March Fitting Room Reviews: Anthropologie

Hello Readers!

I'm back! I had a bit of a hiatus, but I am back on track. It was one of those my-life-is-really-hectic-right- now breaks where this blog fell to the wayside. There were days when I had to choose between working out and blogging- and each time working out won over blogging (and yes, a few times naps won too!).

Since it's been a while, I thought a fitting room review might be just what I need to get back into a productive writing "groove." This particular review comes from one of my favorite stores, Anthropologie. When I lived in St. Louis, I used to go into this store almost every Tuesday but ever since I moved to a quaint-but-far-away town my visits to this store have been less frequent. That being said, I was super-stoked to spend time in the store during a weekend trip to St. Louis last weekend.

Here is what I tried on: a lovely long-sleeve lace shirt, three short-sleeve shirts with intriguing details, and two dresses with delightful textures.

1.

??? size small Lace Long-Sleeve Tee in Lavender and Light Blush

When I found this lacy long-sleeve, nestled between two sweaters in the sale room, I was surprised to find that it was a shirt that I never noticed before online or in the store. Where did this shirt come from? I tried on the only size available, a small, and was delighted to find that the sleeves and torso were long enough for my frame! The shirt was a little bit itchy, but otherwise delightful. I passed on the shirt, however, because I was afraid that I would look naked from a distance since the main color was so close to my skin color.

2.

Tartlet Burst Top by Deletta, size Small. Too tight for me!

Deletta is an Anthro brand who authors so many tees, tops, and dresses that I love to love. The Tartlet Burst top was I top I would love to love- but it didn't quite match my style. But, I could see how a lot of people would love it! The top ran a bit small (if I were to purchase it, I would need a Medium), but the twist detail at the bust was flattering and the asymmetrical strip of fabric on the shoulder created a point of interesting movement.

3.

Oriel Tee by Deletta, size M (small not available)

I love this top! Good job Deletta! It reminds me a lot of shirts I saw (and loved!) in stores like a|wear and Vero Moda when I was in Ireland in 2008. It seemed that the shirt was meant to be loose, so I was a bit confused by how short it was, even in a Medium. I could see how this shirt would be perfect for wearing tucked into skirts or high-waisted pants/shorts. The other day I saw a woman wearing this skirt over a long-sleeved crew neck and looked so cute! I liked this shirt, but it was only offered in navy and gross-green. So, I will wait hopefully for more colors in the future!

Look at that lace! Super cute, but you need to get the right size so you don't expose more skin than you want to/should expose!

4.

Drape and Scallop Top by Weston Wear, Size Small

Side Shot! Oh-so-slimming!

Oh how I love the Drape and Scallop Top- bravo Weston Wear! Initially this shirt didn't even catch my eye when I saw it online because it looked like a greyish blob but. . . it's so much more! There is a sweet teal print that, combined with the ruching, creates an oh-so-slimming effect. I bought this shirt in a Medium for length, but when I brought it home and tried it on again (and looked at the pictures of the Medium and the Small) I realized that the small was actually a better fit. The pictures above are of the shirt in Small and the picture below is the Medium. Not a big difference, but the V of the neck wasn't as low in the Small as it was in the Medium. So, I exchanged it and I am much happier with the Small (the arms also fit better in the S!)

Size Medium

5. Get ready for an extra-strength dose of lovely!

Torchon Embossed Ponte Dress in Cream, Size S

Those of you who read my blog know how much I love my Swirling Lace dress by Tracy Reese. It is one of my favorite things to wear but... it is something I can only wear when the weather is cold or cool. The Torchon Embossed Ponte Dress, from Deletta, is a strong contender for a warm weather alternate to my beloved Swirling Lace Dress. (I'm hoping for a sale to hit soon. . . ).

I grabbed a Small in this dress and it was a perfect fit, but a little bit shorter than I thought it would be. The waist sat at my natural waist, which is a marvelous feat for my height! The dress has a subtle but lovely texture to it and an even lovelier cream color. Lovely, lovely, lovely!

I love this!

Look at that lovely pattern!

6.

Embossed Basket Dress by Ganni, in Blue, size S

The Embossed Basket Dress was one that I spotted online when searching for Zooey Deschanel/Jess Day style dresses for a potential blog post. The color is so bold, and the basket-like texture lends a standout detail that sets this dress apart from all of the bold vintage-inspired dresses currently on the market. I had great hopes for this dress- but I was disappointed with how it looked on me. This is a dress for a shorter frame than my own. You can't tell from the photos, but this dress was short! And even in the Small size, the waist was too big while the shoulders were snug. Strange, right? Those fit issues made me wonder if maybe something was wrong with the particular dress I tried on. With the strange waist- this dress was less than flattering! From the side.. well from the side I looked horrible! My curves were lost and distorted by the strange folds and gaps that extended from the odd waist. This dress is so cute as a concept, but in my opinion it was poorly executed.

Not flattering at all!

Thanks for reading!

Fitting Room Reviews: 12/01/2011

Happy December Readers!

During the last half of November I tried to stay away from my favorite retailers with the hope that they would have enticing Black Friday sales... and I was right! Unfortunately, during Anthropologie's 25% off sale items and brief 50% off sale items markdowns the items on my wish list were snapped up before you could say "cornucopia!" Even an item in my order was cancelled- even though I placed it on the first morning of the sale (bitter? no...)

This past Thursday I had a few coupons/free offers to redeem before they expired so I combined a trip to my favorite grocer (Trader Joe's) with a trip to my local mall. During the trip, I tried on these items at Anthropologie:

1. Glinting Persica Sweater Dress by Knitted and Knotted (size small)

To be honest, this dress never jumped out at me until I saw it on the clearance rack in my local store (the last one!). The online photos, even from the catalogue, do this dress no justice! The subtle copper sparkle and peachy hues of the dress are absolutely lovely.

The dress alone...

Plus the Beaded Wink Belt

Perfect!

For those who are tall, or with long-torsos, this dress is perfect! The waistline fell at my natural waist and the length of the dress was very flattering. I'm still not crazy about the cutout on the back of the dress, but it does not reveal well-fitted bra straps (which is wonderful!)

The dress runs true to size and gives a bit of room in the hips. Some reviewers said it was itchy- but I have sensitive skin and I didn't notice any itchiness with the fabric.

Woah! That was a long review, eh? Here are a few more (shorter) reviews:

1. Twin Tiered Top by Deletta

Twin Tiered Top by Deletta

I could only find a medium in this top, but it fit quite well. I never know whether I am a small or a medium in their tops because the fit of each top seems to vary so much- even within the same style. I liked this top- especially the muted orangey-brown in the pattern's background- but I didn't like it enough to buy it. The ruffles at the shoulder were a bit too big for me- they had a football-player effect on me and looked a lot like shoulder pads (but that effect made my arms look quite svelte!)

3. ??? from Leifsdottir

Top by Leifsdottir

I don't recall the name of this top, and I couldn't find it on the Anthro website but I remember seeing it's sale price (around 80 dollars) and thinking "woah- that's expensive!" and then looking at the full price of the top and thinking "what?" I tried it on to see what was so special about the top... and I'm still searching for the answer to that question. The fit was fine and the design was cute- but I was not impressed with the quality of this garment's construction. A thin jersey top with a delicate lace does not add up to the price I saw.

4. Iced Foliage Top by Project Alabama

Iced Foliage Top by Project Alabama

I love the color charcoal but I did not love this blouse. For length I tried on a 6- a very good decision indeed! But even the 6 was a bit too short and the width was a bit too puffy for my taste. It does have a zipper on the side, which cinches the waist a bit but the way the bottom of the blouse flares out is not flattering at all! This blouse would, however, look cute with a cardigan or layered under a pencil skirt.

5. Mystery top!

I don't remember seeing this top online... but I found it in the clearance section at my local store. I really like the print- it reminds me of a wallpaper you would find in a fancy store or boutique. But it didn't quite wow me. What I liked about the blouse was that it has a band of fabric that wraps around the waist- creating a more defined silhouette. I couldn't find a 4 or 6, so I tried on an 8 but even with the sashed waist it was too big. I also found the fabric to feel somewhat cheap, or at least too airy to wear during the  cold winter months.

