I’ve been very excited about Karen Walker collaborating with Anthropologie. One of my all-time favorite skirts, a pink-pleated thing, is a Karen Walker via Cloak & Dagger pickup from last year. Up until now it’s been boutiques or nothing to get the line in NYC. I’m told that in Australia and New Zealand the line is stocked at department stores but that accessibility hasn’t hit stateside yet.
Ms. Walker’s Hi There! line officially debuts today as part of Anthropologie’s new Made in Kind capsule. As far as I can tell, Made in Kind will be a continuing series showcasing new designers every so often. So far the launch has been confusing — anthro members got access to the first collections last weekend, and some of the collections have already sold out. I’m thrilled for the design team behind Place Nationale that their one-of-a-kinders flew from the virtual shelves, but I’m bummed as a shopper that I didn’t even get to try the items or even see them for myself. Oddly, most of the collections are falsely labeled as Online Only, when in fact I’ve seen items in the various NYC Anthropologies.
Which brings me back to the Hi There! From Karen Walker line. I knew going in that as a diffusion line there would be some compromises from the brand’s real line. Aside from the use of polyester instead of silk I can’t say I noticed any design offsets. I’m normally anti-poly but I was fully expecting to see it at this price point compared to Karen Walker’s usual prices. The material they chose for the Anthro items feels silk-like. I understand why people are disappointed that these dresses aren’t silk but I had no expectation they would be. So poly it is. I hold this line to a different standard than Anthro’s in-house pieces. How would the dresses fare in the fitting room? On to the reviews.
Those of us with hourglass shapes will be rejoicing at the Hi There! From Karen Walker line. It’s been awhile since I’ve found dresses that nip in so nicely at the waist while still allowing room for curves up top and below. The Tile Confetti Sailor Dress ($150) is a blue and yellow number with a button-detailed defined waist and a thick triangle of blue at the neckline, front and back. Oddly, this dress has shoulder pads. Not a fan. The back zip is a challenge solo. The length, however, is perfect and the v-neck comes low enough to flatter without revealing anything.
A 6 fit nicely. The waist on this dress is considerably smaller than the skirt or bodice so if you have a straighter shape you’ll want to size up. This dress is poly made to feel like silk and I think it’s mission accomplished. It has the same light and flowy feel with the benefit of being hand washable. So far, so good for the Karen Walker collaboration. Wishlisted!
It’s hard not to feel like a midcentury babe in the Basque Floral Dress ($140). Red is a tough color on me but this dress looks fantastic on everybody. The blue, white and yellow flowers tumbling down the print are a delight. I love the ruching up top, which flatters busts of all sizes. A large waistband helps bring this dress from tent into figure-flattering, and a softly pleated skirt runs down just below the knee. Again this dress is polyester that feels very silk-like.
I found this dress to run large, even by Anthropologie standards. A 6 was big in both bust and skirt so I’m in a 4 above. And if I’m in a 4, that means true 2s and below are likely to be sized out here. I prefer this dress’s side zip to the Tile Confetti’s contortionist-pleasing back zip. Though the shoulder detail and ruching in front set it apart somewhat, I saw a very similar dress to this last year at Urban Outfitters. Same red base color, print not quite as nice. The UO dress was $80. I do think the details help the Karen Walker version out but I can’t shake the feeling that this dress would be easier to snap up at, say, $118. So it’s wishlisted for now while I consider its full-price validity.
If you prefer blue-based prints to red, try the Floral Wing Dress ($160) instead of the Basque Floral above. This dress has the same v-neck that reveals nothing but teases delightfully. The longer sleeves are tough against large busts — I find they accentuate rather than balance. An elastic waist leaves the dress feeling nice and loose, while a tulip-style skirt can reveal some leg as you walk.
Sizing-wise I found myself between a 6 and a 4, with the 6 being looser but feeling better. I felt the 4’s skirt was hugging my thighs more than I liked, though the top portion fit better. Again with this dress it’s the details that elevate it from chain-store staple to feminine frock. At the waistline the bodice is gently pleated in, which creates a lovely and flattering accent. The neckline is sewn at the v to prevent it from flying open as you move. These little details go towards justifying the price in my mind. You could easily throw a belt on and be done styling. Love that. Wishlisted!
This was my favorite of the Hi There! From Karen Walker dresses I tried. The Persimmon Ruffle Dress ($160) reintroduces ruffles into the picture and it’s about damn time. After 2008’s Great Ruffle Extravaganza retailers simultaneously backed off…and I’ve missed it. I imagine dancing in this dress would be so much fun.
Like the other dresses in this collaboration this one is very figure-flattering. I found this dress to be particularly slimming. It has the look of a wrap dress but actually is accessed via a side zip. The waist tie is functional. A size 6 fit perfectly and felt great on. The skirt of the dress barely grazes my knees. I don’t have one bad thing to say about this dress. One star off for poly, but otherwise it’s love. I’m likely to pick this dress up at full price.
A beautiful color palette splashed across a white canvas makes the Laguna De Paca Dress ($194) alluring from across the store. I thought this dress would be a good option on my upcoming trip to Hawaii. The silk material is lightweight and somewhat sheer. Luckily the dress is fully lined. A back zip helps you in and out of this shift. Side ruching adds some detail and fit, though it can get baggy at the hips.
Since this is a shift I chose an 8 over my usual 6. Unfortunately this was one of those dresses where while the dress itself was kind of loose, the lining was so damn tight I could barely get the dress on. You’ll notice the left shoulder strap is just kind of hanging loosely — that’s from the lining bunching up. What a weird quirk and it’s something I’ve noticed on many of Anthro’s shifts lately. I have no qualms about getting a bigger size but the dress itself is fine! It’s just the lining that’s tight. The 10 hung off my body loosely on the outside while again the lining had just enough room to clear my hips. So while I like the dress a lot, the lining is such a pain that I’m probably going to pass this up altogether. Consider me annoyed.
I’ll have more dress reviews later today.
