Posts Tagged ‘Christmas’

Knitting is back and it doesn’t care who knows it! Sales of wool has rocketed, and knitting clubs have sprung up again all over the country. Going to a knitting group with the girls is now thought of as a good – even cool – night out. Knitting has firmly shaken off its ‘granny’ image and it looks like the love affair with home knits and all things woolly will continue to grow. If you have yet to pick up your needles, why don’t you give it a try? It is cheap and it is a great way of de-stressing and switching off after a hard day at the office or a non-stop day with the kids. The end result is something wonderfully creative, that someone special will cherish.

If crafty pursuits are not for you, but you can still appreciate a great bit of knitwear, then you won’t have to look too far, as knitwear is big news this season. There is definitely a time and place when only knitwear will do. If you happen to work in a chilly office, you will need to look sharp, but you still need to be warm, so some smart close fitting knitwear is a must. Or if you are attending an outside event like a firework display or a Christmas market, a big slouchy jumper or knitted dress would both be great options. For a glam night out when you don’t want to spend the evening shivering in your sparkly vest, you need a long sleeved knit, with some glitter or sparkle.

Not so long ago, there was little choice for us Bravissimo girls, the only knitwear available for us on the high street was chunky, shapeless, boxy and unflattering. This would make our boobs seem ‘matronly’ and make us look two dress sizes bigger. Our very own clothing brand, Pepperberry has changed all that. Pepperberry’s knitwear is carefully designed, won’t add extra inches and you won’t find any big or bursting buttons. It is gorgeous and on trend too.

The Wrap Front Jumper would be great for the workplace, it is a v-neck wrap top with an empire line that highlights the narrowest area just under the bust, the tummy area is ribbed and fitted which also enhances the waist. This knit may be best worn with a cami and it is recommended that a plunge bra be worn underneath. The Wrap Front Jumper is available in black and purple.

The Sequin Shoulder Jumper is the glamorous option from Pepperberry. It is a fine knit with gorgeous sequin detailing on the shoulders. It has a v-neck which is super flattering for bigger boobs. This top will be a good choice with Christmas approaching and will look great with this season’s pencil skirt and black suede heels, or some tailored trousers.

The Boyfriend Cardigan is available in Mocha and is a lovely slouchy cardigan that is really versatile. It can be worn on warmer day with a classic white shirt underneath, or on a cold day worn with a fitted knitted jumper. Accessorise with the Vintage Lace Trim Scarf from Pepperberry and you have got a great layered look.

According to the experts, our weather is on the turn again, hopefully we haven’t seen the last of the sunshine, but for now we can make ourselves feel better by looking forward to some fabulous new fashion. If you haven’t started to look for that autumn wardrobe, now is definitely the time.

A good place to start is ‘occasion’ wear, as it gets nearer to Christmas, the shops will start filling up with Christmas occasion wear and all things glam and sexy. Sometimes when we are invited to a swanky event or a posh do, our first thought is ‘Oh no, what am I going to wear?’ Pepperberry has some stunning new styles in that are real showstoppers and because the styles are black, you can count on them being real classics that will last you more than just one season.

The jumpsuit trend has come back this autumn/winter and they are surprisingly easy to wear, no worrying about what top you are going to wear with which trousers. Jumpsuits look stylish, are a great alternative to the dress, and are bang on trend. Pepperberry’s new Jersey Wide Leg Jumpsuit will be a valuable addition to your occasion wear, if you have a smart evening event coming up, this stylish jumpsuit will be perfect. It is available in black and is made from jersey so there is no ironing needed. The top is a wrap style, with draping over the tummy area, which is really good at hiding any lumps or bumps.

Another new addition is the very sexy Satin Bodice, just like our cami’s this bodice has an integral underwired bra, so you are fully supported. The bodice is boned, comes in stretchy satin, which makes it comfortable too, it also has adjustable straps. This bodice will look stunning teamed with some tailored trousers and a tuxedo jacket or it will look super sexy with a pencil skirt, killer heels and longer suit jacket.

