an Anthro rant

Anthro Parkway Convertible Top (Left of Center) // knockoff J.Crew bubble necklace // lululemon wunder under leggings (not sheer) // Will’s boots

I bought this top at Anthro on Newbury St in Boston two weeks ago, because I was drawn to the bright turquoise colour, the length, and it’s casual appropriate-ness (I struggle with casual clothes, so I’m always on the lookout for interesting casual pieces). But it’s going back, because after two wears, there’s a hole under my right arm. Unacceptable. Anthro, you disappoint me. And it’s a shame, because I really did like this top…

Keep calm, and carry on.

I’m already putting my motto to good use this year, and it’s only January 9.

Or in my case, maybe it should be “keep calm and wear a nice outfit.”

Anthro Echoing Folds Cowlneck (Bordeaux) | J.Crew Jenna’s Cardigan | Ayala Bar necklace | Anthro Sumukhwa Skirt (Maeve) | Wolford Satin Opaque tights in Admiral | Miz Mooz Felicity Pump

(Note: couple of new pieces here, but new to the blog, not new to me this month. I bought the skirt a while ago and haven’t worn it yet, and the shoes are also from a while ago but just haven’t been worn in pictures. I’m still committed to my one-item-a-month shopping pledge.)

My boss dropped a bombshell on me last week: I’m no longer on his team, I’m moving over to a new team, and I’m going to be doing something new. I’m pretty sure my jaw hit the floor and my eyes got as big as saucers. Wha??

Good news: I still have a job. He was quick to assure me of that. Also good news: my new boss is the nicest guy in the world, or so everyone tells me. But it’s all very uncertain (I don’t even know what my new role is) and it’s not something I particularly wanted – I’ve only been in this job for 7 months, I really liked what I was doing, and now it’s like they’ve pulled the rug out from under me (side note – how many clichés can I fit into one post? or parenthesis?). I don’t deal well with change at the best of times, even when it’s change I’ve initiated (I come to the change and think “why did I want this??”), and this is out of left field (ooh, there’s another one). I’m putting on a brave front – “I’m not going to go with the flow, it’s going to be great, it’ll be great to do something new” – but really I’m freaking out a little. No, a lot. I hate not knowing what’s going to happen, and I always think that it’s going to be something bad. Who knows, maybe it will be great.

Mary Mary, quite contrary

9 times out of 10, when everyone is gushing over something at Anthro, I’m not crazy about it.  Maybe my tastes are just completely different from the majority of Anthro shoppers.  Maybe it’s just stubbornness or plain bloody-mindedness.  Or maybe I just don’t get it.

Case in point:

Mompos Dress, Plenty by Tracy Reese, CAD$268.  Wearing a size 6 here, but I’d really need to size up for comfort.

Before I offend anyone, let me just say that it is a really lovely dress.  I can totally see that.  It looks gorgeous on other people.  But I’m not gaga over it, and I don’t think it’s flattering on me at all (the high round neck and the horizontal stripe across my chest makes me feel very blocky).  So it’s a pass for me, and that’s okay.  I just start wondering sometimes if there’s something wrong with me that I don’t like what everyone else likes, but then I remember that everyone has different tastes.  And that’s why we don’t walk around all looking like clones.

Anthro jewellery

I love jewellery.  I have an extensive collection of costume and semi-precious jewellery, and I even make jewellery on occasion.  I like my pieces to be unique (no Tiffany for me—you would never catch me dead in a Tiffany heart) and interesting, and I like some Anthropologie pieces for that reason (the Oolite necklace, for instance).

But some really make me scratch my head.

Striking Resemblance Necklace, US$298

Striking resemblance to what???

It’s gonna give me nightmares.

Visible Friend Necklace, US$298

It’s not any better in pink.

It’s like she’s wearing a skeleton with tasselled feet.

Do The Strand Necklace, US$458

I love books, but I don’t want to wear a cluster of them around my neck.  And that’s one huuuuge price tag.

Timeless Truths Necklace and Timeless Truths Necklace Purple, each US$228
These I really don’t get.  To me, they’re just a collection of fabric scraps knotted together with a few leftover beads.  Am I missing something? 

But this ring I spied last week made me really want-y.

Nouveau Sapphire Ring, US$658

This is really, really gorgeous.  If I didn’t already have a ring I adore, I would take this as my engagement ring.  Sadly, it’s no longer available on the website.  I’m glad I saved the picture so I can prove I didn’t dream it.

Happiness is a thick November Anthro catalogue

Nothing like coming home after yet another lousy day at work to a big fat Anthro catalogue.  This one is my favourite of the year (definitely some of my favourite photography of the year), but it’s not tempting me to buy anything, just yet.  I’m trying a self-imposed no-shop month.

