A recent review of my closet revealed something interesting: I don’t own solid-colored tops anymore. This includes cardigans. I can remember the origination date of this problem (or thereabouts): October 29, 2008. These days everything I buy seems to be embellished with lace or rosettes or sequins or patterns so bold it’s hard to pair another with them. Last weekend I promised myself to focus on some less exuberant tops.
Of course then I went to Anthropologie to do some reviews and that plan got shot to hell.
For how can one resist tops as fun as Floreat’s From the Meadow Tank ($98)? This taupe poplin top has a bouquet of two-tone flowers bursting from one shoulder and a fun waterfall of tiers in the back that I waffled on before deciding I like it.
This top is certainly over the top, which I enjoy. Floreat has been a brand that runs small on me so I sized up to an 8 for comfort over my chest. Seemed to do the trick. The top has tons of nice little details like darting on the bodice, a skirted hem with two subtle pleats and a smocked back for help with the fit. The straps are wide which helps to balance everything going on. I quite like this shirt. Wishlisted!
The Bretonnes Blouse ($68, original review here) sold out almost immediately when it was first released in March. I’d grabbed Edme & Esyllte’s modern spin on seafaring in black and was content for spring. But then I saw new colors for summer and the cream was calling to me like a siren.
Please pardon the visible bra…I was unprepared for how sheer this top is. It has a trail of wooden buttons down one shoulder and two lazy pinups that take the arms from flared to modern slouch. The boatneck is properly placed thanks to a bra strap fastener just under the collar (nice touch, Anthro!). My usual size medium was very roomy. I could have easily sized down to a small but the store was sold out so I settled on the medium. This is a top I plan to wear for years to come.
Deletta’s Midday Garden Top ($68) caught my eye simply by virtue of being yellow. It didn’t photograph very well however so trust the product shot over the ones above for color. I tried on my usual size small. The shirt has an elastic hem which allows you to set it at lengths varying from high hip with blousing to low hip with pulling.
I knew this top wasn’t right as soon as I put it on. An inspection of the tag revealed why: it’s made from a combination of the ex’s: spandex, lurex, etc. Gross. The result was a matronly fit and unacceptable sleeves. The flower pattern is pretty cool and I like the neckline. But there’s no room in my closet for plastic clothing. Back to the rack.
The Graces Tank ($48) did a wonderful job of showing off my tan! For that I thank Deletta. But this top failed me in every other respect. How is this top practical?? Where oh where could I wear it? Not to work. Not during the day. Not without a cami underneath. It’s made of heathered cotton that’s incredibly sheer from both the front and the back. It looks like I added ribbon on the front to be demure. And that ribbon? Doesn’t look great.
I don’t know who on the design team keeps saying yes to sheer but can we please change the slogan to JUST SAY NO TO SEE-THRU? Please? It’s like $10 hooker over here and I’m really sick of it. If the lower price is due to cutting corners with the fabric (pun intended) please excuse me while I roll my eyes into the back of my head. Because justifying a $48 shirt by using cheap crap is no better than selling a $500 for $350 because it’s stained. It’s lame. Lame, lame, lame, lame. I think I would die of shock if I saw an opaque white shirt at Anthro. And yes, that is a challenge.
Moving on, Bordeaux’s Recherce Tank ($68) exudes “lavish elegance”. I guess that’s what we’re calling it when the chiffon has finished seams rather than raw ones. This top looked promising on the rack and it almost worked in real life. I tried on a medium which fit comfortably though I did not like how the seams looked in the back.
My main issue with this top are the diagonal shiny pieces on the front. The made my chest look droopy. Had they been lower it would have done the opposite and probably been very flattering. I’m not sure that would have been the whole answer since the raised seems are adding width and bulk. But it would have gone a long way. Promising, but didn’t live up to the potential for me. Back to the rack.
The Granada Tank ($68, style #010085) is “sold out” on the website but just made it into my local stores. (There’s also the very similar Replenishing Dew Tank ($78), which as of this writing is available in everything except XL). I was hoping to transition the Aquatic Outfits set look with the Palo Borracho Necklace ($158) and this top to real life. Sadly I was thwarted by this C. Keer tank.
I vacillate between a small and a medium in C. Keer so I tried both. Neither worked. The photos above are the small. The issue comes down the (beautiful) thin shoulder straps against my broad shoulders and curvy shape. Tanks look best on me when they’re balanced, and this one has a wide band around the hips (bad) against slight shoulders (worse). The top itself is beautiful. The lace straps are gorgeous, the pattern is pretty and the band has little clusters of sparkly enhancements. The shape doesn’t work on me though. Recommended, but a personal no-go.
Is there such a thing as too much cowl neck? If so I nominate the Gurgling Ripples Cowlneck ($68) as Exhibit A. It’s made from soft jersey and feels oh so right. My usual medium was an easy fit. It just looked oh so wrong.
I LOVE the neckline. It was just deep enough to give a hint of cleavage without crossing the line from daytime to naughty evening. In my opinion there was too much fabric in the cowl though. It was like wearing a hammock around my neck. If you need a siesta just come lay down in my cowl. Weird. One less layer would have been perfect. Not quite right for me; back to the rack.
Strike up the Brass Band Tank ($48)! Pilcro’s top has elements that are a little nautical and a little overalls and I quite like it. I was afraid of how this top would look on me. After some time in the fitting room I think it looks flattering.
