Mystery Sweater

On my recent trip to Anthropologie I made a little discovery, which lead me to a bigger discovery.
The little discovery was this pretty mystery sweater. The reason I call it a "mystery" sweater, is because I'm pretty sure it never appeared on Anthropologie website or in any of the catalogs. I was under the impression that all Anthropologie merchandise appears on the website, but it seems I was wrong.


This sweater is phenomenal quality with lot's of little details and it can be worn in a variety of ways. It's made out of a very soft woolly blend with velvet trim and velvet covered buttons with little embroidered buds.
Now I have a confession to make . I'm a sucker for velvet. I haven't seen enough of it this season at Anthropologie to satisfy my velvet cravings.

button detail

I like how the bottom curves to show a triangle of the velvet placket underneath.

The funnel neck has the same embroidered velvet on the outside and you can wear it up, rolled down, or opened.
Though you can't tell from my pictures, this sweater is semi-fitted with princess seams in the back. When I tried it on, it was figure flattering and felt soft and comfortable.

If anyone has any idea what this sweater is called, I'd love to know. Being that Anthropologie is big on giving all their articles of clothing a name, I'd prefer to continue the tradition and be on first name bases with this one.


As I've mentioned in the beginning of this post, this little discovery has lead me to a greater discovery, but as I have a limited attention span for blogging, I will tell you all about it in my next post.

WHY???

As I was browsing Anthropologie website, I came across these bloomers. BLOOMERS???
Why? Someone explain the attraction of these to me? Are they supposed to be cute? Do they enhance your bottom? Would anyone wear these in front of a man?
Sometimes Anthropologie gets just a little carried away with the whole "retro" thing. Next thing you know they'll be selling sleeping caps.

Berry Sprinkled Bloomers

Is this where we're heading?

Fun Aprons

Behold the evolution of the common household apron. No longer just a piece of horrendously hued, shapeless broadcloth strapped on to protect our clothes, Anthropologie aprons come in a wide variety of styles and fun patters to brighten up our mundane chores (and make us appear easier on the eyes of onlookers). Retro, shabby chic, French maid fantasy, crafty mama and everything in between, whatever your style may be, these aprons will make you dance around your kitchen (would also make a nice supplementary gift to jewelry, hint, hint).

Sewing Basket Apron

Sweet & Lucky Apron

Parisian Cafe Apron

Owl Invasion Apron

Farm Fresh Apron

Floral Frock Apron

Big Frills Apron

Stockholm Floral Apron

3-D Toile Full Apron (also comes in half-apron)

Jitterbug Apron

Fruit Stand Apron

January Impressions

There's nothing about the January catalog that says "January". I know retailers are always ahead of seasons, but it's still winter where I am. Hopefully by the time I'll be in spring mode, most of this January goodness will go on sale.

With-The-Sun blouse - $98
So delicate and feminine, this one is a personal favorite.

Willow's Weep dress - $218
It's completely beyond me what is it about this dress that justifies the price.

Waiting-for-Poems sheath - $178
Lovely colors and embroidery.

Every time I receive a new Anthropologie catalog, I play "name that place" game, whereby I try to figure out where this catalog might have been shot. This looks like Europe, but definitely not France or England. Prague? Latvia? Poland? What do you think?

View From Above cardigan - $88

This picture of Prague looks like the background on page 5.

The-Road-Ahead dress - $188
This will sound complete fashion-backward, but how do you wear a bra with this dress? And if you don't...well that poses even more problems...

Happenstance pencil skirt - $118

This is another one of those Anthropologie bloopers. Apperently every catalog needs one. The combination of garish colors and patterns on this skirt makes my skin crawl. The backlit photo is gorgeous though.

Cirrus Bedding

Bittersweet

Heads up!

Checking my Anthropologie wish list today was very satisfying, as a whole bunch of winter stuff went on sale, including the adorable kid's knits I've been admiring in one of the previous posts.

The only thorn in my sale euphoria is the shipping fee. Anthropologie has this retarded way of calculating and overpricing shipping charges based on item's price, not the weight. Will I ever see the day when Anthropologie adopts a standard shipping fee like so many other on-line retailers?

Here's to you, Mrs Tymoshenko!

Anthropologie's choice of model and her hairdo for the December catalog seems to be paying tribute to the Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

Ranking #17 on the Forbes list of world's most powerful women, Tymoshenko was doubted the Ukrainian "Joan of Arc" by her supporters for standing up to the corrupt Kutchman regime under the banner of "Raise up Ukraine!"

Tymoshenko's signature look is a braid wrapped around her head which has been compared to a halo of sorts. Apparently the braid is not worn as a fashion statement, but is supposed to be a powerful political and cultural symbol.

Tymoshenko has often tried to capitalize on the revival of the church in Ukraine, and the braid echoes the halos found in representations of Orthodox Christian icons.
The success of her look can be seen in central Ukraine. In a village home, an elderly woman posted a photo of Ms. Tymoshenko right next to that of a traditional Orthodox icon.
Ms. Teplyuk seemed to regard both with equal fervor.
Tymoshenko has tried to play up that view with her other signature look, white clothing, which is intended to show her purity in the face of what she has called a corrupt political and business culture. - Clifford J. Levy


.

Tymoshenko inspired milkmaid-braid trend?

Soft & Pretty

Eye Candy!
Have a look at Anthropologie's new Soft & Pretty collection.

Graphite Garden Scarf - $38

Blind Embossing Scoopneck - $98

Miharu Tumblers - $48

GPS

Tap'd NY is a bottled water company that sells filtered NYC tap watter. The obvious question would be WHY? See, there's nothing really wrong with your tap water, unlike the bottled spring water which travels to you from distant lands and pollutes our environment in the process. They call it "wasteful practices". Is it my fault I don't live in Fiji? Can't I at least have a little taste of Fiji in a bottle?
When I first saw Tap'd bottles I said they must be joking. Why the heck would I be buying their water when I can drink the crap from my own tap?

While being on this subject, the husband came up with a new business venture.

Green Postal Service, or GPS.

You know how there are all these hitch-hikers out there who manage to travel cross-country at almost no cost? As long as they're doing it, why not have them deliver your mail?

GPS delivery time - indefinite. Our motto is MAYBE.
Save the planet by sending your mail the green way!

So now I need investors for our new company. You might be wondering why I need investors since our company has no expenses. Well, you see, being the CEO of GPS I have an Anthropologie dress code at work which requires funds. Lots and lots of funds.