Reviews: Top Dog Pullover, Gem Drop Peplum Top, Meriwether Cowlneck, Aida Cowlneck, Rainier Pullover, Geo Bloom Pullover

Searching for Anthropologie sweater reviews? Look no further ladies.
I’ve got the Gem Drop Peplum Top ($148) and more in this reviews set.

The crisp air of fall is beginning to descend on New York City which means it’s finally chilly enough for me to start trying on Anthropologie sweaters comfortably! If your budget is in danger or if you’re trying to avoid spending I recommend skipping this set — everything I tried on was exceptionally cute.

Top Dog Pullover ($98) by Monogram, TTS
Style #: 28934263; black motif (009)
★★★★★

Note: For sizing reference I am 34-29-38, size 6/M in tops with a 34D cup. I am 5’8″.

It’s been scientifically proven that french bulldogs are irresistible and as the Top Dog Pullover ($98) shows that definition includes french bulldog sweaters. There’s a frenchie puppy at my dog run that looks exactly like the knit version and when I showed the owner she declared, I must have that sweater! She’s not the only one. This cotton sweater is thin but warm with nice long sleeves, a perfectly shaped scoopneck and horizontal rules in the ideal weight. Thanks to a dark underlayer the sweater is opaque beneath the thin ivory outer layer. I love the little tongue detail from the pup! So incredibly adorable.

I felt great in my usual size medium. The sleeves are very long. I like this but it might annoy those who prefer sleeves that end at the wrist. It’s very easy to roll or cuff the sleeves at least, and how lovely would this sweater look with a crisp blouse underneath? The sweater design hits nicely over the chest and neither emphasizes nor de-emphasizes. The stripes on this sweater are a magnificent feat! From body to sleeve they match up perfectly and the thickness is just right for slimming, especially when set off from the thick banded hem. I’m very impressed!

My only complaint is that this sweater is not available in Shiba Inu form. If you need a model Anthropologie Cinnamon is available for a nominal fee — one lamb & apple flavored bone chew should do it. For now this french bulldog version gets a spot on my wishlist.

Gem Drop Peplum Top ($148) by Dolce Vita, TTS
Style #: 28925717; purple (050) or turquoise (046)
★★★★☆

Although the Gem Drop Peplum Top ($148) is sitting in Anthropologie’s tops section it’s really a sweater. This wool (yay!) and nylon (boo) sweater is of medium thickness but lighter warmth weight. With shorter sleeves I wouldn’t count on this for much warmth in the winter. But in offices where the heat gets cranked up nearly sauna temperatures you’ll be just fine. Most of the body of this top has a pretty gem assortment on it and the bottom is in peplum shape. Peplums can be challenging so I understand the community fatigue that seems to be popping up, but this top does pretty well.

I usually find Dolce Vita tops to run large. However, when I tried on the small of this sweater I felt constricted. So I recommend sticking with your usual size. I did not find this sweater to be at all itchy but I’m pretty itch-tolerant. The peplum isn’t overdone and hits at a good spot on the body. It’s large enough to balance a pencil skirt underneath like the Embroidered Fiore Pencil Skirt ($158, review) yet not so large as to make hips appear huge. Sleeves are more challenging here. The bracelet length is an odd choice to me. They make my arms look very long. A sleeve ending at the elbow would have been ideal because it would hit at the waist simultaneously, thereby drawing the eye there and defining a beautiful feminine silhouette. It’s easy enough to push the sleeves up into the right spot I suppose.

As far as I could tell the beadwork is sewn on well. Much better than on the fragile Beaded Composition Top ($198, review) that I tried on last week. This is another sweater that landed right on my wishlist! It will be hard to choose between colors. Community, would you recommend one color over the other for me?

Meriwether Cowlneck ($98) by Angel of the North, TTS
Style #: 28986263; cream (012), gold (070) or plum (052)
★★★★☆

It’s nice to see sweaters for under $100 at Anthropologie, though wouldn’t the Meriwether Cowlneck ($98) have been $88 a year ago? This cotton-nylon-cashmere-spandex mix is thin and lightweight with tight sleeves. The cowlneck is beautiful and drapes oh so nicely. I prefer it off to one side as you see in my fitting room photos. The length hit me about mid-hip.

