So I hit up my local store this weekend. They had all the sale racks in the front, as predicted, but I still wasn't overwhelmed by any of the markdowns. I did spot the Ballet Notions Skirt, marked down to $9.95, in the regular sale room, but they didn't have my size! Boo! Thankfully there were some new arrivals so I dabbed away my tears from the underwhelming sale and started grabbing things!
Doubly Dapper Dress ($148), size 14
I missed out completely on the Night Blooming Dress. I wasn't crazy about the color of the Zoya Dress (and my store never had larger than a size 10 in stock) so I was really excited to see the Doubly Dapper Dress at my local store this weekend. What didn't excite me? That someone roughly my size had already swooped in and purchased the 12 and the 10! So I was left to choose between a 8 or a 14. ARG! I went with the 14 which, of course, didn't fit me properly at all. The top of this dress is already very loose so 1-2 sizes too big makes it downright indecent! The pictures aren't too revealing, but trust me: it was bad! The bottom of the dress actually fit me fine. The a-line is very slight so the extra room that the 14 offered was much appreciated by my thighs. The waistband was positioned at someplace that's not my waist so I found that it ran tight. If I had pulled the entire dress up an inch or two to my real waist, it would have been much more comfortable (though indecently short!) As pretty as the pattern on this dress is, I'm going to have to pass. It just doesn't work on me.
Vappu Dress ($98), size 10
This yellow color really intrigues me and I already have like five navy summer dresses so I figured I'd give this color a try. First thing to note: the straps of this dress were way too long. They kept sliding down my shoulder while I was trying to take the picture. I'd definitely have to have them tailored if I bought this dress. I liked the bottom of this dress - the waistband is at just the right spot, it has pockets, and the yellow is a nice cheery color. The top? Eh - not so much. It looks like the buttons are pulling when they are absolutely not. It's also a wee bit low cut for work so it would have to exclusively be a weekend dress. I liked it, but I didn't love it. I might consider it come sale time.
Oratory Dress ($98), size Medium
This dress claims to be lilac on the tag, but it is more of a putty color to me. Very bland. The alternative was an electric orange. I liked this dress. It's simple, but I could see wearing it for many years and accessorizing it in many different ways. It had pockets (score!) and it's pullover styling. Very vacation friendly. I worried about sizing on this one, but the skirt flares just enough for a Medium to work. This one is on my wish list.
Perilla Dress ($128), size Medium
Here's another dress that every blogger seems to own and/or look adorable in (see Roxy here, Rosa here, Sara here - you get the picture). I saw it at my store over the weekend and pounced! OMFG - it's horrible! So so horrible! I look so positively revolting in this dress. I flirted with the idea of not taking a picture, sneaking it back onto the rack, and pretending like the whole thing never happened! This dress not only hugged my curves, it selectively hugged my curves...and it selected only the bad curves! Ugh - the humanity! I can't even look at the picture to write the review! I don't think the horizontal stripes helped matters much either (though I won't blame them entirely because I've not disliked a few of Anthropologie's summer offerings that had horizontal stripes). This is a big huge enormous no for me - so much so that I intend to glare at this dress every time I see it from now on!
So that's it for my first batch of reviews this week. I also had the Gossamer Waves Dress in the fitting room with me and somehow forgot to try it on! Whoops! Hopefully it will still be there next week!
It looks like the Anonymous poster from this weekend may be onto something - rumor is that Anthropologie is planning more markdowns on Thursday so I'm really hoping for something amazing (to soften the blow of last week!)
I'll be back with my What I Wore post later today!
Happy Tuesday!
Ha. The Doubly Dapper Dress actually looks pretty good on you in the pics! I just ordered a size 14 night blooming dress off e-bay (although I'm regularly a size 10-12)- crossing my fingers that it fits!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reviews! As a similary shaped gal, this helps my own selection process. I have to admit, I had a similar horrifying situation with the Perilla dress and I love that you are willing to post pictures of the things that don't work so well!
ReplyDeleteLesley
ooh love the vappu and oratory dresses on you!....and your sandals!!! :)
ReplyDeleteAnon - Thanks. The pictures don't look nearly as bad as I felt! Crossing my fingers that your ebay find fits!
ReplyDeleteLesley - I'm glad to hear I wasn't the only one traumatized by the Perilla Dress! I post the pictures because it helps me remember that sometimes clothes just don't work and it's not a reflection of there being anything wrong with me!
Suz - Thanks, thanks and thanks! :)
Kathleen, thanks for your blog. I've been reading for a while and since I'm not that close to an Anthro the reviews really help. I think you're just a doll and very brave to post things even when they don't work for you. The dress that I couldn't wait to try but then was traumatized by was the Palenque Halter Dress. It was hideous. It happens to the best of us.
ReplyDeleteKathleen, I agree with all the ladies above -I think you're a doll for taking one for 'Team Curvy' when you post pictures of items that don't quite work.
ReplyDeleteAnd who cares about the Perilla when you look smashing in the other three dresses! I'm looking forward to trying the Oratory dress in orange - which colour are you setting your sights on? I think the orange would look fantastic on you.
Ciao for now, Dajana
JennaLynn - Thanks! I really have fun doing the reviews and by the time I'm actually writing them, I'm relatively detached from the pictures so posting them doesn't seem like a big deal. The Perilla Dress really is one of the worst thing I've ever tried on though! *shudders*
ReplyDeleteDajana - Aww thanks. Go "Team Curvy"! I'm thinking I like the more neutral color (you'll see why when I post the rest of my reviews this week - I absolutely fell in love with a combo that includes the putty/lilac version). The orange is really great though and would be awesome for my vacation. They are cheap enough that I could get two...hehehe!
I love the vappu dress on you. The colors are excellent on your skin tone. I think you are being too hard on yourself re: Perilla. Although it certainly doesn't do your figure justice, you have no "bad curves." You have a great figure!
ReplyDeleteJess - re: the Vappu Dress. I remembered that I liked the Anchors Away Dress and the Solar Star Blouse in this same color. Clearly I need to just buy something this color already! Aww thanks re: the Perilla Dress. I think the picture is probably more funny than anything and I felt goofy trying to write a serious review when it looked so ridiculous so that's what I came up with!
ReplyDeleteOh hi! I'm working my way to writing a blog post again in the near future but thought I would stop by yours because I miss it! I'm loving your bangs by the way :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for trying on the Oratory dress because I really want to buy it but I've not even seen it in person yet. It looks super cute on you which gives me hope that it will be the laid back summer dress I'm wanting it to be, oh and look cute on me too...
Leslie! Welcome back! I hope all is well! Thanks re: the bangs - I still can't believe they are holding up after a few weeks! And I love the Oratory Dress - I tried it on with the Ambrosial Cardigan and can't wait to buy the combo! I'm in love!
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