Guest post: Reviews by Kathleen


Please welcome Kathleen, from the wonderful blog Princess of Taylor, back into the guest post fold! I’m very thankful to the guest bloggers who volunteer their time and expertise so I can take a quick breather. If you’re interested in writing a guest post please email me or click the “contact” link near the top of the blog. On to the guest post…

Hello again, everyone. I, like the rest of you, have been having absolute fits over all of Anthro’s new arrivals. I was pleasantly surprised at the number of new arrivals already in my store, but much to my dismay, they did not have the Two Paths Trench ($188) which my Husband has actually given me flat out permission to purchase!

I asked my SA who told me that their shipment came in today and 14 boxes were missing! Hopefully they find the boxes and even more of the new arrivals (in my sizes) are inside!


Fragrant Valley Dress ($188), size 12 – I knew I was going to be in big trouble when I saw this dress online. It is so unbelievably pretty. I don’t really have anywhere to wear it per se, but who cares! I grabbed a 12, but I would size down to a 10 to buy this dress. The bow in the back is sweet without being too large or obtrusive and the pattern/cut of the dress are just to die for! And did I mention it has pockets! *swoons* This is on my wishlist.


State Fair Dress ($138), size 12 – I needed a 12 in this dress and even that fit me a little weird in places. My hips needed a 12 but my bust probably could have done fine with a 10 (or even an 8). I also felt like the waist was a little off in its positioning. The dress is really pretty in person and is a good length. The buttons down the front are not functional – there is a side zip (I did have some issues getting into this dress, but that is probably a me thing and not a dress thing!) I’ll pass on this one. Roxy did her review of this dress here.


Vittorio Epaulette Tank ($118), size 10 – there are two very important details about this shirt that I did not notice looking at the picture online: 1) the entire shoulder is sparkles and sequins and 2) the empire band around the waist is uneven (i.e. about 1.5 inches thick on the zipper side and then expanding to more than 2.5 inches thick on the opposite side). Personally I can’t do an empire waist thicker than 1.5 inches so while one side of the blouse looks fine, the other side makes me look lumpy and bumpy. I did really like the pattern of this top in person and I imagine it would be really pretty with some white pants or even under a dark suit. The length is on the shorter side, but I liked given the style of the blouse. You couldn’t tuck it in, but it extended a few inches below the waistband of my low-rise pants.


Followspot Tank ($98), size 10 – can everyone just take a moment and collectively weep me as I mourn the loss of this shirt. Online it is absolutely stunning. In person, it is really pretty. The colors are vibrant and the material is glorious. First sign that something was amiss: it took me three tries to get this top over my head. And when I did get it on – OH THE HORROR! This top is everything that makes me look horrible in clothes in one garment: no defined waist, ruffles pooling at my hips (largest point) and even the length is a nightmare. The ruffles are actually in two rows down the front, starting in the center and going outwards. Totally unflattering on me! I suppose I should thank Anthropologie because I totally would have bought this top had it looked even remotely decent on me. I think it is for the super slender ladies only unfortunately.


Magnified Geranium Blouse ($98), size 10 – when I first saw this top, I assumed it would be sheer. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw it in person – it’s not. This top would be totally work appropriate tucked into a skirt or pants and without a cardigan on top. The colors are very soft and muted: orange, sage, and a dark taupe. The button detailing at the collar is cute and the armholes gave me enough coverage. This is definitely something I’d consider, especially if it went on sale. I don’t think I love it $100 though.


So did I buy anything? Tee hee – of course. I got the Skybound Button-Up ($88), size Medium. The buttons are very pretty (like little pearls) and the shirt buttoned perfectly across my chest and was long enough (that never happens!) I think I’m only going to keep it if I get a PA because it is definitely quirky (perhaps too quirky for boring old me). Any ideas on how to style this thing?

I plan on ordering the Two Paths Trench ($188, see Rosa’s fantastic review here) (and the Drifting by Dress ($168) and Tonal Gingham Dress ($138)) this weekend. Look for reviews of those things on my blog in the next few weeks!

16 Comments

  1. February 26, 2010 / 4:33 pm

    thanks for the reviews! love the fragrant valley dress and the geranium blouse on you. And those birds! Quirky, but totally fun! You've GOT to keep it! 🙂

  2. February 26, 2010 / 4:44 pm

    great reviews!!I love what you chose to purchase- I think it was the best of the bunch! I didn't see the fit issues in the dresses reflected in the pics, I think they look nice :)you are a brave woman, posting the pic of the Followspot Tank- that one will obviously do NO favors to anyone with hips. Remind me to stay FAAAR away!

