Musings: Anthropologie early Spring 2014 trends, inconsistencies, online-only and wondering where some stuff went

Koral’s Coated Floral Skinny Jeans ($250) — awesome, or WTF?

Good lord, Spring 2014. What have you done to us? I’m glad there isn’t much I need to buy this season because from what I’ve seen so far, this season is headed in an insane, trend-specific direction. After an incredibly exciting Fall 2013, how will Anthropologie do this season? I’ve got some thoughts after the jump and then I’d love to hear your take!

The Chanel-inspired Double Pearl Necklace ($48) — shown here with the Avera Top ($88) — 
is one of the many online-only items I’m interested in purchasing,
but not without seeing it first.



ONLINE ONLY ITEMS, SHIPPING CHARGES, AND PERKLESS PERKS
Before we talk about the clothes, let’s get the biggest complaints out of the way first since I know they’re on everyone’s mind. For nearly its entire 20 year history, Anthropologie has been steadily growing as a company. Our favorite store now constitutes nearly 40% of Urban Outfitters’ overall sales, a staggering number. It’s unquestionably a retail success story.

Yet as the company has grown bigger its customer service end has struggled. The attention-to-detail and little perks that once added an extra level of amusement and loyalty building are eroding. Anthropologie is one of a very few companies that still charges shipping on all of its online orders. Annoying beyond belief but defensible from a business standpoint in that shipping has never been free from Anthro’s website, no matter what its sister stores do. Not only that, they recently reduced the birthday discount to no longer include free shipping on online orders. From a customer standpoint this is a slap in the face…reducing the birthday discount tastes especially bitter. And from a business standpoint you’re biting the hand that feeds you, de-incentivising your customer base and adding friction to your sales process. Does Anthropologie have to give a birthday discount? No. The 15% off is certainly a nice gift, especially if you make a larger purchase as I tend to do. But if the company continues to do better and better doesn’t it make sense to grow the perks, not shrink them?

The shipping policies become even more disturbing when you look at the growing selection of online-only items on Anthropologie’s website. From Anthropologie’s standpoint this means they can carry very small inventory orders of a new or emerging designer and test the water with customers. It also allows them to price these items lower, because they can price them without factoring in retail expenses if they so choose.

However, from a shopping standpoint it’s frustrating beyond belief. It would be one thing if Anthropologie’s items all had a consistent fit from item to item and a consistently high quality standard to trust in. Neither exists right now. Ordering two (or three!) of an online-only dress just to ascertain my correct size is lame. Having to pay $16 for the privilege of trying those items on is downright infuriating at times. I can take anywhere from an 8.5 to a 9.5 in shoes, and guessing which one I’ll need in an online-only style is an exercise in frustration. Reviews only go so far to help — our bodies are all shaped uniquely and I sometimes run into items where the reviews (if there are any) don’t end up matching my sizing needs.

Free shipping on online-only items. Free shipping with the birthday discount. Free shipping, period. This is what I want.

WHEREFORE ART THOU, ROXY’S NEW ARRIVALS SECTION?
Back in August of 2013 I joked that there was a plethora of new arrivals that seemed to cater specifically to my personal style. Although I’d never expect to completely stock my closet from Anthro it was intriguing to me and helped me get a few friends interested (or re-interested in some cases) in the store. It was cool to see a small assortment of items that seemed made just for me and my friends!

Now? I see very few new arrivals that speak to my preppy-with-a-romantic twist, architectural, mixed material style. The three concepts Anthropologie’s Fall 2013 collection centered on — the urban girl, the Victorian era-modernized, and the softly romantic European girl — have all disappeared and been replaced the boxy boho girl. I know it’s early yet and perhaps in a week or few I’ll be eating my words. Hopefully I’ll be eating my words! I am so pleased by how well Anthropologie did last quarter; I want to see that success continue. In order to build upon their success, they need to stay consistent. When I look at the Spring 2014 releases so far I see very few ‘urban preppy’ items and the ones I do see are mainly leather or vegan leather. That was fun for Fall, but in warmer temperatures I’d like airier material. My friends who got a little interested in the brand last season are saying meh all over again.

Here are a few looks that sorta continue the urban preppy feel I’m looking for.

