Want to look fab rather than fat ? I know a weigh to do it! (Evans)

Member Name: thehonesttruth

Product:	Evans
Date:	22/08/09 (70 review reads)
Rating:

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I'm a big girl . I wasn't always - when I was younger I was pretty slim, and then various jobs caused the weight to creep on, years of working in restaurants and pubs adding inches ever slowly .Then, to top things off, I had a kid - a great excuse to eat a little more, and not worry about my size .

Before I knew it, I was a size 22. Shopping for clothes became a little harder, with many shops only stocking up to a size 18 . Thankfully, Evans is a shop you'll find on many high streets catering to the fuller figure - sizes 14 and up all the way to 32 . With over 330 Evans stores around the UK and Ireland , you probably have one near you .

I already knew about Evans - my mums the same size as me, and had been shopping there for years, but the clothes had always seemed a little dull and mature .

I don't know whether its my own tastes changing, or a shift in marketing for Evans, but that no longer seems to be the case . Stepping into the Nottingham branch of Evans , I'm now accosted by bright colours, ever changing displays of fashionable clothing, and a fair amount of twinkling accessories .

The first thing to note about the Nottingham store is that it has level access from the street, and also a lift up to the first floor , as well as steps . This is great as it means the store is accessible to wheelchair users or those who are less mobile. The ground floor stocks a range of casual wear, while the first floor displays shoes, formal wear, coats, and lingerie ( they also offer a bra measurement service, which I recommend !)

They have a real range of clothing - cunningly cut trousers and tops to hide all those lumps and bumps you might not want seen, but also clothes that reveal a little more for those with more confidence . They've recently started selling a range designed by Beth Ditto - a range definitely aimed at the bolder amongst us big beautiful women, featuring as it does a lot of bold prints, sequins, and stretchy lycra .

Proud as I am of my lovely lady lumps, I'm a little more conservative in my dress - very much a jeans and T-shirt kind of girl . Evans jeans come in short, regular and long lengths, and in a variety of cuts - bootcut, kickflare, skinny fit . The jeans range comes in a few colours, and it probably the only constant part of Evans - however much fashions change, you'll always be able to pick up a good pair of jeans , and they're often on offer at 2 pairs for 30 pounds, which is pretty reasonable . Normally, standard jeans are about 20 quid a pair, with more elaborate current styles being a bit more expensive .

Another section of the store that I really like is the accessories - being a big girl, I find it tricky to get affordable, attractive jewelery to wear, due to having large hands and fat fingers - but I have no problem at Evans . Rings come in M, L, and XL sizes, and even my sausage fingers can fin something to fit . Bangles here are also larger than you'd find in most shops, meaning I can get some that slip over my hands easily .

Swimwear here is also good in summer, although they don't seem to stock much of it out of the summer season,which is a shame . They do two piece sets with a range of cuts - in particular some lovely vest tops with a bra lining, that look good enough to be outerwear, for 18 pounds .

As well as being a big girl, I'm also a bigfoot - size 8 with wide feet . Lucky for me then that all the shoes come in sizes 4-10 with a choice of 2 width fittings - E or EEE . Its so nice to be able to pick up a killer pair of heels and know that they're actually going to be a comfortable fit .

I probably visit the store once ever two weeks, and the displays are constantly changing - and there are always some bargains on offer in the sale section.

While most of the clothes are casual, they do sell some smarter more formal clothing, including basic suits, blouses, and trousers suitable for wearing to the office, and, nearer christmas, some stunning party frocks!

So, do I have anything negative to say about Evans. Well, a few small points - while Evans clothes are good quality, without a doubt, you will find that prices here really aren't that cheap, unless you get lucky in the sales . They do have a few budget items, but you can expect to pay around 27 quid for a nice top, and around 35 pounds for a pair of smart going out trousers .

I also find that while the store is wheelchair accessible, there sometimes isn't a lot of space between displays, and especially during the sales when the store gets crowded, moving about can be a little difficult - especially bearing in mind that most of the shoppers are, like me, on the curvy side .

And I do have to say that the majority of the clothing in store seems to be aimed at people below 40ish, so it may not be the best store for some older people who prefer traditional cuts rather than current trends .

However, I have to say, I've never yet bought a faulty item, and can always find something I like in the store. I do very much recommend them - especially as previously mentioned for jeans and jewelery , but also for just popping into and having a browse . In fact, I'd recommend paying it a visit straight a-weigh if you're a curvy girl .

4 stars - one off for being a little pricey and a bit crowded .

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