Archive for the ‘Pepperberry’ Category

The weekend is here…Phew!

If you have five minutes this weekend and you are sitting down with a cuppa and something sweet or savoury and you have access to the internet, search for Adele’s performance of ‘Rolling In The Deep” at The Grammys 2012. Whatever is going on during your weekend, this will give you an instant feel good moment.

Adele pretty much cleaned up at The Grammys scooping a whopping six awards. She won, Best Short Form Music Video, Song Of The Year, Best Pop Solo Vocal Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Record and Album Of The Year.
Considering she is only twenty-five and has recently had throat surgery, she stormed the performance, holding the whole audience, (including some of the most respected people from the music industry) in her hand…not bad for a girl from Tottenham!

Adele is a real inspiration, she doesn’t come from a privileged background, and her Mum brought her up alone and worked two jobs to support them. If you also listen to Adele’s charming and enthusiastic Grammy acceptance speech, you will see how unaffected by stardom she is and how completely down to earth she is too. She is always true to herself no matter what situation she is in and that’s a rare quality to have in this celebrity age. She is also a great role model for young girls, she has achieved success against the odds. She is a beautiful, regular girl, and she is not skinny and has never tried to slim down and does not flash the flesh, which is a breath of fresh air. She looked stunning at The Grammys, wearing a long black Armani dress, gorgeous honey blonde curls and 1940’s style make-up. For a similar dress, try Pepperberry’s Cowl Back Jersey Maxi Dress, a simple long cowl neck dress that is true understated glamour, perfect for a rising star or just your average girl.

Snow is still covering most of the country, and according to the weekend weather forecast it’s going to be with us for some time. The funny thing about snow is, it is magical and wonderous at its best, then once it starts to thaw and turns to ice and slush, we all decide we have had enough of winter and spring can’t come fast enough.

So if the bitter weather is dragging on a bit for you, let us offer some light relief, and little glimmer of sunshine. Pepperberry’s brand new spring collection is online now and there are some gorgeous pieces that you can get really excited about. There are some great coloured jersey dresses, fabulous floral printed tea dresses, some cute fitted cardis and not forgetting bright and brilliant spring accessories and much, much, more.

Some of the highlights of the collection include…

The Bright Stripe Dress in multi stripe. This is a gorgeous fifties inspired cotton dress, in candy stripes of fuchsia, brown, turquoise, white and purple, it is fitted at the waist then flares out with soft pleats. A perfect versatile day dress.

If you didn’t think tea dresses could be sexy then you haven’t seen our Printed Tea Dress. This dress encompasses sexiness and femininity, it is a super flattering style, because it makes the most of the waist and boobs, but hides the tummy area. It is made from soft jersey and is available in this great bright coloured spring floral. This dress could also be worn with tights, knee high boots and a knit, if you can’t wait till spring.

Every spring wardrobe needs a Classic Denim Jacket, so now you have found ‘the one’, what can we say about this wardrobe must-have? Well, it goes with absolutely everything, including the two dresses above. It will also will look great with the Polka Dot Scarf, another item that you won’t know how you lived without. This scarf will liven up any plain outfit, it is navy with a white spot, with a fine fringing on the bottom.

For a sharp and smart piece of workwear for the spring, take a look at the Statement Seam Workwear Dress in a lovely soft grey. It follows the sexy, fitted, tailored look, that has been on trend for a while now, with designers like Victoria Beckham making it big news. This dress is made from a wool mix fabric and it hugs the body beautifully, it also features cute pockets as an extra design detail and vertical seaming, which gives the appearance of lengthening the body.

More gorgeous spring buys to come in later blogs…until then wrap up warm and keep smiling.

Happy Monday to all of our Bravissimo ladies, how’s your week looking so far?

Your calendar may already look like a small child has been let loose on it with a biro. Your ironing pile might have started to resemble Ben Nevis and you still need to fit in taking the dog to the vet and that report for work…take a deep breath and relax! Our lives are getting busier and busier, with so many women now juggling work, childcare and other commitments, there doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the week and it’s no surprise we all feel a bit exhausted by Friday.

