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Ready for September? Anthropologie is and today Anthro loyalty members received a perk email showcasing some of September’s new arrivals. Here is the entire pre-shop page. This perk happens to coincide with the Free Shipping no minimum promotion. Yay! I think. I’ve picked out some of the highlights to feature in this post, like the Artista Maxi Dress ($228, above).
It looks like Anthro is really trying to recapture some of its former glory — the pre-shop page features lots of highly detailed items. Some of them, like the Sequined Paisley Jacket ($218, above) work and some, like the Margate Floral Flare Pants ($160) do not.
As usual, my main complaint are the cuts. Anthropologie’s design teams still do not seem to understand that boxy, cropped, short or too voluminous is problematic for most all women. When even the model meant to showcase an item looks ridiculous in it, should that not be a hint?
My favorite item in the pre-shop is the Avian Kimono Midi Dress ($160, above), shown with the Velvet Heeled Sandals ($128). But even this dress is so highly stylized bordering on editorial…I have no clue where I’d wear it! (Actually I might wear it to NYFW…but in real life I have no idea where I’d wear it!) This whole movement kind of reminds me of when J. Crew went so far into editorial with their clothing that only style bloggers and magazine editors could wear the clothing without looking too crazy.
But I can’t really wear this to work or on a date or out with my girls or anything like that. Although I appreciate the inspiration this dress draws from, there’s no good real-life for application for it. It’s my fantasy dress for a life I don’t live…a dream or a movie. In real life this dress looks vaguely imperialistic and that’s grimace-inducing.
The Floral Velvet Skirt ($118, above) might be awesome and it might be terrible in real life. I have to admit I’m totally in for the velvet trend. The last time it came about was when I was just a kid and I had one velvet dress that I adored and wore everyday. I’m eager to see how retailers translate this trend for 2017.
The pre-shop also features cute velvet heels and flats, but the takes quickly turn strange with a velvet kimono, car coat, bomber (eek!), pants (double eek!), and ahem, a velvet wrap blazer. God no Anthro!
Want to check out some Anthropologie items I DO like that are 30% off to boot? Check out my recent sale roundup here.
So, for every positive turn in this pre-shop there is a corresponding and cringe-inducing miss. The Floral Burnout Slip Dress ($168, above) looks promising while the Margarey Floral Dress ($158) looks sigh-inducing. The Floral High-Neck Dress ($188) looks interesting — but again, imperialistic — while the Trimmed Peasant Dress ($178) looks uninspired.
And just to beat an already dead horse, I hesitate to praise cute items like the Fluttered Tunic Dress ($168, above) too much because while very pretty on its own, the piece is part of Anthro’s shapeless continuum that pisses me off to no end. This dress works but I so miss the days of structured fit and flares. Why can’t we have more of those instead of this?
So for every cute pair of shoes like the Pointed D’Orsay Flats ($128, above), I’m holding my breath that this signals movement in a positive direction. Hopefully I don’t have to hold it too much longer.
What do you think of the September pre-shop? You can shop all the pre-shop items via the boutique below.
I wouldn't wear anything from this new release. I'm 38, and wondering if I'm too old for Anthro now. My entire closet is filled with Anthro from years ago, when they sold vintage/classic clothes that had a creative edge to it. It's so disappointing. I get my hopes up, but it's always a let down.
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I don't think anyone is too old for Anthropologie, but I do think they're aiming in the wrong direction with many of their designs.
I agree, I don't think it is a matter of age, but of how practical these clothes are for one's lifestyle.
Stephanie, I feel the same way. I am a youngish looking 42 year old and I really struggle to like/find anything at Anthro. Mostly, I just go in the stores and enjoy the setting and style of the store. I rarely buy anything anymore. Bummer. I find myself hunting old Anthro pieces on Tradesy, ebay and Poshmark. I feel as though they've abandoned their core customer base, who have aged with them, for younger buyers.
There are ladies in their 70s and 80s shopping at my local store lol (I once saw one with a walker)…never too old!
The pointed d'orsay flats look really cute. I haven't noticed Anthro-branded shoes before; anybody know how the quality is?
Not feeling any of the clothing. September is my birthday month and I was really hoping we'd see some pretty sweaters start to roll in, but so far, no such luck. Looks like it's shaping up to be another season of frumpy open cardigans and weird trends (I hope "statement sleeves" go away soon). The Field Flower pearl embellished cardigan looks nice, but the price seems a bit much, though I appreciate it's cotton/cashmere and has buttons and shoulders.
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It's a brand new move on their part to have in-house shoe brands! They also have pants and tops, which I think is in its second year now. I personally cannot speak to the quality but hopefully someone else can chime in.
I agree the price on the Pearl Embellished Cardigan is eye-rolling. I'd love to know what makes it $50 more expensive than the same brand was two years ago, and $70 more than it was four years ago. Cotton and cashmere prices are not going up anymore, both have dropped precipitously.
