Anthro crazy!

Ok, just a fair warning...this post is going to be a little bit of a reviews doozy. I dropped by the nearest Anthropologie store to blow off some steam. (Not because I'm stressed out at work or anything - my boss isn't and hasn't been here for a while. Just some "just because" steam, if you know what I mean. *wink*)

I ended up going to the fitting room with a bunch of cute stuff! What did I end up getting? I'll save that for the end. ;)

So, here we go.

First up, the Recital Cardigan ($88.00). This was the main reason I went to Anthropologie (if not to blow off "that" steam). I figured, if I couldn't get a hold of that darned Sweeping Ruffles shirt from J.Crew, this would be a good alternative. (Yes, I'm aware that this was a cardigan and that is a shirt, but given the description, I thought that it was thin enough to easily wear it under another sweater or a jacket.) Once I put it on, though, cue *sad face*. It was awfully thin and didn't fall as nicely as I hoped it would. Kim from Anthroholic looked fab in it, though. :)

The Recital Cardigan worn closed and open.

The second item I tried on was the Free Flow Tank by Bordeaux (one of my favorite brands!) in Navy ($78.00). I was really excited to try this one on, since I loved it on (again!) Kim of Anthroholic (here, here, and here - the girl loves her her Free Flow Tank!), Chloe of the {chloe} conspiracy (here) and Roxy of Effortless Anthropologie (here - Roxy passed on it, but I thought she looked cute in it!). Also, it's very similar to these two tops - the Forever 21 Shirley Lace Tiered top (posted about by me here and seen here on Gigi of Gigi's Gone Shopping and here on Fabulous Florida Mommy) and the Tiered Vintage Fleur top from J.Crew (seen here on Shannon of Wardrobe Review, here on Dinagideon of My Superfluities, and here on A Bigger Closet).

Two angles of the Free Flow Tank.
(Apologies for the lighting. :p)

The top had the usual comfortable stretch cotton-y lining most Bordeaux tops have that suck you in a little without being too constricting. Also, the thing I've noticed about tops like these is, they create a waist for anyone who puts in on. It gives the illusion of a smaller waist, should I say. It's that little pouf (that Dinagideon refers to in her review) of the second tier or the tier that lands right on your chest, before the bow or ribbon. And that's why I love them. ;)

Next up is a slip ($38.00) that I have not seen online. I figured this would bring a little something to my shorter sweaterdresses (which are mostly gray or black, go figure) or skirts, like the one I have on (from J.Crew a few winters ago).

The slip with and without a skirt.
(I noticed later that the lower tulle tier was a bit ripped. You can see it on the left side of the slip.)

Ok, next up, two outerwear items. First, the First Frost Coat by Elevenses, which was going for $89.95) (you can find it online via this link, on page 42-43). I looooved this piece! The wool was substantial but not heavy; the silk lining, heavenly soft and the color, a yummy peach!

The First Frost Coat worn closed and open.

The second outerwear item is the Birling Ruffle Coat by Tracy Reese, also for $89.95 (which you can find online via this link, on page 50-51). As much as I wanted this coat to work, I couldn't convince myself that this was the coat I had to have. I thought it was adorable and definitely a plus to have in my black- and camel-colored coat closet, but I found it just a bit off. It had a drop waist, which would otherwise have been a plus for me; however, the top part of the coat wasn't as fitted as I could've wanted it to be. So, the coat made me a bit...well, shapeless. :( And while I had it on, I found my hands constantly looking for pockets and couldn't find any. Heehee.

The Birling Ruffles Coat worn closed and open.

Next, the Ice Capped Blouse by Floreat ($59.95). I thought that this would have the same effect as the Free Flow Tank. Sadly, no. It's cute, just not cute on me. But take a look at how Kim of Anthroholic (here and here) and Chloe of the {chloe} conspiracy (here) rock it!

This last item is probably one of my favorites (anything to pay tribute to my lil' ones!) - the Doggedly Devoted Cardigan by Sleeping on Snow (which is no longer available online, but is still available in stores for $39.99), which was worn by trés tippy here. I'm still wearing the Ice Capped Blouse in the picture on the right but took it off for the second photo. I also had to show you all the lil' dachshund hiding under the arm in the second photo. *Hi, Stretch!*

So there you go! One MEGA-post chockfull of reviews and photos! (All the items were TTS.) And what did I end up with? *drumroll* Nothing! Not a single thing! I had edited and edited, and when I finally just had the Doggie Cardigan, the yummy peach coat and an adorable lil' hat (Pompom Plaid Tam by liaMolly pictured below) for my niece, I started feeling a bit of shoppers' remorse - yes, before I actually paid for the items! I decided to call my sister, to possibly maybe, just maybe, side with me about the jacket at least. Instead, she talked me out of spending any unnecessary money. She lovingly reminded me that I was trying to save money for a trip back home. :p)


Well, my practical sister talked me out of everything. Even the lil' hat for her daughter! She said that we (my sister and her family, her brother and his family, my mom, dad and myself) would all soon be seeing each other after three years, and that's what I should keep in mind. I could always get another jacket, another cardigan and her daughter would soon outgrow that hat. And I could always get her daughter another hat!

So, ultimately, my heart won over my clothes-cravings. But I was still able to blow off "steam". ;)