With things a little slow in Anthroland at the moment, I thought it would be fun to pull back a little to a wider view. One of my resolutions this year was to be more discerning in my spending and so far the goal is going well. I’ve missed out on some items I’ve wanted but I’ve also been happier with the things I have purchased because I made myself work harder wait longer for them.
I love getting recommendations from my friends about items they’ve bought and loved. So I thought it would be fun to do something like that here! Inside, the purchases I’ve made and liked from the last few months and then I hope you’ll share some of yours in the comments.
In terms of clothing I’m not buying much at the moment for a few reasons. First, my size keeps changing so it’s nearly pointless to invest in clothing I might not be able to wear a year from now. Secondly, my closet was full and as I’m purging and selling what no longer fits I’m finding myself relieved with fewer options to choose from. (Though my definition of “fewer options” would still vastly overwhelm the average shopper I’m sure. What can I say? I love clothes.) And finally, my money needs to go elsewhere right now. I don’t have as much discretionary income available to buy stuff. It’s been a fun challenge.
All that said, I have picked up a few pieces this year. By far my favorite is the Rebecca Taylor Pintuck Shirtdress (3, OOTD) I got at Nordstrom. The print is floral, the shape is flowy and yet it still has a preppy urban vibe I love. It’s been the perfect winter-to-spring transitional piece that will work well into summer. Best of all, it’s knee-length on me. It works for work or afterwards and though the dress is pricey it will be one of those pieces I wear to death. Sizingwise it runs TTS, maybe a little big. One other flirty piece I’m very happy with is the Daisy Lace Mini (9) from J.Crew. It is unlined and quite short so I sized up in it. I wear it lower on my hips so it lands about two inches above my knees — I cannot even imagine where my normal size would hit on me. What I like about it is the cheery red color and the pretty pattern of the lace detail, which lend a fun, feminine vibe. Come summer here’s how I’ll be styling the skirt.
Aside from the dress it’s been mostly a basics hunt for me. I really like both the boyfriend jean trend and the destroyed jean trend, silly as both are. But I hate the idea of pouring $200 or more into a pair of jeans that might be yesterday’s news tomorrow. The Gap hit the right price point for me with its 1969 Destructed Real Straight Jeans (4). I’ve long been a fan of Gap’s Long and Lean jeans, which fit my curvy body perfectly with a nice, long inseam. My understanding is that the Real Straight jeans are supposed to fit…well, straight, but on me these particular destructed jeans have more of a boyfriend fit. But they’re not so loose that I end up with that weird carpenter fit. With thicker thighs and curvy hips these jeans have just the right mix of relaxed fit and body skimming. They loosen up considerably over the course of the day so size down in these. I’ve been pairing them with a simple striped 3/4 sleeve tee and my Madewell Leopard Skimmers. For work here’s an example of how I’ve been styling the pants.
One other basic I’m content to rebuy over and over is American Eagle’s Jersey Zip Hoodie (5). I use these mainly on dog walks and outdoor runs on chilly days. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if my fellow dog owners thought these hoodies were the only thing I own! They’re so soft and comfortable and just the right weight for those 50-60 degree days. They last a good 2-3 years even being washed once a week or so. I layer them under my army jackets or over my running gear. The current hoodies I own have not stretched, they barely pill and they’re a great length on my 5’8″ frame.
In NYC a scarf is a necessity and I don’t think you can own too many scarves. Anthropologie’s Sayre Infiniti Scarf (8) has long fringe on each side plus a lightweight lace pattern that’s made it super versatile for me. I keep wearing it with the same outfit (scroll down in this post to see, or here I am being a nerd at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens in it). Infinity scarves are fun — I like to go either two loops of about the same size or one short neck-ringer and one long graceful loop. How do you wear yours?
A few years ago I moved from a large apartment to a tiny one to get more natural light. Since then I haven’t bought much in the way of furniture but my breakfast bar was begging for proper seating. I finally decided to take the plunge on three of CB2’s Vapor Stools (7). I have to admit I didn’t really get what the big deal about these clear, glass-like seats are. My friends and HGTV kept trying to tell me I’d love how they don’t eat up much visual space. I was a skeptic but now I’m a believer. Especially since my friends keep walking into the stools because they don’t see them. Because they’re clear. You know. I got the 30″ height which works great. I was lucky enough to find one on Craigslist for way below retail and a gift card helped me towards the other two.
Thanks to my sister’s amazing generosity I’m headed back to Hawaii next month! I can’t wait. My vacation wardrobe is pretty much set at this point but I couldn’t help getting just a couple of things more to cram into my luggage. These Audrey Brooke sandals (1) from DSW look scary-high but are easy to walk in thanks to a thicker heel. The laser-cut leather uppers don’t come up too high on the foot, which helps make my ankle area look narrower. They are not the most comfy shoes ever but for 4.5″ heels they’re very doable. I got the medium brown color — sold out online apparently? — in my usual size 9. For more casual days walking around I invested in Anthropologie’s Nubuck Gladiator Wedges (2) in mint. They are awesome! I love the zip in the back with its little tassle fringe. I found them to run TTS and they’re quite comfortable after having been broken in. But! The breaking in period sucked. I got major blisters on both big toes. I recommend moleskin to help out.
My other Hawaii prep piece is the Abstract Flower Bib Necklace (6) from J.Crew Factory. This necklace is a familiar pattern that you can probably find at any number of stores; I just happened to really like this orange color! It pairs well with lace tops, solid tanks and pops off of darker colors like black. It’s not heavy and the quality is decent for the price.
So, those are some of the things I’m loving in my closet and home right now! What have you bought recently that you really love? Links are welcome!!
