2011 Favorites

Well, I will gladly admit that I am shamelessly um, “borrowing” a feature from Roxy. As 2011 is wrapping up, I thought that I ought to share my favorite Anthro purchases from this past year!

Darjeeling SkirtI had noticed this skirt online, and liked it, but it wasn’t until it was marked down that I decided that I really really wanted it. Given that it was an online only item, it did have lower stock, and I believe had even sold out in some sizes at full price. So I was very glad that I tracked one down. This skirt works beautifully for work. I love pairing it with blushes and beiges, but it is neutral enough to pair with a richer burgundy or teal (I’m thinking of my 2 wind-rippled tees).

Take Action dressThis little number was a workhorse in my closet this year. I could style it for, uh, “winter” (Houston winter lolololol), and it was the perfect dress to wear this past Spring and Summer. A lightweight, easy, but still professional looking dress. Worth every penny!

Verdant Slip DressSo I have to admit that I first saw this dress on that blog that really shouldn’t be named (psst…GOMI just did a post about said blog just today) styled with black tights and the anticipation heels. Well, I haven’t yet tried that styling out myself, but this is another dress that made my weekends out this past summer somewhat bearable! And in such a lovely color, at that .

Spiced DressSomething about this dress just completely sucked me in. Maybe it is the gorgeous sunny shade, the beautiful embroidery, and flowy skirt? Yes, it’s a tough fit, but was perhaps the most fun out of all of my summer dresses.

Gathering Breeze DressAnother gorgeous & fun dress. I know that some people had issues with the jersey skirt and *of course* the high price tag. I know that many lovely ladies made this their go-to dress for all of the summer weddings that they had to attend. I actually enjoyed dressing it down several times since purchasing it. Over a grey racerback tank, and under my favorite blazer .

Gathering Blossoms TopI have such a weakness for rich blues, as well as ruffles. This top saw a lot of wear – paired with trousers and pencil skirts for work, as well as jeans for the weekend!

Bowed Lacerta Mary JanesThese shoes created quite the buzz this past fall. I snatched a pair up as soon as they became available. I found the heel to be a bit daunting (I was more used to clunking around in my anticipation heels & Flaxen wedges), but after a couple of wears, I was happy to find that they were incredibly comfortable. AND incredibly versatile. They pair beautifully with skirts & dresses, as well as jeans.

Layered Column DressYes, another dress (I’m sure you’re not surprised to hear that most of my wardrobe consists of dresses)! The layered column dress, however, is a special flower. It definitely is not the typical dress that I gravitate towards, which is why it is on here. It takes me out of my comfort zone! I’ve only worn it twice, but am looking forward to playing with it more in the new year.

Which leads me to my final favorite Anthropologie item…

Mirrorball ClogsOh yes, I actually did. I know. They are extremely expensive, “but they’re shiny!!” Kidding! Well, kind of. Obviously, the sequins and their iridescence caught my attention. I loved the shoes in the catalog shot, styled with grey tights and the burgundy Nolana skirt. I just thought…that they would be worth a try. My curiosity wouldn’t be satisfied otherwise. You would not believe how much I loved these shoes. While some portions of the shoe do shine violet, the majority of mine reflect a dark green. I’ve had them for about 3 weeks and have worn them more times than I can count. At least 2 or 3 times to work, which may seem ridiculous, but they pair beautifully with my black pants from BCBG. And believe it or not, they are now the most comfortable shoes I own. I was shocked, but at the same time given the price tag – I was super super satisfied. If these fit into your budget and you think that you can work these into your wardrobe (you’d be surprised) – they are *definitely* worth a try!

I know that the anthro blogging world generally considers 2011 to be…well, hit or miss. Definitely mediocre at best when compared to Anthro days of yore. And while I agree to a point (shapeless and sheer, made from polyester @ a higher price point is not my idea of wise on Anthro’s part), I still seem to have managed to find plenty of beautiful pieces to add to my closet.

So what will 2012 hold? Well, given the new arrivals, I feel that Anthro is steering their product back in the right direction. Myself, I am very much fawning over the Ruched Martins dress & Hanging Wisteria Skirt. The cut of the dress appears as though it would be extremely flattering, and I love the yellow print (and it looks like there is embroidery). The skirt also has a lovely white embroidery cascading from the waistband that I just find to be beautiful. It is a very romantic piece that is work-appropriate and in a neutral colorway which means that it should work well in my closet.

However, while Anthro’s products appear to be improving (i.e.: reminiscent in style of previous, much loved Anthro pieces), Anthro’s customer services has seriously taken a negative path. While the SAs in my local stores are always friendly, I have had some very unpleasant experiences with Anthro’s customer service team on the phone. Unpleasant to the point of rude (including when I was waiting for the arrival of my very pricey Mirrorball clogs). I’m not the only one that has noted such a change in their “customer service.” I feel that if I (very much an Anthro addict) can be turned off by such treatment to the point that it is deterring me from making the leap to purchase the aforementioned new arrivals, I can only imagine how others who have had far worse experiences recently must be feeling.

While there is always room in my closet for more Anthro, I predict that the pace at which my Anthro wardrobe will expand 2012 is going to greatly slow down (if not halt altogether), if they cannot revamp their CS as they have their product.

 

 

Well readers, what have been some of your favorites (or even misses) from 2011?