Guest post: Reviews by Betsy

Once more a fabulous community volunteer has sent in some guest reviews. I am so enjoying reading the different takes on Anthro’s items and I love being exposed to items I wouldn’t normally look at. Today Betsy joins us for another go-round. If you’re interested in writing a guest post please email me or click the “contact” link near the top of the blog. On to the guest post!

I had such fun reviewing last time, I couldn’t wait to jump back in! This time around I headed to Anthro on my lunch break. Because I was wearing work clothes, I felt like trying on some office-appropriate tops.

First up was the Tandem Jump Blouse ($88) by Fei. It’s been in my store for several weeks. I thought I had a 6 but in the dressing room I realized I’d grabbed a 4. Surprisingly, it fit pretty well, though a bit tight through the chest. I liked a lot of things about this top – the material is drapey silk, the neckline is a scoop with a sophisticated, pleated ruffle, and the teal color is beautiful. At first I thought the print was hot air balloons, but upon closer inspection those appear to be parachutes. Quirky! My only issue with this top was the fact that it has an exposed zipper in the back. To me, an exposed zipper sort of screams, “Unzeep Meh!” which is not a look I particularly want to go for in the office. I think I’ll wishlist this in a 6 if it ever shows up on the site. FYI – that’s my black cami underneath – this shirt doesn’t have a second layer.

Next up was the Any-Other-Rose Cardi ($118) by Moth. This cardi looks kind of orange in my pics but is dark red and pink in person. It closes with oversized hooks and eyes in the front. This knit cardi was sort of stretchy and very soft. I grabbed a size down – small – and it fit well, though it gaped on the bottom a bit more than I’d like. I thought the stand-up ruffle along the neckline was cute, and I like a 3/4 sleeve length. However, the ruffled band running around the midsection called too much attention to my belly, and the print was a bit too tapestry-esque for me. I’m not sure this would hold its shape very well after a washing. Cute, but not worth $118 in my book.

Wrap sweaters are usually great for my body type, so I couldn’t wait to try the Recital Cardigan ($88) by Guenevere. I went with the white (the store had purple, too). My true size medium fit well. This cotton/linen blend seemed much thinner in person than it appeared on the website. Granted, I had on a black cami, but you would have been able to see whatever I was wearing underneath, and the neckline is low. You’ll definitely need something under this. It kind of annoyed me that the double layer where the sweater crisscrossed in the front was so obvious. But I liked the stripes and ruffles combo, and in the pics it’s more flattering than I’d realized. I might get this in purple if it goes on sale.

Next, I checked out Odille’s Lorillard Blouse ($78). I loved this top in the catalog. It reminded me of the shirt Linda Kozlowski wears in Crocodile Dundee 2 when they’re traipsing around the Outback. Floaty white cotton with big cuffed bell sleeves. Yes please! Again, this shirt was very see-through. There’s a white strip sewn to the inside of each sleeve, meant to button on the outside and hold the sleeves if you want to roll them up. As you can see in the photos, this strip is obviously visible through the fabric if you choose to leave the sleeves down. The size 6 fit in the waist but was too roomy in the chest, a problem my B cups and I have frequently. Unfortunately, this shirt didn’t really work for me in the end. Also, isn’t Lorillard the name of a tobacco company? Hmmmm…

I love to save the best for last… and it’s the Blushing Bouquet Cardigan ($88) by Sparrow. It kept catching my eye, though I wasn’t sure it was my style. Finally I gave in and tried a medium. So glad I did – I LOVED this sweater! Until I put it on I hadn’t realized that the stripes were downwardly angled chevrons, making it very slimming. It’s unexpected, but I adore the contrast of the peonies against the stripes. While the cardigan isn’t particularly long, I’m sort of short-waisted so it came far enough for me. Someone with a longer waist-to-hip ratio might have trouble. At $88, this cardi is everything I love about Anthro – unique and feminine, with carefully thought-out details. I’m seriously considering going back for this one at full price!