Despite Jezebel’s (hilarious) skewering of the most recent Anthropologie catalogue, I find myself flipping through it once or twice a week. The photos are such beautiful showcases of the clothing; it was an element I found lacking last year. I think I’m just so thrilled to see the clothing starring again that it makes me more eager to buy. Take the photo of the Manor Gates Dress ($188) above. I never knew I needed this dress but as soon as I saw the photo I was ready to whip my Amex out.
Luckily pragmatism took over and I decided it was probably best to try the dress on first. I was at Soho last week and saw a woman about my age buying the dress. I walked the floor intently looking for it, but was finally told it wasn’t actually out yet — the woman had called ahead to inquire. Ah. An SA kindly offered to get me one from the back but I was willing to wait. When I went back yesterday the dress was out.
Unsure of what size I’d need in this Floreat beauty I grabbed both a 6 and an 8. The 6, which is in the far right shot above, fit fine on top but was pulling badly across my hips. So I quickly de-frocked and tried again with the 8. That was much better. The skirt portion of the dress is cut very straight and so I found it hugging all of my curves a bit closer than I’d like. Specifically it was hugging the curve on the front of my thighs which in turn created a paunch at my stomach. I wouldn’t have minded a more a-line to this skirt.
The detailing on this dress is amazing. The $188 price tag seems justified to me. On the bodice alone there’s beautiful stitchwork around the teal material and fine gold piping around the neck and arm holes. The embroidered waistband is a gorgeous statement in its own right, though the skirt is truly the star. The vivid floral print is on both the front and back. It’s an altogether jaw-dropping piece. The outfit above presents a possible work outfit but I feel that this dress is better suited to an event. I’ve wishlisted it, hoping I get invited to the appropriate party to justify such a stunning shift.
The Walkaway Dress ($158) is populated by many of the same colors as the Manor Gates Dress but has an entirely different look and feel. Part of Tracy Reese’s Plenty line, this dress is a rayon jersey number that’s meant for easy summer days and nights. I am more partial to jersey made from mainly cotton. This dress feels slippery.
My main concern was how the loose skirt would do over my hips. I’m happy to report that my usual size medium was flattering and comfortable. I really like the diagonal ruched band which tails over both the front and back of the dress like a beauty queen’s sash. The length wasn’t quite right to me though. I’m 5’8″ and this was below my knee, hitting in an unflattering spot on my calves. I feel terrible saying this considering my whining about skirts being too short but I wish the skirt on this dress was 2 inches shorter. Right at the knee is my sweet spot. 34-35 inches long.
With a proper belt and a cardigan or blazer, this dress could easily be a work option for me. Wishlisted!
Maeve takes cute bows to a new level on their simple yet suitable Foremost Dress ($118). This dress is “dark grey” that felt like a faded black to me. I grabbed my usual size medium to try on. I found the lining a bit close around the thighs, but it was manageable. The actual dress was comfortably loose. The belt however was a close fit. Though it looks yellow the belt is actually a chartreuse. And the quality isn’t as good as the rest of the dress. There are two sets of hook & eye closures to clasp the belt and if you use the looser set the tighter eyes are visible. Not OK. If you can use the tighter set the effect is very cute. Kind of like a bow tie at the waist.
Otherwise I can’t say that there’s much special about this dress. I am not sure the pricetag is realistic here. Were it $98 I would have snapped it up. Instead, I’ll wait til sale.
Conversely, I was surprised to see that the Grand Island Dress was only $98! (Don’t get any ideas, Anthro.) LA Made’s frock has lovely details from neckline to hemline. I love the interesting cowl which I chose to lay like a kerchief for the shots, though there are several options on how to position it. The functional buttons from top to bottom are offset perfectly. The sash is long and sizeable. I had so much fun tying it!
I tried on the green (read as brown to me) in my normal size medium. Though the green is opaque I noticed that the other colors seem to be translucent, especially the black. The dress was loose at the waist but perfect on top so I would not size down. The length is perfect, hitting right at my knee. The pockets are deep but without creating bulk. This is a wonderful dress! Wishlisted.
As goldenmeans noted the other day, the Speckled Ink Dress has been renamed the Dreamy Drape Dress ($158). Alliteration allows annoying aliases to abound. I loved the initial blue motif from last spring but how would the new purple motif fare? It was off to the fitting room to find out.
I reached for the medium, my true size. The jersey is much softer than the Walkaway Dress I tried above, though both are from Tracy Reese. The purple tones looked nice against my skin and I love the overall shape of this dress. I have to nitpick the skirt though. Specifically the top which was showing too many lumps and bumps. This was caused in part by the pattern, which wanted to trail in on me. That only made me look wide. Sizing up the large was no help — it was slipping off of me. I can fix the medium with shapewear but why the vertical stripes? And why couldn’t the skirt portion start an inch or two lower? On sale this one is a possibility. For now though it’s a pass.
The final dress in this reviews set has not hit the website yet…a sad thing indeed (update: it’s the Oak Apple Dress ($178)). For this Moulinette Soeurs dress could be my favorite Anthro frock of the year! Priced at $178, the print is a mix of paisley, “Starry Night” and looped graphic design. It’s a tank dress with a faux wrap in the front, a defined waist band and a slightly a-line skirt. It’s like the dress was tailor made for me and I couldn’t be happier.
My usual size 8 for the brand was perfect. Sometimes the 8s are a bit too loose in the bra or shoulder strap area for my 34Ds but this dress sat perfectly. Some may find the dress a little too revealing with the deep v. The material isn’t super luxurious but it is a workable rayon mix. The fit is what makes me love this dress and I think it’s going to be a hit in the community. My budget for this month is spent so this dress will (sadly) have to wait. Wishlisted!!
