Investigating Anthropologie’s newest arrivals plus some weekend deals around the web

Anthropologie has unveiled its second helping of October new arrivals — what’s the good word? Coats. Inside, some of the latest items that have made my wishlist and shopping cart.

Plus, some sales around the web that are making my closet very happy and helping me stay under budget for Fall.

Every year there’s at least one Anthropologie coat that captures my heart. I prefer longer body-covering coats to shorter ones simply because winter wind can be brutal in Manhattan. With that said above are the latest new arrivals to send me daydreaming of wearing them around the city. The Clovelly Trapeze Coat ($228) came out earlier this month but oh, how I can’t stop thinking about it! Oversized is fun with coats and I love the minty color which would stand out nicely from the sea of black and grey of the city. The Leopard Collar Melton Jacket ($228) has a nice combination of toggles and faux fur while the Abril Wool Coat ($400) and Selenga Ombre Coat ($228) show off a sleeker shape.

Another new arrival I’ve gotten lots of questions about is the Montaigne Coat ($288). I’ll have a full review of it soon but here’s a sneak preview.

The coat fits TTS. It runs tight over the chest and roomier in the hips. The tie and faux-fur collar are not detachable.

Does this coat look familiar to anyone else? It’s the pretty Satsuma Coat ($328) and has me thinking of another coat from a couple of years ago, the Karelia Coat. And speaking of the Karelia Coat Anthropologie has re-used the name of this beautiful navy number…

So here is a coat also called the Karelia Coat (£238), and through it’s not officially online as of this writing here is the USA product page — wishlist away!!

Check out all of Anthropologie’s coats here, they’ve got quite an assortment going!

Over in dress-land my eye has turned towards holiday parties! Although I no longer attend several a year as I used to (she says wistfully) I do plan on making two or three this year. And I never fail to be swayed by the temptation of new!

The Fioritura Dress ($298) is another Yoana Baraschi delight — there’s one every month now it seems! I love that the Split Dots Dress ($198) is fairly casual from the front but gorgeous in the back. This would be an excellent choice for a more casual party with friends I think. As a kid my favorite holiday dress was velvet and I think the Evening Star Dress ($158) is an excellent adult update of that. The Maddalena Dress ($343) is just…wow! Nicely done Anna Sui.

But of all the dresses Anthropologie has released, none has my heart quite the way the Eclat Dress ($228) does. I truly hope this dress lives up to its online potential!

Of course life isn’t all parties (sadly) so with an eye turned towards practicality here are some dresses that could double as work and party and after-party frocks.

I’m eager to hunt all of these dresses down to try them on! Hopefully one of the NYC Anthropologies will have each of them.

As far as tops go I haven’t loved much of what Anthropologie’s putting out lately. Too much lace, too many super-high necklines, too much loose drapey stuff. Time was I could depend on Anthropologie to come out with waist-defining buttondowns with delicate touches to wear to work. Now I can’t tell Anthropologie’s tops apart from brands like Joie, Equipment or J.Crew in style or price. I’m sick of camp shirts, I’m over shapeless patterned polyester blouses that don’t define anything and look like tents when you have anything above an A cup, I’m tiring of lace and I’m starting to be over peplums too. I miss v-necks. I miss inverted pleats in the back that help to create a waist. I miss waist cinches and darting. I miss regular shirt collars and pearlized buttons down beautiful plackets. And I am so, so, SO over all the sheerness. One or two sheer tops in your closet can be an alluring treat but no one needs a closet full of bra-revealing stuff. There’s tantalizing and then there’s tiring and trashy.

With that out of the way here are some things I do like from Anthropologie: all the cute quirky prints a la the Creature Feature Top ($48) except of course that it’s sheer, sigh; the intricate tops like the Beaded Composition Top ($198, review) which in my opinion is one of those two or three sheer tops that belongs in my closet; fanciful collars like the Zahara Top ($88, review upcoming) and waist definers like the Crisscross Jersey Top ($48).

From the latest here’s what I added to my wishlist…

I love how the Magnolia Tulle Shell ($138) and the accompanying Sugarplum Brocade Skirt ($128) look; of course this is my nemesis model so I have no idea how either piece will look in real life. I adore how soft Cloth & Stone’s shirts on so I’m sure the Leopard Chambray Popover ($88) will please there. However, I hate how their chambray uses a box pleat in back when an inverted pleat would help define shape so much better! The Marari Top ($148) has a beautiful jeweled collar but a hanger shot is very unhelpful for how it will fit…and the Pleated Ruby Tunic ($98) is a top that might be a complete fail on me. I’m going to try it on in the hopes it works!

My Anthropologie.com shopping cart is full of goodies right now! With so much online-only stuff at the moment some of this is buy-to-try.

