8:42 a.m. on February 7, 2012 (EST)
I am a huge advocate of buying women's-specific apparel and gear. I don't buy men's or unisex clothing for everyday wear, so why would I buy it for outdoor activities?
At 5'4" I have no need to carry a sleeping bag built for a 6' person. Most, thought not all, of my packs are women's-specific. I also have women's snowshoes and skis in addition to all of my footwear, ski boots, etc (not an ice axe though, Pathloser). I even have a women's sleeping pad (it has a higher R value than the men's version and I'm a cold person).
Still, it all comes down to the individual and what fits her or him best.
I'll try not to repeat what's already been said, but here are a few of my personal thoughts.
I think the age of "shrink it and pink it" is well past. There is a lot of great women's and now children's outdoor apparel and gear out there.
I've had good success with women's clothing from Patagonia, The North Face, Arc'teryx, and Mountain Hardwear, among others. But different brands fit better than others. That's not necessarily a ding at a company, just an observation.
People come in different shapes and sizes. I don't think the fit issue is unique to women. I know tall women and tall/skinny men who have had to learn exactly which brands fit them best. And shorter women and men who have the same issue. Different brands will fit different people better than others. Ultimately that can be a good thing and it means if you look around you'll learn what you like best.
Try stuff on. Don't just go on reputation. You may think or hear that "Brand X is made slim" or "Brand Y is made for narrow feet" etc, but you never know till you try it on. I'd heard way back that La Sportiva shoes were built for more narrow feet and I considered myself an average to wider foot. Then I tried them and they're now my primary trail runners and mountaineering boots.
Once I find brands that fit me well I tend to stick with them.
People have different ideas of what fits well. I am not a tall person, but I loathe sleeves that shrink up at all. Seriously, if there's a gap after my wrist I hate that. I'd rather have an extra inch of sleeve. Then someone said to me last month how they did not like a major brand I did because they thought the sleeves were a little too long (and we're about the same height/size). So, get what you like.
Also, consider how you'll be using pieces. Will you need to layer under or over? Wear a harness? Many brands make clothing with specific activities in mind (skiing, climbing, running etc), so there may be reasons for a piece to fit a certain way.
Ask questions about what makes a piece of gear women's specific.
I did that just a few days ago. I needed new goggles and went into the ski shop to see what they had. There were a bunch of frames, with some men's/unisex and some women's specific ones. You could get the same lenses in either frame though. In this case I went for the men's. The frame was a wider size I preferred for more peripheral vision, plus, most important here, I have a larger head so it fit better. So in this case I got the unisex, though many women would have preferred the slightly smaller frames and it's good they have that option. Know what's unique about you.
As for eVent, it is good stuff. I have had a Rab and a Westcomb shell with it. However, both jackets were unisex and I do not like the fit so much. So, despite the great shell material I'm looking for a new women's hard shell, primarily due to the fit issue.
Lastly, everyone's an individual, so buy the item that fits you best and meets your needs and preferences. Go to stores and try stuff on from different brands and in different sizes. Then support those stories and brands that serve you well.
Hope that helps.