Evelyn & Arthur Offers Florida Designed Clothing On Main Street

A popular Florida women's clothing store hopes to offer shoppers designs they can't find elsewhere on Main Street.

Evelyn & Arthur held its grand opening Friday at 1480 Main St., with its owners Adrianne and Fred Weissman.

Evelyn & Arthur started on Palm Beach in 1984 when Evelyn and Arthur Lewis retired and Evelyn wanted to open up a clothing shop when her New York wardrobe didn't mesh in the Sunshine State and she couldn't find the right cut for her.

That started a private label Evelyn & Arthur clothing line that still fills the stores today, including the one on Main Street. 

Evelyn's daughter Adrianne took over the business in 2006 with her husband Fred. She didn't just take over for a family business—Adrianne followed in her mother's footsteps for a long time and was a buyer for Macy's Department Stores in New York.

“We are thrilled to be a part of the Sarasota community,” Adrianne said. “Sarasota is a place of style, class, and community. We know the women here appreciate high quality merchandise that is designed for the Florida lifestyle. We are excited to share our merchandise with them, and to become a part of the community.”

Half the store features the Evelyn and Arthur line, which Debbie Patetta, vice president of product development and information technology oversees along with Lori Rifkin at the company's headquarters in Boynton Beach. Debbie says she spends a lot of time looking and examining what today's women want in their clothes and accessories, looking for the right fit. The sizes range from 2 to 16 and its target audience are women ages 35 to 60.

The other half of the store features brands hand picked by the product development team.

The company is in transition as Adrianne is around the age that Evelyn was when she opened the store, and she wants to make sure the seams and designs are up to date and flattering to a woman's figure, Fred said.

"It has to fit, but it has to look right," Fred told Patch.

The Sarasota store is the second Evelyn & Arthur on the Gulf Coast—the other is in Bonita Springs/Estero. But Main Street wasn't the first thought when the owners eyed Sarasota.

"We started looking in St. Armands, but when we were working with Sperry Van Ness we saw this spot on Main Street," Fred said.

Mayor Suzanne Atwell welcomed the store to the neighborhood adding that stores like Evelyn & Arthur are helping Sarasota transform into a vibrant cosmopolitan city.

Evelyn & Arthur

1480 Main St.

Sarasota, Fl 34236

941-365-2210

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday

www.evelynandarthur.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evelynandarthur

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EvelynAndArthur

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/evelynandarthur/