Today in Anthropologie top reviews: buttowndowns, tank tops and a v-neck.
Note: For sizing reference I am 34-29-38, size 6/M in tops, 34D. I am 5’8″.
Nearly every other version of the Islet Buttondown ($68) is a solid color but of course I was drawn to this floral green motif version. This rayon blouse has tab sleeves, a gentle v-neck before the button placket takes over and a nicely-sized collar. There are pockets the bust on both sides. Some of the solid colors look like silk from afar; this green motif version looked more like cotton to me. The sides are slightly shorter but the front hits low-hip. It’s pretty lightweight but not sheer.
I’m in my usual size medium for these photos. While it would be easy to size down, I like the looser fit for casual wear. I wish I’d rolled the sleeves up more to the elbow. There are several seams below each chest pocket that are well-hidden by the pattern but clearly visible on the solid colors. In terms of shape there isn’t much of one…the top didn’t really come in at the waist. Still, with sleeves rolled to elbow it’d create the illusion of fit I want.
Many of Anthro’s online reviews note that this shirt is a workhorse and I’m inclined to agree. Most likely picking this top for those windy days when I want something light with sleeves.
Ridiculously sheer and yet still pretty cute, the Lovell Buttondown ($88) adds triangular lace panels to the basic striped work shirt. It’s got tiny vertical stripes in grey-blue dots, a tiny chest pocket and lace panels on each side and the back. It sounds ridiculous and it kind of is in real life yet I like it! The shirt has 3/4 sleeves which I’d rolled a bit for the photos. The top is cotton but so thin you can see skin and bra and jeans below pretty clearly…sorry.
One strange thing — although this top was large on me, the buttons seemed to pull across the placket. I notice the model on Anthro’s site has the same issue on her shirt. I think this is because the buttons are a little too big for the holes, causing tension in the fabric. It’s also boxy and about an inch shorter than I’d like. I’m in a 6 for the photos above and it felt roomy…I’d go down to a 4 to buy.
And yes, I am thinking about buying this top! I love how the lace panels sit and I think this top would be ideal over a simple work sheath. I’ll wait for sale.
Heck yeah octopus! They are all over the Fitz Tank ($78) in a pretty sapphire blue. Anthro calls this top ‘coral’, I call it orange. A slightly ruffled neckline sits above a henley button placket on an otherwise simple tank. The top is shaped like a rectangle, which at least works better on me than a square boxy top. The sides are slightly higher than the front and back, though the top falls pleasantly to low hip.
This top looked large on the rack so I grabbed a 4 instead of my usual 6. That was the right move — even the 4 was plenty roomy. The armholes are nice and small here, not tight but not leaving any peek room on the sides either. The v-neck is long and lean, adding to shape-lengthening and slimming. Although the top itself doesn’t have much shape to it I thought it fell nicely. Yay for being tall with rectangular tops!
The Fitz Tank is another top I’d snap right up on sale. Til then, wishlisted.
I expected the Anana Midi Tank ($128) to be just a box…it is not. In fact I was pleasantly surprised by how nicely it drapes! This tank has a bottom pale pink layer upon which the floral top layer sits. In the back the floral layer splits open, creating an airy breezy feel no matter what the weather. The amount of pink underlayer peeking out makes the tank seems longer than it is. I think it would ideally pair with pants, perhaps crops that hit just above the ankle paired with pumps. With shorts I fear this top would look more boxy.
I sized down to a small for these photos instead of my usual size medium and that helped a lot with fit. I’m sure a medium would have felt too big and perhaps boxy. The tank is viscose with bumpy texture all over the pink. The scoopneck comes down pretty deeply, but is not revealing. It’s great!
I’m delighted with this tank and would likely pair it with either the pants and pumps as mentioned above or a knee-length skirt…the latter of which isn’t easy to find these days!
I’d hoped the Pintucked Silk Top ($118) would be an excellent work option. It’s…not quite there. The fit on this top is very strange. It’s like the front pleats are a little too heavy for the rest of the material so the top pulls forwards and downwards on the body. There is ruching at the shoulder that seems to make the sleeve do weird puckery things sometimes. And the bottom of the top is oddly tight, hugging my hips while the remainder of the top was pretty loose. It’s made from silk — silk!! That’s worth praising.
I’m in my normal size medium here. I didn’t find the v-neck to fall too low but as mentioned above I felt almost hunched over by how the shirt seemed to fall forward on me. There’s no fit through the torso so the top sits away from the body. Tucking it in could help but it’s not the sleek look I’d hoped for. The bottom being close to my hips doesn’t help either — were the bottom free it would make the top more elegant.
Still, this top has potential with pencil skirts and such for me. Not a full price buy, but worth a look on sale.
What do you think of the tops in this reviews set? Even more to come!
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