The photo above is an apt visual description of the weather in NYC this past weekend. It delayed and eventually canceled a planned trip to SXSW and has turned my hair into a crazy, tendrilled mess. Even my iPhone was feeling mopey given its random music choices. It was perfect shopping weather though — none of the stores were very crowded because everyone wanted to stay in. Great time for reviewing.
I’ve been waiting what seems like forever for the Around the World Dress ($168) to be out on the rack. My friend who works at one of the local Anthros told me they just took this one back out of the back, cough cough wink wink. It’s a January release so could it be going on sale tomorrow? Or is it just getting a more prominent placement now that spring is nearly upon us?
This Floreat frock is pretty awesome. I tried on my normal size 8 and had no problem zipping it up. The linen is nice and sturdy and this dress is pretty supportive. The bust area is a bit see-through so pale blue bras are not recommended. I would have liked this dress better if the skirt were steamed. What a rumpled mess. No matter though — this one has made the wishlist.
Moulinette Soeurs, I give up. I am waving the sizing consistency white flag. Please explain to me why an 8 was too tight in the Traversing Dress ($148, review here) yet a 6 in the Arribada Current Dress ($138, above) was much too loose. I guess you inherited whatever sizing issues Maeve was having last season. Frustrating. I would have to size down to a 4 to buy the Arribada.
It’s clear that deep v’s are the cut du jour at Anthropologie. Done correctly this cut is so flattering but it’s hard to make the same tailoring work for a B cup and a D cup. The top was too big in the 6 for me so it was revealing too much for day. This dress is really pretty though. I love sea turtles (mate) and the color is beautiful. Not sure I’d get much use out of this dress in NYC. Seems much more west-coast or south oriented. Wishlisted for sale time.
I’m sure you’ve seen the Drifting By Dress ($168) on a zillion blogs by now. I was hoping the opportunity to try it on would help me like this one better — I feel nuts that I’m not feeling it. I like that this dress has a younger style to it but with a better length than department store frocks. I tried on a size 8 which is what I normally wear in Burlapp and one size up from my true size.
While beautiful on I have to say my mind isn’t really changed. I’m thoroughly annoyed that the model shot conceals the fact that the shoulders are sheer. The look itself is kind of cool though impossible to wear a strapped bra with. That automatically disqualifies this as a full-price buy for me. I think my biggest issue with the dress is the color. I’m glad Burlapp didn’t do white because that would have looked too confectionery. But the nude tone isn’t really working for me either. Too close to my summer skin shade. Complete meh. Back to the rack, maybe right on sale.
Burlapp is also responsible for the Optical Illusion Dress ($188) you see above. The brand does party dresses very well, especially ones with huge flowers along the waistband. I grabbed my usual size 8 for this brand. This neckline is about as deep as deep vs get. I have a bra that I think would work with this dress but the one I was wearing was leaving too little to the imagination for my taste. The back is equally low-cut making it difficult to wear a bra at all.
For me, the optical illusion is inverse to how I’d want it. Instead of darker concentration at the waistline I’d like to see it down towards the hem of the dress. I actually own a dress with the same dot pattern from Express that’s from a few years ago. That gave me a good chuckle. I like this dress but the bodice keeps it from being a full-price buy for me. I understand the desire to cater to different body shapes so I won’t knock Anthro too hard here but if all their dresses become impossible to wear a bra with there will be hell. To. Pay.
I thought I was the only one who wasn't crazy about the Drifting By Dress! I'm glad to know that there are others out there. I was starting to wonder if there was something wrong with me 🙂
I don't get the appeal of the drifting by dress. It strikes me a rather bland.
I didn't fall head over heels for the Drifting By dress either-though it seems to work for a lot of people it was meh on me. the fit was bad and the color-let's just say nude/oatmeal/bland is not my color. I also tried that dress on this weekend. I did however like the fit and color of the Caballo Falls dress…much more flattering for a fair-skinned brunette, and the fit was great. I'm pining for the Fragrant Valley Dress and the Rushing Ruffles dress-both on sale, of course.
Thanks for the review of the Optical Illusion Dress, Roxy. I was considering this dress, but it will definitely be too low cut for me and my small chest. I like the color of the Arribada dress on you.
Wow, that last dress is certainly low cut. That's too bad about the Drifting By Dress, but for what it's worth, I think it looks nice on you. The color is definitely not everyone's cup of tea.I like the turtle dress, too, but something about the print is keeping me from liking it. I think it looks tad on the cartoonish/hippie/tie-dyed side.
Whew~ and I thought I was the only one not crazy about the Drifting By Dress! It may seem silly but the hassle of not being able to wear a strapped bra was a big factor for me. The color also didn't work for me. While very pretty, it doesn't easily fit into my wardrobe so it's not something I'd purchase at full price.
