Anthropologie Review: Lumi Sherpa Coat, Boucle Cowlneck, Embroidered Ombra Shift, Burgeoning Cardigan, Pintucked Peasant Blouse and more

Although Anthropologie does beautiful, whimsical summer frocks, they never seem to quite work for me so I always look forward to fall. Their cozy sweaters and well-fitting cords are always tempting and it looks this will be another season of cozy and practical with a smidge of whimsy and fun. Here are a few things I found:

Creature Feature Top (XS)

Anything with foxes is an absolute must for me! I just adore the little critters. This top is so cute - I love the buttons down the back and the scoop that goes down just enough to be a bit sexy. I'm also quite in love with the rabbit face one. I would definitely size up in this shirt - it was skin tight.

 Brink Dolman by Bordeaux (XS) in Wine

As far as dolmans go, this one is pretty darn good. Didn't have the huge batwing problem and was quite fitted through the hips and waist which really works for keeping things balanced and flattering. The color is a perfect wine color and I actually loved the little vegan leather trim - I looked cute and fairly authentic.

Pintucked Peasant Blouse (XS)

I was really attracted to the print and the length on this blouse but I think I would have to size up. The seam across of the top of the bustline has no give and I felt a bit trapped in it. Tight under the arms and I rarely have the problem.  It is quite see through so a cami is going to be necessary. The split neck and little ruffly collar is charming without being too fussy.

 Evangeline Peplum Top (Small Petite)

I think I would take my normal size in this (this is a size bigger but petite because that was what they had). I like the pattern mixing but woah is this unflattering. Somewhere between a maternity top and a potato sack. Peplums are pretty challenging to pull off anyway but I think they look particularly odd when the waist is not fitted. Also not sure about the charcoal smudge running across my breasts.
 Katrine Peplum Top (S) in Red

A little more peplum-y than I usually like but I adore the fringe lace on the sleeves and the overall look of this one. I think I would need the XS but I'm afraid that would be a bit snug. I'm really drawn to this top but still uncertain of whether it would make me look too hippy and not hourglassy enough. Only an XS will tell. BTW - did this come in a neutral with gold tones color? I don't see any mention of this on the website but I saw what I thought was a whole stack of these in the sale section in a beautiful peachy/gold color.

Lacebloom Jacket (XS)

Do you know what this is? It was lingering in the sale section and I can't tell if it makes me feel sort of vintage-y and fun or like I should go take my Geritol. Would definitely pair it with an elegant, sleek cocktail dress or possibly some skinny jeans and a funky tank.

Burgeoning Cardigan (XS)

This was the first thing to catch me eye in the store and I love it. I'm not sure if it's really my style (which is why I passed) but it is so soft and made of a nice, dense knit. The slightly longer hemline in back is great for bum-coverage and the fair-isle like neckline is really fun. The fit was spot on - slimming and stream-lined. Lovely!

 Brixton Lace-Up Crops (size 2)

There were a few of these in my sale section. I am normally a size 2, size 0 at J Crew and these were T-I-G-H-T! These got positive reviews but I find myself a little shocked. They're shorter than I normally would wear and the lacing just screams pirate or bar wench or something. Too far out of my comfort zone.

 Embroidered Ombra Shift (size S)

Granted I really needed this in an XS but I think even that would be big. It felt like a sack. With some embroidery. But only on the front. Sort of cheapens it. It is very comfortable but I'm not sure where I would wear it.

 Boucle Cowlneck (XS)

Adorable. Every year Anthropologie does a little boucle pullover and I've loved every one. Last year it was more of a poncho style and I bought it because I waited and waited and finally got it for something insane like $19.95. The year before it was the Hallowell Cowlneck which I still regret not buying. This version has a bit of a swing shape to it and I feel like the knit is thinner. I still liked it but am concerned about quality. The shape is nice and I like the slightly longer back (although I really don't need every sweater to do that!)

