Archive for March, 2010

Why not make your eyes the centre of attention.

Eye make up has really taken centre stage recently with bright eye shadows and false eyelashes!  The key is being creative and if you’re not blessed with lusciously long lashes, try faking it. When used at the right time, in the right place, false eyelashes can give that extra va va voom that just cannot be achieved with mascara alone. And now with more styles than you can shake a mascara wand at, there’s even more reason to experiment with fake lashes. Feathered, lace, diamante or multi-coloured, whatever style you go for, you can match a different set to each of your party outfits!

Follow these top tips for perfect (fake) lashes;

1. If you are trying false eyelashes for the first time, stick to more simple styles for practice.
2. Always always always trim the lashes to fit your own lash width. It really doesn’t look good when the lashes are so long they stick out of the side of your eye and it just makes it more obvious that they’re fake!
3. Be very careful when removing fake eyelashes, DO NOT pull them off too quickly or with too much force as it is probably going to hurt. Instead use warm water on a cotton wool pad to soak the lashes off and avoid damaging the skin on your eyelids.
4. When making your eyes the statement, leave the rest of your make-up relatively simple.
5. Once you have built confidence with putting the lashes on and of course taking them off again, you can experiment with more extravagant styles! And there’s plenty out there to try!

Long eyelashes are perfect for nights out, so if you’re planning one, why not give them a go!

Shoes were designed to keep our feet warm and dry and to stop us from treading on things that might cause us pain. The very first shoes were simply designed to protect the wearers’ feet from the harsh terrain, therefore a thick sole was strapped to the foot with leather thongs and here was born the flip-flop, although we’re sure they didn’t call it that in Egyptian times! Since these early designs the shoe was developed to be more protective in different climates and so shoe boots were created and this was the beginning of the evolution of the shoe.

Now, if we were creatures of practicality, we would probably still be wearing flat, practical footwear that protected our feet, but where’s the fun in that? We have different eras to thank for the wide array of footwear now available and footwear trends change just as fashion trends do;

• 1930s – Women wore dance shoes in the evening as revealing the toes during the day time in the 30s and 40s was considered immodest.
• 1940s – The first wedge heels were used and footwear remained elegant and embellished for the evening.
• 1950s – Small heeled court shoes and embellished evening shoes with an increasing heel height were real 50s glamour.
• 1960s – Shoes became more fun and experimental and there was more of a juxtaposition of styles; Dr. Martens for example compared with the knee high platform Biba boot.
• 1970s – Disco heaven; glittery sandals, platforms and wedges for both men and women define this shoe era.
• 1980s – Enter the killer court shoe that was to become a staple in any working woman’s wardrobe these courts often had interesting heel details too.
• 1990s – Diamante heels, stilettos and the return of wedges, thanks to The Spice Girls, denim wedges were all the rage at this point! Platforms also became popular again and espadrilles for the holiday season.
• 2000s – Gladiator sandals, killer heels, flat pumps in every colour under the sun and biker boots defined the last decade, so what shoe trends can we expect to see making a return in 2010 and beyond?
• 2010 – As shoes trends make their return, notably brogues, wedges, platforms and thigh high boots this decade so far, we truly are spoilt for choice!

The reason women love shoes is simple, they’re fun, we can have a pair to go with every outfit and they make us feel fabulous! So guys what would you rather have a closet that you can fit your golf clubs in, or a happy lady?

Cyprus Bikini

Whether you’re planning a holiday, thinking about taking up swimming or just fancy a new bikini, we have an amazing range of swim wear for all of these needs. For ultimate pool side confidence, try a Bravissimo bikini or swim suit. They come in sizes 30-38 D-H and some styles in a 28 back and up to a K cup size. The other great thing about buying a Bravissimo bikini, apart from great fit and support, is that you can order separate sizes for bottoms and tops. So no more having to buy two different sized bikinis to get the right fit! Hurray!

The Cyprus bikini comes in gorgeous fresh spring colours and for those of you that might feel a little conscious in a bikini, the skirted bottoms of this set provide that little extra coverage to make you feel more comfortable on the beach or at the pool. The halter neck style also gives a flattering shape whilst retaining upmost support for your boobs.

We’re also bringing you our first bikini in a 28 back! The Mystic bikini is a beautiful chocolate brown and pink print with tie side briefs. You could however, go tribal with the Africa bikini. This animal print bikini is chic, sexy and glamorous with its sequin detail and halter neck shape; it will make the most of your assets and keep them fully supported too! For something a little different, we have the Pebbles swim suit. It offers the best of both worlds as the style can be worn without the halterneck strap to avoid tan lines but keeps your tummy covered. Hey presto, the perfect answer to avoiding tan lines whilst keeping covered up!

