Plenty of reviews for this big holiday weekend. Tops? Check. Skirts? Check. Budget? Gulp.
Does anyone else think Anthropologie is not-so-subtlety going for an Alice in Wonderland theme this fall? From candy-colored confections to clocks and mirrors adorning their pieces, I keep expecting to run into a tea party in the homewares section. It certainly appeals to my more whimsical side though it is a little hard to blend into the work wardrobe.
I first spotted the Lost in Time Skirt ($118) on Krameymartin. Interesting how the clocks are clustered on the skirt like large bouquets. I grabbed a 10 in this skirt since I usually size up in Floreat, but in this case my true size 8 would have been fine. This skirt sits properly at the waist — nice! I was immediately annoyed to see that the clock pattern doesn’t line up on the left side. This seemed to be true for every size on the rack. I have mentioned this before but it really cheapens the look in my opinion. It’s the little things that matter Anthro!
This skirt is pretty stiff. No flounce to it. The material is a heavier cotton with crinoline layered underneath. I love the uniqueness of the pattern but the non-matching seam pattern just kills it for me. Have to pass on it.
Paired with the skirt is Deletta’s Heliconius Top ($68). Note Anthro’s website mislabels this top as being C. Keer. I am so down with the lazy panels around the shoulders, which truly do resemble wings in both shape and texture. The proportions were about perfect on my 34D chest. My usual size small was very comfy and flattering and — holy crap! — this top wasn’t sheer. I nearly passed out right there in the fitting room. Anthro does remember how to do opaque. Wishlisted!
More wings on my chest courtesy of Floreat’s Secret Garden Blouse ($98). Praise is due to Floreat for making their tops longer recently. I am so pleased to see this after their short tops last winter. This particular blouse has a tuxedo bib with two scalloped-edged wings sprouting off, with a thin red sash and garden trim. It sounds like a lot but the overall look is lovely.
I tried on my usual size 8 in this brand. It was a good fit. I noticed the arm holes were smaller than recent tops which most people will like — no visible bra strap. Wishlisted it! For fitting room purposes I paired the top with We Love Vera’s Licorice Lanes Skirt ($78), a fun striped skirt that’s ready to frolic along the boardwalk. This skirt sits right at the waist and so my true size 8 was a comfortably loose fit. I love everything about this skirt! It has just the right amount of flounce. The pleats are perfect. It’s light and airy but I don’t have to worry about it flying up in the subway station. I was tempted to bring it home on the spot, but pragmatism won out and I have this one wishlisted for now.
I kept the skirt on as I tried on a couple of cardigans. I like how in the side view I’m in stripes head to toe, with even my wedges joining in the fun! None of these are meant to be real life outfits — it was more the convenience factor then anything. I’d already reviewed the Field Game Cardi (now $60) way back in December of 2009. At the time the navy in a medium wasn’t really exciting me but once the grey color arrived I was ready to take a second look. This time around I tried a large which fit much better. The material is a bit thin and though the care tag says you can wash this sweater I will probably dry clean it to be safe. I still stand by my original thought that it’s a bit short. It’s the right length to work with skirts but a little short to be closed over pants.
A friend of mine warned me this one was coming up for sale. So I was a little bummed on Monday night when the Anthro I was at wouldn’t confirm the news. It was easy enough to go back for the PA on Tuesday but as a frequent customer it would have been nice to at least get a little wink wink, nudge nudge action. Sadly, much of the day staff I knew seems to have moved on so I’m still working on winning over the new staff. If you can find this cardigan $60 is a decent price for it. Much better than the $118 it was originally priced at.
I whine about too many ruffles and then what do I do? Fall in love with yet another ruffled piece. This cute little cardi is Sparrow’s One After Another Cardi ($98). It’s a mix of pointelle and cotton tiers attached to a thin 3/4 sleeve setup. I tried on the ivory which they could really call butter. The color is much closer to yellow than white. I am usually a small in Sparrow but as you can see that was too small with gaps between the buttons. I should have stuck to my true size medium.