A new book by Leo Bormans called The World Book of Happiness, claims that one of the secrets to contentment is to ‘get organised’. So how can we get organised, if it doesn’t come naturally? We could start by writing appointments in a diary, instead of the back of an old envelope. Buy and send birthday cards in advance, set the alarm for a little earlier and get a head start. Write lists (lots of lists) and take on some tips from an organised friend. At least Bravissimo can take care of your wardrobe with a few bright ideas from Pepperberry.

How would you fancy getting dressed in the morning in half the time with absolutely no fuss? We have some fantastic dresses from Pepperberry that could transform the way you dress for good. If you like your separates, you may not have considered the ‘good old dress’. But the dress is such an easy- to-wear piece of clothing, one action and you are in, there’s no decision over what top goes with which pair of trousers. Dresses look stylish and they can be smartened up for work meetings, or dressed down with knitwear and they also work brilliantly from day to night. We have some fabulous new arrivals, there is an easy-to-wear dress for everyday of the week.

Monday’s dress is the Knot Gather Jersey Dress, in gorgeous emerald, it has a ¾ length sleeve, a knot under the bust and gathers, which are great at flattering the tummy area. This dress also feature hidden tabs on the shoulders, which hook around your bra straps, this will keep the dress in place …Genius!
Tuesday’s dress is the fabulous Ponti Zip Back Dress in red, this is a heavier jersey dress for those colder days, it is a real classic, with a scoop neck, exposed zip and scooped pockets.
Wednesday’s dress is the Long Sleeve Drape Dress, this dress has long sleeves and a twist front, with lots of gathers over the bust and over the tummy, making it a super flattering option, it also has a mesh lining over the bust, to create a smooth silhouette.

So ladies if you haven’t rocked that frock yet, this is the week to start. More ideas to follow on Thursday…

Well it’s award season yet again…ooh how we girls love to watch those super glamorous actresses, smiling from ear to ear, when we know they are secretly checking out the next A-list starlet to walk the red carpet, seeing how they measure up in their designer frock.

The first award ceremony to kick off this year was The Golden Globes, a ridiculously star-studded event recognising excellence within film and television from all over the world. The first ever Golden Globes Awards was held in 1944 at 20th Century Fox Studios in Los Angeles, the awards are now held in The Beverley Hilton Hotel. The Globes are broadcasted to 167 countries worldwide, either on radio or TV and ranks the third most popular ceremony behind The Oscars and The Grammys. It’s been most reported recently because it’s been hosted for the last three years (mostly controversially) by Ricky Gervais.
So that’s the interesting facts out of the way, let’s get down to the business of fashion.
White and off white was a big theme this year, with Angelina Jolie, Jessica Biel, Charlize Theron and Kate Beckinsale all choosing various shades. Ms Beckinsale and Ms Biel, although opting for beautiful dresses would have looked more at home walking down the aisle than the red carpet. Ms Theron looked stunning in draped elegance in her Christian Dior gown. Ms Jolie turned heads in her Atelier Versace dress, with its thigh high split and red off the shoulder neckline, with matching clutch and lipstick. Ms Klum showed real understated chic, in a simple but incredibly stylish nude Calvin Klein dress, which she accessorised with turquoise jewellery. The award for capturing real Hollywood glamour, had to go to jointly to a few stars, Diane Lane looked fabulous in Reem Arca, this stunning, light gold, metallic gown, was very similar to the Jenny Packham dress that the Duchess of Cambridge that she wore to the Annual Ark Charity Gala recently. Actress Shailene Woodley shimmered in a strapless silver and grey Marchesa, Salma Hayek wore an amazing strapless Gucci dress, the bodice decorated with a geometric gold design, the skirt decorated with black sequin stripes, which glittered and dazzled. Emma Stone looked beautiful and bang on trend in a stunning berry chiffon gown, with a deep v neckline and gorgeous belt and Laura Dern looked amazing, in a simple, long sleeved, green, all over sequined v-neck dress. Some of the stars that deserve a mention for their bravery, but maybe, need to think about getting a new stylist, were Sarah Michelle Gellar who looked like she may have had a tussle in the paint aisle in B&Q. Kelly Osbourne who’s Star Trek shoulders and grey hair just didn’t work and also aged her. Emily Watson, wore a nude dress, but unfortunately, it matched her skin tone exactly and it really had no redeeming features. Meryl Streep, added a few sizes to her frame in a cowboy inspired black number and Amanda Peet looked like she was wearing an over sized toilet roll dolly. Never mind ladies there’s always the Baftas!