That's interesting about the price of cotton and cashmere and yet all they give us is polyester! I actually like the kimono dress that you pointed out; however, the poly is a deal breaker. And it makes it easy for me to pass. I haven't purchased from Anthro in months and I don't see that changing any time soon. I'm liking very little from my usual haunts (J Crew, Banana, Tory, Talbot's, Boden). Loft, Ann Taylor and Anthropologie are "dead" to me now.
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Loft is where a lot of the Anthro designers we knew and loved ended up, just so you know. ? I think it is why I'm liking Loft ever more these days!
That's good to hear! How do you know that these Anthro designers ended up at Loft?
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A few of them are friends of mine! I also have various sources at Anthro's home office who keep the community — via me as proxy — updated on these things. ?
I wonder whatever happened to "Handknit & Heartfelt by Anthropologie"? It debuted in late 2016 and I bought the Juliaca Handknit Cardigan. The quality is impeccable!
I'm also liking the look of the in-house shoes too!
Oh my goodness! I thought I was the only one in the world annoyed by "statement sleeves." They're awful. Another trend that was ultra-annoying are the "shoulder cut-outs." Hopefully they won't be as in-your-face in the Fall…
I was also hoping for a roll-out of beautiful sweaters, but Sundance Catalog and Peruvian Connection got my money instead. I've been obsessed with IVKO sweaters. They are definitely pricey, but so beautifully made. I recently bought this from the Sundance Catalog, and the quality of the wool and the beautiful knit print was worth every penny. http://www.sundancecatalog.com/product/east+wind+…
The other place I've been looking at is soft-surroundings, but you have to filter out the super frumpy or super gaudy.
I tend to stick to their all-linen "gauzy" structural pieces. Some synthetics have been appealing: https://www.softsurroundingsoutlet.com/p/bayley-t…
Like someone else said, I'm in my late 30s, aged with Anthro from 18+ years ago, but the past 7 years have been pretty disappointing. I have much more to spend now than I did 18 years ago, but Anthro just isn't doing it for me anymore. Not only has their quality decreased, but their constant chase after "fast fashion" or whatever is the fashion hype like H+M or Forever 21 or Zara is just not what I'm into at all. I want the whimsical and magical! I want my clothes to look like I traveled far and wide searching for these unique pieces.
I'm so glad that most of the old-school designers are now at Loft –I will have to check out Loft more often. No store within 100 miles, so I guess I'll have to stalk their online store.
September is my birthday month and unless they release cool jewelry and bags, nothing tempts me. Why all the ruffles? Why are those velvet pants called "Tapered" when they are obviously NOT? I like the flounced floral maxi skirt but wish it were not flounced, why can't it just flow? Fall is my favorite shopping season but nothing in presale makes me excited……..
Author
I'm sure there will be cute new arrivals. Even in their worst years Anthro still releases some really good pieces.
But, now you know how we January birthdays feel. Happy…Birthday…?
I agree with your assessments, Roxy. I see promise on a few fronts: colour, a slight shift toward tailoring. The shoe game is pretty good. The prices aren't as crazy as some previous collections.
I think the styling on the product pages is absolutely abysmal. The colour backgrounds make it worse.
A lot of the problem is how they're packaging the pre-shop: they are (lazily?) piling together everything velvet and floral, instead of giving us an autumn 'story' as they would've done in the good old days. If the story this fall is 'velvet' and 'floral' you make those the highlights, not the whole shebang. They need new stylists, it's obvious.
Author
I SO agree about the styling and product pages. Anthropologie also makes it REALLY hard to include any of their pieces in my outfit collages because it's nearly impossible to find a straight-on photo of a product that doesn't have an arm, or hair, or something weird in it that makes it hard to cut out for the collages.
JUST BRING THE DRESSFORMS BACK ALREADY.
As I mentioned on the prior page. Absolutely nothing made my wish list. They are carrying a cute pair of coclico booties (coclico liseli ankle boots) in a different color than they have on the coclico site. While I tend to buy a new pair of booties generally from coclico, I really don't need a ruffled pair and as cute as they are don't need a yellow suede ruffled pair (coclico, where are your staple plain black leather booties???). Madewell, JCrew and the nordstrom annual sale (and american eagle too) got my dollars this yr.
I like two floral blouses, one is silk and $226 and the other polyester and $98. Not sure that these or any other of the new arrivals will make it into my closet at all. Frankly I was a bit disappointed, but I typically never find much in these previews, yet I still find something I love in the store.
Author
I hear you, hoping the story is the same for me back in NYC. Visiting Colorado right now and very disappointed by the store offerings out here — they look bare.
I see a slight creative uptick in this batch and really like the design of the Floral High-Neck Dress by Donna Morgan. But since it's polyester I'll wait for sale at best. Would really prefer if Anthro moved away from these kind of fabrics in general.
