Tag Archives: anthropologie

the recap: retail therapy overload!

some people might celebrate the advent of summer with a picnic, a hike, or maybe a trip to the beach.  the hubs and i celebrate by renovating our warm-weather wardrobes (in an air-conditioned mall).  since i spent the better part of the weekend working to rev that flailing economy, i thought i’d share a few of my favorite finds!

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i picked up this drapey orange top from michael kors at nordstrom (pardon the DIY pic…i can’t find it online anywhere!).  can’t wait to pair with everything from cut-off denim to a dressy white skirt.  plus, it falls loosely enough to hide all of that inevitable summer gelato! while i was there, i also nabbed this sweet little summer dress – it’s the perfect sunday brunch dress!

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after one too many reruns of weeds, i’ve found myself coveting mary louise parker’s perfect unique-yet-everyday gold necklace.  i think this version from anthropologie just might fit the bill…the $42 pricetag certainly does.  

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and, last but not least, i finally got to splurge on a bevy of new cheap flip flops.  every year, i grab a couple of new pairs of havaianas, and they work their soles off all summer long, without ever falling apart or looking grubby (i’m looking at you, old navy).  hands (er, feet?) down, it’s the best $30 i’ll spend all summer.  plus, really, how could i be expected to say no to wonder woman, or these awesome peacock-print flips?? exactly.

so, what did you all do this weekend?

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anthropologie continues to steal my heart (apparel edition)

more love from the january anthro catalog…in fact, did i mention i literally ran down to my local store the day the catalog arrived in my mailbox?  thank god things have improved since last fall, and their regular stylist appears to have either come back to work or regained consciousness.

      

page 5: in my 2009 effort to buy fewer cardigans and wear more interesting combinations, this would be a fantastic layering option.  okay, it is technically a cardigan.  but doesn’t it look awfully jacket-y to you?  the jacket-style-cardigan is the saving grace of busty, big-shouldered girls like me who look absurd in all cute, cropped blazers.  i think there’s great potential here…just make sure you buy the beige.  the other colors are frightening me with their granny schoolteacher vibe.

page 13: i have to admit – i’ve seen both of these pieces in person (the dress and the trench, that is), and i’m not as in love with either individually as i expected to be.  but as a pair, they’re just perfect – exactly that perfect mismatch i’m going for this year.  i have to believe the trench would do just as well with most patterned spring dresses, so if you’re choosing your splurges, i’d spend there.

page 16: i’m violently opposed to the jumper…i just don’t care how trendy it is.  but this is just such an elegant look, it honestly would never have occurred to me that this was a one-piece ensemble.  i’d be much happier if it were two…but this might be the one single exception to the no-jumper rule.  

page 43: this waterfall blouse was the one purchase i made when i ran down to anthro last week (i just refuse to pay their shipping charges), and it’s my favorite purchase in a while.  i bought it mostly for the hawaii trip, but it’s gotten plenty of cold-weather mileage as well.  i love it with a bright cardigan in a totally different color (kelly green, in my case) or layered with a striped tee underneath and a menswear vest on top.  plus, for those of you still mourning the babydoll top for its ability to camouflage imperfections, this one has the exact same effect, but manages to stay streamlined.  perfect! 

there’s so much more, but i’m more interested in knowing what you loved!  care to share?


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anthropologie steals my heart, part 492 (home edition)

i had meant to post some of my picks from the january anthropologie catalog, but as usual, it slipped my mind.  then i saw this post from casasugar about chair & ottoman pairings (in which i fell hard for a certain ottoman), and it all came rushing back.

could someone please, please convince my hubs that we should replace our coffee table (which is driving me crazy right now) with this lovely owl-embroidered ottoman?  wouldn’t that just be gorgeous?  i’d top it with some fantastic mirrored tray (hmm, perhaps this one i spied over at bliss), and it would make a perfect coffee table indeed.  plus, there’s a decent chance it wouldn’t be covered with mail, books and magazines 24/7.

speaking of furniture from anthro…this cheery yellow chair is pretty high on my list for the ever-ongoing living room remodel.  doesn’t it just make you happy?  does anyone have experience with anthro furniture?  i so want these to be fabulously well-made, heirloom-quality pieces.

and, not a clue what i’d do with this rug…but it’s just so fun and girly.  ooh, that’s it…perfect for a little girl’s bedroom, no?  i’d strew three across the room as a little path from the door to the bed…so fun.

stay tuned…we’ll do the clothing redux tomorrow!


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what i’m giving today: monogram mania

editor’s note:  just a friendly reminder that today is your last chance to enter our fantastic beegee bags giveaway!  we’ll announce a winner tomorrow morning.

i love giving monogrammed or initialed goodies for holidays – it makes the gift feel extra special for the recipient (even if you bought in bulk).  this is definitely a present that’s perfect for a gaggle of girlfriends…no two will be alike, and how can you not love something that looks like it was made for you?

there are a dozen options from anthropologie, but my favorites are these gorgeous initial lockets.  at $38 each, these are definitely in the friend price range, and i love that you can choose from several colors and styles.  if you’re looking for something a little less classic, these chunky cuff bracelets are a modern, chic take on an ID bracelet – just about anyone i know would look fab donning one of these.

everyone can use another tote bag, and this version from bang is a great, thoughtful option.  at just $22 each, you might even have room in your gifting budget to fill one with a favorite book you’ve read this year, or just pack them full of peppermint candies.  nearly anything will do…and if i wrap up a holiday gift or two for under $30, i’ll be one happy santa’s helper.


