Rockefeller Center Anthropologie, I adore you! You keep giving me such great ideas on how to style strapless dresses. Your latest creation features the Friendly Competition Top ($68, review here) by Odille in white layered under the Polka-Peppered Dress ($148, review here) by Maeve. Um, amazing! All of a sudden a dress I’d cast aside becomes a serious want. I don’t recognize the necklace unfortunately but the whole look is beautiful. I added this shot to my Facebook Store Inspiration album.
This also gives me a chance to tout a new feature, suggested by a community member: send me your store inspiration photos! Anthropologie allows photography within its stores (so long as you’re not interrupting others’ shopping experiences). Send me your photos of mannequins, displays, or maybe something cool on the walls. I’m going to start up a weekly feature devoted to this if I get enough submissions. On to the reviews!
I like to guess the brand of each item I grab to try on. When I picked up the Future Past Skirt ($198) I immediately guessed Corey Lynn Calter. I was wrong — it’s actually by Eva Franco. Had I checked the tag ahead of time I would have known to size down as the brand runs large. Instead I brought my usual 8 to the fitting room. It was pretty loose everywhere. I’d size down to a 6 to buy it.
The blue stripes have a lovely sheen to them and it fools the eye into thinking the grey shines as well. This skirt is nice and full while maintaining an airiness that makes it great for summer. My one quibble is that it wrinkles very easily. The skirt I tried on was a mess. That would be because of the polyester mixed in. Come on, Anthro. Get that crap out of your clothing. The skirt is lined with acetate and is very comfortable. Wishlisted for sale.
Over at Chelsea Market I gave Madchen’s Diamond Flame Skirt ($168) a try. I adore the catalogue shot for this skirt and could not wait to try it on. One of the SAs warned me to size down and I’m glad she did. This is a 6. And believe it or not it was still pretty big on me, poufing out around the back of teh waistband and the pelvis. It’s because the shape of the skirt fit perfectly around my curves. Nice tight waistband with an accommodating cut around my widest parts. I would stick with the 6 to buy it.
The material is a slick textured cotton. I love the buttons and the contrast piping. I do not like the poufiness, which I’ve caught on a few Anthro skirts this spring. I’m not sure what the deal is with this front pleating but it’s trouble for me. I’d reconsider this one on sale but it’s a pass for now.
Edme & Esyllte wins the odd product name award for their Rah-Rah-Rumba Skirt ($78). Congrats on being the first skirt in this reviews set under $100! This skirt attracted me because of its nice long length. In store I debated whether to try on the ivory or the grey. Grey won out because it’s more practical for me — I could just imagine the white getting stained on grass or from city grime.
Formerly I sized down in this brand but lately that has not been the case. This is my usual size 8. as you can see the tiers are kind of wrinkled. I inspected the dot trim carefully for tired-looking fabric but the quality seemed fine. Still I can’t help but feel a bit underwhelmed by this one. It’s comfortable but not especially attractive, you know? Maybe I just need some help styling it. Back to the rack for now.
Madras? I’m there. Paperboy by G1 has a heavy presence in my summer wardrobe and I would have loved to add the While-Away-The-Days Bermudas ($88) to that collection. And we were oh so close! Apparently I’m not the only one who loved these as I could only find a 2, an 8 and a 14 on the rack. So I grabbed the 8s and asked the fitting room attendant for my usual size 10.
Normally Rockefeller Center’s staff is exemplary but I have to complain a bit here: first, the fitting room attendant was clearly not listening when I told her what size I needed. 10 minutes later notta so I popped open the fitting room door and the girl said, “Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot what size you needed.” I was annoyed on two levels: first that she hadn’t come to me to check again what size I’d needed — I had to follow up on her, lame; and second she wasn’t listening!! So I told her again and another 10 minutes passes so I just gave up. During that time I heard the runner come through twice and it just aggravated me. And I was so mad that I left $350 worth of items I was going to buy at the store too. Way to lose a sale Rockefeller. It wasn’t even busy.