On the other hand, I just ordered the
F-TROUPE Tweed Hiker Boots therefore continuing my trend of only buying shoes and accessories from Anthro this year. At least some parts of the business still get us!
Author
Ummm, those boots are pretty outrageous!! I kinda love them.
<img src="http://bit.ly/2wJKG2z" width="500">
Haha, I love that description! They remind me of something Chanel would carry (but at 1/3 of the cost) and I couldn't order them fast enough ?
OT: Does anyone have experience ordering home furniture with Anthro? I'd like to purchase a set of sofa but don't know how the process go. The website said their white glove team will call us to set up a delivery date. I m wondering what if I m out of town at time they call me, then are they will be flexible to change a delivery date? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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I think it depends on where you live. I've had three really good experiences with Anthro's home delivery service. I purchased two chairs and a table. It's been a few years though — I think I bought the chairs in 2014 and the table in 2016.
Sounds great. Thanks Roxy.
I've had great experiences with them – I've bought 4 furniture shipments over the years to both midwest and the midatlantic states. They work with your schedule, show up when they say they will, clean up and are in and out in no time.
I live in CA, hopefully they also provide such a great service. Thanks evb, you make me feel more confident to place the order.
My parents bought a couch, love seat, & chair last fall and had a good experience (other than the 12-14 week wait for delivery although they knew about the wait up front).
Thanks Sara
On the whole I'm not impressed. The prices are very high, and the materials and construction are not quality. I have tried on and do like the Patrizia blouse. Yes, it's short and boxy, but the colors are really pretty and I can see how it would fit in my wardrobe.
Like others, I've been reaching back to peak Anthro years and getting my Anthro from Ebay. My wishlist there is at least 3x as long as the one on the Anthro site.
Author
Yup. At this point I own or have owned most of the past Anthro items I'd like to, so I'm just living happily out of my closet.
Several of my white whale finds are thanks to the lovely community here!!
The Avian Kimono dress looks like easy day wear to me, with a bit of a wallpaper/furniture fabric touch, but I personally find synthetics to be uncomfortable.
Every time I click on something that I'm interested in, the fabrics, the cut, or sloppy construction keep me from adding it to my wishlist. So nothing to add right now, except some shoes and scarves I would like to try.
Has anyone worn Ilse Jacobson sneakers? How about Bill Blass for the flats?
Totally agree!
Author
Yes, construction and materials are an issue too.
All those jeans with wierd hemlines are awful. Sigh, nothing for me
They look totally bizarre! Especially the ones with, what is that – a flounce of embellished netting at the bottom?
Author
I have to admit I kind of love the Bohemia Mid-Rise Flounced Jeans, but they are totally wrong for my legs.
Last weekend, the Stanford store had some fun edgy pieces (tops, culottes) by Rachel Comey. I don't see them online at all. I wonder if anyone else saw/ purchased?
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It might be a limited collaboration! The large-format stores also have store-only pieces, sometimes unique to that location. When I was in Portland last year for instance they had a collection of jewelry from a local artist and some lingerie that was only available in that store.
I think this is the first time that I've looked at a September round-up (usually the start of my FAVORITE Anthro season – autumn!) and didn't want a damn thing. I noted the return to embellishment, too – but dear god, did anthro's pieces back in the early 2000s look this tacky/crafty? I remember just LOVING it all back then … maybe my tastes have changed, or maybe this attempt is not hittin the mark. Whatever the reason, most of this looks like a craft project gone wrong. And I *love* velvet and I'm totally down with rich fall florals, but not a single piece is hitting the mark for me. I can't believe I'm saying this, but – yuck, Anthro. Yuck.
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Some of them did look this crafty, yes! But overall there was so much more to love back then.
I like the velvet green flats.
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They are pretty cute!
Oh Roxy… I don't like one single thing in the Anthro pre-shop. So much of it reminds me of clothes the older ladies in Florida would wear in the 1980's. They seem so old fashioned. As an almost old lady, I want something… nicer… and more youthful.
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You are SO NOT an almost old lady, but I hear you.
It's Anthro day + last day for free ship with no min!
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On it! Post coming up.
What the heck is this and the matching pants??? The ladies I see in their 80s (and some may also be in their 90s!) stalking the sale room at my local store are going to love these when they go on sale for $9.99 each plus 40% off lol:
https://www.anthropologie.com/shop/velour-tee?cat…
https://www.anthropologie.com/shop/velour-cropped…
I just wanted to say that I purchased the Artista maxi dress from this collection. I’ve worn it at least a dozen times since. The material is beautiful, fit for all seasons, and I just saw the dress last week, styled very well with a gold arm cuff, on TV! The rest of the catalog was a bummer but that piece is a classic that I honestly wish I had bought two of.