It’s that weird in-between temperature in NYC where my building hasn’t quite turned on the heat yet, so I’m ready to snuggle up in warmth. Inside, reviews of some of Anthropologie’s Fall 2015 sweater skirts, sweaters and a sweater dress worth delighting over…
Note: For reference I am currently sitting at 34-29-38, size 6/M in tops & sweaters, 6 in dresses and 29/30 or 8 in pants and skirts, 32DD. I am 5’8″.
Fall means Deletta time for me, time that is to look at their newest crop of ruched tops. Here we have the Pleated Empire Tee ($58), which is more towards the warm kelly green than the product shots made me realize until I saw it in real life.
This rayon-spandex-jersey isn’t getting great reviews online, and I can’t even say I disagree with any of the opinions there, yet I still like this top. I think mostly because it pairs so well with the Bordered Jacquard Sweater Skirt ($118) which I’ll review just below, and even better tucked in with a belt. Here’s a sleeker angle of the full look…
I’m in a medium here, my usual size in tops. It’s barely containing my bust but it isn’t showing too much either. The sleeves are also tighter than usual. The empire bust detail is very cute. The pleated curtains below aren’t doing a thing to define my shape but hey, at least I can sneak a big lunch if I want to while wearing this top, right? The overall length is good, hitting even with my wrists across the low hip.
It’s one of those inexplicable things, I shouldn’t like this top as much as I do. I bought it!
One part your favorite rug, one part fun sweater pencil skirt adds up to Moth’s Bordered Jacquard Sweater Skirt ($118). The skirt has a beautiful patterned elastic waistband, a lovely pattern with texture to it (the bud of the flowers are blue, bumpy raised yarn) and a slight pencil shape with an inverted-v vent in the back. The online product shots make the skirt look like a vibrant mix of kelly green and cobalt blue but in real life the colors are much more subdued — I was a little bummed out by that.
The skirt isn’t pure wool, rather it’s a mix of spandexy knits and natural fibers that give it some stretch. It hits just above the knee and doesn’t slide up too much, though a slip underneath always helps! In sweater skirts I normally take a large but this one worked nicely in a medium — the waist in particular is very roomy.
I love all the colors in this skirt, even if they aren’t as vivid as I’d hoped. I’m in love with all the garnet out there this fall and my closet is in danger of becoming a garnet-black-grey-white only collection, so this skirt becomes a nice counterbalance to all of that. Being a sweater skirt it’s not exactly structured but the shape works fine on me. It’s those super-tapered pencils that tend to give me issues; this one has more breathing room below the thighs. That small vent in back helps too.
I decided this skirt was lovely enough to come home with me to make a complete outfit with the top above. I plan to tuck the top in and belt it with a wide cognac leather belt. The skirt also looks great with the black Sanna Blouse ($98, review) as shown in Anthro’s online product shot. You’ll also see it with a few more sweaters below.
This wine color of the Laced Funnelneck Pullover ($148) curiously isn’t showing up online at the moment, though I’m sure it will come. The first thing I noticed about this sweater is that it’s soft — a mix of cotton, nylon and cashmere. It’s long, hitting below the hip and has a slightly flared shape to it. The sleeves are bell sleeves, though not too dramatically so.
I am my usual medium here which was roomy but felt better on than a small. This is a top where if you have any kind of muscle or curve to you, it’s a tough sell. Even the model in the moss version online, who is clearly teeny tiny, is having a hard time with it. If you have a body like the model with the ivory version on, then you’re all set.
For me, while I like the idea of the lacework sleeves and bell shape, it’s not very flattering on. A pass for me, back to the rack.
Taking the idea of the bell sweater one step further is the Ribbed Bell Sleeve Pullover ($128), which is huge! I should have grabbed a small as this brand does tend to run big, but above I’m swimming in the medium. This sweater has a lot going on. Cowl neck. Ribbed halfway down on both body and sleeves. Bell shape. It almost works. If instead of a bell shape it were body-skimming as it appears to be on Anthro’s site, I’d love it. Here it’s more a tent than anything.