Anyway, back to the item itself. The 8s were clearly too tight across my thighs but otherwise what a nice pair of shorts! I found the length perfect. Hit me just where I wanted them to. The cut is a little tapered towards the knee which isn’t quite what I want over my thighs o’thunder but I can work with it. The material is soft and feels immediately broken in just like all Paperboy by G1 items. These are perfect and I would have bought them! Can I beat the dead horse just a little more??
My odd affection for strapless dresses continues. This is Deletta’s Origami Camellia Dress ($138). Here was another case of perfect length! I love how this hit right at my knees on my 5’8″ frame. Awesome. I tried on the small which was close-fitting around my bust but comfortably loose in the skirt.
The bodice has an origami fold pattern on it (hence the product name) that is an interesting touch. The skirt is heavier than I expected. The material isn’t light or cottony like you’d want in a real warm-weather climate. Don’t expect this skirt to billow in the wind. It feels more stiff. I am worried about being able to wear a bra with this dress so I’d probably use it over a swimsuit. And $138 is a lot to pay for that. Wishlisted for sale.
Yippee!! LOVE the store inspiration style ideas!! I will send you one in a minute.Rah-Rah-Rumba looked like to much Steam-Steam-Steaming for a simple summer skirt. The wrinkles would drive me nuts. It is cute and I like the price point, though!While-Away-the-Day Bermudas are cute but I was worried I looked too cartoony. They look great on you so maybe I will try them again! I am loving Paperboy's shorts. I ended up with two pairs of Summer Choice Shorts.
The shorts are so cute! I'm going to them a go the next time I'm in the store. And I'll make sure to take some pics for your new feature– which I LOVE!!! The stores are always so beautiful and it will be cool to get so many different inspirations!
That Origami dress is SO CUTE on you Roxy!
I love these mannequin inspiration posts! I've never tried wearing a shirt under a strapless dress but the Polka Peppered Dress is so cute with that top underneath!
I'm really liking the last dress on you. I didn't notice it before, but it's cute. I love the idea of store inspiration photos. They think of things sometimes that I wouldn't have thought of putting together at all.
Roxy, you're the best for trying all these on and giving your honest opinion! normally I never say a bad thing about Anthro but here I go…$198 for a poly-blend skirt?!?! You could get that shiz at Target for $19.95. Just sayin'…
Thanks for the reviews Roxy! Love the shorts on you! Sadly, I've had issues with the customer service at the Rockefeller store too. I've been abandoned in the fitting room a few times after asking for a different size. Anyhow, the last dress reminded me Liberty of London for Target halter dress! http://www.target.com/Liberty-London-Target-2-Fer-Halter/dp/B002WTJ6LG/ref=br_1_5?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&qid=1273155792&searchView=grid5&sr=1-5&node=2240172011&searchRank=pmrank&searchPage=1&searchSize=30&id=Liberty%20London%20Target%202-Fer%20Halter&searchBinNameList=purchasing_channel%2Csubjectbin%2Ctarget_com_age%2Ctarget_com_gender-bin%2Ctarget_com_character-bin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin
The last dress looks great on you and I love how the store paired the dress with the top. It looks like a completely different dress…
Oooh Roxy – those madras shorts look great on you! And I usually hate shorts! Those are slimming and seem to elongate the leg – I think you might have converted me! Haven't worn shorts since I was in jr. high…
Love the Diamond Flame Skirt and Origami Camellia Dress on you. I really wish the skirt wasn't so expensive though!
