The review photos don’t quite tell the tale of how wonderful the Inherited Blooms Top ($128) is. This top embodies everything I wish Anthropologie would be doing this spring — modern interpretations of a 70s cut with a twist of whimsy. We have a lazy floral motif with a dash of polka dots on the shoulders and a ruched tied sleeve. Then we have a flowy shape and an open neckline, but it’s not so flowy that it looks like a tent. It is sheer (grumble and a star knocked off). I was able to look past it. I knew I was in trouble as soon as I saw this top. It’s truly gorgeous. It’s made from a tender silk that feels somewhere between slippery luxury and stiffer sheen.
My usual size 6 fit wonderfully, falling straight down even over my currently pear hips. The front buttons and empire waist keep the blouse from being totally shapeless. Mostly I love that the colors in this top will go with just about everything in my closet. I admit I swooned! Despite the price tag which is hefty I decided this top was too lovely to pass up and bought it at full price. I’m sure I’ll get my money’s worth in cost per wear. I plan to pair the top with either the Ship Shape Shorts ($68, review coming tomorrow) or the Campfire Story Shorts ($58, review coming tomorrow).
High hopes don’t always translate to good results, as was the case with the Mariposa Tank ($78). This top looks loose and easy on the dressform but it was very form-fitting in real life! I love the little butterflies splashed across the top. The tie edges against too twee for me but I thought this would make a nice weekend top. The shoulder straps easily conceal a bra which I appreciate and I like the light cotton material.
Since an 8 has fit me best in recent Girls From Savoy tops I tried this top in that size. It was very tight! My chest was squeezed and my hips were longing to escape from the grip of the size too small. Seems like the online reviews on Anthro’s site agree with me. The store had no 10 for me to try but an educated guess is that the straps would have been too long while the overall fit would have been better. So size up if you try this one on. For me, back to the rack.
The name reveals the sheerness of the Pellucid Wings Blouse ($128), an ivory sheer tank with birds flying across it. From far away I thought these were colorful boomerangs. Clever, Anthropologie, but you still lose a star! Another silk top, this one again has that easy fit from the 70s tapered in just a bit from tent to flowy. The slightly twisted collar is a cute touch and one bird gets a nice beaded treatment (see photo below).
I decided to try my usual size 6 on. It fit easily, with some room to spare but not so much that I’d size down. I can see this top as a great choice for work with a linen blazer over it and a cami underneath. I think $128 is really pushing it here for a more simple top so I added this one to my wishlist to reconsider come sale time.
I loved how the Strappy Crosscut Tank ($88) looked on Anthropologie’s website. I knew that in real life it would be some trouble, though. Straps placed across the front neckline might be trouble with a larger chest. In-store I admired the pretty little boats on the blue motif version, which reminded me of a busy Saturday afternoon at Conservatory Water in Central Park. The top falls mostly straight while a single button in the back adds one more delicate touch. The crossing straps fall straight in the back, and all the little pieces help to conceal a bra. But from the front, too thin straps at the side mean a challenge for support.
My normal size 6 worked nicely, with a surprising touch of tapering at the waist. I can’t decide if I like the front straps or not — they add some visual interest but do I really need any right there? This would end up as a middle layer for work; I fear it would need a top layer on the weekends too. Or maybe it was just the color that was throwing me? I decided to try the purple motif version on.
Well this version seems better. I like the flowers and the darker color pulls the eye in more, whereas the light blue version seemed to pull the eye to wear the straps meet. Still, I feel that the silhouette is contorted somewhat by the cool crossing straps. I’ve wishlisted this top but I think I’ll likely end up passing on it.
Hey, it’s the Eastpointe Garden Top (now $30, review here) Loosened Shelby Blouse ($58)! And it has the exact same issues as its predecessor. I love me a tieneck! I love me lemon prints! I love me a top that’s not sheer! But I don’t quite love this top. For one thing, the top I tried on had an uneven hem which is an egregious quality control issue. Nearly all the tops I saw on the rack had the same lopsided bottom which leads me to believe that the machine responsible fell askew at some point. This top is made from rayon which I’m ambivalent about and it has the same cutesy ruffle neckline as the erstwhile Eastpointe.
With a 6 on my arm I headed downstairs to fitting room central. This top looks cute around the neckline, so very cute. But I hate, hate, HATE the sleeves which make me look like I’m headed to Muscle Beach instead of the park. The length is good, the shape is non-existent. Sigh. So close but not there. Back to the rack.