 
I don’t love the cover; she looks a little evil/possessed.  Is the whole vampire look still hot right now? The Karelia Coat is pretty awesome though, even if I couldn’t pull it off.

I love this shot.  The Japonica Dress (Coquille), maybe.

Cabled Pathways Pullover by Moth.  I wouldn’t actually wear this sweater, but she looks good. 

Love the teeny tiny trumpet.  I also love the Echoing Folds Cowlneck (Bordeaux) and the Unexplored Pyramids Necklace.

 
Lighted Walk Dress by Burning Torch.  I don’t like the dress.  I love this shot.

 
Gerard Giraffe is US$598.

Lookback Sweater Dress by Sparrow.  Simple and elegant.

I really love this look.  I would like to own it all, but it would cost me US$630. All Along Knit Jacket by Cartonnnier (US$88), Echoing Folds Cowlneck by Bordeaux (US$48), Scarf Adorned Belt (US$58), Tales of Yesterday Skirt (US$138), Crackling Flames Heels (US$298). 

Laced With Grace Dress by Lil.  I love me some gigantic scissors.

Why is this Victorian vampire to me?  I love the Frozen Globes Necklace, not so much the Pinafore Pullover. 

left: that Moulinette Soeurs dress that doesn’t fit anyone properly Lucillae Dress; right: Whipped Woolens Sweater by Birds on a Wire, Leifsdottir Firewing Blouse (which I would love if the colours were a little more vibrant).

Again with the vampire model, but I do love Eva Franco’s Samhain Dress.  I never go to any holiday parties though.

A chicken on the Anais Bag! 

These are bracelets? I thought they were porcelain bowls.

So pretty.

More pretty!

A llama wearing Captured Scarf Necklaces!

A sheep wearing the Winding Buckle Boots.  This is so cute I might die.  It’s too much.

  
No, this is too much. (Toasty Rose Scarves.)

 
Ok, this takes the cake.

 
I really like Eva Franco’s Jacquard Missive Skirt, but I already have the Aniseed Skirt, and it’s pretty much the same shape.

Andrick coat, Plenty by Tracy Reese.  It’s pretty fabulous.

Stilled night dress by Moulinette Soeurs. Dreamy.

 
I don’t want any of these clutches, but I love this photo.

Another of Deletta’s drapey tees with detail on the shoulder (Hints of Mesh Tee).  I will be strong and resist it.

  
But could I resist Tracy Reese’s Curving Cloudcover Dress?  It’s so pretty.  But it’s US$398 and I have nowhere to wear it. 

Once-A-Week Dress by Bailey 44.  So simple, but the photo is so pretty.

Spinning Lace Dress by Tracy Reese.  This is so pretty.  Maybe I could get married in it…

An annoyed chicken wearing the Dewed Rainbow Necklace. Fantastic!

Goodbye summer, bye-bye dress…

If we’d had a summer of warm, sunny, non-humid weather, I wouldn’t be so quick to say goodbye to it. But after another week of being hot, sticky, and uncomfortable, I’m ready for fall.  The heat wave ends today and I can’t wait!

And as part of letting go of summer, I’m saying no to Antropologie’s Stemmed Sweetbriar Dress and returning it.

I went back and forth on this one, and even still I’m tempted.  It’s a really pretty dress.  I actually bought it at full price because I loved it, and then it sat in my closet with the tags on because I had nowhere to wear it.  Now it’s on sale, so that makes it even more tempting, because I could return it and pick it up at the sale price.

But I have to stick to the fact it doesn’t work for me.  I hate halter tops, I always feel like I’m being choked.  I don’t think halters do anything for my broad shoulders either.  The top is too low for me to throw a sweater on and wear it to work.

Still, it breaks my heart because it’s so pretty.

I feel like I’m wavering slightly…be strong, Rach!  Just think of it as making room for fall goodies.

giving Banana a chance

Before I drank the Anthropologie Kool-Aid, I did a lot of my shopping at Banana Republic.  I liked their good-quality basics and their work-friendly pieces, but I did get bored after I got all the basics I needed.  Even so, I do have some great Banana items I love, including this summer dress and this jersey top.

Last week I was surfing the Banana Republic website and came across a lookbook of “real women” wearing their clothes.  (Unfortunately no longer on their website, but I captured the looks that I liked.)

Unfortunately for BR, none of these looks made me run out to their store, because none of them are so different and unique from a style point of view.  I feel like I have these pieces…from other places.

But I did feel like I should really give them a chance so I stopped by their Yorkville store yesterday after work.  I liked the ruffle cardigan (in the first photo above) in black, and this dress, but that’s about all that stood out for me.

I tried to have an open mind, but the 10-minute wait for the changing room killed it for me.  Not worth the wait!  Sorry, Banana.  I hightailed it out of there and went to Anthropologie instead.