STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Kel · Coach

Antropologie Knock-offs

Boots · Gucci

I think that Forever 21 and Target sometimes do similar pieces.

I sometimes find the actual items at Nordstrom Rack or once in a great while at TJ Max.

Elle · Hermes

What you're paying for there is their aesthetic, their editing, their creation of that 'style' that captivates you so - not necessarily the actual merch. There isn't really another store that brings it quite as hard as Anthro does with the styling, but it's defnitely possible to recreate their looks with non-anthro items. They are styling ninjas, capable of practically forcing an otherwise sane individual into paying $68 for what is essentially a t-shirt!

I'd start with specific looks you want to emulate - pics from the catalog, or the outfit combos they suggest when you click on a particular item. That way you can literally break it down into a list of items, which is easier to shop for than a general 'look' is. Target, UO, F21 are great places to start looking for items that are anthro-esque, but consider thrift stores too.

IMO they tend to create looks that are romantic but laid back, full of small details and with a slightly haphazard approach to color/style 'matching'. Alot of their stuff can be DIYed, if you are mildly handy with some basic crafty tools, even!

I'd be more than happy to help find pieces to copy-cat a look if you want to pick one!

-- Edited by Elle on Friday 5th of March 2010 11:43:25 AM

exsupahero · Kate Spade

http://www.downeastbasics.com/

gossipgirl · Dooney & Bourke

Elle wrote:

What you're paying for there is their aesthetic, their editing, their creation of that 'style' that captivates you so - not necessarily the actual merch. There isn't really another store that brings it quite as hard as Anthro does with the styling, but it's defnitely possible to recreate their looks with non-anthro items. They are styling ninjas, capable of practically forcing an otherwise sane individual into paying $68 for what is essentially a t-shirt!

I'd start with specific looks you want to emulate - pics from the catalog, or the outfit combos they suggest when you click on a particular item. That way you can literally break it down into a list of items, which is easier to shop for than a general 'look' is. Target, UO, F21 are great places to start looking for items that are anthro-esque, but consider thrift stores too.

IMO they tend to create looks that are romantic but laid back, full of small details and with a slightly haphazard approach to color/style 'matching'. Alot of their stuff can be DIYed, if you are even mildly handy with some basic crafty tools, even!

I'd be more than happy to help find pieces to copy-cat a look if you want to pick one!

you nailed it!

Kel · Coach

Elle wrote:

What you're paying for there is their aesthetic, their editing, their creation of that 'style' that captivates you so - not necessarily the actual merch. There isn't really another store that brings it quite as hard as Anthro does with the styling, but it's defnitely possible to recreate their looks with non-anthro items. They are styling ninjas, capable of practically forcing an otherwise sane individual into paying $68 for what is essentially a t-shirt!

I'd start with specific looks you want to emulate - pics from the catalog, or the outfit combos they suggest when you click on a particular item. That way you can literally break it down into a list of items, which is easier to shop for than a general 'look' is. Target, UO, F21 are great places to start looking for items that are anthro-esque, but consider thrift stores too.

IMO they tend to create looks that are romantic but laid back, full of small details and with a slightly haphazard approach to color/style 'matching'. Alot of their stuff can be DIYed, if you are mildly handy with some basic crafty tools, even!

I'd be more than happy to help find pieces to copy-cat a look if you want to pick one!

-- Edited by Elle on Friday 5th of March 2010 11:43:25 AM

You are so right and styling is such a problem for me. I dress like Banana Republic but I really like the styling of Antro. Next time I see some pieces I am in love with I will post. Thanks!

Kel · Coach

exsupahero wrote:

http://www.downeastbasics.com/

They have really cute stuff.

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

I have found some similar things at Forever 21 lately and then you can always check Urban Outfitters for some similar cardigans and stuff since they are owned by the same company.

Elle · Hermes

Here are a couple other places that popped into my head that has pieces that are Anthro-esque:

http://www.modcloth.com/

http://www.shopruche.com/index.php

http://www.lulus.com/

clothes_horse · Dooney & Bourke

i'm loving all the options at the websites you all posted! cute stuff!!

Suasoria · Chanel

A bit more junior, but http://www.francescascollections.com - although for some reason they have a ton of animal prints, which is like the opposite of Anthropologie.

I second Modcloth.

Sibeski · Dooney & Bourke

Elle wrote:

Here are a couple other places that popped into my head that has pieces that are Anthro-esque:

http://www.modcloth.com/

http://www.shopruche.com/index.php

http://www.lulus.com/

I've ordered from www.shopruche.com before and had excellent customer service.

Kelly · Hermes

I've ordered from Ruche a few times and the clothes did not impress me. They seemed to be poor quality, even for the admittedly low prices. Like quality poorer than f21. Maybe I just have bad luck but it's kept me from ordering anything else.

-- Edited by Kelly on Tuesday 9th of March 2010 01:28:15 PM

kenzie · Chanel

Kelly wrote:

I've ordered from Ruche a few times and the clothes did not impress me. They seemed to be poor quality, even for the admittedly low prices. Like quality poorer than f21. Maybe I just have bad luck but it's kept me from ordering anything else.

-- Edited by Kelly on Tuesday 9th of March 2010 01:28:15 PM

Kelly, I think it's hit or miss with them since the items are all different brands and so they tend to be all over the place with quality. Their quality control isn't quite up to par with Anthro yet (even though I've seen some questionable items come out of there, too), but they are also a very young company. Maybe they'll get it together eventually. I have some things from there that I really like and think the quality is decent, but then other items are definitely not the quality I'd expect for the price I paid (even if it was a small price).

And what Elle said. Anthro's branding strategy is off the hook and so well executed. They really are a great case study in how to do it right!

But yeah, you can get items like that from other places-Forever21 and LOFT have good items. Also (don't laugh) Charlotte Russe has some pieces as well.

And I'll second both ModCloth and Lulus.

-- Edited by kenzie on Friday 12th of March 2010 08:32:08 AM

-- Edited by kenzie on Friday 12th of March 2010 08:38:09 AM