, scarf and knee high boots. For work, go for opaque tights, heels and a blazer, and for coffee out with the girls, go for a fitted cardi with a skinny belt and brogues. Opting for a dress, is complete no-fuss way of getting dressed, you don’t have to waste precious time trying on dozens of outfit combinations, not that separates are a bad idea, there is a time and place and it’s not when you have to catch the 7.45 am train.

So we have a couple more weekday options that will inspire you to give the dress a go.

For Thursday, you could choose the gorgeous new Cowl Tunic Dress. This dress is a relaxed and very versatile dress; it is available in biscuit, in a soft knit. It has a cowl neck and a tie waist with relaxed pockets on the sides, this dress could be worn with a jersey close fitting long sleeved top underneath and could be worn over skinny jeans or you could wear with thick brown tights and brown knee high boots. For an evening out, try wearing over skinny black pants, with nude heels and nude blazer.

Friday’s dress is the Wrap Print Woven Dress. It comes in this vibrant abstract floral print, it is a long sleeve and a wrap front dress with side buckle and it is also available with a detachable slip. This dress is another perfect day to night dress, suitable for work and worn with a smart jacket buttoned up, then take off the jacket on your Friday night out and accessorise with some fabulous gold chunky jewellery, like the Hoop Statement Necklace in antique gold and the Swirl Bangle in gold. Wear with a wow pair of nude heels and you’ll will have an instant stylish and glamorous look for the start of the weekend and nobody will believe it is the same dress you came to work in.

Invest in a dress or two you will be saving time, money and you will look drop dead gorgeous every day of the week. And don’t forget, all of our Pepperberry dresses are designed with your boobs in mind, so they will flatter and hug your boobs.

So you’ve gone and done it. That glamorous event is fast approaching and you have left the frock buying right to the last minute. You promised yourself you would be extra organised and sort an outfit out, but life got in the way and the special night out that you have been looking forward to is this coming weekend. Whoops!

You may be going to a wedding reception, or have tickets to the theatre, or you may be meeting the girls for cocktails and canapés followed by a meal at a top restaurant. Whether it’s a very special birthday, or a friend’s wedding, it will be glamorous and swanky and everyone will be dressed in their finery.

Bravissimo are here to hold your hand and point you in the right direction, look no further than Pepperberry, Bravissimo’s own clothing range. If you have worn your old faithful Pepperberry dress at previous weddings and birthdays, we have some stunning new dresses in this week, that are bang on trend and will be perfect for August and September, but will also be great for Christmas parties later in the year.

The Platinum Shift Dress, is an absolutely sensational dress and is following the bodycon trend that originated from the designer Herve Leger, who has been designing these dresses since the eighties. Later the trend was reinvented by Victoria Beckham in her first collection. This dress by Pepperberry is very flattering and will hug your curves, it is structured, which is always a better option for bigger boobs. The dress is fully lined in contrasting purple and it is available in platinum satin. It has capped sleeves and an aubergine skinny belt that is detachable. For a dramatic look you could accessorise it with purple heels, clutch bag and wrap.

The Rose Print Prom Dress, is a cutie of a dress, it takes its inspiration from the 1950s. The bodice of the dress is in jewel-like purple and the skirt is a lovely rose print with a net underskirt for that great fifties look. The waist is defined by a large purple bow, which is reversible and there are hidden tabs under the straps to keep your bra in place too. You could accessorise with black satin heels, a short satin tuxedo bolero, and a teal clutch.

There are plenty more utterly gorgeous, sexy and chic dresses in our NEW IN section online or available in our stores. So whatever your posh event this bank holiday weekend, don’t miss out, and switch on the glamour with Pepperberry.

Another Monday morning. At this time of year many of us are counting the days and hours until we are lying on a sun-drenched beach far away from the office, the heaving supermarket, or the traffic on the school run. Holiday packing is an art these days, especially as some of the budget airlines charge you by weight for your suitcase. If you don’t want the hassle of having to unpack everything at the departure gate because your bag is on the heavy side, then read on, as this is your guide to packing your Bravissimo and Pepperberry summer holiday capsule wardrobe.

