Happy Anthro Markdown Tuesday!

What an amazing sale today!! Lots of items got marked down that I was tempted by but I've been coveting the Backswept dress something bad the last few weeks and so I purchased it in two sizes to see which one works best. And now is when I realize that I have no shoes to go with this dress ;p

My store never received the Backswept Dress or the Meyer Meringue so I don't want to take my chances waiting till I can get to the store to see if they received a shipment of them for the sale. I'm convinced I can fall the Backswept Dress up despite the open back design. Chrysanthemum are fall flowers after all, aren't they?

Did you find anything from your wish list marked down today?

Backswept Dress

Meyer Meringue Dress

Seattle had one size 14 Meyer dress when I was last there and despite it being too big for me I tried it on anyways. I loved the dress so much but it's really a summer dress and I wouldn't want to wear it in the Fall with such a sunny color.

Flower Stand Dress

Triple Bar Belt

I got the Triple Bar Belt in Navy several weeks ago and I was tempted to get a second one since it's such a versatile little belt. I got it in a medium and I can wear it around my waist thru my pant belt loop or I can wear it at my upper waist. The blue was the right color choice for my wardrobe as it looks lovely over browns but If I happen upon another one of these in store I'd love any one of the other colors. 

**Update**

I ended up ordering the Cuffed Clogs on sale and with free shipping. Not sure I'll keep them but they would solve my shoe issue with the Backswept Dress and it will be wearable for Fall I think. I'm almost certain the catalogue shot of the Backswept Dress is styled with these shoes. I also think they'd go nicely with my Checked Crops. 

Sale Haul! And Waffling About the Settee Roses Skirt

So I had a bit of a stressful trip into Vancouver Anthropoligie today (unhappy children plus complicated transaction) to have my Heartseas Habotai Blouse price adjusted and in the end I did have the price adjustment honoured so I was able to purchase the Climate Control Cardi that went on sale today with the difference. I also picked up the Scratchboard Skirt to see if I liked it better then my Settee Rose Skirt I got the other day and I'm really sort of torn.

I really like the outfit with the Scratchboard Skirt but the quality of the skirt feels less substantial then other skirts of the same price. I'm actually really disappointed that the skirt doesn't have pockets. It also has a really strange construction with an inner liner only on the back half of the skirt, the front half of the skirt is two layers of printed fabric (sort of a faux wrap) and the second outer layer seems to be a bit longer then it should be and doesn't sit symmetrically. I think it's meant to not sit symmetrically and is part of the design but I still feel off kilter. The pull up waist is a little bit big in the large but I opted for the extra length of the large versus the medium. The elastic waist kind of looks like mens underwear but I think I like the casualness of it. I think I'm torn because I know this will go on sale...and probably because something better will come along. This will probably go back to the store and will be repurchased at sale time.

Dotted Dashes Tee, Scratchboard Skirt, 

Triple Bar Belt, Climate Control Cardi

The Dotted Dashes top is just adorable! I saw it initially when I purchased the Settee Skirt but passed in favour of the Dorsal Tee. When I returned the Dorsal Tee I tried this one on and immediately fell in love with it. It looks so cute with this skirt, my Sailboat skirt and with jeans. Tucked into skirts it sort of has the look of the Readymade Dress with the boatneck and nautical red stripe/polka dot. I love that the background is raw white and not a sharp white. I experienced tear the tags off lust with this simple little tee and I'm glad I did because it works with a lot of items in my closet. And also I guess I seem to have a thing for polka dots on red and white or white on red. 

I'm very pleasantly surprised with the Climate Control Cardigan which I never bothered to try on at full price since the extra flap of fabric was a turn off. I've been on the hunt for a pretty/dressy cardigan for a while and thought that a yellow/chartreuse would be a good choice considering what I have in my closet already. Once I tried this one on today I was sold. It's a great fitting little cardigan and the bronze buttons really dress this up. The extra flap on this really doesn't stand out when you wear the cardi closed and when it's open it looks like any other basic shaped cardigan. 

