Curvy Clothing Reviews: Pepperberry/ Bravissimo Jacket, and BiuBiu Prado Verde!

I'm still short on time, but I'm trying to get back into the habit of making time for blogging.

I had some pictures/ reviews that I never got around to formatting and posting, so I thought that'd be a good re-introduction into clothing reviews.

About a year ago, I purchased a Bravissimo jacket second-hand. You may recognize it here. It didn't fit her all that well, as she mentions in the review-- the waist was a bit too big, the bust was too high (suggesting it was designed for someone shorter... like me!).

Size-wise, the jacket is a great fit on me (size 8SC). The waist was still slightly too large, but that actually gave a bit of ease so it's comfortable to wear all day-- the material has no stretch. The sleeves were slightly longer than perfect, but I am a few inches shorter than 5'5", so that's not a huge shock. 

I love the fit from the back, especially-- even though it's a touch big in the waist, it gives a nice silhouette.

The negative to the fit of this, for me, is button placement-- the lowest button hits right at waist, so it sort of gapes at my  hips even though it's a great fit there. It gives me a bit of a pooch-y stomach appearance from the side, which I don't find flattering at all.

Unflattering button placement

It's a good weight for a casual autumn jacket, but the material and lining isn't very warm, and the pockets aren't positioned that it's comfortable to keep your hands in them.

All in all, it's not a bad light jacket, but I don't actually wear it very often due to the "lower stomach pooch" effect, and because it's not warm enough for winter wear.

The other item I firmly intended to review last summer, but never got around to, is BiuBiu's Prado Verde sleeveless top. (Also reviewed by Boosaurus and Space Librarian on Braless in Brazil).
This style of top has always been one of my favorite designs that I could never buy-- I love the gathered peasant style neckline and the strap style, but the underbust seam meant I never could find one that fit me correctly in retail stores. I was thrilled to buy this top!

I do think it's a very, very flattering style. I have a few issues with it, though. The shirt is quite short, meaning that I needed to check and adjust it to keep it from creeping up and exposing my stomach (I'm short, but with a fairly average length torso). And though it comes with the territory of a low, broad neckline, I don't really have any bras that work with this top-- I really need a true half cup bra, or my cups peek out of the edges (and, unfortunately, I'm sized out of my beloved Freya half-cup styles-- please start making these in a larger size choice, especially since they run small in the cup and big in the band!). 

There was more of an issue when I was strength training regularly (I wore this the other day without nearly as much of a problem), but the sleeves really wanted to expose my bra strap when my shoulders were more muscular. And, finally, the bust seemed to run a bit small-- I got this in a 36BB/BBB and the underbust seam wouldn't stay under my bust, but would creep up, which is not something I like or would expect in a clothing item designed for a large bust.

I do hope BiuBiu will release this style in a different color again this summer, but hopefully in a longer length and with more bust room, and perhaps with slightly wider straps (or just a narrower neckline-- I think half an inch or an inch narrower on each side of the neckline would make a huge improvement in the ability of this top to cover bra straps).