Anthropologie has been moving items to sale recently before I can turn around my reviews! It’s odd how some of their items take forever to shuffle and some seem to make the move before I even notice them in the first place.
Take the Gossamer Waves Dress (now $50, guest review here). I’d gotten a few inquiries about this one but couldn’t find it in-store locally until just recently. And then before I knew it I saw it included on yesterday’s extensive sale list. I suppose the good thing is now I can frame my review around the new, more reasonable price.
Because let’s be honest: this dress is pretty much just a cover-up. Right? It’s made from gauze and has beach throw-on written all over it. The tri-tier of ruffles goes all the way around the neckline and is supported by a lazy halter strap. Welcome to summer. I tried on the navy version in my usual size medium. Two things I loved immediately: the length and the pockets. Subtle utility is a good thing.
I was not as happy with the top half of the dress though. The pictures don’t look too bad but in real life I thought this dress made me look very busty. I need some more torso to balance out my chest. Another inch or so would have been perfect. Otherwise the fit was fine. If I still lived in a beach town I’d be snapping this dress up. But since I’m likely to look odd walking around the city in a bikini covered up by this dress, this frock is a pass.
Tracy Reese’s Choreographed Dress ($278) was intriguing to me for its menswear material turned into poofy party dress. I grabbed a size 8 and frolicked down to the fitting room for a try-on. Honestly? I’m kind of at a loss. I LOVE Tracy Reese. She is one of my favorite designers and I make it a point to stop by her Meatpacking District store at least once a month. I own a few dresses from the Plenty line. But this dress? I guess I just don’t get it. What is the point of the bubble hem? Ms. Reese has several dresses like this in both her summer and fall lines. Who wears this and where are they going?
Fitwise the 8 worked well thought it just barely fit over my 34D bust. I like that the spaghetti straps are adjustable. From the waist up this dress is perfect to me. I love the horizontal pleating leading up to the cupped bust line. But below the waist is a mystery. I inspected the elastic hem to see if I could remove it. Then I realized how crazy that was — I’d buy a $278 dress just to have to adjust it? No way. Why couldn’t it just be a full skirt? Why the terrible elastic hem? Sorry to be harsh but this one is a pass. Back to the rack.
There’s been a lot of excitement around Natalie LÊtÊ’s Anthropologie debut. I was thrilled to see the Stemmed Sweetbriar Dress ($168) available to try on. It reminds me a bit of Floreat’s Dark Bouquet Dress from last year. I tried on my true size 6.
The halter portion of this dress was almost cut perfectly for me. I would not complain about a bit more fabric. The pale blue color works nicely for me and the pleated flourish is a good visual balance against my chest. For a summer date this is a perfect look. You can tell the halter is just a bit too small though from the side view, where the skirt is pulling up a bit in front. Unfortunately the 8 was too big on me so I’d have to buy the 8 and get this dress tailored for perfection. Pass at full price but come to momma on sale!
I had an email request to try on the Trading Post Crops ($88) so it was off to Chelsea Market to search for the Hei Hei item. I thought it was success but once I got home I realized these are actually the Seamed & Cinched Pants ($98) from Marrakech. Hmph. You’ll see these crops a lot in my next review set as I kept them on to try several tops. I tried on the 31 and found them to fit comfortably. They’re low rise, sitting on the lowest part of my hip. I hate low rise pants so that was a strike against these.
But otherwise I’m ambivalent to pleased with these. They have a few cool accent zippers and coin pockets. The tapered leg is lame. It accents how much wider I am at the hips versus the ankles…unless you’re rail shaped who is going to look good in these?? There is a release zipper at the cuff which I found cool. I do love zippers. I tried on the grey color which read as green to me. Can’t say I was impressed with these but if I were going to a desert I’d consider these as an option.
By the way, the top in these shots is Floreat’s High Tea Blouse ($98) which will be in my next reviews set.
I did find the Trading Post Crops ($88) eventually at 5th Ave. These crops are pretty damn cute The left cargo pocket has a nice complementary fabric on it and the back view is very flattering. The cuffs are elastic but weren’t too bad. I tried on the grey which again read as a pale olive green to me — there is a green shade of these as well.