Check out Pepperberry’s evening wear offering here…

So, Christmas is finally behind us. We maybe slightly jaded, a few pounds heavier, and not that eager to eat another mince pie anytime soon, but we’ve made it through and it will be a whole ten months before we hear Noddy Holder’s dulcet tones once again.

As 2012 is welcomed in, some people start to think about New Years Resolutions. Even if their resolution is ‘not to have any resolutions’. However most of us vow to do the same things each year…

I should really see more of my friends, as I’ve forgotten what some of them look like.

I am going to use my new recipe book, rather than use it as a mini coffee table.

I will become a domestic Goddess and not shove everything in cupboards when people arrive unexpectedly.

I will achieve job satisfaction and will even turn up early for work (maybe a bit over ambitious!)

Some things are achievable and looking good is one of them. Bravissimo certainly can help you fulfill that resolution. Hopefully you will be aware of our fantastic clothing line called Pepperberry, designed especially for bigger boobs, so there’s no need to struggle with ill-fitting clothing in the January sales. Just head to one of our stores or browse online at some of our key pieces for 2012.

New in is the Faux Fur Trim Quilted Jacket. Available in steel, this style of jacket based loosely on the outdoor/hunting style, and is totally on trend right now, it is a lighter weight, so would be perfect on milder days. Depending on where you live in the country, you may need a coat to offer you some real protection from the cold, the Boucle Coat in purple will fit the bill perfectly. It is a wool mix and fully lined and is so classic and stylish that you will be able to wear it each winter.

Are you looking for that perfect top? Well you’ve found it, in the Jersey Chiffon Trim Top. This top, in gorgeous teal, has ruching detail down the centre for concealing any lumps or bumps, and it has a chiffon trim on the neckline which gives this top a bit of glamour. The Chiffon Trim Top is also versatile and will look great with skinny jeans, a pencil skirt or smart suit trousers.
The Jersey Floral Belted Dress, is a really pretty, easy to wear dress, with a scoop neck and grey waist belt, it will look fabulous layered with a heavy knit and boots, but you could also accessorise it with a leather biker jacket or blazer and heels for a night out. For a classic work shift dress, take a look at Pepperberry’s Shift Dress in pewter, it is great for the office, but has a bit of an edge, with the keyhole detail and splits at the back. This dress is in wool mix and will become a wardrobe favourite in 2012.

2012 could be a great year for all of us, fingers crossed. Happy New Year Ladies.

Its nearly here! The one time of the year when you would not look out of place amongst the contestants on Strictly. Party season is just around the corner and lots of you will be searching out some serious sparkle to make an impression at the Christmas party. This is the time of year when you can really go to town on glamour. It’s all about dressing up, sequins, taffeta, and satin (not all at once, we don’t want you blending in with the Christmas decorations).

If you’re not relishing the thought of pounding the pavements, or the hours trawling the internet for the perfect party dress, then Pepperberry can take all of the hassle away, so you can concentrate on more important Christmassy things. Read on, for our ultimate guide to the best party outfits this festive season.

Stylish, sexy and sharp are three words to describe the Platinum Shift Dress. This dress is following the bodycon trend that has been big over the last year; it has a scooped neck and capped sleeves which are really flattering for upper arms. It is available in platinum, but is contrasted with stunning purple lining, which also ensures this dress won’t cling or ride up. This dress is so versatile it could be worn for posh Christmas drinks or any festive gathering.

The Taffeta Check Dress is right on trend for this winter with the fabulous red, grey and silver check print, in taffeta. This dress just screams Christmas and is so classic; you could wear it at any Christmas party. It features capped sleeves, an exposed zip at the back and is fully lined and comes with patent waist belt. This looks fabulous with black accessories, go for a patent clutch and heels and a satin tux jacket, or if you are going somewhere really smart, like a winter wedding, a black faux fur stole would really finish the look.

The Spot Print Prom Dress is the ultimate party dress and perfect if you want to hide your hips but define your waist. It’s a sleeveless dress and features a full net underskirt and is available in jacquard taffeta fabric, in black/silver spot print. It also has a pretty tie at the waist. This dress can be dressed up, by accessorising with a cropped satin jacket in silver and silver heels or dressed down with a turquoise or fuchsia fitted cardi and satin flats. This dress would also be perfect for NYE.