The new Lux Mac is another big trend this year and this fabulous mac is the perfect accompaniment for any evening dress you have. This mac has a satin sheen, so it will look great with a sequin dress or satin dress in a vibrant colour, it is very versatile so also will look great worn with a classic white shirt and tailored trousers for the office. It comes in black and can be worn with or without the belt.

Invest in these classic black evening wear options and you will never again have that heart sinking feeling when you receive that special event invite.

Yet another glittering awards ceremony took place recently in Los Angeles, the 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. An evening that recognises and honours the television industry. There were a few predictable winners, namely hit US shows. Modern Family and Mad Men, but there was also some success for British shows and actors. The extremely popular and fast growing ITV drama Downton Abbey was a big winner as was its leading actress Dame Maggie Smith. Oscar winner Kate Winslet was honoured for her role as Mildred Pierce.

The A-List ladies were out in force and it really was a close call when it came to who really ‘wowed’ on the red carpet, but Christina Hendricks seems to exude glamour like nobody else, so hurrah! Another triumph for us big boobed girls. Her dress was by Johanna Johannsson and was a jewel encrusted sliver fitted dress with a fluted bottom, a deep-V which enhanced her wonderful cleavage and a sexy split. If she reminded us of anyone, well it was difficult to miss how much she resembled Marilyn Monroe.

The colour red was very evident at The Emmys in the fashion stakes, with actresses Lea Michele, Kate Winslet, Nina Dobrev, Adrianne Palicki and TV hosts Giuliana Rancic and Nancy O’Dell all plumping for it. None of them appeared to be ‘red faced’ that the others had turned up in the same colour, which tells us how on trend ‘the red dress’ is going to be this autumn/winter. Prepare to see the red dress popping up in stores near you and don’t be surprised if the office party at Christmas, is a blaze of red dresses. Luckily enough, Pepperberry are bringing out a red maxi dress, that will be available to buy from the 17th October. It is absolutely stunning and is very similar to the style of Christina Hendricks Emmy’s dress, but obviously in bold red. Keep your eyes peeled as it’s coming very soon and for anyone who can’t wait and wants a preview, the dress can be found on Pepperberry’s Facebook page.

Summer is coming to an end and we have been dismayed how dark it’s getting much earlier in the evening! We are still seeing some warm days, however as soon as the sun goes behind a cloud, you can feel autumn in the air. The end of the summer also means the end of Bravissimo’s summer sale. The good news is that now the best bargains are up for grabs, there is some fabulous lingerie, nightwear and swimwear on offer. So if you are savvy, you could have your swimwear sorted for next summer, new nightwear bought in preparation for the colder nights and stunning lingerie purchased as a treat for yourself or as a Christmas gift for a friend (I know, I know, we mentioned the C word).

The Paige Bra by Miss Mandalay is a gorgeous bra in fantastic hot pink. It is sexy, fun and flirty and would be suitable to spice up any evening. It is half sheer on the cup, so that gives it lots of sex appeal and it is contrasted with a bright yellow lace trim. This bra is an underwired balconette, with a slightly fuller cup, which offers a bit more support. It is available to buy with matching briefs or the utterly cute frilly thong.

The Magic Triangle Bikini Top by Freya is a stunning triangle bikini, it is black, with a metallic printed stripe in silver and white. It is based on the popular ‘Vodkatini’ design and is wire free, lightly padded and creates wonderful cleavage and great shape. This is such a classic bikini, it will never date and you will feel confident that it will always look great.

So the nights are drawing in and it is getting chillier, it is really important that we feel comfortable and warm when relaxing in the evening and in bed. The Check PJ Bottoms by Bravissimo and Lounge Hoodie by Bravissimo, are just the thing to see you through autumn and winter. The pyjama bottoms are made from cotton, so will keep you warm, without making you too hot in bed and they can also be rolled and buttoned up. The hoodie is wonderfully soft, it has a deep-V and front pockets and is available in French navy. A perfect top for cosying up in front of the TV.

