Reviews: Boxy tops and wild prints


There are plenty of beautiful new arrivals on Anthropologie’s site today. Head on over to Anthroholic to check out Kim’s roundup. I am in love with several of the new items…darn you Anthropologie!

This reviews roundup is another top-oriented one. I’ve got dresses and cardigans on tap so bear with me. I can’t help it. Tops always grab my eye first. I’ve noticed a trend of boxy tops this year at Anthro. It’s odd and I struggle to style them correctly. Take the Coil Flower Tank ($58, review here) for instance. Nice top but draws attention to my hips. How to style it, how to style it. Rosa came up with a fabulous idea (sigh, I just adore her look!). The shape overall though is trouble for my curves.


I received a request to try on Tiny’s Kosi Tank ($88) so I gave it a go. The colors are right in my palette so I was hopeful but the shape was not doing me any favors. I love the catalogue shot (shown at the top of this post) with the tank over a full skirt and belted. I think that styled this way the top would work well. The material is nice and soft.

I grabbed my usual size medium. Comfortable fit. I think the combination of thick vertical stripes and slightly flyaway hips are what did me in here. Not to mention the lovely clashing shorts (which will continue throughout this post). The top has nice details around the bust which I think would look nice against a smaller chest. It still worked OK for me but I try to stay away from too much embellishment up there. Unless it’s rosettes of course. Will reconsider upon sale, but pass for now.


C. Keer’s Origami Buds Top ($68) comes in ivory or a nice medium green. It’s the color of spring grass. I really enjoy the folded flowers around the square neck. It reminds me of Yoana Baraschi’s tops. The thick straps get the thumbs up from me too.

The small was a loose fit but I would not size down. I like how the back pleats start about 1/3 of the way down. It’s a little more streamlined that way. Shapewise this top isn’t doing anything for me but I suppose it’s not really meant to. Come the warmest months when the last thing you want is a shirt stuck to you this would be a good option. Wishlisted.


Such a cool neckline on Deletta’s Carefully Cultivated Tank ($68). It’s a mix of square beads, round beads and fabric-covered beads between what looks like an arroyo of fabric. It comes in a rich purple or the neutral motif I tried on. The neckline does cut in a bit but I was still able to hide my bra.

I tried on a medium but it was far too large so I sized down to my usual small in this brand. I am not loving the hem which once again points straight to mah hips. And I’m not really into the idea of tucking this into a skirt since it would hide the gorgeous flower pattern at the bottom. So, sigh, I’m probably going to have to pass on this one. But I would recommend it anyway.



Rounding out the boxy portion of this review is We Love Vera’s Fragrant Fields Scoopneck ($78). I swear that as a kid I owned a shirt with this exact print on it. I remember loving it to pieces (literally) and so this top was a winner before I even put it on.

I mostly loved it. The neckline is a beautiful weave and the print is just so happy. I tried on a medium but would need to size up to a large to buy it. It was pulling too much across my hips for comfort. I think this top would look great over the Sailing Hobbyist Skirt ($88, review here). In Mexico. Wishlisted!!


Sometimes items I really want to try never make it in-store so I was thrilled to see the Wild Imagination Tank ($68) by Rebekah Maysles at the Chelsea Market Anthropologie. It comes in two beautiful prints and I tried on both. The blue motif is above and the yellow (really Anthro? yellow?) is below.


I tried the blue in a medium and the yellow in a small. The small was definitely too tight and the blue was bordering on it. I’d try a large before settling on which size to get. The neckline adornment looks a bit odd in real life. Almost like toilet paper stuck to the top. Some pressing would be in order to get it to sit right.

The tops are both soft and also nice and long. Those two traits alone are enough to make them a winner for me. Wishlisted!!

14 Comments

  1. May 12, 2010 / 11:10 pm

    Roxy: I bought the Wild Imagination Tank in the blue motif and wore it last week to the oven called south Fl. Got many compliments. Sizing must be funny since the S fit me perfectly as a 34B. We are nearly the same measurements otherwise. I may get the yellow motif if it makes it to sale. I've wishlisted it to watch.Was looking for a review on those shorts, which were Anthro right?

  2. May 12, 2010 / 11:20 pm

    Hmm Bronzi, perhaps my shape is just odd? I don't like things to sit too closely to my body so maybe that's why I'm erring towards the large. I'm not surprised you got compliments though as I'm sure you looked great!The shorts are indeed from Anthro. My review is here.

  3. May 13, 2010 / 1:08 am

    Roxy: oh, I wasn't saying that at all. Just wondering if there were some production issues. As a matter of fact, the top stretched out a tiny bit and my "girls" were in danger of being overly exposed. That's the problem with us less endowed girls. I happen to have narrow shoulders so maybe that was a factor. I don't like things fitting too closely usually myself. Thanks for the review on the shorts!

  4. May 13, 2010 / 1:28 am

    Roxy thanks for posting a review of the Origami Buds tank. I've been dying to see what it looks like on and there are no anthros near me, I've wishlisted it for sale.

  5. May 13, 2010 / 1:30 am

    Ana – wow. And the k/o trend continues!!Bronzi – no worries, I didn't think you were implying anything. It was just an offhand comment on my part. 🙂 Yvonne – glad I could help. 🙂

  6. May 13, 2010 / 2:22 am

    roxy- nice reviews. i love the carefully cultivated tank so much. the blue/purple i tried on was so vibrant and fun. Have to agree on the wild imagination tank too- the print- especially the sailboat one is too adorable. However a M in this clung to my frame in a bad way (er, guessing it was not designed for 34g breasts). you've convinced me to try a large before writing it off though!

  7. Anonymous
    May 13, 2010 / 2:41 am

    oooooo I love Wild Imagination Tank on you. Thanks for the top-roundup, Roxy.Ladies, Burlingame, CA Anthro(650- 685-6637) has these at the returns rack by the counter#4 NY NY dress#6 Alaze dress by Tracy ReeseHope someone who's looking for these grab 'em.

  8. May 13, 2010 / 3:07 am

    Ooh the wild imagination tanks are great on you! I also like the carefully cultivated top and think it is super cute on you.

  9. May 13, 2010 / 8:55 am

    The Wild Imagination Tank is awesome! I never even noticed on the site before. Looks really cute on you as well!

  10. May 13, 2010 / 12:23 pm

    oh roxy! those bermuda shorts fit you very well!!! good taste in the tops!

  11. May 13, 2010 / 2:37 pm

    I really like the Carefully Cultivated tank on you.

  12. May 13, 2010 / 11:00 pm

    Roxy: 🙂 I kinda thought not, but wanted to be sure. I enjoy your blog so much!

  13. May 13, 2010 / 11:49 pm

    Ade – definitely give the large a shot. I have a feeling it will be more accommodating. I don't mind some looseness for me so the pulling isn't quite so obvious.Anonymous @ 10:24 – thanks for the in-store update. :)Jesspgh – Thanks! I am digging both those tanks a lot too. I just have such a hard time paying anything over $15 for a tank top. These are really really nice ones granted, but they are still just tank tops!Alissa – oh yes it has been under the radar but the prints are just too nice not to love.Teej – thank you! I am the proud owner of a pair now and I plan to LIVE in them. Now I just need a few more solid tank tops to go with them.jcrewphd – thank you so much. 🙂 I appreciate all the positive feedback. Bronzi – and I ♥ you right back.


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