The overall body of the sweater hugs but not too tightly, except in the sleeves where the fit is especially tight through the upper arms. I tried on a large (not shown) to see how it felt, but the body was loose in an unflattering way. This sweater will stretch out over the course of the day thanks to that spandex. In the photos above I’m wearing my usual size medium and that’s the size I’d buy. In the back the cowlneck comes to a nice ruched seam that avoids making it look like your hair is hiding a hunchback. I don’t foresee this sweater pilling much.

Of the three colors available I’d stick with this nice boring cream, mostly because it will pair well with leggings and tall boots. Yet another item that’s fresh to my wishlist.

Aida Cowlneck ($78) by Sparrow, TTS
Style #: 28296002; beige (024), black (001), pink (066), sky (045)
★★★☆☆

Hmm. The Aida Cowlneck ($78) was the Anthropologie sweater I most looked forward to trying on, but I’m a little less than enamored with it. The reason? The wonky neckline…is it a cowlneck? A ruffle? An accidentally unfinished seam? From the product page I understand how the neckline is supposed to look and with a cool iron I’m sure I could get there. These photos, however, look kinda silly.

This sweater is an unholy mix of sheep and synthetics that is admittedly soft. The sleeves are more billowy and princess puffy than I expected, especially down at the wrists. It’s not a deal breaker by any means but it does draw the eye downward and that’s not what I want. The sweater is somewhat short. I have it pulled down as far as it will go for these fitting room photos, but it really wants to sit on my high hips.

I tried on my usual size medium and I’m satisfied with the fit. This sweater skims the body — except of course through those loose sleeves — and feels comfortable on. It doesn’t itch or scratch or cause any kind of discomfort. How this sweater really wins with me is the back. Oh the back!

I loooooove the back. It’s such a pretty detail and very well-done here, in a flattering size and shape that doesn’t show any bra or unnecessary details. So even though I have some quibbles with the fit this is the sweater that’s most likely to come home with me. Besides, as I mentioned in my last new arrivals roundup, I feel like Anthropologie is showing off my style in its product shot. One part feminine, one part prep edge. I’ll probably unabashedly reproduce the look because it feels innately like how I’d wear it anyway.

This sweater is sitting in my cart hoping for a promo code to come along soon! (Hint, hint, Anthropologie.)

Rainier Pullover (now $50) by Sparrow, TTS
Style #: 28477552; nude (013) or silver (007)
★★★★☆

The Rainier Pullover (now $50) is a summer sweater gone on sale but that’s no reason to overlook it. This sweater is a fantastic fall/spring option! The color definitions are completely off though. This “nude” is a pale pink (less brown than I’d think) and the silver is really more of a beige-infused ivory. One online reviewer calls it oatmeal and I’d say that’s accurate. The sweater features an open vine knit with one cable down the center. It’s very body-hugging which helped define my waist. The sleeves are just barely long enough and the sweater itself could really use another inch or two in length.

This is the kind of sweater I’d wear with a crisp collared shirt underneath. It’s a little short which works well over a denim skirt or perhaps a pencil. Finish the look off with a chunky necklace and you’re all set! I found a medium to fit me well. Close-fitting but not constricting.

I think this sweater is lovely and at $50 I’d jump on it! This is another item that’s in my cart right now.

Geo Bloom Pullover ($88) by Field Flower from Wendi Reed, size down
Style #: 28356772; neutral motif (015)
★★★★☆

Oh geometry, you were the toughest part of math for me (even calculus was easier) yet I love you so in clothing and architecture. The Geo Bloom Pullover ($88) had me drooling from the moment it appeared on Anthropologie’s website. It’s equally pleasing in real life. The boatneck is a nice balance to the print which is the same size all over the sweater. The underside of the pattern makes for a nice contrast of the cuffs on the bracelet sleeves. The fit is body-skimming without being too tight.

I found a medium too big so it’s down to a small I went for these fitting room photos. The sweater cuts across the high hip nicely. There is room in the body but it also cinches in nicely at the waist if your body is hourglass shaped like mine. The material isn’t itchy per se but it is a little rough. If you are sensitive to itch this probably isn’t the sweater for you.

Lots of styling options for this sweater. It’s medium weight so on really cold days you could wear it under a blazer. Layer a blouse beneath it for a late-fall look. Interlock the cuff with a thermal underneath for a casual weekend look. The print and color are ideal for pattern mixing! Lots of ideas, lots of promise. Wishlisted!

I’ll be back later today with more sweaters and a couple of blazers. Have you tried on any of these items? If so, what did you think of them? Will you buy any of the sweaters showcased here?


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