The material is also atrocious. It’s acrylic. Ironically while I don’t itch with the natural fibers that most people do, cheap acrylic is killer for me. I could not wait to take this off and relieve the major itch temptation I was experiencing! Things I do like about this sweater: the overall length, the idea of a half-knit/half-ribbed texture, the long sleeves. Things I do not like: everything else, including the duller-in-real-life color.
Do better, Anthropologie. Pass.
At least I knew to expect the Apennine Pullover ($298) to run large, based on its product shot. This is one item that does translate accurately from the website to real life in terms of color, size and shape. It’s a generously oversized sweater with dropped shoulders and a boxy shape. It’s a beautiful thick knit with a fun pattern. The material is a mix of natural fibers but mostly synthetics — it doesn’t itch though.
I am in a 2 here, which is my usual size medium, but I definitely should have gone for a small. There’s oversized and then there’s just plain ridiculous! The sleeves in the 2 are also way too long…I have one cuffed as you can see in the photos. I think the small would be alright. To me the sleeves look bell-shaped online but I found them to be straight in real life.
This sweater would look very cute with a mini skirt and chunky tights. A possibility if a promo comes up, I’d love to wear it après-ski. For now, wishlisted!
Alright, now we’re getting to the good stuff in this reviews set! I love, love, luh-love snap-neck collars! Can’t explain why, maybe it’s something when I was a kid, but always have and always will. So of course I was destined to like the Snap-Neck Pullover ($68) unless it was gawd-awful terrible, which thankfully it is not. It’s pretty fab actually.
This top is (sigh) rayon, spandex and poly. It’s thin but not sheer and has a body-skimming shape with just a hint of give. It’s wonderfully long with sleeves to match. I tried on the grey-motif version which is a heathered grey. I loved it! I like all of the colors. And I want more — a peach would be wonderful, a pink too, and maybe a teal while I’m dreaming?
I’m in a medium here, but I have to say that I’ve already worn this top a few times since I bought it and annoyingly the bottom of the sleeve is loosening up around my wrists. It’s really weird, and I’m not loving it. That’s why I knocked one star off. I’m not sure whether to exchange the top for a small or wash it and see what happens.
So, clearly I bought this top. On to the skirt I’m wearing with it…
I know there was a lot of hoopla in the community over the Tearoom Pencil Skirt ($88, review), but to me the similar Acanthe Skirt ($98) above comes out on top of that battle, easily! This long pencil skirt has some nice structure to it and a lean, lengthening and slimming shape. There is a front vent that can be a little tricky when sitting — I usually turn it to the side to fix this. Even though the pattern seams are mismatched at the sides, they are placed well enough that the mismatch looks good. Well done, Anthropologie!
What’s nice about this skirt is that unlike most of Anthro’s other sweater skirts this fall, this one only has spandex in the lining. (Yes, it’s lined!) The skirt itself is polyester, cotton and rayon. The cotton gives the skirt a bit of give though not so much that it’d stretch out by a full size as you wear it, another problem with those other skirts.
I’m in a large here, my usual size in sweater skirts. This one has a nice, body-skimming shape to it and thanks to the lining it doesn’t slide around on me.
Like the Bordered Jacquard Sweater Skirt ($118) reviewed higher up in this post, I decided to bring this one home with me along with the top I’ve paired with it here for a fun fall/winter work outfit.
Rounding out this reviews set is Maeve’s pretty Eira Sweater Dress ($158). This sweater dress has a u-scoop neckline and a fit-and-flare shape. It’s quite long, hitting below the knee and has bracelet-length sleeves. Both sides have a medallion pattern.
The dress is all synthetics; poly, spandex, nylon etc. The lining is also spandex (why??). It feels nice and sleek on I have to say. I’m my usual medium here which was pleasantly roomy. I love how the dress moved as I took it for a stroll around the fitting room area. It’s a little heavy on but not droopy.
I think this could be a lovely winter staple. Hmm, ideas, wishlisted…
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