Settee Roses Skirt, Dotted Dashes Tee

Triple Bar Belt, Climate Control Cardi

I was surprised that the Dotted Dashes Tee worked well with this skirt tucked in. I think it's because the raw white background of the tee matches the raw white patches in the skirt. Adding the cardigan and the skinny belt is a bit much and I think I've decided that if I were to keep this skirt it would be a sandals only skirt which limits it to warm weather.  I think the boots really makes me look wider and stockier then I am so I'm almost certain I'm going to be returning this skirt as well. Oh well. If I'm not 100% sold on something or how it looks on me then it's best to send it back in favour of something I know immediately looks great on me, right? 

Oops, forgot to talk about this little belt. I got this in a large and it's slightly loose on me but I think the medium would have been too snug. I really, really love the belt though and I ended up choosing the dark blue after not being able to choose a color for the longest time. I could see the yellow, red and green ones being equally as useful in my closet but I settled on the blue simply because I'm favouring navy's lately and it looked really cute over this tee paired with jeans. 

Anthropologie Vancouver Store Report and Fit Review

I went in today in hopes of trying on some of the new items that have appeared on the website over the last two weeks and that have made there way onto my wish list but sadly I only found a few of the newest items to try on. I tried on the Layered Column Dress but mysteriously my picture disappeared off my iphone by the time I got home. I tried on an large and I would say it was TTS. It's pretty on but for the price of $178 (more like $190's in Canada) I was not interested in it enough to even wish list it. Brilliant Chaos Shift,Flower Stand Dress, Beau Ideal Dress, Lila Frock, Afterlight Dress (stunning print and colors in person), Bright Bandana Dress, Aine Pencil Skirt were all in and had just been unpacked so there were only size 6's stocked on the shelf.  I'll use that as my excuse to go back soon to try some of these on. The Gathering Tank is now available in store in all colorways and I was feeling mighty tempted by the Turquoise and the Lilac. Another interesting thing was that they had a new display of these Muted Shades Loafers which made me hopeful that we would see more shoes in store soon. I asked an SA and she said although they are NOT a shoe anthro they will occasionally receive one or two styles of shoes and it all depends on how well these ones do as they are the first shoes that they have received. Oh please lulu gods, please bring in a full selection of shoes. I'm deeply in love with Miss Albright shoes and like to be able to try them on in store instead of ordering online. There was also a sign outside advertising a few job postings and I momentarily dreamed of working at Anthro (oh how I would love to) but my current position of SAHM has really horrible hours and would not allow me to juggle this gig (or could I??). I'm sure going to daydream about it though...

Additional 25% off has been extended in store!!

Calliope Dress

I really, really liked the Calliope Dress on. It is a pullover style with an elastic waist and pockets and a gorgeous print.  I tried it on in a 10 and it was roomy and comfortable. I think I would have liked a bit more length to this dress but that's really nit-picking. I'm wish listing this for now. It needs to be something that can be styled for Fall for me to jump on it at this point and I'm not so sure it is but the colors are right up my alley. 

Cropped Wisely Blazer 

I'm on the hunt for the perfect cropped and casual blazer to wear with my Longwing Pullover to extend it's life into fall as well as something I can pair with other 'summer' tops that I'd still like to wear. The shape and fabric of the Cropped Wisely Blazer is just perfect and I even really like the print but I just don't know if I am crazy about the print or if I'd get bored with it after a while. Even for the marked down price of $59 + 25% off I wasn't quite ready to jump on it. I think it looks great in this outfit and I think it would pare nicely with the Longwing Pullover since it has soft peachy flowers in the print and it's got the same romantic feel to it. I'm so torn because looking at this picture this outfit looks so cute to me but I think what I want is to wait for a 2nd cut on this or even just wait until the last possible second when I have to run around hunting for it in my size in an exorcise of insanity. This was the size 8 in the picture and it was slightly too small. I tried on the 10 as well and that fit me perfectly. Oh if only there was a solid neutral version of this blazer. To add annoyance to my wishy-washyness, there was a neutral grey cropped blazer marked down which I did love, and it was similar in styling to this one...but it was size 2 and there were no others. That one I would have jumped on. 

