The rumblings about an official Anthropologie blog had picked up again recently, and as I waited anxiously to see what would come I imagined the different ways an Actual Anthro Anthology® would look. I decided there would be plenty of photos in tonal washes and close-up vignettes meant to evoke nostalgia. I conjured poetic odes to things like destinations, fabrics, textures and elements. I wondered what the product tie-ins would be.
It was to my relief to see the blog manifest itself in Etymologie, the tumblr Anthropologie unveiled last week. Much like The Anthropologist the site is less of a direct tie-in and more about the fringe and fray of what makes Anthro’s staff tick. True to the blog title (conjugated feminine of course) Etymologie picks a new word as the center inspiration point every few days. Surrounding that word are photos, quick diaries and video representations of what that word means to various Anthro staff members from around the world.
It’s a very cool concept that won’t reveal much about the direction Anthropologie’s headed or lift the curtain of the business. It’s the kind of distraction that’s fun during a lunch break as inspiring food for thought. I like it. If you want to see how Anthropologie would interpret and dissect a certain word on your mind, you can suggest a word to them. A small link list shows the blogs Anthro staff is currently reading. (Tumblrs only on the list according to Anthropologie’s Community Team; how very bloggist of them.)
I keep a private tumblr of inspiration points myself, which range from thoughts on the TV shows I’m watching to amazing lines from books I’m reading to photographs from runway shows. I like how tumblr focuses on the visual in short bursts not unlike Twitter. My logical brain demands the freedom of long-form journals but my creative brain loves the eye candy of collages. It’s nice to see both co-existing for Anthro representation in the online world.
Have you visited Etymologie yet? I was particularly touched by the Memorial Day tribute, coming from a historically military family myself.
