clothes for those who do the outdoor life (or like to look like they do!) (Fat face)

Member Name: indychick_uk

Product:	Fat face
Date:	27/11/01 (3432 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: High quality clothing, reasonably priced

Disadvantages: Far too many nice things to tempt me to spend money

About Fat Face

Fat Face was started, by two self-confessed “Ski-bums” called Jules and Tim, in 1987/88. They began selling t-shirts and sweatshirts, with back and chest prints, to other ski-bums in bars across the French Alps. They opened their first shop, in Fulham, in 1993 and today have over 40 stores across the country, from Abersoch to Padstow, as well as three in the French Alps (Courcheval, Meribel and Val D’Isere) selling casual clothing with a decidely “outdoors” feel to it.

If you like the surfer/ski brands such as Quiksilver, Timberland, Billabong then you’ll probably love Fat Face. I love the surfer brands but they do tend to be a little bold and bright sometimes so when I discovered Fat Face and it’s calmer, more relaxed feel I was sold on them.

The first time I ever heard of Fat Face was actually on a snowboarding trip to Val D’Isere, not very practical to keep nipping back there for a new t-shirt, so I was really pleased to find they were opening a shop in Oxford, where my parents live, and even more so when they opened a shop in my home town of Marlow last year.

Actually my mum's convinced someone in marketing is tipping these shops off as I'm a clothing shopaholic and particularly love Monsoon, shortly after I moved to Marlow a Monsoon opened up there. Then I discover Fat Face and - hey presto! It's all a ploy to wrench my hard-earned cash from me, and it's working.

Anyway - back to the job in hand - Fat Face.

The Stores

The immediate feel when you walk in the store is one of comfort, relaxation and clean living. There are stripped wood floors, minimal decoration and a lot of the clothes are in pale pastels or washed out colours. And that’s how the clothes make you feel too, when ever I feel a bit cold and down I just snuggle up in my fat face sweater and I feel much better.

In the stores I’ve visited,
in Marlow, Oxford and Val D’Isere the décor and atmosphere has been the same and the staff have been very polite. They have the just the right level of attention – they offer to help if you look like you need it but leave you alone if you say you’re fine.

They have a good range of casual clothing for Men, Women and Children, the children’s range is called “Brat Face” as well as shoes, socks, underwear and other accessories. These include a brilliant fleecy hot water bottle cover, which is definitely going on my Christmas List. There main stays are still tee and sweat shirts, along with jeans, skirts, dresses, shorts and coats. This winter the womens collection is mostly pinks and muted aubergine colours whilst the men’s looks to be pale blues and greens.

A lot of their clothes are made in cotton and I can vouch for the fact that they wash well and don’t lose colour. I did manage to shrink my husband’s long sleeve tee shirt in the tumble dryer recently but that’s my fault not theirs, it does say “do not tumble dry”. Blame the weather we’ve been having recently.

The prices are, I think, fairly good – probably about the same as Gap or somewhere like that but definitely cheaper than the surfer brands like Quiksilver. I recently bought a long sleeved t-shirt for my husband (to replace the shrunken one!) for £24.50 and a long, brushed cotton skirt for myself for £39.99.


The Web Site – www.fatface.co.uk

Fat Face also has an online store, this doesn’t have the same range as in store but there is a good selection of their range. The site also has the same feel as the shops, laid back, relaxed, young. The logo at the top is on a “wooden” panel and gives the website the same “branded” look as their stores. It’s clearly been thought out very cleverly.

You will also find details of how to get y
our Fat Face t-shirt personalised by having one of their old, or new designs printed on the back – retaining their roots you see! One of the current designs features a cartoon of a skier and the slogan “Don’t make a mountain out of a mogul!”. Printing costs an extra £5.50 on top of the price of the garment and they say to allow 14 days for delivery. I’ve not yet used the online store so can’t comment on how good it is but when I do (and I’m sure I will) I’ll let you know.

The website also gives details of ordering “Team Kit” at bulk order prices and with almost any design you like. If you have a college club, a boat crew or a company looking for a new uniform, or you’ve just got a bunch of mates heading off ski-ing who like to pose, send them here. Perfect, Fat Face t-shirts all round for my yacht crew please!

Why “Fat Face”?

And the name? Well, “Face” is the name of the piste in the men’s downhill at Val D’Isere and “Fat” was because “Face on it’s own is mega dull” – So now you know!

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