 Lumi Sherpa Coat (size 4)

I tried this on because my daughter has a vest made of this material from Boden and it is so cozy and adorable and everyone is always commenting on how they wish they made one in an adult size. Well, this is pretty close! The material is SOOO soft. The size 4 still felt slightly snug in the top so if you want to layer heavier sweaters I would suggest going up a size or possibly 2.  I feel a little too silly in this to purchase it for actual wear but wow is it comfy and cute.

Tacoma Scarf

This will be mine. The colors are amazing and it is a nice wool. And it's big and wide which I love. I wear scarfs literally every day of the year so I CAN actually justify the purchase of yet another one, right? Love love love this. Will have it. Maybe not even on sale (gasp).

I like a lot of what I see for fall but since temperatures are just starting to drop I think I'll wait a bit. Is there anything you've seen recently that you have HAD to have?

Madewell Reviews: A few more sale goodies...

Now that I have a local Madewell I can't help but to pop in a little too often. The sale prices in store are almost always MUCH better than the prices online and they seem to always honor the teacher discount. Luckily, I really don't need much right now as I'm still able to wear some of my heavier summer stuff and lighter winter stuff but I do like to look. It's so exciting to see things in person instead of risking ordering online.

Skinny Skinny Ankle jeans in Optic White (size 26)

The middle picture is the embodiment of why I can't pull the trigger on white jeans. YIKES. I must be insane to post that picture. It's just not good. I love Madewell's skinny skinny jeans but I cannot do them in white. Sausage fest. I tried on some cropped matchsticks and toothpicks in white at J Crew (review here)and also found that I just couldn't bite the bullet. If I want to do white I think I'll just stick with cafe capris or chinos or something like that.

 Striped Afternoon Dress (size XS) in Transatlantic Blue

Ok. I know I have big boobs but those lines on the side make it look like they are just about to explode right out of this dress! If you have more normal-sized boobs this dress is adorable and TTS. The cotton is super soft - not at all like a ponte material (which is what I was expecting). The length is cute and modest and the contrasting stripes on the side are slimming if they fall at the right spot.

The XS was a bit snug even possibly on the bum but I think it would be the right size. I LOVE that the pockets are more on the front NOT the side so you don't get huge hip syndrome. Well played.

 Striped Afternoon Dress (size S) in Deep Navy

This colorway is a bit too in your face for me but the fit felt better up top. I still think it was a tiny bit grabby in the bum so maybe that's something to consider if you have a sticky-outy shelf bum like myself.

 Silk Pleated Shirtdress (size 2)

I thought I'd try this dress just ONE MORE TIME. I'm so sad - I think it's so elegant and yet youthful and fun. I just can't get the top to fit. Look at that gapping! I've tried on the 4 and it weirdly did the same thing. Again, if you are more in proportion up top I think you could take your usual size. It is so cute and currently on sale - I believe for less in store but I don't remember.

Striped Birdseye Sweater (XS) in Transatlantic Blue

This feels like such a throwback to those LLBean Sweaters that everyone wore in the late 80's. I think that's why I had to try it on. I am almost always an XS at Madewell but this felt quite snug because of the dense, thick knit. I would size up to a small.

Close up of the cute little pattern.

If you are looking for a cute striped dress - definitely go to Madewell. They have lots of them and you are bound to find a shape that works for you. I did with the Gallerist Ponte Dress in Stripe.

What do you think of these dresses?

Madewell Review: some recent sale dresses...

Since Madewell is having it's 25% off sale promo this weekend, I thought I would quickly get these dress reviews up. Even though it's fall and the temptation is there to buy things, I know most will go on further sale. Plus, I did a pretty good job at stocking up on key fall/winter clothes last year so I'm trying to chill out a bit. It's hard though!

