Anthropologie, clearly realizing it needs to quit it with the jumpsuits and rompers and whatnot, has devoted its entire June preshop page to dresses. How are the results? Let’s take a look…
The good news is that now that anthro members get Free Shipping on orders of $150+ all the time, these debuts are looking a little more appealing! We can always depend on the likes of Bailey 44 for pretty frocks like the Striped Luca Maxi Dress ($158, above). It’s one of a few dresses that looks very vacation and summer-ready to me.
Another pretty Bailey 44 dress is the Striped Border Maxi Dress ($158, above) which has a familiar silhouette but in new colors. Perhaps familiar is best at this point as Anthropologie keeps straying off the mark far too easily.
The Naomi Striped Dress ($178) for instance, would be great without all the extra buttons and the one-sleeve styling of the Aditi Ruffled Mini Dress ($188) ruins an otherwise lovely dress. (Sleeves or no sleeves Anthro. Pick ONE.) And while early 20-something me was always intrigued by multi-layer styling like the Pari Striped Dress ($320) has, it never really worked out well in real life.
Luckily, it seems like there is more good than bad in this pre-shop. The Lawn Party Midi Dress ($138) is another potential winner for me in both length and color. I’m also ready to run to the store to try on the Embroidered & Fringed Tunic Dress ($148) and the Striped Poplin Dress ($158).
Below are some more of the best and the most hilarious from the pre-shop. Which items have your interest?
The Striped Poplin dress would be so cute if it had a regular skirt instead of the asymmetrical hem. I'm just really over that.
I thought the same thing. This was the only dress I would consider in this June preview, as it is cotton and the bodice is flattering. However the asymmetrical hem ruins the classic look.
My thoughts exactly. If it were longer I might consider trying to cut the hem to one length.
That Pari dress is a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen.
I am totally unmoved by this selection, even though I've been buying tons of dresses for summer. Nearly all of them are second hand. No one store seems to be getting it right for me. My jewelry wishlist is overflowing, though!
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LOL! ?
Thanks for posting, Roxy 🙂
Meh. For me, still too much one shoulder, boxy, cut too low in the chest area, and flouncy in the wrong ways.
I'm kind of loving the color combo of the Seychelles Villa Wedges though 🙂
I couldn't agree more klj1! I didn't add a single one to my wishlist…and dresses are my weakness. None of them speak to me. The more casual ones, I could find anywhere for less and the dressier ones aren't practical enough….with a full chest deep v-necks don't cut it for work. I have plenty of non-work dresses. Not to sound like a broken record, I want timeless, classic with a twist pieces that work in and out of the office.
I do have dresses on the way from Boden, JCrew, JCrew Factory, Madewell and Bananna. I don't expect to keep them all but im hoping to love a couple.
There are definitely some nice choices in this pre shop. I especially like some of the Kopil dresses. I find myself shocked by prices, though–have I just lost touch with Anthro or do the prices seem steeper? Or maybe there are fewer low-price dresses? Seems there were more in the $98 – $128 range in previous years.
I like some of the new arrivals. Bailey44 looks amazing as usual. Kopal is intriguing – nice colors/prints and made of cotton too. I'd love to buy Lawn Party dress however it looks like it's a bit too big on the model. How Joa usually fits?
The gingham tie dress looks like it was designed for a 6 year old. What are they thinking? The lawn party dress is a maybe for me. It looks like the model has no chest and I'm wondering if it will work for those of us with boobs. Most of these are a miss for me. Boden has been getting most of my dress money this summer.
The lawn party midi dress is available here for $95 vs anthro 138 and free shipping on US orders. Sizes S, M,L https://justoneanswer.com/collections/summer-2017…
I recently learned that nearly every major retailer carries Joa including Target.
Many times these shops are carrying the same exact item at different price-points. It's definitely worth doing a google search when it comes this that brand to get the best deal.
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Ooooh, thanks for sharing this!
Thank you so much for this info! It looks like J.O.A. makes dresses of cotton and linen.
I'll probably order their cotton pinstripe Cold Shoulder dress as it could work for work this summer. i know cold shoulder is often impractical, but I have several older Leifsdottir silk ones that I've been wearing for years that don't look too casual or exposed.
https://justoneanswer.com/collections/summer-2017…
(Roxy, please fix the link, as usual)
As for Anthro, I just placed an order for a bunch of basic ti-shirts that are not carried in store!!! plus lingerie.
The dresses would be pretty if they just made them more simple! So many are ruined with ruffles and crazy shaping or just by making them baggy. 🙁
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I agree, I remember asking Anthro to give their items a bit of a twist a year or so back but they've swung way too far into it.
I'm very hopeful for the Maeve summer breeze dress. Finally a defined waist and sleeves!
I love that one, especially the black and yellow print. I ordered it and hope it fits when it arrives.
I would have put it in my cart but it looks a bit low for me. 🙁
Oh I love the Bailey 44 dresses!!
on a side note – Anthro's advertising for the free shipping for perks members is so misleading I find – plastered all over the website and comes in all my emails with a Canadian store listed on the bottom yet it does not include Canadian orders when us Canadians could use a break!
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Oh man, that's not cool at all!
Exactly! Not only that, they will no longer send stuff from other stores so, if you don't live near the store that has what you want, you are out of luck. The only thing you can do is to order it from the website, pay the exchange and possibly very high duties and the shipping. It totally sucks for us.
Yep. Been a dedicated loyal Anthro shopper since the opening week of the first Vancouver store. I'd say up till the last 6 months 99% of my wardrobe was Anthro. But between getting rid of send sales, lacklustre promos in comparison to other stores, way to many online exclusives, and now leaving us out of the free shipping; I'm moving on.
Still seeing: A. Too short, or B. Not work appropriate. Ugh.
Yes! And add too fussy!
Jcrew just launched a promo and the code SWEET gets you 30% off selected full priced items.
The adjustment I got was super easy and the guy told me the exact amount I was getting back. I'm thrilled! ?
I always like a bailey 44 dress! Maybe that is what I will use my lingering birthday discount for.
I can't believe it. I don't like any of them. What a weird mish mash of styles. 🙁
I am amazed at how many unappealing clothing items they can put before us! And please stop with so many too short dresses and bare midriffs! Anthro needs to stop trying to be Free People.
Way too much going on. Too many crazy prints and dark florals. Where are the light summery colors? Too many odd silhouettes. The only one I would consider wearing is the Naomi Striped Dress just because it actually looks summery.