Grapevine Tank

 I really liked the grapevine tank when it first came online and I have it on my wishlist. The print is pretty and I love the embroidered neckline but I don't love it for $88 and I also don't like that the embroidered neckline narrows in such a way that you can see my bra straps. I'm not sure I would transition this to fall so I'm wish listing it for markdown but won't be horribly upset if it sells out. Love but pass.

Verdant Slip Dress

I've been meaning to try the Verdant Slip dress on since I love the print and colors so I grabbed it to add to my pile today in a size 10. I think the 10 is the right size for me but I don't love what happens to my hips in this dress. There is a bit of a bubble/poof effect bellow the waist and that is just not on for my body shape. The dress was comfortable and a lot less revealing and more substantial than I thought it would be for a silk slip of a dress. The neckline is not too low and it's really quite flattering around the middle. Loved it but didn't feel the need to have it at this moment. 

Lacey Turning Cami

My only purchase today was the grey Lacey Turning Cami for about $16. I got the ivory one last weekend with my Longwing pullover and I've found it to be a really versatile layering piece in my closet and I really love the bit of lace peaking thru underneath my shirts. I was bummed when I didn't find my size today since it was my main goal on today's shopping trip.  Just as I was leaving the fitting rooms I saw they were putting some of these back on the rack and low and behold they had some mediums. I really liked the Moss one too but the lace is the same color as the tank so you don't get the same pop of lace as you do with the grey one so I just got the grey today. 

Sempervivum Belt $58 ($68 in my store)

I've tried this belt on twice now and I really love it. It's a little pricey for a crochet belt so I think I'm going to wait a while to get this. It may very well be a full price purchase for me but not anytime soon. I need to have specific items I'd like to wear this with before I seriously consider the full price and I don't think I have any items in my closet right now begging to be paired with it. 

Lush Lattice Shirt/Sorbet Skirt

This was an interesting styling of the Lush Lattice Shirt. I can't say I like the skirt much (pattern is just not me) but it's interesting seeing this top tucked in to a pencil skirt. keeping this idea filed away since I love this shirt and have it wish listed for later consideration. 

My Current Lust List:

Settee Rose Skirt

I think I'm as enamored with this skirt as I am with my Sailboat Skirt. Every time I see the Sailboat Skirt in store I still feel the need to touch and admire it even though I already own it. I feel the same love for my Longwing Pullover which means they will get a lot of wear over time.  I'm sure when I finally get a chance to try this skirt on I'll have to bring it home with me right away.  The print seems year round versatile and I love the shape of it for my figure. I'm finding skirts this shape are the right balance between casual and dressy for me  and are more effortless then a dress (even though a dress requires less styling). So at $88 I think this skirt has a good cost per wear value in my closet

Full-On-Floral Skirt

This skirt is another one high on my wish list but the price drops it down a few notches below the Settee Skirt. I adore the print, it's exactly my style and in colors I gravitate to but I don't want to pay double the price of another skirt I love only for the print. Both the Settee skirt and this one are machine washable fabrics. I think I expected this skirt to be made of silk for this price point but perhaps it's silk cotton. Pass until it gets markdown or until I win the lotto. 

Lowland Rugosa Tank

I'm constantly drawn to this type of embroidered flower print and I love the color combinations. It's almost exactly like the Lush Lattice Shirt but with bigger flowers so I think I like this one better because it has more of the element that I love...but I like that the LL Shirt is longer sleeved. What is it about these embroidered flower prints that I'm so drawn to? I think it reminds me of something from my childhood that my mom had but I can't quite place what it was. Wish listed for later consideration. 

Seattle Anthropologie Sale Haul + Fitting Room Reviews

Well I came home from Seattle with quite the haul this weekend but in my defence part of what I brought back was the markdown purchases I made online a few weeks ago that I had sent to Hagen's of Blaine, one was an exchange purchase and I also had my birthday discount so actually my total spent in Seattle was $35. Amazing. Husband was very impressed and really likes the clothes I brought back. Except for the Stretch Tulip Belt. He doesn't get the wide belt worn up high trend and thought it looked like I was wearing a bra on the outside of my clothes.  There was no Meyer Meringue Dress in either of the Seattle stores this weekend so that took care of the temptation and made the Longwing Pullover a no brainer purchase. There was no way I was coming back with both the dress and the sweater and I know the sweater will have a lot more use in my closet then the dress would have. Please pardon my pictures today, I would have preferred to have worn my jeans or leaner fitting pants for most of these items but ALL of my pants but these are in the laundry today. 

