By request of the community this reviews set features all the blazers/toppers I could find at the Chelsea Market (NYC) Anthropologie last weekend. I apologize in advance for the pattern overload.
Note: If you’re wondering my sizing measurements/height/etc, they’re detailed on this page.
The Ajuda Field Blazer ($128) is a sweater masquerading as a blazer. Oh sure the shape’s blazer, the buttons are blazer and the coin pockets on the front are blazer. But one touch and this feels nothing like a blazer! Which is cool by me — the sweater shape helped me with the overall fit. This masquerading cardigan is a little shrunken. If you want your blazer somewhat shrunken and cropped stick to your true size. For me, sizing up to a large felt a lot better.
The cardigan is soft to the touch and has lots of nice design details. Besides the coin pockets, I love the tuxedo lapels and the long sleeves which came to about mid-hand on me. The pattern on this blazer is nuts. A rainbow of meadow florals cover every inch of the material for a jacket that reminds me of what my crazy 3rd grade science teacher would wear on one our nature walks. I wouldn’t recommend putting it over something as heavily patterned as the Elie Tahari dress I’m wearing (familiar perhaps from this OOTD?) but over a solid-colored look this blazer will stand out in all the right ways.
Fortune favors the bold, much like this blazer. Wishlisted but waiting for sale.
If the Ajuda Field Blazer felt like a sweater than the Achroma Layered Blazer ($148) is its sweatshirt cousin. This jacket and the Waved Placket Jacket (now $80, review) feel like siblings to me, with the Achroma being straight out of the 70s to me. I can’t say whether it’s more Bond villain, cruise ship or band member to me. It even has a little bit of a Charlie’s Angels flair to me, like something Jaclyn Smith might wear.
There are some design choices that strike me as odd. For example, the sleeves hit just above the wrist. Not quite short enough to be bracelet length so the effect is more “these sleeves are a skosh too short” than intentional fashion. At least the white piping lines up with the bottom of the jacket’s white lining…? I also find the buttons strange with their brown marbled into ivory. And finally, the underside of the sleeves — the side that sits against your body — are white. It’s all very confusing to me and yet I still like this blazer.
I have dropped a size in Cartonnier blazers to an 8. I tried on a 10 for these photos and it’s a little big. Stick to your usual size. I like that the poly sweatshirt material doesn’t attract as much dust/lint/animal fuzz as typical blazer material would. Another perk is that it’s nice and long, hitting low-hip. The lapels are small and long in to add to the 70s vibe, while the inset white stands out nicely against the black.
I’m not sure if I love this blazer but there’s no question it’s well-made with interesting details. If you want to stand out this is the topper to do that with. For me, wishlisted for further consideration.
The return of ruffles is a welcome sight! Tabitha’s Laced Posy Blazer ($148) makes use of them inside the lapels. (Check out the product shot for better illustration of this.) This open-latticework cropped blazer seems like the ideal piece to wear over a ballgown, dress or cocktail frock. I dream of parties! My pale white skin isn’t exactly the best base for the blazer to rest on but it does a great job of showing all the sheer spots. The cotton material with nylon ruffle is rough against the skin, though not entirely uncomfortable. Basically this is the Laced Delphinium Blazer in black with a ruffle along the lapel.
Tabitha tends to cut its blazers short and this is no exception. It rests just above my hips on my 5’8″ frame. My usual size 10 felt good; these blazers tend to run small through the ribcage. I like the placement of the single button — it’s right at my waist instead of the usual spot too high. The short sleeve has a split end and the back has excellent seaming which works the pattern into a v for fit nicely.
This piece has lovely details and a great fit! I don’t need any more cropped blazers but if I did this would be at the top of my list.
Anthropologie seems obsessed with eyelet currently. Didn’t we just see something very similar to the Spun Eyelet Blazer ($128) in the Laced Delphinium Blazer‘s navy version? I guess the more the merrier. The lapel on this blazer is larger, the bottom hem more tulip and the eyelet more of a flower than a medallion. The sleeves on this blazer are much tighter, not up towards the shoulder but down at the bottom cuff for sure.
Like the Tabitha blazer above a 10 felt good size-wise. The button is too high on this blazer for me, causing some pull across the bottom of my ribs. Thanks, short torso. In the back this blazer is considerably longer with a rounded hemline. It’s a cool detail but makes this a little harder to wear for someone like me with a curvy behind. Perhaps this is why the online model has it open. The waistline has a small band that has two small open pockets. Functional? Not for me — too small.
Pretty blazer, meant to be worn open in my opinion. Pass for me.
Is a little patch of lace enough to make a basic green anorak stand out? Anthropologie is hoping so with its Itinerant Anorak ($128). I loooooovvveeeee anoraks so of course I had to try this one on but even I have to admit this is a really basic piece for $100+. I hate the color of the drawstrings! They’re ivory with little black hashes like climbing rope or something. I wish they matched the jacket. I love the red inside the zip placket, the elastic cuffs and the slightly longer back with vent. Of note, the product shot doesn’t show this well but there are two drawstrings hanging out the bottom of the back. They’re meant to be tied.
A medium was comfortably loose on me. The fit on this anorak is great. You can define the waist without looking frumpy. And I do like the lace applique a lot. I just think this jacket is way overpriced. I’m thinking $78, maybe $88 would have been fine. $128 is laughable to me. And yes you could probably recreate this with something from army surplus for about $40.
Pretty, not worth the price. Wishlisted but waiting for sale and then second cut. Too lazy to make this on my own.
I really like light-colored leather jackets and I love the feminine details of the Battenburg Leather Jacket ($398). With scalloping at the neckline, down the shoulders and lining the placket, this jacket is pretty as it is tough! I did notice however that two coats in store had damage to the scallops. So inspect carefully! In the back a cute leather ruffle adds one more shot of femininity to the bottom. I question the choice of buttons in the front rather than a zip though.
The light color of the leather means it will probably tan in some spots and lighten in others. To me this only adds to the appeal but it may not be good to all. It’s very buttery and soft with a cotton lining. The jacket is long, hitting me mid-hip. There are two side pockets.
Sizes were scarce so I tried a 10 on, and it was big. I’m normally a 6 or an 8 in Elevenses coats and I think the 8 would be perfect here. The jacket is boxy and lacks shape. I guess most moto-style jackets are boxy so I won’t be too harsh. My main quibbles are that the buttons are annoying and the scallops seem destined to get destroyed.
Pretty jacket, will require TLC. Pass for me.
What do you think of the toppers in this reviews set? Do you own any of these items? If so, how are you styling them?