I’ve tried on the Gia Mary-Janes ($128) in-store — the Chelsea Market Anthropologie has the raspberry version. One note for Anthropologie — saying “Imported” on your product pages is so not helpful. Because a shoe made in Brazil fits differently than an Italian shoe fits differently than a shoe made in China. I am a US size 9 and took a 39 in these Pied Juste beauties.

Another “online-only” shoe I found in-store was the Serengeti D’Orsays ($95). Rockefeller Center has the wine version. My usual size 9 fit great and I had no problem with the ankle strap, something that can be a challenge for me. These shoes are aka the Seychelles Whisper In My Ear, which can also be found via Amazon, Piperlime and Zappos. I’m peeved at Amazon right now because of the pricing games they play — a pair of pumps sitting in my cart has vacillated from $72 to $95 just this week and I am not OK with that!

One pump I haven’t found anywhere is the Sandy Tortie Pump ($198) but at least Anthropologie lets us know it’s made in Spain and to order a size up. Based on that I plan to get a 40.

I’m also hoping Anthropologie restocks Bleuforet’s delightful Crocheted Tights ($39), which run small and sold out in the large/black before I could order them! Boo.

What’s in your Anthropologie cart right now? What new arrivals have you wishlisted?

As far as my other purchases go I’ve been on two very distinct pages: replenishing my basics now that my size has changed and getting some new kick-ass kicks. I’ve been selling a lot of my clothing that no longer fits as you’ve seen here on EA {thanks to everyone who has supported the sale so far!!!} and am pretty much turning most of that money right back into new clothing, as well as building the contest fund for an upcoming giveaway that I’m really excited about! What have I been buying?

Saks Fifth Ave is running its Friends & Family promotion this weekend — 25% off a select range of clothing, accessories and jewelry with a list of exclusions longer than Crime & Punishment. I took advantage to buy a couple of Vince pieces I’d wanted; these pants and this sweater in cloud. During a trip to their NYC flagship I was happily surprised to find these Rachel Roy pumps I’ve wanted in my size and on sale, so with the F&F they were a total steal! I got them in the dark blue and am now stalking the red/snakeskin combo at Lord & Taylor. I took an 8 in the pants, an x-small in the sweater and a 9.5 in the pumps.

The Saks’ endless restrictions list is annoying but some awesome brands i.e. Rag & Bone aren’t on there, so it’s worth shopping if you’re eyeing a fall piece that might not hit sale for awhile.

Also running their Friends & Family this weekend is Kate Spade, where 30% off most all regular and sale price items is quite a deal! The Adette Dress has been on my want list since summer. It’s on sale and F&F-eligible but I haven’t pulled the trigger yet, mostly because as much as I love the dress I’m really not sure how to wear it. With a cropped sweater over it for work? With a cardigan for date night? The shape is lovely, the neckline flattering and the fit-and-flare design really perfect on my hourglass body…I would love to make this dress work! How would you style this dress? For sizing reference I took a 4 — most KS dresses run large for me.

J.Crew is offering 30% off its sale items on its website (and 40% off sale in some stores). I took advantage to buy several items I’d been watching — a couple of which I was surprised to see hit sale so soon! After missing the Hummingbird Ettas last summer it was awesome to grab the Etta Studded-Heel Pumps on sale plus 30% off. Ettas are not the most comfortable pumps despite J.Crew’s claims. But the rounded toe works nicely with pencil skirts and cropped pants and these are great shoes for business meetings, they catch the eye without being a meeting-long distraction since they go under the conference table. I need a good arch support inside this shoe. I take a 9.5, up from my usual 9.

From there I invested in one other trendy piece, the Collection jade foulard top in a size 4. The rest of order is basics — the No. 2 Double Serge Pencil Skirt in wool (baroque blue, size 8), and the Octagon Necklace and Crystal Clovers Necklace in Bristol Blue.

Unfortunately, the order hasn’t shipped yet. So while I picked up the Ettas in-store, I’ve been biting my nails since Tuesday waiting for the rest to ship out! It’s not just Anthropologie that has inventory issues it seems. Hopefully my complete order ships out soon.

For details and J.Crew reviews there are plenty of amazing blogs out there. My main three stops are the incomparable J.Crew Aficionada, Gigi’s Gone Shopping and Fabulous Florida Mommy. My blogroll has a few more J.Crew-centric blogs I love like J.Crew is My Favorite Store and A Bigger Closet. (And there are plenty more fantastic J.Crew blogs out there that I love!)

Madewell is also having a super sale this weekend — 40% off all its sale items! I haven’t been in a Madewell store in a few months so I’m a little behind on their offerings but I love their flats and leather messenger bags.

What other sales are happening this weekend? What items have you purchased and liked recently?