Oddities Among Anthropoligie's New Arrivals

Browsing through Anthropologie's new arrivals, I was rather perplexed at the amount of odd and unflattering styles among the Spring selection. The question begs to be asked, "what the heck?" Am I behind the times? Is ugly the new pretty? Someone please explain this to me. Really.

Exhibit A is the McGuire Flight Jumpsuit. For mere $298 you can be this cool in oversized  onesies. That is until you need to pee. Then you realize that there's a reason why kids onesies have snaps going all the way down the leg.

I call your attention to Abode Terry Jumpsuit for $98. Still trying to figure out what would be just the prefect occasion for wearing this. Being committed to an asylum? I don't know. This one too, has no bathroom plan, but perhaps your asylum would accommodate this fashion statement by providing some diapers?

 

The Lilibet Dress is so precious. It takes you back to the time you were 3. Literally. What grown woman would want to be seen in a tooth fairy dress?

The Painterly Buttondown comes with a price tag of $118. For a 50% discount, I'd be happy to throw some paint on your old, giant shirt. It will be more authentic and one of a kind.

The Kitterby Ruffle Top is the epitome of high fashion. Might be a little to risque if you're Amish, but just right if you live in a little house on a prairie. Seriously? This is what Anthropologie has to offer the modern woman of the world?

The Pupped Pullover looks like something you might order on Aliexpress. For a 6 year old. I'm not sure what bothers me more, the pink and black stripes or the puppy. A combination of the two is just barf-awful! 

Bored With Anthropologie

Today I have another complaining post for you. Sad, but I need to get it out. I feel that Anthropologie has totally lost its touch. I've been so bored with their selection lately. Though the selection is large, I feel that it's too diluted. It seems like Anthropologie is trying to reach out to a broader customer base, and in the process loosing their unique identity.

I used to fall in love with everything at Anthropologie a few years back, but at this point, even if I semi-like something, it's way too easy to convince myself to do without it. I'm just not inspired anymore. Do you hear me, Anthropologie? I'M LACKING INSPIRATION! Good for my wallet, bad for my closet. Though I have plenty of gorgeous Anthropologie clothes from previous years, I would like to continue feeding my inspiration and my closet with new, unique, high quality, vintagy looking, flattering styles, which at this point are rare finds even at Anthropologie. It's a shame. They really had a good brand going which is now steadily sliding downhill.

How many loose, shapeless shirts and tunics with 80's overtones do I really need in my wardrobe? That's right, NONE! Yet, Anthropologie offers way more of these than I have the patience to put up here for show and tell. 

Perhaps this is trendy? I don't know. I'm not a trend-savvy type of person. All I know is pretty vs ugly.  I was hoping that Anthropologie is above offering ugliness whether it's "in" or not. But clearly I was mistaken.

Lets examine some of Anthrooogie's new arrivals.

Sunwashed Buttondown Tunic

Lilith Buttondown

And what is this monstrosity, priced at $288?

Eliot Buttondown

No, don't try to justify it. It's ugly, plain and simple.

Maybe if you're 19 and weigh 90lb you can somehow get away with 

wearing this, but if that's the case, 

you are not exactly Anthropologie's target client.

Derby Kimono Blouse

The name says it all.

Oversize Poplin Pullover

Camellia Top

Batai Blouse

Chaine Peasant Top

Sailor V-Neck Pullover

Teddy Cowl Pullover

Everything is just so big and loose! And what's with those bizarre colorful patterns? Looks like something my grandma used to wear. Oh Anthropologie this is all just too much! 

So where do I shop now? Any ideas? And what are the chances of Anthropologie regaining it's edge by next season?

The Catalog Conspiracy

I've been receiving Anthropologie catalogs since 2005. That's eight years worth of catalogs. Eight years is a long time, people. It's a relationship. To put things in perspective, my son was being potty trained the year I discovered Anthropologie. He's now going into fifth grade!
You'd think, nothing can shake a relationship that has lasted this long. Well, I didn't think so either. Then, something strange happened. One month past after another without any Anthropologie catalogs arriving at my door. At first, I thought it was a fluke. Maybe one got lost in the mail. Maybe, the neighbor's son decided that Anthropologie catalogs are much more exciting than playboy and snatched a few. However, after three catalog-less months, I started to worry. I called Anthropologie and asked them why my catalogs stopped coming. They didn't know, but promised to send them out to me. I waited patiently. Nothing. I called again. The friendly customer service rep promised me they will surely add me to the mailing list...for the third time. She even promised to send me the back catalogs that I was missing. It's been a few weeks. Guess if anything came in the mail? I'm starting to wonder if it's a conspiracy. Either Anthropologie really doesn't want me to have those darn catalogs or the mail man is keeping them for himself. Either scenario is pretty disturbing. Are any of you Anthro customers also missing your catalogs?