Thanks for reading! I hope you found these reviews to be helpful!

As Seen On TV. . . Expanding Horizons Tee

Hello Readers,

I don't know about you, but I love ABC Family Dramas. The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Make It or Break It- I love these shows! Why? I'm not really sure- but I continue to watch the melodrama even though I am as old as the protagonists' teachers (in some cases).

Anyways. . . I am currently hooked on one of ABC Family's newest shows, Switched At Birth. The show follows the (fictitious) story of two high school girls who were switched at birth. While watching the show, I noticed that its characters are styled wonderfully- I love their clothes! In a recent episode, I noticed that one of the characters, Daphne, and I have the same shirt! For those of you who frequent Anthro, you may also recognize this tank:

Daphne from Switched at Birth- wearing Deletta's Expanding Horizons Tank 

Here are a few pictures of me wearing the same shirt (the photos were taken before I watched the episode featuring the tank). My point and shoot camera seems to be producing poor quality shots, so I apologize for the lack of detail (ps- does anyone know of a great point and shoot camera?):

Woah man! No tan!

Turquoise Necklace: Handmade (by me!)
Coral Pink Tank: Gilly Hicks
White Expanding Horizons Tank: Deletta at Anthropologie
Light Violet Shorts: (Going Places Shorts- Paperboy by G-1) Anthro
Brown Flip Flops: Reef

Thanks for reading!!!

Fitting Room Reviews

Hey Readers!

I apologize for my absence on this blog lately.  The past two (or maybe few?) weeks have been so busy with the oral defense of my comprehensive exam, finishing final papers, grading final exams, getting ready to graduate, and packing up the majority of my apartment.

Anyways. . . in the midst of this craziness I was able to make it into Anthropologie (of course!) Here are a few of the things that I tried on:

Across the Land Dress by Maple

Across the Land Dress (Maple):

I love the seafoam green and polka dots of this dress but its fit didn't quite suit me.  There was too much fabric and I wasn't too fond of the cross-over neckline.  I think the dress would have been better (for me) if it had a v-neck instead of a modified sheath neckline.  Overall, I thought the dress was well-constructed, but not for me.

Chartreuse Shoots Dress by Moulinette Soeurs 

This dress wowed me online, but in the store I found its neckline to be a bit too high and the hue of dress resembled something closer to the color of a highlighter.  I appreciated the tie at the waist, but it was placed too high on the dress for my torso. Maybe it would work better for girls with shorter torsos?

Quechua Dress by We Love Vera

This was a graduation dress contender but it did not make it to the stage on Friday.  I stalked this dress online, and eventually tried it on in the store but it was a disappointment for me.  The amount of fabric was overwhelming, the top of the dress was way too roomy and I wasn't impressed with the quality of the fabric. The only winning quality of the dress, for me, was the beautiful black and white print.

Name of dress unknown

I really wanted to like this dress: it is navy blue and it has a ribbon-tie waist.  But this dress just didn't impress.  The fit of the dress was very loose- but not in an intentional easy-breezy sort of way. It looked sloppy and I felt like I looked 10 lbs heavier while wearing this dress. No thanks!

Whirligig Dress by Velvet available here

I absolutely love this dress- the raspberry color, the romantic draping, the soft jersey, it's overall feel.  I took a size S in this dress and it fit wonderfully.  My only complaint is that the hem was a bit too short for my height (it hit my leg at an odd spot).  I really like this dress, but I think I'll wait for a sale.

My friend Mary came with me on one of my recent visits to my local store and she tried on this outfit- which looks stunning! She is wearing the Deletta Expanding Horizons Tank in Navy Blue and a skirt from the sale rack whose name I forgot.  This skirt will be perfect for her internship this summer in Florida!

Looking good Mary!

Fitting Room Dress Reviews: 05/5/2011

Happy Saturday Readers!