Maxi dresses can be worn day or night (changing flip flops to wedges at night and adding some great gold hooped earrings and gold bangles). See the Coral Print Maxi Dress by Bravissimo, it is a very flattering empire line and sits under the bust creating a fabulous cleavage. It is a great colour and will look fantastic with a tan and it’s made of cotton, so it will keep you nice and cool. The Jersey Beach Dress by Bravissimo in fuchsia, is the perfect beach cover-up, it’s very simple, stylish and looks great. The Bandeau Beach Dress by Bravissimo comes in gorgeous aqua blue that will also look amazing with a golden glow. The bandeau style and halterneck is super flattering. This dress could also double up for nights with some chunky silver jewellery and silver thong sandals.
The Bright Ideas Tankini Top by Faubourg is new and exclusive from Bravissimo. It is a great alternative to the swimsuit if your bikini days are over. This tankini is in a bold black and white floral print and has that surf girl feel to it. It is underwired, with a halterneck and has matching drawstring briefs.
The Spotty Tulip Dress by Pepperberry is a really fun, sexy, frock and perfect if you fancy dressing up a bit while you’re on your hols. The dress boasts two popular trends this summer, the tulip shape and the spots. It is slightly shorter than shown online, so be prepared to show some leg! The next dress definitely deserves a mention, as it’s really popular with our Bravissimo ladies is the Tulip Print Chiffon Shirt Dress by Pepperberry. A lovely feminine, floral, floaty dress and can be dressed up or down. The Leaf Dress by Pepperberry, in light summery satin, is great for balmy summer nights. It comes in fuchsia or turquoise, the neckline is a crossover plunge v, which flatters the boobs and the elasticated empire line panel highlights and defines the waist area.
If it does get chilly at night, you may need a cardi to throw over your shoulders, try the Deep Rib Cardigan by Pepperberry or the Grosgrain Tape Cardi by Pepperberry, both work as perfect summer cover-ups and they are light enough not to make your suitcase groan. A few of your Bravissimo favourite lingerie sets, your lightest nightdress, a panama or wide brimmed sun hat, one pair of Havianas and one pair of evening wedges or heels and your done! You are now ready to say bon voyage to the rain soaked runway and hello to foreign summer sun.

Yesterday marked the summer solstice, the longest day and the start of summer. An estimated 18,000 people watched the sunrise at Stonehenge, at the annual pagan festival. The days now begin to get shorter, so we need to make the most of the lovely sunshine we have left. So Bravissimo ladies, get out there and enjoy every minute. To help you make the most of the summer months stylewise, here are a few wardrobe essentials from Pepperberry that you won’t be able to do without.

The Printed Wrap Dress comes in sunny yellow, which is on trend at the moment. Wrap dresses are hugely flattering for bigger boobs, so this dress really does create amazing cleavage. It is suitable for work, worn with a fitted jacket and heels, or a day out with the girls, accessorising with a cardi and a pair of wedges.

Everyone needs a maxi dress in their wardrobe, they are great for a holiday to make you feel a bit dressed up after a day in your beachwear, or for a wedding or day at the races. The Floral Print Maxi Dress is a beautiful, feminine and floaty maxi, it has a large, vibrant floral and is fully lined.

The Bandeau Strappy Top in fitted jersey, is a must have for every summer wardrobe, it comes in black, cobalt blue, lemon, orange and white, you can wear it as a bandeau, or with the strap as a halterneck, it has a integrated bra, so you can go braless too. This top is extremely versatile, you could wear it with wide palazzo pants, cropped tapered chinos, a fifties full skirt, or a great pair of shorts; which brings us nicely to the Button Front Short, they come in navy and white and look great with a vest, or a little cotton shirt and waistcoat for that smarter look.

Finally to finish off your summer looks, you need something fabulous on your arm, so check out the Canvas Shopper Bag, this bag is an excellent wardrobe staple and will look great with any of the above outfits.

When Dannii Minogue was pregnant last year, her first outing after she made the anouncement publically, was to the National Television Awards. She looked absolutely stunning. The dress she chose was a strapless black and white prom style dress with big bold stripes which she wore with red heels. In May of this year Suzanne Shaw of Emmerdale fame attended The British Soap Awards. She too wore a black and white bold striped prom dress, accessorised with a wide black patent belt.

Never one to miss a trend, Bravissimo’s own clothing label Pepperberry, have a near identical dress that you can buy in store or online. Monochrome makes a loud and clear fashion statement, so is a brave choice for an event. It also suits everyone, whether your hair is blonde, red, brunette or black. It is very easy to accessorise, just choose a colour and buy matching clutch, shoes, necklace and cardi and your done!

Also black and white is suitable for an evening do or daytime event, so it won’t be left in your wardrobe gathering dust. You could wear it to a Wedding, then dress it down the following week with a denim jacket and ballet pumps and wear on a night out with the girls.

So don’t miss out on this lovely frock. It’s called the Satin Stripe Prom Dress, The bodice is boned, it has a tulle skirt, the belt is optional and the real clever part, it has detachable straps so you can wear it with or without straps. This dress is a must have this Summer, and if you like the monochrome trend, we have much much more from Pepperberry.

The end of another bank holiday weekend. So, was it glorious weather anywhere in the country or, was it decidedly soggy everywhere? It maybe summer but don’t be fooled by that minor detail. You can stride out in the morning with your summer dress on, wearing your favourite peep toe shoes and by midday that same day, your feet are cold and you would rugby tackle a grandma for her cardigan.

The good news is that the transition between chillier and warmer weather at this time of year can easily be navigated with items that you probably already have in your wardrobe, add them to your summer clothes and you have a wardrobe that will see you through to August.