I did have some fit issues with these crops. The SA warned me these run big. These pics are the 30 which was perfect for me at the waist but far too tight around my thighs. So I had to size back up to a 31 (my usual size) which was fine around the thighs but droopy at the waist. Can’t fit the curves so I’m probably out of luck. Oh well. Back to the rack.
Those seamed and cinched crops are intriguing, I'm going to have to try them on next time. Thanks for the reviews!
Oh MAN- I thought the gossamer waves dress looked so femine and girly and made you look hot!! đ Makes your waist look TEENY tiny!Makes me want to purchase! đ
Roxy, Thanks for trying on the Trading Post Crops. I wasn't the person who e-mailed you, but I have been hoping someone would try them on. Unfortunately if they don't work for curves they are out for me too.Also this is OT, but I thought it was pretty funny :). Check out the sizing on the Rosy-With-Envy Robe :D.
love your sandals! Where are they from?
Hrmmm, I have the Gossamer Waves Dress in green coming to me by mail (nearest Anthro is 350 miles away lol), and I'm almost regretting that I ordered it, even on sale.From your review, it looks to be definitely a summer only dress, even almost a glorified beach cover-up. I guess I'll just have to see how it works for me when it comes!
oh lordy lordy stemmed sweetbriar dress, I PINE FOR IT. definitely putting that on my wishlist.also, a strange thing happened today: i got an anthro catalogue in the mail…but i'm in canada? could it be that anthro is FINALLY sending catalogues to canadians now?
Jessica – they're definitely cool-looking. I'm interested to hear what you think. prettyface – thank you! Hee, I only wish I felt that good in the dress.Anon @ 2:59 – OK, what the heck? LOL. Must be a glitch but that is hysterical.dreamer637 – they're from Aldo. I don't think they sell this specific style anymore (I bought them last year) but here are a couple of similar styles: here and here.Mandy – I hope you like it! I would agree it's a summer-only dress.Fiona – that's wonderful news if Anthro has added Canada to its delivery. I had no idea you all were left out. đ If I end up in Vancouver for a bit I am going to be seriously jonesing.
Great reviews! The Sweetbriar dress looks fantastic on you!
Hmm, I wonder if I am a barstool or a counterstool size? LOL. That's pretty funny.Roxy, I'm so glad you tried on the Stemmed Sweetbriar Dress! I saw it in my store and went OMG at the tiny-looking halter part, so I was really distressed, because I *love* the dress. However, seeing it on you gives me hope. đ My chest is about the same size as yours, and I was just seeing the Luce Della Luna Dress all over again (where the cleavage shown was just indecent), but this one doesn't go to va va voom on chests. I could deal with it being a little tight, or I love it enough to get an 8 and have it altered.Off topic, but I tried on and bought the Sugar and Cream Dress yesterday. TOTAL impulse buy. A light went off in my brain and said, "Wouldn't this be great for tea-time in London?" and then I had to have it. On that one I actually had to size down to a 4. It's Floreat, and I pretty consistently wear a 6 in them, so that's weird right?
Wow Roxy, the Stemmed Sweetbriar Dress is insanely gorgeous on you! I hope you get it – it was made for you!
Debbie – thanks!!Elise – I tried on the Sugar & Cream Dress earlier today and I agree it runs comfortably large. And totally give the Sweetbriar Dress a shot. I was happily surprised.Thanks Kim!
I actually ordered the gossamer dress in the navy online. I hope it works for me. I agree that it's way too casual for NYC, but might work here in the summertime since we're in the Northwest and sometimes tennis shoes is considered dressy. You totally make the sweetbriar dress look HOTT! Two T's!
This is out of context but I think it may be useful:I just found out that Anthropologie Pin-Up Pums are ($90) are $62.95 on Endless.com. They're called "Seychelles Women's Come Dancing Peep-Toe Pump".
I love love love that stemmed sweet briar dress on you! Very feminine but also really sexy! Great helpful reviews, as usual! Thanks so much for the guidance!
Oh, Roxy, you are such a tease! I can't wait to see a review of the High Tea blouse. I love the Stemmed Sweet Briar Dress on you.