  3. February 26, 2010 / 5:49 pm

    Not too quirky! Your new shirt is adorable on you! Love the FV dress and Magnified Geranium blouse on you – they look great!

  4. Anonymous
    February 26, 2010 / 6:38 pm

    Fragrant Valley dress is at the top is my list for a wedding I have in May.

  5. February 26, 2010 / 8:06 pm

    Thank you for the reviews. The Fragrant Valley dress is so pretty on you. This one is at the top of my wish list too but it's so pricey and I don't have an occasion to wear it to 🙁

  6. February 26, 2010 / 8:07 pm

    Hi! I bought the skybound shirt too (which I totally love) but was also looking for a way to style it. The other day my Anthropologie had it under the chiffonade top in pink with some trousers and it looked adorable. I'll be picking up that top soon since it looked so cute with that shirt and will also be perfect on its own for spring and summer. I'm also wearing the skybound shirt with that dark denim pencil skirt that had the ruffle around the bottom sides and back (name? Dec. catalog?), the three-beat belt, and orange Frye t-strap wedges from ages ago.Hope that helps- definitely keep the shirt!Becca

  7. February 26, 2010 / 9:09 pm

    Kathleen – What if you wore a belt with the Vittorio Epaulette Tank to cover up the asymmetrical waistband? I'm not sure if you liked it enough to do that but just a thought. As for the Followspot Tank, just wow! It seriously makes you look like you are standing in a funhouse mirror! SIDEWAYS: Normal Kathleen. FRONT: Funhouse Kathleen. Too weird. I just want you to know that even though you talk about your hips being big, they NEVER actually look like that top made them look! Everything else looks great one you; thank you for the reviews!

  8. Denise
    February 26, 2010 / 9:34 pm

    Thank you for the great reviews! I loved the "Fragrant Valley" dress on you. You have nice arms and they look great in it! Also, the length is perfect. I did not think you were the same person wearing that hideous "Followspot" tank. I had to scroll up and back to make sure that it was you. Crazy how terrible that shirt is. Thank you for sparing others the unnecessary trauma of trying it on. I loved the "Magnified Geranium" blouse on you. The colors are nice and the proportions of it really look good on you!Happy on-line shopping this weekend!!

  9. February 26, 2010 / 9:34 pm

    Hahah thanks Leslie, your post really just made me LOL. I know, right! I always say I have big hips but MAN I knew they weren't THAT big!I just ordered the Drifting by Dress – I figure if that doesn't work, I'm going back for the Fragrant Valley (and I might go back anyway – it really is divine!)

  10. February 26, 2010 / 9:34 pm

    Thanks for the reviews! The Geranium top looks amazing on you, I'm surprised that didn't find it's way home with you!

  11. February 26, 2010 / 9:36 pm

    Thanks everyone for the comments! Of course now I want to go back and buy more!And thanks for the tips, Emmylou. I just need to be more adventurous, I think! I'm such a pattern wuss!

  12. February 27, 2010 / 12:35 am

    Great reviews! Thanks! Agree about Followspot Tank – that just should never have been made. Who the heck are hip ruffles going to flatter??

  13. Anonymous
    February 27, 2010 / 4:59 am

    what a difference a shirt makes! i, like everyone else, didn't think it was you in that picture either. it's crazy how unflattering that top is, despite your amazing figure. everything else looked fantastic, and i really like the shirt you walked away with.

  14. February 28, 2010 / 3:07 pm

    Kathleen: Magnified Geranium comes in numeric sizes not alpha. I tried it on yesterday and the fit is great and the colors are nice for now, spring, summer as well. My only comment is that I tried on my usual size 6 and think that for busty ladies they will need to size up. It fit me perfectly. The next size up would unfortunately reveal too much in the front.

  15. February 28, 2010 / 4:56 pm

    Bronzi – you're right. Sorry about that everyone! I tried on a size 10 in the Geranium Blouse. Whoops!Re: sizing up – that probably makes sense for busty ladies since the 10 fit me perfectly at the bust (and typically a 10 would have been a bit baggy – I needed the 10 for my hips)

  16. March 1, 2010 / 3:28 am

    The magnified geranium blouse looks amazing on you!!


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