I’ve got a huge backlog of reviews to get through including about 40 tops. We’ll kick things off with some of those tops today. Plus, I’ve tried on a bunch of the new July items which I can’t wait to share my thoughts on and get yours too! So let’s get to it.
style # 24543407; white (010), navy (041), green (030)
★★★★☆
I’ll start by stating the obvious: the Triad Slice Tank (now $30) doesn’t look so great on me. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a nice top. This tank has a beautiful design idea in a softly rounded v-neck with a echoing triangle cut out. In a recent article of Anthropologie’s online magazine, the design team talked about how the summer collection was heavily inspired by west coast architecture. Although I tend to have an east coast bent for obvious reasons architecture in clothing is one of my favorite principles. So this shirt is right up my alley!
The top is cotton with a bit of spandex mixed in. I love how long it is! It hit me below my hips and just before the widest part of my thighs. Fitting bodycon, this top can easily be tucked into a skirt but will also show off any lumps and bumps. There’s ribbing on the shirt in diagonal shards that are brought together by thicker ribs in a set of three. When I first saw the tank in-store I didn’t quite recognize it, mostly because the online product shot led me to believe the shoulder straps of this tank are wide-set. But in reality they’re much closer together. This is the rare case where the model shot online actually helped me out…
…and shows the top more realistically. For what it’s worth, I’d have preferred the wide set of the dress form shot.
I tried the top in a small as it was all that was left in my store. It’s too tight of course so I would buy in my usual medium. The biggest issue predictably is that I’m not sure how I’d wear a bra with this top. Even the best fitting strapless is likely to show through. My only option I think is a five-way convertible slung over one shoulder. It’s too bad this top isn’t a little more curve-friendly, but I still love the design. Likely for me but endorsed for others.
The top is a mix of synthetics with a lining layer and a tier of waterfall ruffles on each sleeve. What’s great about this top is that even with the flowiness some attention was paid to fit. The empire seam is a nice touch. The sleeves are set on an inward bias which creates the illusion of a very thin, very flattering shape. In the back the lining layer comes up high enough to properly hide a bra. All of these thoughts are great.
My usual size 6 fit well. I saw a girl wearing this top much like I am here, with a pair of short denim shorts. She looked fantastic but as my friends couldn’t help remarking very out of place on 5th Ave in the Flatiron district of New York. I embrace certain elements of boho in my own personal style but as I’ve been saying there needs to be a modern twist. This is too straight out of the 70s for me. Pass.
The Ruffled Racerback ($78) has a deceptive model shot online — the top looks much less voluminous than the reality. I imagine if we could see the model from the back there would be a peacock’s plume worth of ruffles and fabric. And yet in-store I was immediately in love. The beautiful mesh fans and scallops of this top, along with the pretty shoulder straps, lend a sporty yet feminine feel to this tank. There’s an underlayer to make the tank more opaque and a meshy racerback with enveloped stitching. It hits at low hip with the back slightly longer than the front.
When I first saw this top back in May all I could think about were hot summer dog days and how this would be the perfect airy top. I originally grabbed my usual size medium to try but was swimming in it so I sized down to a small for these photos. While the top manages to not be too big from the sides, you can see there’s a lot of volume from the front. Still, I pictured wearing it over denim shorts with my favorite grey wedges and I was sold. On a hot, hot day this top is perfect. I ended up buying this top and recently did an OOTD with it over on my tumblr.
Ett Twa! Long time no see it feels like. The Silk Road Mosiac Tee ($68) deserves an equally warm welcome. This tee is more than your average top. It’s a mix of three patterns: one on the front/back, one on the right side and one banded around the bottom. It sounds like a lot yet these three combine perfectly. The side pattern takes some getting used to since it visually makes the top asymmetric. I think it works well and I guess that’s one way to avoid the dreaded pattern seam mismatch. The bottom band of this neutral motif version is a tile mosaic that’s generously stretchy. Molly recently OOTD’ed this top to great success.