For me this cardigan would be a challenge to wear closed. It is meant to be close to form and I didn’t like how that looked over my chest. I would wear this cardigan open exclusively. I think this piece would work well at the office for chilly air conditioned days. The color will go with almost anything and the black version even more so. Wishlisted, waiting for sale.
I love it when Odille releases these classic, crisp blouses! I cannot believe that there is even a single negative review for the Bits-of-Pearl Blouse ($58). It’s perfect! I would buy variations of this blouse over and over. The darting is feminine and flattering; the sleeves are delicate without being fly-away and the color is practical yet sweet. I bought this top immediately and wore it the next day. If I thought I could get away with it I would have worn it again this week.
I tried on my usual size 6 which was a perfect fit (in the fitting room the full skirt was pushing it up a bit so I paired it with a straighter skirt for work). A couple of reviews knock this blouse for being low-cut. I would not have objected to a slightly higher neckline but I didn’t find it too bad. I threw a cami under it for work just to be safe though.
At the same time I tried on Corey Lynn Calter’s Mossy Atoms Skirt ($148), which is probably the most expensive elastic-waist skirt I’ve ever tried on. Really, Anthro? $148??? Remove the 1 in front and then we’re talking. I know this skirt is silk and what lovely silk it is but it has an elastic waist. There is no zipper. There is little structure. Triple digits are hard to swallow.
I do love the circular dot pattern and this skirt just so happened to match the necklace I was wearing perfectly. I tried on the medium which fit perfectly. This skirt has pockets — always a nice thing. I like it but will wait for sale. Wishlisted!
Damn Roxy, you are totally killing all those pieces in your reviews today! It's hard for me to even pick a favorite really. You've made me fall harder in love with the Secret Garden Blouse, confirmed my love for the Lost Time Skirt (despite the negative words, I think it looks darling on you :)), and I actually just took the Bits-of-Pearl Tank off my wishlist last night in an attempt to moderate my desires, but whoosh! Just put it back on, and shoved it a little higher :)I too am somewhat appalled by the price of the Mossy Atoms skirt. It's on par with past behavior though. I remember the Light Field skirt from Fall 2008 — also a pull-on silk skirt by Corey Lynn Calter with polka dots — cost $148 as well. I liked it, but couldn't get past the price, even on sale, just too much at $80. Happily I got it on eBay for $29 eventually 🙂
Great reviews! I was so confused by the mossy atoms skirt price! Holy moly that is a hefty tag for elastic. I also assume it is because of the CLC name. I tried on the Lost Time skirt in an 8 and it poofed weirdly on me but I think a 10 would have been better. You definitely could have sized down though from the look of it. Great reviews! Really helpful!
Also, I too see Alice everywhere I look right now at Anthropologie. Definitely seems to be inspired by Mary Blair's vision. I am personally, selfishly glad ruffles reign supreme for fall because my closet is full of them and my wedding dress is one big system of tiers. That ruffled cardi reminds me very much of a 3.1 phillip lim jacket I wanted desperately and a later 3.1 phillip lim cardi I could have bought on Gilt but was still too pricey. I hope this one makes it to sale!
I have been in love with the one after another cardi since it first arrived at Anthro. I love both colors and feel they would go with virtualy everything in my closest. I have been resisting to buy one of the colors, hoping to snag both on sale, but I feel myself getting more weak as the days go by! 🙂
Thanks for the reviews, Roxy! I'm desperate for that Bits-Of-Pearl blouse in the Ivory shade and I'm hoping it's not sheer. You're certainly right about the Alice vibe. Did you notice the Sugar & Cream dress? http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=18768077&navAction=jump&search=true&parentid=SEARCH_RESULTS
The Bit-of-Pearl blouse looks stunning on you! Also, I have to say that I find it really ironic that the really ruffly sweater, following several seasons of major ruffles, is called the One After Another cardigan. Maybe Anthro's got a sense of humor.
goldenmeans – thank you!! I remember the Light Field Skirt too, and I am now insanely jealous that you grabbed it on ebay for $29! I will have to start stalking it…Jesspgh – I spy the Cartography Cardi on you! You look stunning in that top shot. Like you I think I'll wait for the cardi to go on sale. Let the clock begin counting down, unless of course they release it in a 3rd color.Winged4Victory – it is hard to resist, isn't it? I went to one Anthro yesterday with my mind set on buying an item and the only reason I don't have it yet is because it wasn't in-store. Sara – YES and I must have it!! I would like to try it on first of course but I may just cave and order it if I can't find it in-store this weekend.Anonymous @ 11:19 – LOL! I hadn't even made the connection but if the name is even a hint of the wink I love it that much more!