The denim jacket is a winner this time of year and everyone has one somewhere in their wardrobe. A denim jacket can be worn over a pretty day dress, see Pepperberry’s Cotton Frill Day Dress, or looks fantastic with a maxi dress, like Bravissimo’s Coral Print Maxi Dress, and, if sandals are a touch too optimistic, a pair of plimsolls will work just as well with both of these looks.

The other great transitional piece is ‘The Shirt’ – it can be worn with jeans, or this season’s khaki or beige chinos. See Pepperberry’s fabulous Relaxed Fit Chinos in stone. The humble shirt can also be worn with a button through denim skirt, which is more substantial than a cotton skirt, if the weather is chilly. So whether it’s classic white or checked, the shirt is a must, for the changeable weather. Don’t miss Pepperberry’s own version – the Check Woven Blouse.

A boyfriend cardigan is incredibly versatile, it can be belted and worn over tapered trousers or skinny jeans and can also be worn loose over shorts or a dress. Pepperberry’s Boyfriend Cardigan in Mocha looks fabulous over the Mint Swirl Dress, wear with leggings, if there is a nip in the air. Also everywhere in the high street at the moment you will find shorts. Love them or hate them, Pepperberry have a pretty fabulous pair, the Button Front Shorts in white, which look great with a wide striped vest or t-shirt, add plimsolls or a pair of wedges to complete the nautical look.

So we can now feel confident that whatever the British weather throws at us in the coming months, we have it covered and, someone once said, “There is no such thing as bad weather only bad clothes.”

This week saw The Duchess of Cambridge’s first official royal duties at Buckingham Palace. And if that wasn’t enough excitement for one day, we also got Michelle Obama thrown in for good measure.

We were fairly fond of ‘Our Kate’ anyway, she seems a lovely girl, down to earth and happy in her own skin. What we love about her, is that she chose to wear a high street dress for such an important occasion, which was a brave step and shows she knows her own mind. No doubt her advisors would have been urging her to use a designer, so how fantastic that our future queen is celebrating and supporting our high street. Incidentally, ‘that dress’ has now sold out in every high street in the UK.

The dress itself is a stunning, bandage, body con dress, and actually would work just as well on bigger-boobed Bravissimo girls. It is extremely versatile and can be worn as a work dress, with court shoes and a blazer or can be accessorised with gold chunky jewellery and hooped earrings for a glamorous evening look. For a similar dress you could try the Black Chevron Ponti Dress by Pepperberry.

Michelle Obama opted for a different style and wore a sweet fifties style prom dress in a damask floral silk satin by Barbara Tfank, a designer from LA. She wore it with a candy pink bolero. For a similar style dress take a look at Pepperberry’s Petal Print Dress and accessorise it with Grosgrain Tape Cardi in dusky pink.

For more gorgeous dresses just like Kate and Michelles’, keep checking the Pepperberry website, as new designs are being added regularly.

So this week saw one of the biggest nights in the ‘oh no not more TV awards’ calendar, the Soap Awards. However we love The Soap Awards here at Bravissimo, firstly because they look like they are having a right giggle and secondly because the fashion is so much more accessible than other big awards ceremonies like The Baftas or The Oscars. Yes, we love those events because of the sheer glamour and star quality, but our favourite soap stars dressing up to the nines for the night is much more fun. So let’s look at who got it very right on the night and who needs to sack the stylist.

Katherine Kelly (Becky from Corrie) looked stunning in a grey and yellow one-shouldered draped dress with a high split.

Jennifer Metcalfe (Mercedes from Hollyoaks) wore a black pantsuit, it was definitely show stopping but a bit too revealing, the trousers were too wide and too short, they would have looked more elegant, had they been tapered and longer.

Jessie Wallace (Kat in Eastenders) looked very glamorous in a white flowing, Grecian inspired dress with an encrusted jewelled neckpiece. Her accessories, makeup and hair, fit perfectly with the dress, nicely understated for such a statement dress.

Alison King (Carla in Corrie), wore a long tunic style kaftan, it wasn’t the best choice, Alison has got a great figure and this dress was shapeless and hid her body, it also looked quite beachy.

Shobna Gulati (Sunita in Corrie) should probably get another stylist, this outfit looked like she was attending a fancy dress party as a flamenco dancer! The tulle skirt was too big and fussy, the bolero looked like a bad eighties mistake and the pink shoes were not needed.

Jo Joyner (Tanya in EastEnders) hit the right note and wore a simple black fitted wrap body con dress, which flattered her bigger boobs brilliantly, she accessorised it with nude heels and gold clutch, her hair was just left natural and tousled and she looked radiant with a light tan.

If you’re attending a glitzy event this summer, and want to get the right look, browse our Pepperberry Evening Dress range and you’ll be sure to add a touch of elegance to the occasion.