In the changing room at Pepperberry

Hi guys,
A couple of weeks ago I went to the launch of Bravissimo's new clothing line, Pepperberry, and I promised you guys I would go back once the stores were open, to try on some of the range and write a proper review. Well, a promise is a promise, so here it is!

I picked up four dresses and headed to the changing rooms (which like Bravissimo changing rooms were refreshingly massive, and had plenty of mirrors) I couldn't decide whether I would need a 14 RC (Really curvy) or a 14 SC (Super curvy) so I took a mixture of both.

The Pepperberry range immediately solved my often-whinged-about sizing problem: It was so amazing to feel the dresses nip in nicely at my waist without squashing my boobs: normally I have to size up for boob comfort, but the payoff is a wide and gaping waistband, and clothes that don't really fit properly. With the Pepperberry dress my waist was cinched in, my boobs had room to breath, and the dresses skimmed my hips, creating really flattering hourglass shapes: If you want dresses that will give you a 50s movie star figure, then this is the shop to go to!
Another problem the Pepperberry range solved was the under-the-boob issue. In dresses that have panels which are supposed to fall just under the boobs, I usually find the line sitting half way across the fullest part of my boobs looking unslightly: if your slightly fuller busted then anything on an empire line from the high street is a massive no go. The spotty dress in particular surprised me: the panels fit perfectly and the waist started at exactly the point it should, creating that much-longed-for hourglass shape.

Pepperberry very kindly gave us a voucher for one item of clothing when I went to the launch event. I immediately chose the blue full skirted dress: I loved it on the night, and I loved it even more once i'd tried it on. I'm going to wear it in a seventies fashion with retro wedges, replacing the sash with a tan leather belt, and slinging a vintage satchel over my shoulder.

I could've quite easily opted for any of the four dresses I tried on though: they all fit incredibly (In the RC not the SC variant, if you're interested) and i've got a feeling I will be visiting this store again soon!

Love, Tor xx

Bravissimo launches Pepperberry: Boobs of the world rejoice!

Hi guys,
Yesterday evening I went for a sneak preview of Pepperberry: the new fashion line offering from the wonderful folks at Bravissimo. Bravissimo have always done clothes (I had one of their plain white button-up shirts for my first work experience job!) but they've never been very exciting: simple pieces to solve the problem of gaping buttons more than anything else! Enter Pepperberry: this new range will solve all the problems the Bravissimo line did, but in a more exciting and fashion forward way:


Pepperberry product director, Beverley Latchford-Brown talked us through each piece in the collection, detailing where the inspiration came from, and how each piece had been slightly adapted to accomodate a larger bust. The range comes in normal sizes (8-18) but each piece is available in curvy, very curvy, and super curvy: curvy is similar to a normal highstreet bust size, whilst the very and super curvy are for the bigger boobed gals, and sized accordingly.

We were shown all of the inspiration boards for both the Spring/Summer and the High Summer collections. I love to see the inspiration boards along side the final pieces: its a great insight into how products evolve, and why they end up looking the way they do!

Jenny of The Style PA and Reena of Fashion Daydreams were also at the event, giving me the perfect excuse for gossiping and eating mini cupcakes!

This is my favourite dress from the collection: a subtle and more wearable take on this season's neon trend. It lands in high summer, and would be perfect for a summer wedding/fancy garden party (I've never been to a garden party, but I imagine this is what I would wear!) The straps are ajustable to make sure it fits you properly and the staps on their dresses are all wide enough that you can wear a proper bra underneath (fuller busted bras generally have thicker straps) This would be a life saver for me, as in the summer, visable bra straps are the bane of my life!

The collection launches on 21st March, and as soon as it does, i'll be there trying on the full range, and bringing you guys all the pictures. I'm ridiculously excited about the possibility of owning shirt and wrap dresses that don't pull or gape at the bust!

Love, Tor xx

Fashion Targets Breast Cancer: Check out the goods!

Yesterday was the launch of this years Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign. I thought the Mario Testino pictures looked fantastic, especially the one of Kylie, who looked gorgeous and healthy: I think she is the perfect choice to front the campaign! Last night I went to the launch party for the event to see the products that are available from all of the retailers involved, and I was really impressed with what I saw:



The pieces I especially love are the striped cardigan from Whistles (in the second picture) and the ruffle sleeved top from Warehouse (picture one) but it's fair to say they've come up with something for everyone from the Laura Ashley twin set (second picture) to M&S T shirts to underwear sets: I think the Superdry hoodies are a great addition to the FTBC family too, because they're a youth brand, and the younger someone is when you make them aware of breast cancer the better.

At the event last night I heard a really shocking statistic; 120 women a day are diagnosed with breast cancer in this country. I think hearing the numbers really brought how important the campaign is home. It was a really interesting event that gave me food for thought as well as the chance to look at some great clothes: every piece is really wearable and not obviously a 2010 chairty piece meaning you could still wear it again year after year. I was never really a big fan of the target T shirts - when would you wear them!?

Why not check out the pieces and do your bit whilst you're out shopping this weekend?! Oh, and if these pieces aren't to your taste then don't forget to buy your pins and bracelets (find out more about these here!) They're subtle but pretty: I have my pin on my red mac!

Love, Tor xx

Wear your support: Fashion Targets Breast Cancer

On Monday this years Fashion Targets Breast Cancer (FTBC) campaign will be launching, and I am lucky enough to be going along (as usual expect a full report!) This year Mario Testino will be supporting the campaign along with three of the "worlds biggest stars" from film, fashion, and music. They won't say who these mystery supporters are though, so we will have to wait until Monday to find out.

This year the campaign is called "wear your support" and its all about showing your support for FTBC by wearing a special design for the charity from one of your favourite UK brands: M&S, Topshop, River Island, Coast, Warehouse, Laura Ashley, Superdry,Whistles, Melissa Odabash and my-wardrobe.com are all getting involved. I love it when you can go shopping and feel like you're doing something to help people at the same time, and given the brands involved i'm hoping the FTBC designs will be pretty wearable too.

As well as the big money items (lingerie from M&S and a dress from Coast for example) there will also be pins (£1) and bracelets (£2) which you can buy from River Island, Topshop and Superdry and travel card wallets from M&S. I know these have been out there for years but I think they're such a good idea: not only do they show your support they also remind other people of the charity and hopefully they will want to get involved too!

It only costs a pound or two to show you care, and with 1 in 9 women developing breast cancer at some point in their lifetime you never know when you or somebody you love will need the support (although obviously I am touching wood that this dreadful desease doesn't affect any of you!) I really like the FTBC campaigns: I think its great to see the fashion industry use its powers for good rather than for evil!

Love, Tor xx

PS - I'm sure you don't need me to tell you this but please make sure you all stay healthy and have a good fondle of your boobs every now and again! Wow, I hope that didn't sound too Trinny and Susannah! :)