Some good, some bad (Evans)

Member Name: inese

Product:	Evans
Date:	14/09/00 (267 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Shoes, jewellery

Disadvantages: Strange sizes, sack-like dresses

Until recently, Evans was the only place to get clothes in larger sizes, especially 22 plus. But now several other stores have at least introduced a size 16+range, and it is easier to be objective about them.

Some of the Evans range, particularly Seven, East Coast and Active viii, is offering stylish and trendy clothes for younger women. However, too much of the range still seems to imply that larger women should either hide in shapeless dark colours, or should be confident in over-bright colours, such as shocking pink and bright turquoise, also in the 'sack' style. Their attempts to introduce trendier styles can also backfire - all the new dresses with shoestring tie belts just make the models in the new catalogue look like sacks of potatoes, when in reality they are beautiful women with good figures, as can be seen in the evening wear section.

Evans shoes are a godsend - at last I can find shoes that are wide enough for my emormous feet without scouring the mens' section of the shoe shops for something that doesn't scream "BLOKE!" at you, or squeezing my feet into other stores' version of wider fittings. The selection of accessories is also improving, and is excellent because it includes rings and necklaces which actually fit!

Although the range of places to shop for large sizes is improving - Rogers + Rogers, New Look, Etam plus, BiB at Hennes, even good old M&S - Evans is still a good place to look with average prices in this sector and occasional gems.

One quibble - Evans sizes are much smaller than everywhere else - I can get away with an M&S or Rogers+Rogers size 20, whereas in Evans I need a 22 or even 24. Why?

Summary: