Showing posts with label Prints. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prints. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

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.

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. 




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. 

Friday, June 17, 2011

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 DressBeau Ideal DressLila FrockAfterlight Dress (stunning print and colors in person), Bright Bandana DressAine 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!!


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. 



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. 



 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.

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. 

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. 

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:

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

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. 

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. 

Monday, June 13, 2011

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. 


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
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. 

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. 

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Fit Report: Lush Lattice Shirt, Longwing Pullover, Take Action Dress

Aiya! I went in today in hopes of seeing and trying on the Meyer Meringue Dress but instead I found more items to add to my wish list.  
A new color! It's sort of a muted tealy green. Very pretty

Marked down Cardigan
Not sure what this cardi is called, I know it was on the website in the markdown section last week but I didn't note the name. Today I found it marked down to $29 + 25% off and I was very close to getting it but decided to pass on it since I got a floral cardi on markdown a few weeks ago (which I still need to pick up this weekend). I did really love the bold print on this one with the sharp black contrast areas to make this an edgier floral. I liked it much less when it was done up but open it added a nice pop of color. 


Lush Lattice Shirt $88
I loved this blouse! I loved the embroidered flowers on it that seem to be cascading downwards. I also really like the length of the sleeves and how they are tacked up with a button. The sheerness I don't really mind at all for the most part but I would probably wear a cami underneath it if I wore this out to dinner. I tried on the large and I think the fit is right but I'd like to try the medium on to see if I get a less boxy fit. The large is probably the right size for me though. I worried about taking this on and off since the front fabric where the embroidery is is different from the rest of the blouse. it seemed like a fragile material and I'd be afraid to tear it. That being said, it's probably not all that delicate, it just looked that way. This is definitely wishlisted for further consideration. If it goes on markdown and I've passed at full price I would greedily snatch this one up in a heartbeat. 

I fell in utter love with this blouse today. It's everything I wished the Lunar Cycles Top was which I poo-pooed because it was a rough and starchy feeling material. This one is silky soft with an elegant drape to it. It's sheer and it's delicate but I'd love to try it on with a cami to see if it's just as pretty. The color was not initially one that I was drawn to but it's so warming to the skin that I didn't even want to try on the Navy version. I tried this one on in a medium and I don't think I would go up a size as it's quite comfortable, I'd possibly try the size down just to see what that does but I don't think it'd be ideal. My concern with it is that to transition this blouse to cooler months and into fall I'm not sure how it would look with a cardi over it or what the billowy sleeves would do under a jacket or cardi. I will try it on again on Saturday and if it satisfies me then that this can be worn in various months then I will buy this  with my birthday discount if it arrives in time. Darn you Canada Post strike!

This was another item I really liked. I did have a few 'dislike' items I tried on today but decided to focus on the 'loves'. I really liked how comfortable this dress was. It had no zippers to do up and the waist was very elastic so it was a pull up dress with one button to do up at the nape of the neck. I liked the little button detail at the lower ribs and how loose fitting it was in the bodice. I also really liked the length of the dress and the pleating at the neckline. The color and print was nice enough but not one that I loved. If I needed a work wardrobe this is something I would purchase for sure as it's dressy and really comfortable without feeling restricting or fitted in any area. I would wishlist this one of it comes in other colorways.