So get these great items before they go and don’t miss out on much more fantastic lingerie, swimwear and nightwear in the end of season sale.

Over indulged this Christmas? Then you’re probably one of many starting a New Year health kick. You might want to loose weight, get fit or both however drastic changes to diet and exercise might work short term but if you’re serious about loosing weight and keeping it off you should really think about your long term goals. Plus taking on too much at once could result in a quick defeat therefore it’s often better to set yourself small goals to boost your morale whilst on the road to a healthier you. If exercise is your main aim try a few different sports and classes, you don’t have to go to the gym if you don’t enjoy it. There are plenty of other sports, classes and clubs you could get involved with without being in a gym environment. If you’re forcing yourself to do an activity you don’t really enjoy then you’re more likely to give up so take the time to try a few different things and see what appeals to you. Get a friend to go with you for moral support/friendly competition or be brave and try something yourself, plus sports clubs and classes are a great way to meet new people. A new hobby and new friends, now there’s a resolution we think we could stick to!

Often the biggest factor acting against us when it comes to regular exercise is time. We often feel like we just don’t have the time to exercise, so we have to get creative;

• Walk instead of taking the car, a short walk to the shop will burn calories and get our heart rate going. Make it a brisk walk on the way there and a slower pace on the way back as you won’t want to loose your shopping to over enthusiastic arm pumping. Plus the extra weight of the shopping will work out your arm muscles too!
• Get up half an hour earlier. During those extra few minutes in the morning you could go for a brisk walk, jog or cycle and the extra adrenaline will keep you going all day. It seems like a contradiction that if you expend energy you will have more but it is true, try it for a week and see for yourself.
• Make the most of your children’s game consoles and invest in some exercise games; from yoga to dance and you can do it in the privacy of your own home!
• Get the right equipment to protect your equipment. If you do want to take up a new sport then make sure you properly protect your assets with a good fitting sports bra. Boobs, especially of the larger variety, can be put under a lot of stress and strain when participating in sports so avoid unnecessary injury and get a sports bra. We also feel more serious about the sport we’re doing when we’re wearing the right gear. Be it a sports bra, swimsuit, gym gear or something more specialised, it gives us an extra confidence boost and motivation to try that little bit harder.

Christmas is a time for spending with the family, taking time off work and enjoying good food and good company. But Christmas can also be a very stressful time of year as people frantically rush round the shops trying to find the perfect present for their loved ones. So it makes sense to us to have a pamper day just before the 25^th so that we can look and feel our best on the big day. We’re talking face masks, long soaks in hot baths, doing our hair, nails and probably a drop of red to help us to unwind. If you’re anything like us, you also probably have a stash of bubble bath and pampering tools from last Christmas, so they might as well be used to make room for the next lot! We’ll use any excuse for a night of ‘us’ time but we think that after all that shopping (and half of it not even for ourselves) we’ll be in need of some rest and relaxation.

Optimum pampering time is 2-3 hours including;

• a long soak in the bath, glass of red wine optional
• candles
• face mask
• hair mask
• exfoliation
• hair removal
• cutting and shaping of nails, fingers and toes
• painting nails, fingers and toes
• intensive moisturising
• cosying up in gorgeous nightwear
• followed by un-intensive post-pampering activities such as reading a book or watching a film

And if you just don’t have the time to pre-pamper then make sure you have the time for some post-Christmas pampering, ideally before the New Year then you can be looking your best for New Year’s Eve.

This Sunday, the 12^th of December, is traditionally the day that most people will put their Christmas tree up. With just 12 days to go it might also be the point at which you realise how many gifts you still need to buy to put underneath said tree. But don’t panic if you’re ordering anything from our catalogue or online you have until the 19^th of December for all UK orders. We also have a special service for orders placed before 2.30pm on Wednesday the 22^nd December which will be delivered overnight. So whether you’re digging the tree out of the attic/loft/garage or heading out to buy a real one we hope you enjoy taking the time to decorate it. So do you go traditional or modern? Minimal or for full on tinseltastic? Are you a household that puts up a Vegas style display of Christmas lights or is subtlety key when it comes to celebrating this festive time of year?