Longwing Pullover small, Lacey Turning Cami medium

Cropped Culottes size 31 (hemmed), Stretched Tulip Belt size L

I am in total LOVE with the Longwing Pullover. I had a few styling tips from an SE who confirmed this would look great belted and that to be brought into a Fall wardrobe I could wear a cropped blazer overtop or perhaps a sweater jacket if the sleeves don't bunch up underneath too obviously. I get really warm in the Fall and Winter with indoor heating and much prefer lighter layers anyways so I'm pretty sure I will be able to bring this into the cooler months. When I saw this pullover in store the first time I had just tried on the Lunar Cycles Top and passed on it because it was too startchy feeling and heavy. My initial reaction to the Longwing Pullover was 'awe, too bad it's not the Lunar Cycles Top in this soft knit. I don't like the peach'. When I finally got around to trying it on last week I decided I really do love the color on me and it would have been a lot less striking in white. The Lacey Turing Cami was a great bargain at $19.95 less 25% off (about what I want to spend on a cami). I exchanged my size 10 Heartsease blouse for the Longwing Pullover and purchased the Green Gathering Tank and Lacey Turning Cami for about $35 once my Anthro birthday discount was added in to the order. Yippee!!

The Gathering Tank Green and Grey Size L

Monarch Skirt Size 10, Cropped Culottes (hemmed), Stretched Tulip Belt

I wanted the Gathering Tank in Green to see how it would look with my Monarch Skirt (also a markdown purchase) and I think I really like it. I wouldn't normally pair such a bold color with a printed skirt that doesn't contain the same color. I'm not really good at putting unconventional colors together but I think this works somehow. It looks nice to my eyes at least but if you think it looks ridiculous please let me know.  

I also really like the grey Gathering Tank. It's a warm dark grey that in certain lights has a mauvy undertone. This one will be a staple neutral in my wardrobe and will go with many things. With the Monarch Skirt I think it really subdues the whole look. I like the tee belted I think. I'm a bit undecided about the Stretch Tulip Belt though. I really like it but with my husbands comment about the belted look in general and since I'm not used to wearing belts like this I feel a bit silly. I either have to get over that or decide I'm never going to wear the belt and return it. 

Cinchona Cardigan Size small, The Gathering Tank 

Cropped Culottes (hemmed), Stretched Tulip Belt

I also got the Cinchona Cardigan on markdown for I think $19.95 and I really like it paired with jeans and narrower pants. It's a boyfriend fit cardi so it's quite slouchy. I got it in a size small and it's still baggy in the arms and body. I like this worn open and I thought I'd like it belted but this belt really doesn't work well with it, nor do these pants. It's a cardi that I like for the price I paid but I think I'm a bit limited with what I can pair with it so I wouldn't have purchased it for any more then the sale price. It's the main attraction to an outfit so it's not the type of cardigan I can just throw overtop of a dress or skirt/top combo to finish it off. 

The Cropped Cullotes were the pants I got on opening day (over here, unhemmed version) in Vancouver but I never found them online to let you know the name of them until just this week. I liked the fit a lot but they were pant length on me or slightly shorter so I had them hemmed to match the catalogue photo. They look really cute on with wedge heels and a lean fitted top, if only I wasn't so short and hippy. I usually have a really hard time finding pants that fit me well since my proportions are so strange. I have a small waist with wide hips and I'm quite short legged so balancing my top and bottom half are hard and also finding pants that fit my waist and thighs well is quite difficult. My jeans that you will see a lot of in my reviews are the Levi's Skinny Boot Cut in Modern Demi Curve. I took several days to find jeans that fit well and after several hours in the mall one day I decided to try on Levi's which used to fit me horribly. I was so pleased that they now offer the Demi Curve waist which really solved all of my jeans fit issues. I've also had a lot of luck at Anthro with the way pants fit me. Hei-Hei, Level 99 and Joes Jeans all fit me really well. They are made to fit women with curves and all have rises that are not at all scandalous on me. It's so nice to know that my fit frustrations are finally over and I can stop waisting my time at other brands that only made me feel really bad about my shape. 