We hope we have given you plenty of ideas, there will be more party ideas to come.

Q: What does a women love just as much as a killer pair of shoes?
A: A killer bag.

If you haven’t already laid your eyes on our fabulous bags by Pepperberry, then you must take a look! The party season is nearly here and that is closely followed by the holiday season and we have bags for every occasion.

If you are sneaking in a cheeky Christmas break, we have the ultimate in weekend style. The Oil Skin Weekend Bag is available in an on trend ethnic print, this is a weekend bag to show off. It is fully lined and it’s a good size, so will fit all your bits and pieces with extra room left over. There is a matching Oil Skin Satchel available, a great option for everyday use and a matching purse, the Oil Skin Purse, which is also fully lined.

For glitzy and glam Christmas nights out, a few sequins and a bit of satin are a must. Whether you are opting for a bodycon fitted cocktail dress, a fifties style prom dress, or full length ball gown, the essential partner to a knock out dress is a cute, sexy clutch bag. Pepperberry have a great choice for any colour and style of evening dress.

The Silver Diamante Clutch Bag, would look great with steel or a darker silver, or any jewel colour like ruby or jade, don’t forget to team it with silver heels too.

If you are wearing black heels with your evening dress, then black accessories are the way to go.

Pepperberry have two stylish clutches, the Black Clutch Bag in faux snakeskin is the simpler of the two, but would look great with a trouser suit or jumpsuit and a tux. Or you can go for the decorative clutch, the Sequin Envelope Clutch Bag is gorgeous clutch with a real vintage look, it is covered in black sequins, with gorgeous diamante clasp in the shape of a leaf. If you are looking for a statement clutch, then this would be perfect.

The coming party season means metallics are everywhere on the high street. We know there is lots of gold and silver out there, but pewter can also been seen in the shops and is harder to match up with accessories. However Pepperberry have the answer, the Pewter Clutch Bag, which is stylish and simple will be the perfect accompaniment to a pewter evening top or dress.

A recent survey in the UK has reported that a large proportion of women over the age of 55 feel ignored by the High Street when it comes to buying clothes. Almost three quarters of women can’t find age appropriate & fashionable clothes and they feel that the market is aimed at young people. Women are living longer and working later in life, so the High Street needs to sit up and take notice. A recent TV programme with retail guru Mary Portas highlighted this problem, it followed Mary on her journey from designing, to putting into production, a collection aimed at this forgotten generation.

If you are 55 or over just stick to a few basic rules and you won’t go wrong. Sleeves are preferable to sleeveless, gathers and clever ruching are great to hide lumps and bumps. Necklines should not be too low or should be worn with a cami or vest underneath and black is flattering, but break it up with colour.

We feel that our own clothing range, Pepperberry, as well as being ‘designed with your boobs in mind’, spans all ages and includes clothing that is both classic, stylish and fashionable, so don’t be surprised if you find your daughter ‘borrowing’ (which is code for stealing) your new Pepperberry purchases. Here are a few great pieces, that we feel can be worn by any age.

The Pleat Jersey Dress available in black, is a great easy to wear jersey dress, it has ¾ length sleeves, a mock cami which gives your boobs more room. It also has pleats at the front, coming from the waist, which is really flattering for the tummy area. Team it with a coloured scarf like the Pleat Scarf in pink, which breaks up the black and is softer near the face. Wear it with our Tartan Blazer (see below).

The Ruched Jersey Dress comes in black, it is a fabulous versatile dress that will flatter your shape and it has lots of details that are great figure fixers, like ruching running down the front, again, great for the tummy area, lovely pleating on the shoulder seams creating a lovely shape over the boobs. It has ¾ length sleeves, so even if you are petite, this dress will work for you.

The Tartan Blazer is a great buy whether your 20 or 60, it features one of the big trends this season, tartan, and this combined with the neat tailoring of the jacket, makes this jacket a must have. It is fully lined, single-breasted, with cute pockets, and lovely retro style buttons. The Tartan Blazer will definitely become a favourite this season.

The Lux Mac is timeless as well as ageless, it is a lovely classic long coat, that combines tailoring, glamour and style. It is available in black, in a satin fabric which makes it perfect to be worn unbelted with lux fabrics like satin or sequins for a night out, but equally can be worn during the day, belted for a stylish, sharp look.

