Guest post: Reviews by Betsy


Many thanks to Betsy, who is back this morning with another round of guest reviews. She tried on a few items from my wishlist…I’m already dying for the cardigan. Scroll on down for her take. 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…

Hi everyone! The gorgeous springlike weather we’ve been having in Portland has given me the itch for spring clothing. I headed down to the local Pearl Anthropologie (their sales staff seriously must think I’m a stalker by now) to try on some of the gorgeous things that showed up recently!


First: a skirt! Namely the Hustle and Bustle Skirt ($98) by Edme & Esylite. Initial impression: I thought there was waaay too much going on. Gathers! Ruffles! Busy print! Oh my! But I decided to give it a whirl in a size 10. The gathers cluster above the spot where the skirt swoops up a bit. On the website I think it looks awkward – it seems to show the “upswoop” off to the side, but I positioned it in the front, and I think that’s how it’s meant to sit. This skirt is shaped like this: ( ). There’s a band at the top and one just above the ruffle. The 10 fit me well in the waist, with some extra room in the boo-tay (unusual for me, yet welcome!). If y’all have a slender waist, it should fit TTS – those who are a bit more square like me might need to size up. Y’know what? I’m not afraid to say it – I heart this skirt! Its soft cotton material, its sassy Carmen Miranda vintage Samba ruffle, and even the print is growing on me. Wishlisted.


Next up was the Breezy Ride Cardigan ($98) by Guinevere. I love the idea of the polka-dot chiffon inset, which wraps from one shoulder to the other over the back. Unique and adorable! It’s pretty nice in person, too, though I had a few quibbles. I tried a medium, which fit everywhere but the upper arms/shoulders (they were a bit tight). Okay, so I have chubby upper arms, so that’s not really the cardigan’s fault. The website shows this cardi as navy with brownish or metallic buttons. Be forewarned: the buttons in the store were most definitely yellow, and I honestly couldn’t tell if the sweater was black or blue. The sheer panels on the shoulders are cute, but if you’re wearing anything with straps underneath, they’ll show (as you can see). And finally, the little bow didn’t quite drape and ended up looking sort of wonky. But these are all minor quibbles and I really like this lightweight sweater. Definitely work appropriate, too…I predict it’ll sell out before going to sale.


My next pick was this as-yet unnamed silk number by Lil ($98). Lil makes some damned pretty blouses, and this one is no exception. I grabbed a 6, which fit a bit tight across the chest and armpits (see above: fat upper arms). This blouse has a blue rope/net print on it, in keeping with Anthro’s recent nautical theme (ahoy!). It’s two-layered, with the bottom layer a bit longer for a tiered effect. It also has one of those weird side zips that doesn’t go all the way to the top but rather hovers in the middle (Dude. I fail to see how that helps). I LOVE the pleated placket on the chest. There are ruffles on the sleeves that stick straight up, and a stringy tieback. The blouse is, well, blousy, but still somehow manages to be slimming. I adore it and will wishlist when it pops up on the website – probably in an 8.


While on the topic of silk blouses, I was excited to see Fleur Wood’s Sweet-And-Sour Blouse (again with the $98). The moment I saw this on the website I wishlisted it, and once in the store, I pounced. Unfortunately, it was a letdown. I thought it was so cute I was willing to momentarily forget that the color yellow does absolutely nothing for me, but I was quickly reminded. I tried an 8, but that seemed too roomy, with a strange way of hanging. My bra was showing, and I just sort of looked wide. The bow was humongous. And also: the website has the color listed as “blue motif” and there is not a speck of blue anywhere on this blouse. Go figure. Cute concept, and likely awesome on someone else. But an entire universe of fail for me. Boo.


Finally, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I grabbed the Dreaming in Green Skirt ($148) by Eva Franco. I tried an 8, which was a bit tight – in order to not walk like a robot, I think I’d need a 10. I loves me a good pencil skirt, and let me tell ya, this is gorgeous. The striped material is large-weave cotton, but (surprise!) it’s lined in a beautiful printed silk. The color is so vivid, and I like the high waist and button details. But in the dressing room I though something looked off, and reviewing the pics, I see what it was. In the model shot, the pale blue stripe is centered in the middle front of the skirt. The one I tried… not so much. As you can see, the buttons were centered, but the stripes were not. I’m thinking the stripe placement in real life is random, and Anthro selected a symmetrical one for the product shot. It kind of irked me a bit. I think that if I bought this, I’d pick through the pile to see if I could find a more evenly striped skirt.

10 Comments

  1. March 19, 2010 / 12:04 pm

    Great reviews! I want the skirts!

  2. March 19, 2010 / 1:33 pm

    Totally laughing at your upsetness over the Dreaming in Green skirt not being symmetrical- stuff like that bothers me too. But the skirt looks fabulous on you- I hope you go back to get it!

  3. March 19, 2010 / 2:14 pm

    i love the card it is so cute! I love that it is different but still wearable for work. The skirts are fabulous! I want all of them!!

  4. March 19, 2010 / 2:41 pm

    ooh thanks for reviewing the cardigan! i'm hoping to see it IRL this weekend. btw, love your shoes 🙂

  5. March 19, 2010 / 3:06 pm

    ohh that breezy ride cardigan is oh so cute!! i love the little bow!

  6. March 19, 2010 / 3:54 pm

    Love the Breezy Ride cardi and the Lil blouse! Want! Want! Want!

  7. March 19, 2010 / 11:33 pm

    The line "an entire universe of fail for me" made me LOL. Great guest review!The Dreaming in Green skirt looks great (even tho' the pattern asymmetry does bug a little).

  8. LH
    March 20, 2010 / 1:55 am

    I adore that first skirt — it looks super on you! Love the Lil blouse, too — will have to look out for it online. And I must say, I totally LOLed at your comment about the side zipper "Dude. I fail to see how that helps" — I have always felt that way about those type zippers, agree 100000% with you on that!!

  9. March 20, 2010 / 5:19 am

    I love that blouse by Lil. Do you know the code or if it's available online?Thanks!x0x0 Hitahttp://www.flavanilla.com

  10. March 20, 2010 / 3:30 pm

    I tried on that lil blouse last weekend and I loved it too!! So gorgeous in person!


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