On Wednesday, I went into Anthropologie to return a sweater that I bought during the Spring event last month. It was a lovely cardigan, but I have so many cardigans right now, and it really didn't make any sense to buy another right before summer.

While I was in Anthropologie, I decided to try on a few things that caught my eye online and happened to be in the store.  Here they are:

Nouveau Rose Skirt

Side Angle

 I absolutely loved this skirt!  The color, the print, the cut, the draping- absolutely wonderful!  My only hesitation in purchasing the skirt (besides my dwindling budget) is that it made me look wider than I am from the back.  The front was flattering, but the draping in the back accentuated my rear and hips (which actually made my legs look smaller).  Maybe I will purchase this skirt when it moves to the sale section.

Level 99 Lily Straight Leg

Let's just say that these pants run small.  Usually I wear a 28/29 in skinny pants, and these were a 28 and they were tight.  I could still zip the zipper, but the fabric of these pants were thin enough that they looked like leggings (which I do not like).  Maybe a larger size would look better? The pants are cute, but if you are going to try them on or buy them, I recommend going up a size.

Expanding Horizons Tank- Deletta

Closer

Deletta = Delightful. That equation rings true with the Expanding Horizons tank.  I tried on my usual S, which was a bit snug, but flattering nonetheless.  The V of the neck runs a bit low, so it would be a good idea to layer this tank with a cami or another tank.

Loosened Shelby Blouse- Porridge

I was not impressed with this blouse on me.  It is a beautiful blouse, but it just didn't suit me.  I wasn't sure if I should tie the hanging ribbons of fabric or leave them hanging.  It is cute, and I think that styled properly it would look better, but for me it wasn't quite my style.  But. . . if you are considering this blouse it is definitely worth a try!

Reflecting Pool Dress- Moulinette Soeurs

If I lived near the ocean, or was going on vacation anytime soon, this dress would be a great pick! It is lightweight, breezy, and colorful.  The print of this dress reminds me of a watercolor painting, a trait that adds to its breezy feel- but it was so lightweight that it almost felt like a slip.  If I lived in a warmer climate, this dress would be wonderful, but for the climate in which I currently reside, this dress felt a bit bare. Sizewise, I found that the dress ran a bit small. Usually I take a 4 in dresses from Anthropologie, which is what I tried on in the photo, but I think a 6 would have been more comfortable.

Hope you enjoyed these reviews! Let me know if you have any questions!
(PS- When I returned the cardigan, I found something that I've been looking for for a great price- more details on Sunday!)

Trousers for Tall Girls (Finally!)

Readers,

Since I can remember, my height has played an important role in my sense of identity and self. In middle school, and a part of high school, this meant that I looked and felt quite awkward and this awkwardness was accentuated by jeans and pants that were simply too short.

Eventually, I gained a fondness of my height thanks to: (1) positive and tall role models of similar stature (namely, my mom, my Aunt Teresa, Heidi Klum, and Tyra Banks and (2) finding stores with trousers and jeans long enough for my legs.

So. . . what are these stores? The majority of my bottoms come from the following stores: American Eagle Outfitters and Abercrombie & Fitch (for jeans), Banana Republic and J. Crew (for dress pants/trousers). Today, I wore a pair of pants purchased from the Final Sale at J. Crew. Not only were these pants available in my size (the ever elusive 6L), the fit perfectly! I can ever wear heels with these beauties! (They are still available on the j.crew website in tall and regular and in a light grey color in petite).

Here are a few pictures of the pants in all of their perfection. Trousers for Tall Girls- thank you J.Crew!

Retail Details:

Blue and Black Beaded Headband: Aerie

Faux Pearl Earrings: American Eagle Outfitters

Light Teal Cashmere Cardigan: Martin & Osa (my favorite!)

Ivory Craft & Creation Tee: Deletta (Anthropologie)

Dark Grey Lace-Trim Tank: American Eagle Outfitters

Dark Charcoal 1035 Wool Crepe Trousers: J. Crew

Red Suede Maryjanes: Michelle D. (Dillards, $15)