When Anthro Dissapoints

We all know, that when ordering from the Anthropologie website, you may receive an item coming from one of the stores, rather than a warehouse. Sometimes the items have been previously returned or tried on in the store and may occasionally have  an odor or other imperfections. Personally, I'm ticked off by this. Most major clothing brands only send brand new merchandise to online customers. If items are out of stock on-line, it should be my choice, whether or not I'd like to do a store search for an item, knowing that I may get something that is not perfect and willing to take my chances, especially for a sale item. However, I think this choice should be offered to me and it's completely unacceptable for a huge brand like Anthropologie to send me second grade goods that were ordered at full price. This has happened to me a number of times in the past, and with two of my latest orders in a row. I have not had this experience with any other brand.

My second to last order, I purchased a cardigan that was on sale. Though I ordered it on the website, it clearly came from a store and smelled! Ewww. I called customer service to try to order a replacement, but it was completely sold out in my size. The customer service rep offered me 15% off if I wanted to keep it and because I really liked the style, I agreed reluctantly. Still, there is a sense of disappointment. Even on sale and with additional 15% off, the cardigan was still pricey in my opinion and having to invest in dry cleaning before wearing it is most annoying. In all the times I bought Anthropologie clothes on eBay, I have never received anything that smelled. Yet, I'm getting a smelly item straight from Anthropologie.

My last order was a dress which I purchased during the 20% off dresses promotion. This dress is now back to full price. When it arrived in the mail, the inner plastic bag that items are usually sealed in was ripped and crudely scotch taped back together. The dress did not have any tags attached, leading me to believe that it was someones return. If I was keeping the dress, this might have been OK, but since it did not fit and I would need to return it, I hope I won't be given the third degree for the missing tags. Once again, I feel like I've just shopped at some closeout store and not Anthropologie.

On a separate note, the dress I'm planning on returning is the Bottlegreen Dress. Everything about it seemed to be so right, but the fit is just all wrong. My regular size is too tight in the chest, yet gapes open at the neckline and too full in the skirt. If I went up a size to fit the chest better, the neckline and the skirt would look even worse. I can't even see how the neckline issue can be fixed by a tailor in an inconspicuous way. In the catalog picture, they've hidden the neckline with a necklace. It's really too bad because this dress is quite beautiful. Oh Anthropologie, why must you disappoint?

January

As always, I've been looking forward to browsing the new Anthropologie January catalog. However, today is January 2nd and no sign of new catalog on-line or in the mail. The website did get updated somewhat with a front page link to the new Resort collection which I don't find exciting in the least. Full of unflattering bathing suits that can only be worn if you're size XXXS, and loose, bizarrely hued  tunics that should only be worn if you're size XXXL, the Resort Collection just feels like a desperate and not particularly successful attempt to get our attention after we've OD'd on shopping prior to the holidays. 

The website home page also features a link to new arrival, most of which are not compelling enough to grab my attention. There are a few new styles that I did end up adding to my wishlist, to be revisited in a month or so when my credit cards hopefully recover from all the abuse they've been through.

Glimmer Collar Cardigan

Printed Panel Cardigan

Lalani Peasant Blouse

Spun Eyelet Blazer

Retro Ribbon Midi Dress

Engagements Dress

Amina Blouse Review

Lately I've become very attracted to the color yellow. I have a closet overflowing with various shades of aqua, and yellow feels like just the perfect antidote. It's like craving salty food after an overdose of sweets.

The Amina Blouse is a pleasant, sunny shade of yellow that can go with so many different colors. I like all the cute design details on it, like the rounded collar, the buttons an the texture of the cotton fabric. Unfortunately, no matter how much I wanted to love this blouse, the fit was all off on me. While the top portion of the blouse is well tailored, the waist is actually  higher than it appears in the picture. It ended right under my chest, with the bottom portion of the blouse flaring out in a maternity-like style. If you're a stick figure, perhaps wearing a maternity style top wont incriminate you, but if you have some curves and a bit of a belly, people will wonder.

Now I'm feeling grouchy, since I ordered a couple of other items along with this top, which I had high hopes for, but for various fit and quality reasons they are all going back. I'm out of $13.95 shipping fee for no good reason. I think I'm gonna make it a policy to order stuff only when I can get free shipping. So, so fed up with the high fees! Especially now, that they've cheapened out on the packaging (read Roxy's post). 