I saw the sugar & cream dress at my Anthro store this week didn't try it out. I was a bit disappointed bc it's thinner than I expected and more muted in terms of color.
Great reviews, per usual. I bought the Field Game Cardigan in both red and blue, but can't decided if I'll keep both yet. I also bought the Tiny Windows Dress in coral. So looking forward to wearing that this summer.I agree with you on the Mossy Atoms Skirt, I almost passed out when I saw the price tag. And that blouse you bought looks AMAZING on you!
Fab reviews. I love the Heliconius Top on you; other blog reviews have been kind of down on it, so I'm thinking it'll make it to sale. The Bits-of-Pearl Blouse also looks great; am I crazy to think that $58 is a bargain now, lol? Seriously, I have this problem where everything I try on gets put on the wishlist. Anthro's killing my budget for sure.Great connection to Alice in Wonderland! I didn't see it before, but now that you say it the theme completely makes sense.
Well I decided at the that I didn't need the Gray Field Game Cardi plus my guy convinced me that the Navy was fine and versatile too (it was a hard decision lol I love them both) I agree the Mossy Atoms Skirt is way overpriced. I got to try on the Magnifying Glass Dress today and I loved it!! Got it on the spot, just in time for a wedding too. This one was a surprise for me, I didn't care for it online and I almost didn't try it on.
I love the Mossy Atoms skirt, but I agree, WAY to expensive for what it is.
omg I'm so excited to hear that the Heliconius Top is by Deletta! C. Keer usually fits me kind of weirdly. Does it fit like other Deletta tops or would you say it's more tts? I ask because I'll probably have to order it online (I live 90 minutes from the nearest store). Let me know!
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Hi Jess, it fits like other Deletta tops, which for me means sizing down from a medium to a small.
Roxythanks for the reviews! I agree with you with the mossy gardens skirt. I tried it on as well and thought it was worth 49. max. It reminds me of a skirt i tried on recently at zara isentical style, but a burnt ornage silk color for 39.95. oh well…Happy fourth
Thanks for the reviews, Roxy! I love the subtle Alice in Wonderland theme Anthropologie seems to be embracing this Fall! In spite of the fact that the pattern doesn't match up on the seam, I'm still head-over-heels for the Lost Time Skirt.Happy 4th!
Roxy, I think you look very cute in the Lost Time/ Clock skirt. I had definitely planned on getting that skirt since first seeing it.After seeing it in person at the store today, though, I am changing my mind. Up close, it looks as if it is made of some inexpensive felt, and the fabric was disappointing for the price. Also, I agree with you that the clocks don't line up, and I thought it actually looked much better online than in person.This is one you really want to try on in person and look at the fabric quality carefully, and be sure you are ok with that first. It's too expensive to deal with all that unless you LOVE it!I also found it to run very small in the waist, but when you size up, the hip area in the skirt is too full and huge! Sad, as I had originally placed this one at the top of my list.Heidi
Missed this post initially because I was out celebrating my birthday.What a shame about the Lost Time skirts' pattern! All the Alice In Wonderland clothes Anthro served up in the July offerings have excited me (I'm obsessed with Alice so it felt like a small birthday gift!) and I was most excited about that after the Sugar & Cream dress. I might give in to it regardless because it still looks awfully flattering on you!
So funny. I have the Lost in Time skirt and love it. Some of the same things bugged me but once I put it on, I really liked it, although I had to go up and size and it's still quite snug in the waist (but I am shaped like a pre-pubescent boy without a defined waistline).