Katie – got your email! Thank you so much for sending the photos my way. 🙂 Definitely give the shorts another shot — they are awesome.Pamela – Yay! Thanks in advance for taking some shots. Jan Russell – why thank you. I was quite taken with it.tres tippy – I agree, I love the shirt under a dress idea and it's good to see how Anthro executes it.Maureen M – I agree. I get so many great ideas from the Anthro dress forms. They truly have talented stylists. CS12 – haha, it's true. I try to stay positive because I don't want to insult an item that others like, however I am not cool with nylon, polyester or radon in my clothing. What gives??Anonymous @ 10:23 – You are so right on, it does look a lot like the LOL dress. 🙂 I loved the LOL print but it didn't give me enough coverage or support.Yvonne – thanks! :)Anonymous @ 10:46 – really? Wow. I live in shorts in the summer, mostly bermudas. I was anti-skirt for a long time but have come around in the last 3 years or so.Kathleen – right there with ya lady, I wish the 1 was missing from the price of that skirt.
Ooooh, those Bermudas look CUTE on you Roxy! Go back to another store and get them in your size soon I say :)And sigh, I love the Future-Past skirt so much (the colors are so totally me) but AGH on the pricetag. WTF.Anyway, great reviews as usual, thanks Roxy!
i almost ordered those shorts, but the price tag was too much for me and i ended up settling for a pair of plaid bermudas from old navy. but secretly (or not so secretly), i hope that the while-away-the-days bermudas go on sale soon!
the bermudas look great! good to know about sizing, too 🙂 sorry to hear about the bad store experience 🙁 that'll teach them! haha.
Thighs o' thunder? Ridiculous. You have a gorgeous figure. I probably would never have tried on plaid shorts, as much as I love madras, but they are so flattering on you I might give them a shot. Love the reviews!
I have been chomping at the bit for the Diamond Flame Skirt to arrive at my local store. I think it looks very cute and flattering on you, so that makes me even more excited!
Shame about going home empty handed. I've been similarly abandoned at Anthro a few times but I am like a loyal dog and return to the store time after time even when I'm mad. *laughs* Ah well. The shorts looked adorable on you, though, so I hope you end up with them anyhow! 😉
Has anyone ever tried a top under a strapless dress? I'm tend to avoid strapless dresses so love this idea, but wonder if it works great on a mannequin, but not so much IRL.BTW, partly due to my avoidance of strapless pieces, (also a color issue) I could not figure out for the life of me what all the fuss was about over the Wright Dress. I tried it on yesterday, and I have to say–it's pretty darn cute!
I love the Friendly Competition Top with that dress! It makes the whole look so much more feminine/girly. I also love the Diamond Flame Skirt on you!
JennaLynn, I wear tops under strapless dresses all the time and it looks adorable. I would definitely give it a try! It's a great way to wear strapless pieces in more settings in more types of weather.
goldenmeans – I was able to grab them today at the Chelsea Market Anthropologie. I'm so excited too!t. – I agree the price is kind of high. But I think I will get more than enough use out of them so the cost per wear will be reasonable. What I think sets these bermudas apart is the pattern. Usually I see much larger squares in the madras, I like how small this pattern is.shares – heh, yeah! Not like Anthro will feel the pain overall though as I just ended up making pretty much the same purchase at another NYC Anthro. Oh well. I just felt better getting the vent out! :pmaryw2062 – aww, thank you much! *blush*Hydra – thank you! I think it is slowly rolling out in stores as I noticed it at another Anthro today. Hopefully it makes it to you soon.Alissa – agreed, I am similarly loyal. I did end up grabbing the shorts today so all's well that ends well.JennaLynn – I agree with Alissa, I do tops/tanks under strapless dresses often. The key is looking for a complimentary top. Anthro's style team does it quite well. A basic tee in a solid color is another good option.Sara – I wholeheartedly agree. I already loved the FCT, but now I love it even more!
That dress looks fabulous on you. Love it!-Amanda(The Pretty Pauper)Follow my blog if you'd like… http://www.prettypauperstyle.blogspot.com
The styleform with the shirt under the strapless dress reminds me of the Crosshatch Dress catalog pic from last year: (link from your very own blog, scroll to middle of post) Crosshatch Dress