The blogging community continues to grow, and today’s guest post comes from recent joinee Carol. She and friend Kathryn started In Pursuit of Pretty Things after being inspired by many of the blogs on EA’s blogroll. Today Carol also joins the guest post ranks with a set of Anthro reviews and I could not be more excited!! 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! Hope you’re all doing well. This has been a bit of an exhausting week for me, as my 8 month-old daughter has been sick and work has been busy, so I thought I’d give myself a little bit of r&r at the local Anthropologie, here in San Diego. Here’s what I tried on:
First up is the Molded and Melded Tee ($48) in an XS. I was really excited to see this one in the stores, as I’ve been eyeing it online, favoring it even to the Climbing Cowlneck ($48), because I loved the flowers around the neckline. Wow, was I underwhelmed once I put it on. As anticipated, the neckline was gorgeous, and the garland of fabric flowers frame the neck beautifully…but the rest of the shirt? Well…it wasn’t awful. But it wasn’t what I’d hoped for either. Instead of artfully camouflaging my midsection and defining my waist, this shirt was just…baggy. Albeit, I’m pretty small-chested, so that might have had something to do with it, but yeah…back to the rack it went. I believe this top runs a big, because I found myself wishing I could size it down, until I remembered I was already wearing the XS. The Climbing Cowlneck just moved up a notch on my wishlist.
What the Molded and Melded tee didn’t do for me, this dress did and then some! This is the Daily Gathering Dress ($188) by Bailey 44 in a size small. I put this on and it just took my breath away! I absolutely loved it! I’m usually leery of wrap-style dresses, again because I have no chest to speak of, and I’m narrow-shouldered and short-waisted besides, but this dress fit wonderfully! It was super flattering, clinging in all the right places, and just as importantly, not clinging in all the right places. I immediately started a mental inventory of items in my closet that I haven’t worn yet, that I might return in order to be able to afford this dress right away. This dress is fairly TTS. Jumped directly to the top of my wishlist.
I realized recently that I don’t have a lot of good skirts in my closet, so I grabbed the Do-Si-Do Skirt ($118) in a size 2, feeling hopeful. The black and white plaid is an easy combination to pair with, and the coral accents give the skirt some interest. It’s not bad, and I liked it, but there was a part of me that felt like I might be wearing a picnic blanket. For this one, I think I’ll wait for the sale. TTS.
Here’s my last item – the ever popular State Fair Dress ($138). I started off in a size 4 in this. While the bodice and skirt fit comfortably, the top was too big on me (same old song – small-chested, short-waisted), so I sized down to a 2. The size 2 still fit okay in the waist and skirt, but while it was slightly better than the size 4, you can see in the profile shot, that there’s still some room in the front and back of the top half of the dress on me. It’s too bad, as the dress is so pretty and a really fun, easy piece. I’d recommend it to women who aren’t short-waisted – I think that’s the more the issue for me, than anything else. Back to the rack, it goes.
Thanks for reading!
Thanks for the comments!I've been wondering about the State Fair dress and haven't gotten in to try it yet. What I want to know is who makes your shoes? They are so cute!
I'm glad I wasn't the only one who had issues with the Molded and Melded Tee. Such a disappointment! Love that first dress on you though!
I love everything Carol reviewed! However, I don't know how well each piece would look on me seeing that she is so petite. Nonetheless, I want! 🙂 Thank you Carol!
I love the Daily Gathering Dress on you! It's so pretty – I just wish it wasn't grey!Too bad about the Molded and Melded – I think the Climbing Cowlneck will move even higher on your waiting list once you try it on! It's really fab!
The Baily 44 dress looks great! I hope you get it.On another note, I just received my Two-Wheeler shirtdress today (yay!) but note – it runs really large! I am going to have to size down at least one if not two sizes. I'm glad the shipping is free at least, because otherwise it would be super frustrating to pay for shipping/return and then shipping again when the sizing is all over the map!lesley
I thought it was just my imagination that the molded tee run super big. I bought it without trying it on. I didn't love it when I put it on and wish I could size down except I already had an XS. size out for petite! I also love that bailey dress on you and wish I could buy it. I need to do my mental inventory too then hahahahahaa. I think we have pretty similar figure.
Thanks for the very helpful reviews! I love the State Fair dress on you–I'm hoping that gets marked down next week.I'm also disappointed about the Molded and Melded tee. I had high expectations for that one, but I can tell it won't flatter me.
I agree- I love your shoes! who made them?
The M&M tee didn't work for me either. Petite ladies are definitely sized out of this one. I have the Climbing Cowlneck and I love, love, love it!
love the reviews! it's great seeing different women try on the same things and get a better idea of what things look like IRL. i've been eyeing the state fair dress, also. thanks for the review!
I love the smile on your face when you are wearing the daily gathering dress – you must get that dress! It is beautiful on you.
Thanks, everyone, for all your kind words, and Roxy for letting me do a guest review. =) It was super fun.My shoes are made by LAMB, and I got them from Nordstrom at the end of last summer (August? September?).
Carol, The Daily Gathering Dress looks AH-MAZING on you!Thanks for the reviews!!!
Carol–thanks for the reviews! I think that grey dress looks super cute on you. With some heels and a pretty necklace, it's a great date night option. Also, I see what you mean about the skirt looking like a picnic cloth. I think if you add some edgy shoes or a top with interesting modern details (like that climbing cowneck), it would look less pastoral, and more current.
Carol you look so amazing in that grey dress! If you don't mind me asking, how tall are you? Because I always have trouble with dresses because they are too long on my 5'2" frame, but you look petite as well and it gives me hope!
Hi Tammi, I'm also 5'2", so try out this dress – it may work for you. I was also dubious when I first pulled the dress for myself, but am so glad I tried it on. So, here's the update – I'm returning the Lime dress (splash of? squeeze of? Juice? Can't remember the whole name), the Valencia dress, and the shimmering pin-up cardigan, so that I can get the Daily Gathering dresss…sigh. The things we do for love…