I actually complained to someone in customer service about the lack of flat rate shipping and the best answer she could come up with was "Well, many of our customers don't mind the shipping fees". Uhhuh. I would love to hear from an Anthro  customer who feels that ordering from Anthropologie is such a privilege, that the obscene shipping fees don't bother them. Perhaps Anthropologie should at least consider some sort of "frequent flyer" program for their most loyal customers. Place three orders withing some reasonable time span, the fourth ships free. Seriously, they should be paying me for all the advice I dispense.  

And don't even get me started on international shipping! 

Carolinae Top Review

I've been eyeing the Carolinae Top for a while, and when it went on sale, I caved and ordered it. What attracted me to this top was the graphic print that looks like a pen drawing. I also appreciate the fact that the top is 100% silk. I was not in denial about the lack of shape, but  was hoping to give the top some semblance of shape by wearing it tucked in.

So how can something that should have been so right, go so wrong? 

Well, for starters, this top is huge. Shapeless and huge.

The reviewer on the Anthro website who wrote that

she usually wears a size 8 but had plenty of room in a size 0 in this top, was not kidding.

Too bad her review was not up yet when I was placing my order. 

Here I am, wearing a 0 which should have been marked 10.

And my plan of tucking it in? No such luck!

The top is way too short even on my 5"1 frame and doesn't stay tucked in.

The website lists it as being 22 inches long, which cannot possibly be accurate.

I forgot to actually measure the top before returning it, but if it was indeed 22"

I would not have had any trouble tucking it in.

Did I already mention it's super wide?

And the gaping sleeves? Seriously, I think I could fit both my legs into these sleeves.

Sure, you would have a nice breeze going in the Summer, 

but do you really want to entertain the onlookers with a clear view 

of your bra (if you're the bra wearing sort)?

I still like the graphics on the Carolinae top very much and wish that Anthropologie would make a well fitting cardigan or at least a button down blouse in this color/pattern combo. 

Please Anthropologie, pretty please?

The Good, The Bad and The Really Ugly

Tons of new Spring arrivals are popping up on Anthropologie website. Though many new styles are quite appealing, overall, I find the collection to be inconsistent, with the good being diluted by plenty of butt ugly frumpy items that Anthropologie still can't seem to shake. Let's see here...

First, the good.

Eunice Cashmere Cardigan
The little pocket and the perforated details make this cashmere cardigan
special. I do wish it came in more colors like a light blue or gray.

Ladder Stitch Cardigan
Interesting and unusual. Wish it wasn't made of modal/viscose/nylon.

Ruffled Oska Dress

Spiraea Shirtdress

What a sweet, flattering summery dress. Also comes in white.

Cloudrose Dress

Openwork Cable Cardigan

Ethereal Pointelle Sweater

Twill Honeybee Blazer
The embroidered bees are really cute.

Konza Dress
Delicate and feminine.

Fashion has taken a few wrong turns here.

Minutiae Dropwaist Dress

This reminds me of Strawberry Shortcake or Raggedy Anne, or something,

a look that is just WRONG for a grown woman.

Sagiso Blouse

Good idea - bad execution. This had potential and 

could have been a really lovely blouse, however the cutout design 

makes it look like it was made from my grandma's curtain.

Field Biology Maxi Dress

Maybe, if you're having 70's flashbacks and
going through a "flower-child" phase.

Washed Denim Buttondown

A big 'ole denim shirt? If you must wear one, couldn't you get it at 

Walmart or K-mart or some other mart for $12.99? 

Artista Boatneck

Too loud and shapeless.

Carmelita Tunic
I can't make up my mind what bothers me most about this one.
Is it the juvenile bow, the lack of shape and structure, or the bland color?

Beyond Ugly. Fashion Suicide. 

Anthropologie, I'm disappointed.

Left Bank Jacket

80's silhouette with gold buttons? The horror! 

Mina Dress

 Loud prints and shapeless silhouettes 

should not be worn outside of Palm Gardens retirement community. 

Reduce & Reuse Dress

What the **%@? 

Looks like something gigantic women wear as a beach cover up.
Alternatively, can function as a happy hued hospital gown.

Hera Feather Jacket 
Miami Drag Queen style

Pleated Optic Shirtdress

Shapeless, psychedelic and completely unattractive.

Minutiae Dropwaist Dress

How many ugly dresses in this nutcase babydoll silhouette do we need to see this Spring? 

In conclusion, trends come and go. Some trends may appeal to us temporarily, yet a few years down the line we look at photographs of ourselves and ask "what the hell was I thinking?"  

So before buying a new outfit, ask yourself "will I still like this 3 years from now?" When in doubt, it's always better go with an understated look than to end up looking like a clown.