I stuck to a medium. It has a rounded hem like a few other recent Anthro tops which makes it ideal for poking out from a sweater come colder weather. It also looks great on its own. It’s not sheer on top (yay!) but the striped portion is (boo). There’s a cute solid racerback. I think the blue/green combo is my favorite but I missed that one at the store. Wishlisted!
I'm with you on the sheer trend. I was over it years ago. The Limited, a place I love to shop, went overboard on it. There and at Anthro the SAs are like, "Well, just wear a cami!" Um, no thanks. It was 110 here yesterday and I really don't need additional layers or an under layer that is tight against my skin.Stop the sheer! It is insanity.
I totally agree, I hate the sheer trend, they really need to stop it, why wear a cardi unnecessarily in the summer. I love the From the Meadow Tank on you but I don't think I could pull it off. I wanted the black Bretonnes blouse in March but it sold out when I was ready to buy now I'm over it.
Roxy,Your reviews turned out to be my pick me up this 100 deg plus afternoon…..And lady, you are a good communicator….hilarious…I can't get over the "come lay on my neck" LOL….and still laughing.Shalu
I'm not a fan of all the sheer items either! However, I am a fan of that Granada Tank on you!!!
i'm not a big fan of sheer either but i will say that i do like semi-sheer drapy type tops that i can layer a long cami/racerback cami underneath. i think it looks fun. then again, i do prefer lower prices because it already seems outlandish to pay that much for a tank!!also, i really like the graces tank on you, maybe the light lavender will be less sheer? OT but also wanted to say how much i LOVE your always consistent three poses in the fitting room reviews. it really anchors how something looks from all angles and makes comparing different items easier. 🙂
LOVE the From the Meadows Top on you!! It fits you much better than it did me.I too am frustrated with all the sheerness at Anthro lately – how the heck do you wear a sheer tank? Who wants to put a tank under a tank?! Sigh.
Floreat's blouse looks wonderful on you, Roxy! I want it now too 🙂
I recently purchased the Up-Close Ikat Shell online. It also suffered from "too much cowl neck"! Back it went.I do miss Anthro's tees from a few years back that had actual short sleeves (Ben and Lucia, Velvet, Edun). Bring them back, Anthro!The From The Meadow Tank looks great on you, Roxy! Thanks for the wonderful reviews!
I love the bretonnes blouse. That is right up my alley…I love easy slouchy tops and they always look so laid-back cool paired with skinny/straight jeans. I think I will pick up a couple of these. I'm not sure how to feel about the From The Meadow tank…I like the back but the flowers on the shoulder are huge.
***thunderous applause**** Thank you for the comments regarding sheerness. We are all on board; it is summer and we don't want to layer under an already pricey (but cute) tank!Thank you for your wonderful reviews. You break it down like no one else and we love you for that.
That Brass Band Tank is really adorable on you! What a cute casual piece! You have my full support on the no more sheer campaign 😉
I really like the bretonnes blouse–btw, fabulous tan!! 🙂
I don't think I ever would have picked it up off the rack, but the Brass Band tank is actually my favorite in this round of reviews. For such a simple top, it looks really flattering on in your pics.
the bretonnes blouse looks amazing on you!
lol re: the void of solid colors comment. It is strangely coincidental that the date of your problem coincided with the start of your blog…Hm. ::cough cough:: But I know what you mean! I have to deliberately plan to purchase those solid, non-embellished pieces now, because after finding Anthro my closet has evolved into an explosion of flora and fauna. HTH did that happen? BTW, the From the Meadow Tank looks great on you. I really like it. The back is darling and sort of Victorian. It probably wouldn't work on shorties like me, but on you it rocks. Thanks for the reviews!
Dear Roxy,I don't understand the appeal of the Bretonnes blouse… The From the Meadows tank, however, looks SENSATIONAL on you. It's really flattering. You always look lovely, of course, but for me, this may be the best you've ever looked!
roxy!!! you look lady like and proper in that From The Meadow Tank and i love the cowl neck on you. *swoon*
Roxy,I love the "From The Meadows Tank" and it looks great on you. I tried this top on the other day and could not make a decision. In my opinion it's kind of pricey at full price, but I'm afraid if it ever does make it to a sale, my size will be sold out. What to do, what to do??? Ahh, decisions decisions.
I wanted to like the From the Meadows Tank, but it was just too over the top for me. I could have loved it with the rosettes, though grand, but the tiers in the back were too much. I know my butt would simply be more pronounced. Maybe it will grow on me as it see it more.On the sheer "trend": yes, i'm totally over it. I would be willing to pay more to have nice quality, long-lasting clothes.Thanks for the reviews!
ITA on the sheer trend. Over it. What bothers me most is that I can see the tiny roll I have that barely hangs over my waistline, the last part of my body to give in to endless workouts and eating well! Plus, it makes all of the clothes look cheap. I could go to F21 or Charlotte Russe and buy those same tops for half the price!I have to say though, I LOVE my Gurgling Ripples tops (that's right, I bought two colors). I find them to be really flattering! I do sort of tuck part of the cowel in towards my chest, don't know if that makes sense. And I have the Brass Band and I love that one too!
Anon #1, I don't get the Bretonnes Blouse either. Glad I'm not the only one! I was like "eh?…" lol. Something for everyone, I suppose. Apparently it sold out, so I guess it's a popular look! Just not for me (us), though.I like the Graces Tank, but was also annoyed by the sheerness when I tried it on. I do like it enough that I kept it and will layer a nude tank, but really, design fail.