Guest post: Reviews by Kathleen


It’s time for a guest reviews post! Please welcome Kathleen, the author of the fabulous Princess of Taylor blog and fellow Anthro lover. I love reading all the different perspectives. 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 hit up Anthropologie on Saturday afternoon. I’ve only recently started shopping at the store, so I’ve been having fun looking through everything and not just the new arrivals. The bad news about that is that I have to restrain myself from buying just about everything in the store – it’s all so pretty! How did I go so long without knowing about this store?

About me: I’m 5’8″ and my measurements are 37-31-43. I typically wear an 8-10 top and a 12-14 bottom. I’m a lawyer so I have tons of wardrobe “staples” – I’ve been having fun recently trying to work my recent Anthropologie purchases into my work wardrobe – which means incorporating fun/interesting pieces, but still being “courtroom appropriate.”


This is the Through-the-Clouds Tank ($68) in a large. I knew some of the cardigans I had grabbed were on the sheer side so I took in this top as a nice neutral layer. The top itself is very pretty, but $68? I think not. This top also presented the same problem that I have often – a large is a bit baggy and shapeless on me, but the medium is a bit tighter than I’m comfortable with, especially for work. Very annoying.


Next I tried on the Recital Cardigan ($88) in a large. I’m shocked that I like this cardigan as much as I do (although it isn’t really a cardigan, is it?) I typically have a hard time wearing tops this length, but the addition of the ruffles seems to mask my hips a bit. This is a really pretty top that is definitely on my wish list. My biggest issue is how to style it – here, I’m wearing skinny jeans which I liked and for work, I can definitely do a pencil skirt. When it comes time to buy, I might go with the purple color (I already have about a thousand white tops), but my store didn’t have purple in my size to try on. Overall, this is very pretty, very unusual, but still classic enough to get away with at work!


Here we have two items: the Hourglass Surplice ($48) in a large and the Pleated Pencil Skirt ($88) in a 12. I loved this pretty green color (not available online) and I really like the top on too. The rouching and flowers make it more interesting than just a regular t-shirt and the material is very comfortable too. This could also be really versatile for work and also for play. It’s on my wish list.

I was really excited about the pencil skirt and wanted it to work. This would have been a nice “essential with a bit of flair” piece and the color was a nice neutral. The material seemed a bit heavy to me for summer, but I did like the texture of it. Unfortunately, because of my thighs, I needed a 14, but the waist of the 12 was a little big. This would be great on someone with less curves, but unfortunately that’s not me!


The Variegated Rosette Shirt ($78) caught my eye just before I went into the fitting room. I tried the large. I’ve been subconsciously branching out from ruffles to polka dots (so much so that I just now realized that this top has polka dots in it!) I liked this top a lot – the gathering to the rosette at the top gives some nice visual interest towards the bust which is always a good thing when my hips/thighs are involved! It is also a nice soft material – it felt really good on – and the bit of stretch helped the top fit my curves rather than just hanging off them. I could definitely see this being versatile as well – with jeans or capris for a casual look or under a blazer or cardigan for work. It’s on my wish list.


Oh I can’t even begin to describe the love affair that I have with the Field of Fancy Blouse ($98). I had seen it online and just knew I had to try it on. I found it tucked behind a few other things in the store – why were they hiding this? I was initially disappointed that they didn’t have a 10 for me to try on, but I grabbed an 8 and figured I’d at least get a sense for the blouse. The 8 ended up fitting perfectly. There are internal buttons that are a bit tricky but once you secure them, this wrap top isn’t going anywhere. It was more than long enough and is silk so it is super soft and comfy. Okay, I know I’m not supposed to be buying anything, but eek I love this and I bought it. It’s been out a while so I might luck out and get a price adjustment, right? Right.

I also tried on the Unwinding Cardigan, but wasn’t too impressed. It’s pretty shapeless and sat weird on me when closed. I was really hoping to try on the Nearly Gossamer Cardigan, but sadly my local store didn’t have it in stock yet. I guess that means I’ll have to go back again next weekend!