The tradition of bringing a coniferous tree indoors at Christmastime has religious roots that have been somewhat blurred over the years, yet the tree remains one of the strongest symbols of the festive season. The placing of a star at the top of a tree symbolises the star of Bethlehem that led Mary and Joseph to Jerusalem or an angel that represents the angels of the nativity. Over the years, candles were replaced with fairy lights and decorations have become more elaborate but the tradition dates back many years and the decorating of a Christmas tree continues to be a key part of the festive season. The reason for taking down the Christmas tree and decorations by the 6^th of January is still due to superstition and the fear of bad luck if they are left up. Although, we think that most people are probably Christmassed out by early January. Especially with the increasingly long and drawn out build up to the holiday season, so much so, that many people will take down the decorations and any reminisce of Christmas before this twelfth night.

So how ever you decide to decorate your tree and your home this Christmas, why not get in the mood with Christmas songs, warm mince pies and a drop of mulled wine. And we mean ‘drop’ as too much mulled wine and you could find yourself with some wonky looking decorations!

Last week the UK was brought to a stand still due to sub-zero temperatures and persistent snow. Even though blizzards were predicted the sheer volume of snow and the fact that it just kept coming left even the weather forecasters stumped. Many people were forced to abandon cars across the country as snow quickly turned into ice making driving dangerous and driving up hill near impossible. Others experienced cancelled flights with many of the big airports forced to close and major delays on trains and other forms of public transport. The North East, Yorkshire, Humber, Scotland and Wales have been the worst hit but that doesn’t mean the rest of the country has got off lightly as the snow continues to push further south. Even London, where snow rarely settles, has had a good few inches. Temperatures in the Scottish Highlands were reported to have fallen to a little as -18.6C. That’s cold! The bad news is this weather shows no sign of going anywhere any time soon and so has sparked the need for a review of how we cope and in particular how the transport system copes in such wintry conditions. Safety is paramount when the weather is this treacherous so if you don’t need to make a journey the advice is to stay indoors. If you do however need to venture out it has been advised to wear plenty of warm layers and to take some food and a drink with you just in case your journey is delayed.

Our advice if you have been snowed in is to make the most of it. If you have children, no doubt they’ll have been frolicking in it already so why not join them? Besides we adults can enjoy the snow angels, snowmen and snowball fights too! Then you can look forward to warming up with a hot bath, a hot choc and snuggle up in some cosy lounge wear and night wear for the rest of the day. Surely that’s got to be better than a day in the office?!

As we see the first snow fall of the festive season we should be enjoying every flake and making the most of the novelty

of having snow at Christmas time. Instead though, we listen to severe weather warnings and the threat of ‘heavy snow fall’.  If we Brits call it heavy snow fall, then what on earth do the Canadians call it? Our heavy snow fall would barely make people from other such countries bat an eyelid. Surely we could learn a thing or two from our counter-parts in colder climates if they can cope with -40 degrees and snow blizzards?! When snow hits their towns and cities, things still work. Taxis still run, trains keep going and people just carry on as normal. So why is it that when it snows in England, we grind to a halt?  The favourite excuse is that we’re just not used to snow.  However, one thing we know for sure, when we do get heavy snow, the kids love it!

So are we hoping for a white Christmas? Yes, we just hope it doesn’t snow too much!

This time of year is about spending time with those you love whether you have a special someone or not.  However, they say Christmas is actually the best time of year to be single!  Think about it, you can eat whatever you want, you can go to whatever parties you want to go to, you don’t have to buy an overly expensive present and if you accidently kiss someone you shouldn’t have under the mistletoe its only yourself you have to answer to!

So if you are single, make the most of having your friends and family around. Plus there’s a whole 7 weeks until Valentine’s day, that’s plenty of time!  So whether you’re single, married or dating make sure you don’t forget the most important thing about Christmas, having a ball with the people you love!