Sale Haul! I Done Good!!

I was in the neighborhood today (total lie, it was a special trip) and so I decided to check in with the sales racks at Vancouver Anthropologie to see if I could find that Blue Tulip Belt I passed on last week. It wasn't in today but I did find some goodies to bring home with me. The markdowns extended out of the markdown room onto the main floor with 3-4 extra racks of clothes and an additional one downstairs by the front entrance so its definitely worth your wile to stop in and check it out. Although now I wish I had stopped in early on Tuesday for the best picking since it seemed that although there were a lot of items today it was well picked over of size options and I can't help but wonder what other goodies I missed. The 25% off sale items also applied in store on clothes so I was happy to pick a few things up that I would never have thought to try on otherwise. Man I love bargain shopping at Anthro. And whats funny is that's so unlike me otherwise. I did also try on some non markdown items (fit reviews to come soon) and I managed to add even more to my ever growing wishlist. One item I may end up picking up this weekend when we head to Seattle if I'm lucky enough to find it again (in US $$'s :p )

Sweet Breeze Crops size 31 $69.95 less 25% (from $169!)

These were a bit of a quirky fit (just like the online reviews indicate) but I actually really love them on.  I may have wanted to try a size up in these to solve some of my fit issues (update: I've worn these for an hour and they have stretched out one full size) with them but they have loosened up since I've been wearing them here at home and I'm glad I got them despite my initial hesitation at the fit. The calf area is quite tapered and very fitted on my larger calves so much so that I can't roll them up more then once. The thighs are slightly snug but I can move around easily and sit and I  don't feel much tension in the fabric except if the lower pant leg which is narrower rides up slightly. The waist is looser fitting and sits a few inches below my belly button which is really great for me.  I have a hard time finding pants with a rise and waist that fit my smaller waist and bigger rear but these are high enough and fitted at the waist that they are perfect for pear shaped figures. The color of these pants are really great too, it's a denimy grey in a thin cotton and I foresee them matching a lot of items already in my closet.  I think if you have a smaller rear/hip/thigh area these may add bulk to your hip area by bagging out a bit but because they are more fitted on me they don't add anymore bulk then is already there. I find them slimming to my shape but I can see how they would do the opposite for some shapes. 

Seersucker Crops Size L $29.95 less 25% off (from $58)

These were a fun pair of lounge pants that I grabbed just to try on as a pair of pajamas but actually, they are so adorable and comfortable on that I want to wear them as actual lounge pants to the park, the wading pool with the kids, grocery shopping or other very casual errand trips. They have hardware detailing on them so I think they are 'lounge' pants and not just 'sleep' pants. Do you agree? I photographed them with the leg hiked up a bit but I prefer them longer. Super duper cute and if it turns out they should be left to sleepwear, then for $25 you can't beat it. 

Deep End Barrette $19.95 (from $32)

I purchased this barrette today that I've been coveting for a long time. The original sale price in Canada was around $42, $10 hole dollars more then the US price and I just couldn't stomach paying the price of a garment on a hair accessory. When it was marked down online for $19.95 I passed on it only because then I'd have to pay full shipping and drive out to Blaine Washington to pick it up. I expected that the Canadian in store sale price would be higher then the US price so when I saw it today marked down to $19.95 I could not pass it up. I have really thick wavy hair and this little clip does an amazing job of holding it all in. I mean ALL of it in a low ponytail.  My hair looks awful up in a ponytail so I'm forever looking for hair accessory's  to use when my hair looks less then together so I'm really pleased I got this one today. This clip is made in France both the plastic as well as the hardware so this really is the ferarri of hair clips at a bargain price.