Another round of beautiful dresses have arrived at Anthropologie. I can tell the shapes are going to be a real challenge for me this season but I am comforted by the designs themselves. The shapes and patterns are already more exciting to me than last year’s. Still not as great as the designs of yore but moving in that direction. Now if Anthro could just step up their game in terms of tops and sweaters we’ll be good to go. Thoughts and ratings below. Have you tried on any of these dresses? What are you hoping to see at Anthropologie for spring?
The Take Action Dress ($168) from Girls From Savoy immediately captured my attention. Sadly it’s been one disappointment after another with this dress. First was the discovery that it’s a dark teal instead of the beautiful medium blue of the model shot. Secondly was the revelation that this is just the Twinkle, Twinkle Dress in another pattern. That dress looked so terrible on me that I couldn’t even bear to photograph myself in it.
This version was somewhat better but still not impressive. My true size 6 was the best in terms of fit. The main issue with this dress lies above the waist. Two things were happening to my bust: first, the high neckline and cut-ins at the shoulder were making me look really saggy (thanks Anthro); and secondly the pintucks leading into the waistband buttons were exaggerating my chest. Neither of these are especially flattering on me and it ruined the overall effect. Too bad because the execution of this dress is quite lovely. From the beautiful silk to the demure back keyhole to the seaming details at the waist and neck I found this dress to be well-constructed. Plus, it nips in nicely at the waist which creates a nice silhouette. I can’t get past the top half though. Back to the rack.
I always look forward to Anna Sui’s designs for Anthropologie. I honestly had no idea the Stippled Deciduous Corset Dress ($288) was from the brand until I saw it up close. There’s a side cinch (seen in the middle photo above, click on it to zoom), a triangle inset in the corset and an interesting triangle pattern where the top and skirt portions meet. These are the kind of details I love to see, although a lower price point would be nice.
I almost always size down in Anna Sui. In this case though I had to size up to an 8 and even that was difficult to zip up over my chest. As a result the bottom portion was poufing out. The photos above are the 8 — later on I tried a 10 quickly and it was better in the top but there was so much extra room in the skirt that it sat a good several inches away from my body. While it doesn’t bother me it’s worth mentioning that this cotton dress is dry clean only. Pretty pattern and cool touches but another no-win for me. (I did better on down in the post, I promise.)
When I think garden party, I think WASPY structured dresses with a defined top, a softly pleated bottom and some kind of texture. Anthro’s take is something else entirely. This is the beautiful Garden Party Dress ($168). Is it just me or does this dress look less pleated and slightly more form-fitting on the model? Or is it just the magic of wearing a jacket over this?
This dress has a tiny keyhole in the back and plenty of vertical pleats, but it’s the pattern that truly stars here. The pleats don’t carry on to the back — a wise choice. The length was perfect, hitting right above my knee. My usual size 6 was huge. I looked pregnant in this. I would size down to a 4 at least, which means the smaller among us are probably sized out. With the right cardigan and belt over this dress I think it could be a winner. Not something I’m ready to invest in at full price, but wishlisted for sale.
This safari-inspired dress from Weston Wear isn’t online yet. (Update 1/18: It’s online now and called the Emerging Leaves Dress ($138).) I first noticed it in the stairwell at Chelsea Market. (You can see the shot in yesterday’s Eye Candy post). I wasn’t bowled over by it at first sight but I liked it enough to try on. So glad I did!
My true size 6 was a bit tight around the chest in-store. I tried it at home with a different bra which seemed to do the trick. I’m a 34D so if your cup size is larger you may want to size up. The dress has buttons down the front but also has a functional size zip. I love the yellow and black color combination. The pale yellow used is a such a great choice that keeps this from looking to much like a leafy bumblebee. My favorite part of the dress is how tiny it makes my waist look without making everything else look cartoony in proportion. The back of the dress floofed out a bit but it just needs to be steamed to fix that. The front buttons did not gap and the tank straps are wide enough to hide bra straps. I am in love with this dress. Made in the USA pushed me over the top and this pretty little frock came home with me.
I have to hand it to Maple. This is one of the most best strapless dresses I’ve ever tried on. The neckline is nice and high and though it still shows cleavage I had no fear of it slipping down in either the front or the back. The Silken Stitches Dress ($168) was promising for that alone.
My usual size 6 fit loosely in the skirt portion but correctly up top. Or as correctly as a strapless frock gets on me. I like that there are optional straps for this dress even though busty ladies know they are of little help. I only wish the skirt fit a bit better in front. There was lots of extra room in the midsection and the waist was sitting too high. Another inch or two lower and the waist would have been in the perfect spot. Worth considering at sale time.
This is the review where I sound like a hypocrite. If I could summarize my complaints about Anthropologie’s dresses in 2010 the list would look something like this: too short, waist too high, not enough coverage. The Esmeralda Dress ($158) answers every single one of those complaints yet I am still not totally happy. I’d already seen Shannon’s review so I knew about what to expect.
I was pleased with where the waist hit on my usual size medium. I wish the skirt hit at the top of my knee instead of the bottom as I feel the current length makes it seem staid. I’m 5’8″ for reference. The top half is beautifully done, with a criss-crossing v that covers everything perfectly before yielding into triangular sleeves. This could have been a cool updated kimono of sorts given the pattern (the material is poly though, not silk). The pleated skirt keeps the translation from being too literal. I have no doubt many in the community will rock this and force me to reconsider. As of right now it’s just too long to win me over. I love the idea here but the design falls a bit short. Back to the rack.
Anthropologie claims the Sidestepping Dress ($138) is a navy polka-dotted frock but I felt it was black polka-dotted goodness in the fitting room. According to the website this dress is 41″ long — what?? I’m voting 37″ instead. I love the scalloped trim along the bodice, which actually has a deco pattern to it up close. The thick lace straps look traditional in front but are in a v-shape in the back — not ideal for wearing a bra with this dress. There is no boning in the top half and the dress closes via a side zip.
I sized up to an 8 after an SA warned me this runs small up top. I felt a bit squeezed in the top even in the 8, though that eased as I wore it. The bodice portion is well-designed with darts and seams that create a flattering shape. The gentle pleated skirt sits beautifully and twirls beautifully to and fro. If you try this dress on you should really try spinning a twirl in the fitting room! Once again though I found myself wishing this dress hit the tops of my knees instead of the bottom. It accents how wide my calves are. I would buy this dress on sale to get it tailored. Until then, wishlisted!