I'm actually with ya on the Drifting By dress. I don't find anything about it to be particularly striking – especially not the… dare I say it? I dare… boring nude color. Nude shoes are fun every now and then, but I think nude dresses make me look washed out.
Wow, I had no idea so many others were not on the Drifting By Dress party wagon! It has looked lovely on everyone I've seen it on (Kim, Tien, Kathleen are the ones I remember off the top of my head). Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone ladies!Tien – I think I love the Arribada because it reminds me of Hawaii. I saw turtles all over Kona and it's making me want to go back!!Also, apologies for the sloppiness of the writing in this post. That's what I get for writing so early in the morning I guess. I am cleaning it up now.
I also don't love the drifting by dress. While it's elegant and it looks lovely on the bloggers I've seen it on, I find it's a bit dull (mostly the color). The nude/pale colors are very hard to get to look good with my pale skin.
Yaayyy.. thanks Roxy for saying that about the DBD (Drifting By Dress). The minute I had it on, I didn't like it on me but I bough it anyway and just decided I do not like it and returned it yesterday. The cashier was like.. you dont like this dress? blah blah blah..This dress is sooo not my color. I feel washed out and fat in it. And seriously I saw alot of blogger had it on and I do not think it looks nice on most of them.. It looks pretty on very few people so far IMO. I am glad to know that I m not the only one who do not like this dress : )
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Typo on my last comment….I didn't think the Drifting by Dress was "all that" either. I bought it and returned it…right away..just didn't feel the OMG-ness for it.
Yet another member of the Let the Drifting by Dress drift on by club. Like other's comments the color just wouldn't work for my coloring. Also I'm not a fan of the sheer shoulders, I frequently go braless in the summer but the fabric of this dress definately wouldn't enable me to do so.I did like the first strapless dress on you Roxy…with some much needed steaming of course.sugarandspiceandnice.blogspot.com
Thanks Roxy, for a refreshing review. I have yet to see the Drifting By Dress look spectacular on anyone. Sorry if I offend. It makes everyone look washed out. But my motto always is, if YOU think you look good in something, and it makes YOU feel good, then by all means wear it! I live by that. ~~ Sandra
I'm not crazy about the Drifting by Dress either, on the rack or on me, but I do think it actually looks good on you in the pics. I think it looks better if you have the chest to add more curves to the top, on my B cups the top became a squat flat square & the horizontal ruffles only made it worse.
Joining the line of people not feeling the Drifting By Dress. I thought the model shot was beautiful and a couple of bloggers look great in it, but in person the color is SO blech. I can't get over the impression that the dress looks *dirty* every time I see it, even though I like the nude trend.I must have tried the thing on in three different stores and in two different sizes hoping to rekindle the magic of first seeing it on the site but I get nothing. Finally tried it on for my boyfriend in a last ditch effort and he said the exact thing I was thinking: "In another color, yes. But otherwise it's not impressive." Throwing in the towel on this one.
Also forgot to add:Va-va-voom on the Optical Illusions Dress! It is a bit revealing but I could only wish to have your problems with deep v-necks. The Around the World Dress is my favorite of this review round on you.
I actually bought the Around the World dress for my birthday. I grabbed it up really quickly at the Soho store. I posted pics of it on my blog.I love the dress … the only disappointment was that the second time I wore it the strap on one side ripped from the clasp [I like the dress better with the attachable straps since I'm heavier on top]. I'll eventually get around to sewing it back together … or buying some clear straps from the Rockefeller H&M.
There is a definite faction who are so-so about the Drifting By Dress. I just know it's not going to work for me and that takes out some of the appeal, but that doesn't take away from the fact that it looks gorgeous on some people (i.e. Kim – particularly the way she styled it for her birthday).As for the reviews, I suddenly really like the Around the World Dress! I'd never really noticed it before but now I'm seeing how great it fits your shape (which is not a million miles from mine) I think I'll have to keep an eye out!
I have to say that I originally liked the Drifting by Dress on the model and online, but once I had the chance to try it on in store it was just dreary looking. The color was so drab and not quite the same as it looks online. I chose the Caballo dress instead. The colors are just beautiful and radiant!
Thanks for the review Roxy!Re: Drifting By DressI agree it's not as impressive in real life! I was hoping I would fall in love with it, but seeing it in real life, I really didn't think it was worth the price. I was also turned off by the sheer shoulder. The major problem I guess was the color. It didn't do anything!!!
I am one more person who always wondered what the big deal was regarding the Drifting by Dress. And I just wanted to mention that this weekend I asked to try on the Around the World dress as well at my local Anthro (I hadn't tried it yet, and couldn't see it on the floor) and they had to get my size from the back as well! Hmmmm……. (fingers crossed for a sale)
i don't like the drifting by dress for me either, too nude in color, and the sheer shoulders are no good.
