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Evans Up Their Game!

24 Mar

When it comes to shopping, I am at that ‘inbetweeny’ size where I can still find what I want on the high street and online without relying on plus size lines. I have always been grateful for this, and will usually turn to stores such as Evans for things like wide calf boots and jeans. This means that when I was recently given the chance to select ten items from Evans, I panicked and fretted that I would struggle to find anything at all that I would like and want to wear.

I needn’t have worried.

As I am London based, I visited the Marble Arch store and felt welcomed from the moment I walked in. The store opened recently, and is large, spacious and well laid out, with plenty of staff around. I explained who I was to the manager, and she left me to browse, telling me to ask for help should I need any.

In no time at all I had around ten items in my arms, and I headed for the changing rooms. I went for a size 18 in everything, and I’m pleased to say that I was spot on or had to size down in most cases. Below are some photos of my haul, as well as the links to them on the website.

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This dress blew me away! I actually picked it up on a whim, thinking it was quite frumpy but still appealing. In the end, I loved it so much I wore it to the press event that I attended later that day!
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You can read all about that by clicking here.

I thought that this dipped hem dress was the perfect mix of smart and casual, and could easily be dresses up or down. I rather liked it with a black bolero, click here for a similar one.

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I also liked how it looked with a denim jacket, which fit perfectly AND did up over my boobs in a size 14!

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I paired these looks with these fab shoes – oh so comfy with the chunky heel, and oh so George with the t-bar strap!  I teamed the whole look with these gorgeous bracelets that matched the colours in the dress perfectly.

The next items that I had to have were ones that I have tried before – this tunic and these leather look leggings from the awesome Scarlett&Jo.

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When I was shown the leggings by the awesome Lucy of Scarlett&Jo, I admitted that they were really not my style. I am a sucker for a knee length dress and a bare leg, and so I didn’t see the need for the leggings… until I tried them on and fell a little bit on love!

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It’s a slightly edgier look that I am used too, but I love that I have the option, and I have always been curious about pleather leggings!

I of course had to try some jeans from Evans, and my huge bottom and I are rather fond of a high waisted (read “arse accommodating”) pair of jeans. This khaki pair looked perfect!

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The jeans were a fab length on me, and actually quite flattering, despite the colour being lighter than I am used too. I adore skinny jeans, and my only gripe with these was the usual…

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The gape slightly at the waist. It’s nothing that a belt won’t fix, and it didn’t put me off them in any way.

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This super cute heart print cardigan looked perfect with the jeans, and was a perfect snuggly fit in a 16. I was torn between that and the button up version, but in the end I favoured the longer cut.

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With all this snow and general shit weather we’ve had recently, I was eternally grateful that item number ten was this size 14 jacket. It fits like a dream, even with a hoodie and t shirt underneath, it’s a fab length, lightweight and warm.

As ever, I rocked a Freya Deco underneath my items 🙂

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There were several other items that I toyed with getting, and it was a hard job for me to whittle my items down to ten. I wanted to go buck wild on the jewellery as I am like a magpie around beautiful shinies. The coral Scarlett&Jo tunic was something I found hard to walk away from. And after seeing the gorgeous Nicolette Mason in this I was sorely tempted to grab one for myself…

However, I am happy with my decisions and I am seriously impressed with Evans and their in-house brands. I have never ever been able to walk into any shop and have that much success. Pretty much everything I brought into the changing room fit perfectly, which shows excellent sizing consistency (and also excellent service from the lady who worked in there and brought me the few extra sizes that I needed!) and I managed to identify a huge number of items that I wanted within minutes of entering the store. Granted, these items were gifted to me by way of thanks for being involved in the forthcoming Clements&Ribiero range, but I think you’ll agree that my hoard is a good one and my decision to snag them has nothing to do with the fact that they were free.

Have you found anything amazing in Evans recently? What are your favourites from my recent new wardrobe additions?

They Like Big Butts They’re Called P-Z-I!

30 Jun

Shopping on the high street is rarely an enjoyable or happy experience for me. I have to find things that cover my legs to the knee, cover my arms or can be worn with a cardi, are not too high-necked, fit around my boobs and fit over my bum. It is little wonder that I am addicted to shopping online at specialist stores.

One major issue I have is finding jeans. Jeggings are all very well and I own a fair few pairs from Evans as I find their size 16 ones fit me perfectly, but they are not always ideal and I often have to re adjust them to stop them slipping down and off my plump rump. It was after a frustrating shopping trip that I googled ‘jeans for big bottoms’ and came across PZI Jeans. It took me a while to work out my size but after watching a few videos and reading a few reviews I went for a size 16 and ordered two pairs. The cost of them and the shipping is not cheap, but I was desperate for something that didn’t look like this:

And so my first two pairs turned up. A snug fit but wow, they went over my bottom and I didn’t need a belt!!! I then went onto order 3 more pairs, all in a 16 and couldn’t have been happier! One pair was so long that I decided to turn them into some cropped jeans which worked well. As I have lost a bit of weight I have found some styles to be quite forgiving and need a belt but they are still the best jeans ever, the Bravissimo of bums, I love PZI!
They are not cheap and ordering online is always a risk but when you find the right size it is so worth it! Check out their Facebook page for deals and advice and give them a go!

I would highly recommend checking out Sophia’s review of them as she is also a convert since I introduced her to them (and she has a great bum!)
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