Pixelbloom Shiftdress (XS)

Amazingly this went on sale a day or two ago and is already sold out. It might pop back but I've found that items will disappear from Madewell's site for a quite a bit and the reappear possibly even a month later in a full run of sizes. I anticipate that will probably happen with this one. My husband thought this looked too much like a sofa or curtains or something but it is a very comfortable little party dress. I LOVE that the back dips down to counteract the rather high neckline in the front. The shift silhouette is really well done here - none of that weird seeming and unflattering lines of the Jules dress at J Crew (which I keep on trying to get to work for me!) Well done, Madewell.

 Silk Shirtdress (size 00)

 Please try to ignore the unflattering angle. DH didn't want to get off the couch to take the pictures ;). This is the 3rd time I've tried on this dress. The first was the size 2 which definitely felt too big, then the size 0 which felt basically fine and now this. I might like the 00 best. There is lots of forgiveness in the hip waist area because of the gentle pleating of the skirt and the elastic waist in the back. My problem with this dress was always the top. It wasn't big enough to flop over like an actually shirt top but wasn't small enough to lay flat. The size 0 was better at that but the 00 definitely lays all the way flat.

 Something about the neckline makes me feel a little "nurse-y". Maybe they are really onto something with wearing this over a long sleeved t-shirt like they do in the product image. I'm not sure.
See my review of the size 0 here and the size 2 here.

The 25% off is tempting since Madewell doesn't offer as many promos as J Crew does. Plus, there prices tend to stay pretty fixed on the website (or if anything go back up).

I have my eye on this little dress but I don't know if I'm willing to pull the trigger yet.

Also thinking about the cute little short-sleeve sweatshirt-like item to layer over buttondowns.

What do you have your eye on?

J. Crew Review: Fall rolls in with some blouses

Some continued reviews from my visit the other day. Now that 30% is up and running I may have to peruse that sale section - it was quite full!

Pleated Lace-Stripe Silk Blouse (size 2)

I liked the buttons down the back - they are a nice detail. It's a bit too prim and proper for me. I think I would only feel comfortable wearing it under a blazer. It's definitely not opaque but I didn't feel like it was terribly obscene with a nude bra underneath. The lace detail is pretty but it didn't stand out as anything particularly special.

Grid Block Tee (XXS) in Multi Grid

 I don't know, but I love this. Definitely size down - I had to do this with all the linen tees this year. It sort of has this retro 'Atari" feel. If you don't know what Atari is then I just aged myself. At least I'm not still computing from my Commodore 64 and Dot Matrix Printer (sad but true).

Tipped Swiss-Dot Top (size 2)

No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Colorblock Houndstooth Wool (size 0)

 This top is definitely going for something, and I appreciate that. I'm not sure what to do with the collar. I buttoned at the top in the first picture but had the distinct feeling of being strangled. The cut is slimmer which I like and if you could get the collar to lay open in a subtle way, I think this could be cute. I think I prefer it tucked in. the skirt was not a love for me. I think J. Crew pencil skirts keep on getting bigger and bigger. This one felt a little loose in the waist and yet the side few looks sort of snug. I didn't think the colorblocked sections were sewn together particularly well - sort of lumpy.
 
 Pintucked Popover (size 2)

This was in the sale section and I wanted to love it because the cotton is DIVINE. I don't know what it is exactly but the cotton this shirt is made of is just perfect. Crisp, clean, cool to touch. LOVE it. the shape is rather blah.

 Wool Racing-Stripe Track Pant (size 0) in Black

 I like the idea of these and for what they are I didn't find them unflattering. I did find them extremely itchy though. They are totally unlined and the wool is really scratchy. They're basically really expensive glorified sweatpants but I liked the way they fit in the bum  - no diaper butt. If they did this in a thick cotton knit, I would consider them.

 Drapey Crepe Henley Tunic (size 2)

 I'd say you can safely size down on this one. There was quite a bit of width, and length. The color is maybe in-store only? I like the idea but feel it almost looks too plain. Would pair it with a bright printed pencil skirt or wear it with jeans if it was offered in a print. I feel like I should be in the Mormon Tabernacle with this one.

30% is on and I'm sure I'll be scouring the site. Anything you are hoping will pop back?