March 2009

How did Anthropologie know that the one thing I want to do right now, above anything else, is lay in the sun and lazily dip my fingers and toes in the warm blue water?

Ahhh, IF ONLY March looked like this in my neck of the woods.

Worries fall like dominoes? No, not exactly. We're in prime flu season here. Both my kids have been home for the passed week. It's a wonder my immune system is still holding up against the onslaught of their germs.

I have a friend who lives in Palm Beach and fantasizes about snow and winter sports. My husband tells me the grass is always greener on the other side, to which I reply "that's because there is NO grass here!" Just white. I can't even see my car under the snow hill it's covered by...

Cheating on Anthropologie

To continue from my last post,

In my attempt to unveil the identity of the mysterious sweater I found at Anthropologie ( on sale!), I Googled in the name on the tag, Leifsdottir. Anthropologie came up first in the results, followed by Bloomingdales and Nordstrom . I clicked on Bloomingdales and surprise, surprise! I see some familiar styles.
What do we learn from this? That not all Anthropologie styles are made exclusively for Anthropologie. I knew this to be true for shoes and some accessories, but not the clothes.

Recognize these?

Anthropologie calls this "Morning Colors Dress"

Bloomingdales calls it "Octopus Flower Dress"

Center of the Sun Cardigan (image from Bloomingdales)


Fairy Cake Jacket (Bloomingdales calls it Patissarie Jacket)

Riata Skirt (image from Nordstrom)

Sylvan Scene Cardigan (otherwise known as Melange Sweater)

Now a question begs to be asked. If I wanted to buy any of the Leifsdottir designs, would I buy them from Anthropologie or elsewhere?
I do get immense satisfaction of making purchases at Anthropologie, maybe it's those little muslin pouches they put my receipts in, I don't know. I would probably take a peek at other websites to compare prices, though. There is no commandment that says "To Anthropologie, thall shall be true". If the price was the same, well, then the shipping charge would be the deciding factor :-). Think about this long and hard, Anthropologie.

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?