I tried on my usual size medium and found it a little loose, but right around the banded hem. I’d buy in this size. The pattern varies from top to top and as you can see I ended up with two large chest-covering flowers. I’d look for a pattern a little spaced and balanced for purchase. I felt immediately comfortable in the modal/silk/poly mix. I think this top is slimming which is a feat and much-appreciated. I haven’t purchased this top yet but plan to. The neutral motif is currently sold out online but still out there in stores. Or if you prefer it has two similar cousins in the Painted Peacock Tee ($68) and the Mixed Bouquet Blouse ($98), the latter of which I’ll be reviewing soon.
Back in April, I was on a mad hunt for the Pierced Mint Blouse (now $50) before my trip to Hawaii. Sure this top is “online-only” but luckily in the NYC area that rarely means anything; online-only tops show up in-store here all the time. Sadly it wasn’t meant to be and I ended up with the similar Atzi Blouse instead (reviewed here, OOTD at the bottom of this post). But I couldn’t get the Pierced Mint Blouse off my mind and when it finally showed up here I couldn’t wait to try it on!
What a disappointment it turned out to be. The fit is all kinds of wonky. Tight across the upper chest with large armholes and a very loose bottom. The sleeves are nothing like they look online and the color isn’t so much mint as it is bright green. Also, I hadn’t noticed it online but the embroidered panels are either a lighter blue or a blue-tinted green which stand out oddly in real life. At least the top is made from cotton.
I find Meadow Rue to run large. I tried my usual size 6 on and it was loose. If I were buying this top I’d get it in a 4, but even with 25% off I’m not tempted. I’m happy I ended up with the Atzi instead. This one is a pass.
The Made in Kind capsules keep rolling with new designs for summer. One of my favorite designers in the collaboration is Charlotte Taylor, whose prints are beautiful. The Hummingbird Silk Shell ($118) is an eye-pleasing crisscross of bird and flower with a contrasting yellow cuff sleeve thrown in for good measure. This beautiful silk tank is slightly longer in front and has a keyhole opening in back with button that allows you to slip it on pullover style.
The top falls very straight. It’s not a bad thing necessarily but a little more fit through the waist would have been nice. I found the length of this top wonderful and my only quibble is that the yellow cuffs make the top look narrow through the shoulders even when it’s not. Ah well. My usual size 6 fit perfectly. I would have loved a v-neck instead of this high ringer-style, but I appreciate the mod touch of it as is. I like this top a lot and will probably pick it up on sale. For now, wishlisted!!
The Coriolis Tank ($68) — and its green twin the Laced Lineage Top ($68), and its solid cousin the Devi Tank ($58) — is a long, asymmetric tank with a racer back. The lace detail on the front looks like froth upon the blue waves swirling around. Though the top is rayon it has nice fit touches, particularly the way the racerback gathers the front material and creates a curvy, feminine shape. The set of the swirls also seems intentional to streamline and fake the eye inward. It’s very well done.
I found my usual size medium to be loose and comfortable with enough shape that I’d buy in this size. The longer length makes this a great option to pair with a mini skirt, or belted perhaps over crops. I like the thicker shoulder straps which hide a bra easily and don’t mind the longer tail. This one’s in my cart though I’m trying to hold out for sale.
brown motif (029) or red motif (069)
Two-faced tops seem to be Anthropologie’s thing this year. For summer that’s gone tank-style with the Undergrowth Tank ($68). This tank looks like your average striped ho hum from the front, while the back has a different floral look depending on the color you choose. I looooove all of the patterns. I want to collect all 4! I wish Anthropologie did even temporary price drops; if this top went 2-for I’d pick them all up in a heartbeat. And as a complete sidenote I just love the model’s hair in these shots! I want to know how to do that breezy swept back look so I can try it myself sometime.
The tank is mostly cotton (the front) with poly (the back) and nylon (the neck). I tried on the blue motif in my usual medium, which though a bit large was a better fit than the small which was tight up in the shoulders. The length is great, the straps are thick but not overly so, and the tank has a bit of shape to it so it’s not a box. I don’t have anything bad to say about this top except yikes, $68 for a tank? Wishlisted in every color for sale. I only wish it had gone on sale on Tuesday.
I’ll be back with more reviews later today! What do you think of the tops in this set? Do you own any of them? As usual if you have any review requests please let me know in the comments!