If you prefer something more classic however, try the Geneva bikini in black or coral pink. Its simple shape, choice of swim suit, tankini or bikini might just solve all of your swimwear needs at once! You can also mix and match the bikini or tankini top with shorts or brief bottoms, giving you more choice than ever! We also have a range of full sports swim suits that are perfect for keen swimmers and those who prefer to wear a fuller bathing suit. But they’re just as fabulous!

As well as looking forward to having an extra couple of days off over Easter, we’re also excited to get the family together and enjoy some Easter fun (and food!). It’s a great time of year to get the family round and feast on some scrummy nosh. Not since Christmas have we had everyone round to eat drink and be merry, so its about time we got everyone together again.

As it’s almost spring, the weather is getting better/nights are getting lighter and there’s even more reason to celebrate! If you have young children or will be catering for young children around Easter then why not put together an Easter egg hunt. They’re great fun and will keep the kids entertained for hours (depending on how difficult you make it of course!).

If you’re planning a child free Easter, or your children have grown up, then you could always make the Easter egg hunt more of a challenge by creating cryptic clues and making the prize more interesting. We’re sure friends and family would be more keen to participate if they knew that there was a good bottle of wine at the end of the hunt! Easter is also good to test your baking skills.

With all the chocolate and sweet treats doing the rounds this time of year, no wonder it’s the busiest for home baking too! Cup cakes, buns, scones, hot cross buns there’s plenty to go at and you know what they say, practice makes perfect! Baking is also a fun activity for the whole family and is one of those past times that will always remind us of our own childhoods. Follow these links for recipe ideas and inspiration;

• Easter Recipes

• Easter Baking

Enjoy!

Every now and then a fashion trend will come along and leave us with open mouths wondering who in their right mind would wear that? Remember winkle pickers, shell suits and jelly shoes?

But fashion isn’t always about wearability, as the catwalks often prove. Fashion can be about having fun with your clothes and experimenting with different looks and styles. Wearing certain clothes can help to make you feel more confident, comfortable or sexier. It’s all about dressing appropriately for each situation.

We can sometimes however, get stuck in a bit of a fashion rut. We get to the point where we know what suits us, what shapes are flattering on our body types and which colours to buy. But why oh why stick to the same old  jeans, empire lines and black? Just because we know that these are flattering doesn’t mean that we can’t try something different every once in a while.

Although, we women have definitely got the long straw, men’s fashion isn’t any where near as fun. We have dresses, skirts, strappy tops, cute cardigans, sexy shoes and tonnes of accessories that men just don’t get to enjoy (apart from David Beckham in THAT sarong). We even have the masculine trend, proving that not only do we have our own fashion trends but that we also look great in men’s style clothing too!

So when it comes to fashion, the only real rule is to enjoy what you wear and don’t feel chained to one style or look, experimentation is key to finding a few brand new looks! And whatever you wear, wear it with confidence. We will all at some point in our lives, look back and ask ‘what was I wearing?’ but that’s half the fun of it!

We can’t wait for the Easter bank holidays and we think we’re just about ready for an extra couple of days off. So whether you’re planning a cheeky trip away or simply catching up on some extra ‘me’ time, we hope you make the most of it! This time of year is also a great excuse to treat yourself to some chocolate or little bit of what you fancy whether that’s a lush pamper day or some gorgeous new underwear, sometimes we just have to spoil ourselves!
Here’s when the holidays fall, just in case you weren’t sure;

Good Friday: 2nd April
Easter Sunday: 4th April
Easter Monday: 5th April

Spring Catalogue Out Now!

Also, British summer time officially begins Sunday 28th March so surely the weather must be getting better by then, we certainly hope so! Another great thing to celebrate this time of year, apart from the start of summer, is our new catalogue! It’s jam packed full of new underwear, swimwear and clothing just for you Bravissimo girls. Not got your copy yet? Click here to get one.

New things…
After the success of our very own Alana Bra (now in fresh aqua as well as the classic black, white and nude) we bring you the Broderie bra, this pretty embroided bra in white and pale violet will give you all the support you need as well as looking fabulous! So we’d like to say thanks for the feed back on the Alana bra and we hope you like the Broderie bra just as much, just let us know! We also have a whole host of new work wear, swim wear in a 28 back and gorgeous new nightwear, enjoy!