The Half-Sleeve Scoopneck ($48) could be an interesting layering piece, although the sleeves sure do make the model’s arms look stumpy! Half my interest in this top is the excellent styling done by Anthro’s visual team — I love the necklace and the blouse peeking out below the top. I would link you to the coordinating items, but neither the necklace nor the top seem to be online as of this writing. (Community if you see these items let me know in the comments and I’ll update the post!)

It’s admittedly the leather skirt that gives this look its downtown chic vibe. It’d be hard to pull this same look off in real life and not look sloppy. Still, the Clara Buttondown ($68) has possibilities with its slightly cropped length and boxy shape. Truth be told I dig the mint color more. I also like the necklace a lot, but Fenton Fallon has been doing this style for years and I already own a very similar necklace from their collaboration with J.Crew back in 2010 or 2011. So this look is giving me styling ideas from items I already own at least.

If the Chalain Vegan Leather Tank ($78) were just a long, lean tunic I would be head over heels for this look. Instead, I’m inspired by the beautiful layering necklaces. Here’s the bib; I don’t see the other one online. The top looks cool here but I’m dubious about anything that would add extra volume to my hips. My legs aren’t pin straight like a model’s so I prefer volume on the bottom. Interesting idea, probably not translatable to real life for many people. The shoes are very cool and look versatile — a wishlist addition for sure.

Anthropologie had three fantastic, cohesive styling concepts for Fall/Winter 2013 but seems to have dropped the ball on those concepts for Spring 2014. I don’t see much in the way of Victorian modernized or romantic Euro girl either. I see tribal, I see boho, I see jet-setter, and as with the past few years I say boo. It would be nice to see more continuity in the concepts rather than throwing completely new styling ideas at us each season. I want to build on my wardrobe, not completely re-buy it each season.

The Leyden Top ($98) — fun, but oh so boxy.


GETTING BENT OUT OF SHAPE
Retailers are executing a mass mutiny against waist definition. Seriously. Just look at Anthro’s tops right now. Boxy, boxy, boxy, boxyboxy, boxy, boxy, boxy, BOXY. There’s also peplum, peplum, peplum and whatever the heck this outfit is. Look at the model’s vacant stare with that last link Anthropologie! It’s like she’s silently pleading, help me.

I dare you to find me a top on Anthropologie’s website right now that meets all of these criteria:
– is not vegan leather or leather
– does not have a peplum
– is not sheer
– is not a crop top (yes I get it, crop tops are on-trend, whatever)
– defines the waist

It’s damn near impossible. I found one: the Essential Henley ($48), which has a very cool cinch in the back. Am I missing any others? That’s not a sarcastic question; I’d honestly love to know. Why have you forsaken us, Odille?!? Lithe, will you ever return to Anthropologie’s stores?

Anthropologie has about a zillion crop tops right now because they’re oh so Spring 2014. Know what else is oh so Spring 2014? Knee-length midi skirts. How many of those do you see on Anthropologie’s website? And tell me, when you think of Anthropologie, which of those two items do you see as the better fit for the Anthropologie customer? This is what drives me mad about this store sometimes, I swear.

I have checked and I’m not shaped like a rectangle. Yes, it’s fun to wear draped or slouchy stuff on occasion. But I have curves and I would like to celebrate those curves in appealing, flattering, body-skimming ways. Anthropologie is supposed to specialize in those exact requests!

TO END ON A POSITIVE NOTE…
Of course there are still plenty of items on Anthropologie’s website that I do like! I did just have an oversized birthday haul, with a ton of items left over that I didn’t get to buy yet. Here are some more items I haven’t talked about in recent posts that look interesting.

Emmeline Blouse ($78) — love this sapphire blue color.
Boardwalk Maxi Dress ($168) — cute.

I tried on the Slubby Blouson Dress ($118, review upcoming) and while it doesn’t work on my body shape I’m still happy to see an item that’s simultaneously drapey and figure-flattering. Nicely done, Anthro.

Came really isn’t my thing…but I have to admit I really dig the Camo Pencil Skirt ($148, review upcoming). And it fits great! Stick with your true size.

Bluebird Pullover ($138) — how adorable is this?!?

Your turn, community. How do you feel about Anthropologie’s transition from Fall/Winter to Spring? Do you feel the designs are cohesive or incongruent? Do you care that this season’s collection seems to have a completely different theme than the season before, or are you excited to see something totally new? What items do you like, hate or wish were a little different? Feel free to link to Anthro’s site in the comments!


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