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what i want today: gorgeous winter coats

i admit…i have a splurge problem when it comes to coats – i figure it’s the first thing people see on me for half the year so i want it to be fabulous.  if i had my way, i’d have a different coat for every day of the winter (i admit – the coat-throwing scenes in the devil wears prada were my absolute favorite).  one of the highlights of fall fashion this year are the really lovely coats i’ve been seeing everywhere, and i can’t help but covet more than a few.

this shawl collar coat from mara hoffman ($695) looks amazingly cozy, but manages to remain chic.  i love the idea of looking great while bundled up in a big, warm blanket!

so many lovely coats at anthropolgie this season, i hardly know where to begin.  but their gorgeous floe and current coat ($498) combines just about everything i’m looking for in a winter staple.  i love the sculptural styling, the bright & cheery color, and check out that lovely butterfly lining (you can see it in the model pic)!

of course, with our credit cards aching this week, i have to give you at least one budget option, don’t you think?  this red wool coat from old navy is a steal at $99, and the styling is a great blend of modern and classic.  that high funnel-neck collar is right on trend this year, but truly, when is a double-breasted wool coat not in style?  the red is a gorgeous shade, and that nipped-in waist will keep you looking tailored and trim no matter how many layers you’re wearing.


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what i want today: bold necklaces

i was reading my style bible (instyle magazine) the other day, when i read that women over 30 should not be wearing delicate necklaces (with the exception of a diamond solitaire, natch).  since a certain blogger (moi) is officially over 30 this week, i went on a style mission for a bold necklace.  turns out that anthropologie redeemed itself, and had everything i could hope for.  with marni style for less, these bold necklaces will keep me chic even if i am of a “certain” age.  the baubles are so versatile, i could wear any of them to the office, with my lbd or with a white tank, designer jeans and heels on a date with my husband!

the discus is simply fab – with faceted agate to catch the light, the multiple colors will work with most any hue i am wearing. 

with this beauty, “i’m ready for my close up mr. demille”!  this is a necklace that i would have forever, and could easily become a signature piece. 

while it’s no secret i love the queen b, this necklace is more budget-minded than something miss waldorf would wear.  gorgeous with that turquoise hue, it’s perfect for those budget minded fashionistas worried about the economy. 

check out all of the choice offerings over at anthro for a budget-friendly fix.  no matter which you choose, a bold necklace adds instant style to anything you throw on!

 ~ J

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what not to wear: anthropologie’s latest

i’ve been so enchanted with anthropologie’s styling over the last couple of years, i was sort of shocked to hate their latest ensemble as much as i do.  so, it’s time for a little thursday snark.

please, whatever you do – do not wear a knee-length skirt with contrasting tights, ankle boots and this horrid sweater that i think i owned back in the early 1980s.  if you’re going to try the dicey ankle-boot-and-skirt trend, please see that your skirt is a mini, and that you have the gams to pull it off.  this longer skirt makes the ankle boots look positively frumpy, and focuses all of your attention on the model’s knees.  i have yet to meet someone with truly gorgeous knees, so i do my best to avoid spotlighting them.  skirts should really only exist in two lengths: they should either hit right at the point where your thighs narrow, or right at the base of your kneecap.  in my book, there really are no other acceptable lengths…unless you’re one of the 3 people on the planet who can pull off calf-length skirts (and even then, there must, must, must be some volume to the skirt, to avoid looking like a Mormon churchgoer).

i have no idea what’s going on with all of the highwaters in this shoot…just another error in judgment in a long chain.  highwaters are something i’ve never understood.  i mean, capris i understand.  i don’t necessarily agree, but i understand.  and a well-tailored, slim ankle-length pant can be positively audrey hepburn if you’re as pixie-like as she was.  but with the flare, and the bizarre footwear choices, this combination just looks like the model is wearing her little sister’s pants.

the rest of the looks really don’t warrant my full snarking attention…they’re just very meh.  i’ve become so accustomed to loving everything i see at anthro that it’s sort of restored my faith in the volatility of fashion to see how much i detest these latest offerings.

here’s hoping this is just a temporary lapse, and they haven’t changed stylists.  otherwise, we’re in for a rocky road ahead…

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what i want today: summer-to-fall options

despite the 90-degree weather, all of these fall magazines and catalogs are throwing my fashion sense for a loop.  suddenly, i’m craving cashmere cardigans and riding boots…clearly, not the best option in august, no matter how high your boss cranks the air conditioning.  and i’m just not willing to drop serious change on pieces i can’t wear right away…maybe it’s the sixth grader in me, but darn it, when i buy something new, i want to wear it right now!

so, i’m on the hunt for great transition pieces that will work for me now, and will keep working all winter.

this squareneck tee from anthropologie fits the bill perfectly.  the grey and yellow color scheme is just right this summer, and will look fab with any number of bottoms – from denim cutoffs to a sweet skirt.  but the pleated details at the neckline, exaggerated floral print, and soft styling are right on trend for fall.  i’d throw that cozy cardigan over the top, and pair it with a slouchy, wide-legged striped pant.  or, i’d throw a deep plum long-sleeved tee underneath, and top it off with jeans…and maybe a long vest

for a very cool $78, this is a piece i’ll have no problem buying to finish off my summer wardrobe and to get me started on fall.


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