Zap into Zara! (Zara)

Member Name: AprilMay

Product:	Zara
Date:	13/02/09 (117 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nice range, good basics, not too expensive.

Disadvantages: Sizing is inconsistent.

Zara is a major high street fashion chain, headquartered in Spain. The target market for the women's clothes range is probably women in their early twenties to mid to late thirties, although obviously there are many basic items that would suit both younger and older women. Also, in recent years the store has moved away from only having a more conservative, officey range of clothes and now many stores also have a section of much younger or funkier streetwear type clothes.

The basics at Zara are great, for example the lycra singlets are absolutely fantastic, feel really silky and comfortable on, and last well. I have also had several great basic cardigans and jerseys from Zara that help patch up holes in your wardrobe without being expensive. The only items that I have been really unsatisfied with are their jeans. I bought a pair of denim jeans that felt really quite stiff and heavy in the shop but after an hour of wear they began to soften and stretch alarmingly. In the end I could only wear them once or twice before they would have stretched so much that they didn't fit anymore and I'd have to wash them again and they would shrink back to an appropriate size. They also wore out well within 6 months, which I did not think was acceptable for jeans.

I like to visit Zara stores regularly as well, for items outside of the plain basics because along side the staples, they also have some more interesting or trendy sort of pieces. I have sometimes found items that are nothing like other things I've seen in stores at the time, and that suit my quirky style. Of course taking a few risks like this with their line will always mean that there will be some things that you will absolutely loathe, but it's better than being bored out of your brain, in my opinion. Fashion should be different and interesting and even if you're shopping mostly at large stores it's not an excuse to end up looking exactly the same as everyone else. Zara are good like this. They have items and separates that you can mix and match in unusual ways, some stand-out accessories (belts etc), and every now and then - as I said - a gem of a find that a casual observer would think came from a much more boutiquey sort of shop.

For example I recently bought a denim-look 80s style dress that is really loose on top and can be worn off one shoulder, and is then fitted around the bottom. Certainly not something that I'd seen in other stores and I can feel unique stepping out in it.

One complaint about Zara, especially in the UK, is that the stores often seem to be a little run-down to me or cluttered. I mean, they're still great, and you can find what you need, but when I've visited the stores in other countries they've been a lot classier looking. The Spanish zaras are often quite swanky indeed!

My other complaint is the sizing. I find that although I am usually a medium in the tops, I can be anything from a small to a large in the dresses, depending on the style, and don't even get me started on the pants! I am not overly large, being probably between a size 10 and 12, but at Zara sometimes even their largest size pants are just too tight for my liking. Partially it's a style preference on my part but I also know that if I can't fit comfortably into some items then there's also a hell of a lot of women in the UK who wouldn't be able to wear them at all. In my opinion they need to increase their size range, at the VERY least in the basics range.

Still if you haven't tried Zara recently, I'd say give it a go. They often have some great stuff, and even if you are on the slightly larger side, take a look because as I say the sizes do vary quite widely and in many styles you will find that they will fit you. Happy shopping!

Summary: Worth a look.