We can’t not mention the Teal Drawcord Jersey Dress. The colour of this one is just gorgeous and would suit anyone, and it is very flattering for all sizes and so easy to wear. It features an adjustable drawcord under the bust and we have recently amended the neckline so it is not too low. A fabulous day-to-night dress.

This weekend might just feel a bit longer than last weekend, as the clocks go back on Sunday morning, so we will all get an extra hour in bed to recover from our excesses…bliss!

It is also Halloween on Monday. A day that most kids look forward to, as they can spray their hair, cover themselves in fake blood and knock on peoples’ doors and ask for money or sweets, (what’s not to like!)

Some ladies up and down the country will also be channeling their inner child, by dressing up as ghouls, ghosts and zombies. Most gatherings over the weekend will have a Halloween theme, so if you have been invited to a party, or you are going out with friends and the dress code is black and dramatic, don’t panic! Even if fancy dress is not your thing, Bravissimo have some beautiful black dresses from Pepperberry that would fit the bill perfectly, but won’t spook you out in the process. With the right Halloween-style accessories and make-up you will look drop dead (see what I did there?) gorgeous.

A new dress in the Pepperberry collection is the utterly stunning Cowl Back Jersey Maxi Dress. This maxi has a low cowl detail at the back of the dress, giving this dress the wow factor. There is a mesh panel that covers your bra, and there are tabs built in to the dress that will hold your bra firmly in place. This dress has cap sleeves with a double row of tiny diamante edging on the sleeves. Wear this dress with very high black platforms, backcombed hair, and you may even want to add a diamante hair clip. Go heavy with the eye make-up, dark smoky eyes in black and midnight and pale lipstick makes a lovely contrast.

Another great LBD is the Embellished Bandeau Dress from Pepperberry. This is a gorgeous prom style dress, it has a boned bodice and is in a taffeta look fabric. It is fully lined and has a black diamante panel just under the bust. This dress has a net underskirt and detachable straps, so can be worn as a sexy bandeau too. If you are proud of your waist, then this dress will make the most of it. Some fabulous sky-high heels will finish this dress off. Go sixties inspired with the hair and make-up. False eye lashes are a must and some huge eye flicks and bright red lips, paint your nails black and backcomb your hair and pin it into a beehive.

Whether you are spending the weekend carving pumpkins and cutting holes in sheets or whether you are escaping Halloween fever and doing something completely different. We hope you have a really enjoyable one. And if you can’t be good, be scarey.

The time of year has arrived when we are wrapping up, adding layers and fashion is just as much about keeping warm and dry, as about looking good. Whether you are in your first serious job after college, a working or a stay at home mum, or whether you are a veteran of that daily commute, each and every Bravissimo girl needs a stylish winter jacket or coat that will keep the wind and the rain at bay when you are out in the elements.

If you are looking to buy, there is such a vast array of winter coats and jackets in different styles and fabrics that it can get slightly confusing. Do you go for tweed, classic wool, or leather? Do you opt for a plaid, plain or a dotty print? And that’s before we get started on colour!

Hopefully Pepperberry, our very own clothing range, will have a few options that will keep our Bravissimo ladies warm and dry, but still looking smart and on trend. We also know how tricky it is finding winter coats that fit nicely over the boobs, so these coats have been designed with extra room.

One coat that is already proving to be a bit of a hit is the Scallop Edge Coat in black. This coat has the lovely scalloped detailing and buttons down the edge of one side, it creates a lovely nipped in waist and is fully lined. It is finished off with the corsage on the neck, which is removable. You also have the option of wearing the neckline unfastened, if you find the neck too high.

Another new addition to Pepperberry range is the Boucle Coat. This coat is in a textured fabric, which fits into this year’s trend for textured woven yarns. The boucle coat is very classic in shape, single breasted, so it will creates a nice streamlined look, it has a slightly puffed sleeve to add a bit of femininity. It is available in purple and looks fabulous with black, brown or grey, it will also will look amazing with plum, blueberry and tan and any other colours from the autumn palette. A perfect coat for long winter walks or for keeping you toasty warm, while you wait for your train or bus.

If you are struggling to find that perfect winter coat, make your way to Bravissimo and take a look at these two fabulous coats, or if it’s too chilly to venture out, have a look online from the comfort of your sofa.