Thanks to everyone for reading! I hope it is helpful to see some of these items on a curvier girl! Thanks also to Roxy – I had lots of fun doing “research” and trying all these things on!

20 Comments

  1. February 9, 2010 / 5:57 pm

    lovely review! I also am glad to see reviews of things from so many different body types, though so far none are a match for mine yet 🙂

  2. Anonymous
    February 9, 2010 / 6:01 pm

    Thanks for the reviews. It's definitely interesting to see the fits on a range of body types. I would love especially to see reviews from people in the larger sizes of the spectrum.

  3. Fiona
    February 9, 2010 / 6:06 pm

    Thank you for the great review. I LOVE the Variegated Rosette shirt and the Field of Fancy blouse on you!

  4. February 9, 2010 / 6:11 pm

    That recital cardigan is gorgeous! I'll have to try one on the next time I go to Anthro.

  5. February 9, 2010 / 6:36 pm

    Great reviews! I love the Recital Cardigan and Hourglass Surplus on you so much – very flattering!

  6. February 9, 2010 / 6:57 pm

    Excellent pics & reviews. Thanks for sharing 🙂

  7. February 9, 2010 / 7:31 pm

    Thanks for the reviews. I love love love the Recital Cardigan.

  8. February 9, 2010 / 8:07 pm

    Hourglass top is cute on you and I love the green color. Hoping my local anthro. as one.Thanks for the reviews.

  9. February 9, 2010 / 8:26 pm

    I am the same body shape and size as you and I don't live near a store, so this was great to see. Now I can decide what to order from online! Please send more reviews!! Do you shop at J.Crew? Would love to see your reviews from them!

  10. February 9, 2010 / 8:37 pm

    Yay!! Kathleen, we are similar sizes so this post was very helpful 🙂

  11. February 9, 2010 / 8:49 pm

    Thanks for all the nice comments! You guys are bad though – now I want to buy everything I tried on last weekend! I reviewed a few more things on my blog today if anyone's interested <a href="http://(www.princessoftaylor.blogspot.com)(www.princessoftaylor.blogspot.com)<br />Mary, I haven't shopped much at J.Crew, but it's definitely on my list of stores that I check out. I do like some of their spring stuff so who knows what that could lead to!

  12. Sharon from CA
    February 9, 2010 / 9:43 pm

    Kathleen-it's so nice to see someone with almost the same body type as I have. I hope you consider doing another guest post on other Anthro items.

  13. Glenda
    February 9, 2010 / 10:42 pm

    Great review! I think the Variegated top looks especially nice on you!

  14. February 9, 2010 / 10:47 pm

    I love, love, love these reviews. I am a size 12/14 and it is nice to see some IRL reviews from other people who wear my size!

  15. February 9, 2010 / 10:56 pm

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  16. February 9, 2010 / 10:58 pm

    Argh, my linking did not work in my last comment.What I wanted to say is, for those who are looking for more IRL reviewsd and OOTDs from the larger side of the size spectrum, I do them over on my blog:http://musingsbyjacquelyn.blogspot.com/or click here

  17. Anonymous
    February 9, 2010 / 11:02 pm

    Love this, I am same body type but shorter, do you take ideas on what to try on?

  18. February 9, 2010 / 11:09 pm

    Sure, Anon. If anyone has any requests and its available in my local store, I can certainly try it on and do another guest post here or put new pics up on my blog!

  19. zengirl
    February 9, 2010 / 11:35 pm

    I really like the last two tops on you with the flowers and dots. I think they fit your style and have an old school classy "courtroomesque" feel. I think I just fell in love with that white cardigan, too.

  20. Anonymous
    February 10, 2010 / 4:27 am

    i actually think that first top looks great on you. the cardigan and last top are must-haves, though.


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