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who the Drifting By Dress didn't work for! The nude color did not go with my skin tone at all. Don't get me wrong, the dress itself was great, just not the color. I had the same problem with the Optical Illusion Dress. It was too low cut in the back and you couldn't miss seeing my bra. I also thought all of the black color/material going on in the middle made me look wider.youmeandanthropologie.blogspot.com
I like the Drifting by Dress on Kim and Tien and others–not to mention the lovely Boden model wearing it in the catalog–but it's definitely one of those dresses I like for others but not for myself. With Anthro dresses, I'm more into the one-of-a-kind prints or colors.Like the Wright dress–I hope that goes on sale tomorrow!
oh wow glad to know that I'm not the only one who wasn't feeling the Drifting by dress, I got to try it last weekend when I drove a couple of hours to Anthro to return some things, I wasn't crazy about it at all. On the other hand I'm dying for the Two paths trench it took a lot of willpower not to take it with me, although I think I will order it tomorrow after I see what's on sale.
If everyone had the same taste the world would be very bland 🙂
roxy, agree also with you about the d by d dress . i hate the sheer top, and think the silk would snag very easily. that being said, i think it would look nice on an olive or darker tone skin.
I really loved the dress with the turtles, but my boyfriend was at Anthro with me and thought the turtles were a little weird. I didn't even try it on, and I regret that! The green color is just beautiful.
I totally agree with you on the drifting by dress. I was in California last week and saw it and thought I would give it a chance because everyone was in love with it. Although I liked it the sheer top put it automatically on my waiting for sale list. Even then I am not sure if I would pick it up on sale. With all the rave reviews from everyone else I sort of doubt it will make it there anyway.
i wasn't excited about the drifiting by dress until i kept seeing it on everyone. everyone i've seen in it (including you) looks great. but i'm just seeing it online. even though i can't wait to see it in person, i anticipate color failure.the first dress looks wrinkled on the rack and on every person i've seen wearing it in public. that's a dealbreaker for me.i LOVE turtles, but i remember a similar top (maybe?) a few years ago and no no no. it's too beachy for anthro. very odd.i personally think that last dress is amazing, especially on you. it's a shame it's so low cut. :(no dress compares to the wright dress! i can't wait to get my hands on one … come on, sale.
i tried on the drifting by dress after seeing it on Kim from Anthroholic. it's really cute but i agree with you, too close to my skin tone.
Add me to the list of people who aren't in love with the Drifting By Dress. I thought it looked STUNNING on Tien, even stunning enough to make me briefly consider it, but I knew in my heart that it would not work with my body type and coloring. I am very pale with larger upper arms/shoulders, and the sheerness as well as structure of the neckline would have been very unflattering for me. I think this dress works better for people with thinner, more defined arms like Kim. I love the sweet, cupcakey style, but I prefer brighter colors with a different shape up top. I am still in love with the Around the World dress from afar, but like all strapless dresses it just didn't work for me. I am quite thin, but I felt that it made me look heavy, never a good thing. Additionally, I found it to run a little big, and I would be fearing wardrobe malfunctions even in the 0. I'll admire it from a distance, though!
Wow…a big YIKES is the appropriate word. I'm sorry but you looks preggers in those outfits. I would size up!
Anon, your tact skills are amazing. The last dress I can see it a little bit, but the rest? How rude.
I love the turquoise dress on you. Definitely should be on your wishlist!Anyway, Roxy, I started a blog because I am moving to China, but I've also put some recent Anthro purchases and reviews on there if you want to check it out! Here is a link if you are interested: http://notjustanotherblondeinbeijing.blogspot.com…
Just stating the obvious roxy. You keep trying on things that are a size 8 but clearly you need to size up to a size 12 or 14. I would have a better pictures of how items fit if you would try on the correct size. I do appreciate your blog though
Your attempts to make me feel uncomfortable are pathetic. Your commentary is unwelcome here.
Oh and PS Anon you're a very poor representative of your employer Oak Hill Capital Partners. I'd hate to have to contact them directly to let them know the shit you're spewing around blogs on the Internet. Get a life.
Wow, this is super late, but I wanted to see your review of the Drifting By Dress again Roxy (which I think you look very nice in, but yes, Anthro should have reintroduced it in another color that was more exciting than black!), and I was reading all the comments and laughing at everyone taking unexpected solidarity in DBD-hate, when I ran across Anon's comments at the end. What a jerk. I would love to see how dresses you think fit you look in a mirror-reflected-cell-phone picture in one of Anthropologie's horribly lit dressing room environments. I think you have a very good sense of what fits you Roxy and that you look great 🙂
Thanks goldenmeans! And don't even worry about, some Anon spewing bullshit is hardly worth getting concerned over. What's really lame is I IP blocked that commenter and these days they use a proxy so I won't know they're here. Except I can still tell when they stalk the blog. Sigh. *eye roll*