There’s a certain formula that the best Anthropologie catalogs follow. Traveling. Walking. Forests. Upshots from city sidewalks. The shot above is another example — the balcony spy shot. What you don’t see is the model pulling out her water gun and squirting the photog in the next shot!
The dress from that shot is Moulinette Soeurs’ Here & There Dress ($158). Let’s start with the good. The length on this dress is fantastic! After the super short dresses and skirts last spring and summer (which will return, sigh) it’s a relief to have a dress hit at my knees. And there are pockets which I love. The pattern of this dress is beautiful, a mix of classic color and print.
This is the second Moulinette Soeurs dress I’ve tried this winter where the lining is much tighter than the dress. I’m in between a 6 and a 8 in the brand’s dresses so normally I grab an 8. Unfortunately there were none so I tried my true size 6. While the dress itself was OK the lining was so tight that it pulled the dress something awful, especially around my thighs. Not flattering at all. There’s also no back vent so this is going to be tricky to walk in. You won’t be able to take full strides. It’s also clearly not cut for large busts. The cowl was practically nonexistent.
Despite the issues I think the dress is lovely and I’d classify it as a special occasion dress. It’s made of real silk, not the fake stuff and that gets kudos. I’m going to seek out an 8 this weekend to see if it’s any better in the fit department.
Next up is a dress that should be familiar to Anthro fans. It’s now called the Ablaze Dress ($288) but last fall we knew it as the Emerald Cut Dress (no longer online, review here). The fit is exactly the same and it’s just as lovely in this new version. I tried on my true size 6 again and it was fab. I love how this dress makes your waist almost disappear. The length is great and you can easily throw a cardigan over it for winter. I personally like the green of the Emerald Cut Dress better but I still highly recommend the Ablaze Dress.
Little Yellow Button’s Bayside Dress ($138) is a jumper complete with double sets of buttons down the front. I like the print of this dress very much but I was not happy with how it looked on. It’s made of rayon and spandex and it’s heavy. Pulling downward on me. I tried on the medium which was roomy but comfortable. I like the crisscross back. The belt, not so much.
With a cardigan over it I think this dress is workable. The shape isn’t really best for my body so it’s a pass. I think at sale price this jumper is viable but I would not pay full price for it.
This Lil dress has not hit the website yet. Ali gave her take in her guest review post yesterday (thanks Ali!). My true size 6 fit easily but this dress was just not impressing me. The ruffle down the front is a cute move. The belt was a real pain — first of all even the smallest notch was still hanging loosely from my waist. Secondly it was so thin that it was practically useless. The color was washing me out some but I think this dress would look beautiful against a darker skin tone.
For the last shot I threw on Bailey 44’s Ruffled Terraces Cardigan ($88) in a medium. The cardigan is fantastic! Just the right length and the tiers work with the open style. I’m sure it will be a very versatile piece. I have my reservations about the long-term durability though so I wishlisted this one for now, planning to wait for sale.
Hi Roxy, all the dresses look very pretty on you I think. I will get to the store and look at some point, but do you mind telling me, is the T.Reese dress an orangey red? Or what sort of color/tone and the stitching looks white online? It is called Tomato. I have and love the Emerald cut dress and wondered about the color of dress.Thanks!
ps I do agree with you that the first two are the best on you – the color and cut look beautiful, but I think the other too are far from 'awful'/total misses – of course you would be able to tell better IRL.
hi roxylove the first two dresses, great colors and prints!
Hi Sydneygirl, in my opinion it was a lot closer to orange then red. Definitely a nice color though.Thanks ali! 🙂
Roxy: curious about your concern about long term durablility of the Ruffled Terraces cardi?
Bronzi, since it's rayon I'm worried that it's going to stretch and fray.
Ooh, the Ablaze Dress looks absolutely lovely on you! The fit is just amazing. Here's hoping for second cuts…
The Ablaze dress is *stunning* on you. Just perfect. I love it.
You look so great in the Here & There Dress. I really like it. Perhaps a tailor can put a small slit in the back for you.
Ladies, thank you all for the compliments! Really makes a girl feel good. 😀
Love the moulinette soeurs and hope you can find it in a size 8! I also love the ablaze dress, but it looks pretty tight. Maybe it would be a little more flattering if you went with an 8? The other dresses are great as well. Thanks for your awesome and informative posts as always!PS. Have you seen the Scarlet Blaze dress in the shop?
Hi Anon, I don't recall seeing the Scarlet Blaze dress in-store. I can check my sale sections next time I'm there.
The Ablaze Dress (and it's previous green sister) both look gorgeous on you in these posts! I normally would have passed dresses of those colour combinations on by but now I've got my eye firmly on the Ablaze dress. Red's a hard colour for me – my light colouring makes me look a bit too Christmassy in it – but I would chance it for that cut (if it went on sale).
I think the Bayside dress looks amazing on you!