KK cup lingerie

The Harmony Balconette Bra by Panache is available to a KK cup and in a selection of colours.  The lavish embroidery, supportive micro-fibre and exceptional fit make this bra a real favourite among Bravissimo girls.  And the new mocha colour makes an excellent alternative to nude for darker skin tones. We hope you like it.

Here at Bravissimo we’re fans of Sex and the City and can’t wait for the sequel film to come out in May. We reckon there’s just about enough time to get through the DVD box set (all 94 episodes) and re-watch the first film before the sequel is out May 28th, put it in your diaries girls and dig out the box set now!

Although it might be difficult to get your girlfriends together to watch the whole thing, we will definitely be making a night of watching the first film with our girlfriends before heading out to watch the sequel. This will more than likely be followed by cocktails (cosmopolitans obviously) to round off the perfect girly night!

So what do we think will happen? Will Carrie and Big finally put everything in their past to rest and make a go at marriage? Will Samantha ever find the one? Will Charlotte and Harry get their happily ever after? And will Miranda and Steve stand the test of time after everything they’ve been through?

The SATC 2 trailer leaves us guessing as we see Carrie back in her old apartment and a girl’s trip somewhere exotic. But one things for sure, there is bound to be plenty of drama, lots of laughs and numerous cosmopolitans! Plus an appearance from Noah Mills the male model that provides eye-candy in this film. We will however be looking forward to ogling the clothes in the film, just as much as the men, as the girls prove they’ve still got it 12 years after the first episode was recorded.

Have a fun night in ladies!

Nursing Bra

If you’re expecting a little bundle of joy, have just had one or are planning to, you really should consider what underwear you wear during these times. Throughout pregnancy and for quite a while afterwards, especially breast feeding mums, may experience swollen and sore boobs. It is therefore important to give your boobs the correct support to avoid any further discomfort as boobs can change size throughout pregnancy. We’d also recommend wearing a non-wired bra just after the baby’s birth as this will give your boobs time to settle down. If you’re planning on breast feeding we can fit you for a nursing bra, however, we advise this is left until around the 36th week, at this point you will be closest to the size you will be when the baby is born. For further advice or if you have questions just pop into a store or go online, and see Bravissimo’s range of nursing bras.

Our boobs naturally change shape and size throughout our lifetime so it’s a good idea to check your bra fit every once in a while to ensure you’re wearing the right size and that your boobs haven’t changed too much so that they no longer feel comfortable in your current underwear. Here are some signs that might indicate that you need to re-check your size;

• If the bra seems to fit ok but is uncomfortable, the style might simply need changing. Different women prefer different styles of bra as these styles will fit different women in different ways. As long as the bra fit and is comfortable to wear then its thumbs up!
• If the band of the bra is digging in or feels too slack then this needs to be changed, if the bra band isn’t tight enough then your boobs won’t be getting the support they need.
• If you feel like your boobs are popping over the top of your boob, giving a ‘four-boob’ effect then the cup size might need changing.

It’s a good idea to check for these signs every once in a while as sometimes changes happen over a period of time so aren’t as noticeable. If you’re unsure just pop in and speak with one of fitters, they’re very helpful and will help you to find the perfect fit.

The hottest accessories you should invest in this season.

Brogues. Flat brogues make the perfect partner for the slouchy tailored trousers, shorts and dresses we will be wearing this spring. They are smart enough to wear for work but stylish enough to give that fashion edge. They’re also super comfy and come in a variety of colours and materials to match any outfit. If you’re more of a heels girl however, try a pair with that extra little oomph!

Beige Lingerie

Beige.

The IT colour of the moment also transcends into accessories; bags, shoes, nail polish, belts and jewellery, you name it, it’s beige!

Summer boots. Our shoe boots served us well over winter, but the spring take on boots is more fun and more feminine. Chunky heels and sky scraper platforms give way to elegant heels and less fierce designs. Wear your peep toe summer boots with jeans for a glam yet casual look.

Big necklaces. For jewellery this season, there really is just one rule, the bigger, the better. Especially where necklaces are concerned, statement neck lines however shouldn’t be distracted from by other large pieces of jewellery. A bangle stacked wrist is the easy way to pull off this season’s safari trend, without breaking the bank.

Hair accessories. They were all over the catwalks for spring/summer 2010, so if you fed up with hair do, but don’t know what to do with it, accessorise it!

Great make-up. The must have accessory of the season. Experimentation with colour is key for getting this trend right. Eye shadows in all the colours of the rainbow are available in the shops, so it’s simply a case of choosing the right colour combination for each outfit!