STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Elle · Hermes

Are they trying to kill me?

rocky · Coach

I know, that's how I felt when I got their fall catalog and their accessories catalog. At least they are FINALLY opening a store near me, and I hear their stores have better sales than online.

Maven · BCBG

I was in Palo Alto yesterday and I saw they have opened a new store on Alma. Cute stuff in the window displays. (The Santana Row store is too hard to get to and the clothes too crowded together.)

I'll be going by there tomorrow.

Meow · Coach

LMonet wrote:

I hate myself for 'ing them!

That is exactly how I feel.

Bastet · Kate Spade

Their stuff is way too expensive. I'm obsessed with their shoes, but I can't justify the $$$. If I got them wet or dirty, I'd probably have a heart attack.

KaffeeKlatsch · Marc Jacobs

I totally agree. I browse in their all the time, and online also. But this past week for the first time I actually tried things on. While they are certainly beautiful...I can't justify the price either. And some of the tops are made out of just the cheapest looking/feeling material. I don't know...I love the structure of their pieces and the attention to detail, but if I am going to pay that much I'd rather just go to Europe and get something wonderful!

atlgirl · Gucci

I have several issues with Anthro...

1. As others have posted, the prices are waaay high on what seems to be (in most cases) cheap and flimsy material. I can sometimes find tops on sale that I will buy, knowing that they won't last me very long because of the poor quality. I think some of their sweaters in the fall/winter are nice, and some skirts.

2. Their colors often don't work for me - I look best in rich, bold, jewel-like tones, and Anthro often has what I condsider "muddy" colors, muted shades that do nothing for my skin and hair.

3. Their sizing is awful (for me). I am a 6-8 on bottom, "large" on top because of the shoulders and boobs, but it's HARD to get stuff to fit from them. It all seems to run small, and I have CURVES. Most of the pants aren't cut to accomodate a curvy butt - I feel like their clothes are all meant to be on stick-figure model-types. No offense whatsoever to you thinner girls who can fit the clothes - this is not "size 2" envy - I just don't think the clothes are cut for my body.

I do love their shoes. I have been stalking the origami heels for months and months now. But I won't pay most of those prices - I always am waiting for sales.

splash · Kenneth Cole

Don't hate yourself! I know what you mean, though...

I love the cuts and styles of their stuff - but luckily for me, like atlgirl I look much better in bold, non-muted colors, so that prevents me from buying too much from there.

One other thing - I just love the way they do their catalog! So cute!

atlgirl · Gucci

I just love the way they do their catalog! So cute!

Oh yeah -the catalog ROCKS. Whomever does the layout, etc. has a most excellent eye.

lynnie · Chanel

atlgirl wrote:

I have several issues with Anthro... 1. As others have posted, the prices are waaay high on what seems to be (in most cases) cheap and flimsy material. I can sometimes find tops on sale that I will buy, knowing that they won't last me very long because of the poor quality. I think some of their sweaters in the fall/winter are nice, and some skirts. 2. Their colors often don't work for me - I look best in rich, bold, jewel-like tones, and Anthro often has what I condsider "muddy" colors, muted shades that do nothing for my skin and hair. 3. Their sizing is awful (for me). I am a 6-8 on bottom, "large" on top because of the shoulders and boobs, but it's HARD to get stuff to fit from them. It all seems to run small, and I have CURVES. Most of the pants aren't cut to accomodate a curvy butt - I feel like their clothes are all meant to be on stick-figure model-types. No offense whatsoever to you thinner girls who can fit the clothes - this is not "size 2" envy - I just don't think the clothes are cut for my body. I do love their shoes. I have been stalking the origami heels for months and months now. But I won't pay most of those prices - I always am waiting for sales.

I agree on certain points- though I find the sizing very inconsistent. Sometimes I'm a 2 and think the stuff runs HUGE and sometimes i'm a 6 and think wth??? I saw this brand featured in lucky- maybe these are a good alternative to the origami heels?? They are $135.

they also have bigger bow ones

Alikat · Kate Spade

I want to buy everything from the catalog and online, but in the store I rarely like the textures of the clothes... and the prices right there.

Those shoes are gorgeous Lynnie!

Lilykind · Hermes

I have many of the same issues that you girls have with Anthro. I'm also too curvy for Anthro pants...plus I have real issues with being anywhere from a 0 to a 4 on bottom (anyone who's seen me IRL knows I'm not a 0, LOL) and a 4 to 8 on top.

I live very close to 3 Anthro stores and while they are certainly a joy to be in aesthetically, I can't justify the prices for 95% of their stuff. It looks so cute in the catalog and online, but IRL I'm for the most part less than impressed. Anthro's store brands tend to be the worst quality, but if I buy something from a brand that's available eslewhere (Nanette Lepore, Sanctuary, Marimekko, etc.), then I tend to have better luck.

I do like the sale racks...especially when stuff is 75% off on them.

esquiress · Marc Jacobs

here's how i feel about anthro--it is a pleasure to be in there, it's so fun, everything's so pretty and well-decorated, the overall ambience is just fabulous.

however, once you examine a certain piece independently, it's really difficult to justify the price. i almost feel like w/ anthro, you're not just paying for the piece, you're paying for the mood anthro creates. they're genius in that way but at the same time i'm not willing to pay that much for less than stellar quality. don't get me wrong, sometimes i will, especially if something is very unique and flattering but for the most part the clothes are kind of deceiving--they look better from far away or in a picture than close up and actually on me. but that's just my experience.

atlgirl · Gucci

Oh, Lynnie, thank you !! I can't believe how similar those are. I will go check the site out ASAP. You are a darling for finding those - I have been watching the Origami's since ...like February, I think. $135 is *way* more reasonable than $298!

shopgirl82 · Chanel

i agree. i love the ambiance of the store....ESPECIALLY AT CHRISTMAS!! and i agree, i don't know what i would do if i didn't have a store nearby to actually see the items, since they NEVER look the same in real life.

my personal opinion is that anthropologie is on it's way (still far off) to becoming the new gap/banana. i feel like when i walk down the street, i can always spot anthro. pieces. the way i would with gap/banana pieces.

i do the home decor department, that's usually what brings me there. i also have a ton of their pjs (brand is eloise...they're like a silky jersey material) that i always wait for a sale.

i also agree with everything that everyone else has said regarding sizing/prices. i did buy those one wedges and i'm glad that they didn't fit so that i could return them for the ones that FashionPrincess found at Nordstroms for $50 cheaper!

splash · Kenneth Cole

esquiress made a really important point - they've got the ambience down perfectly. The stores are so refreshing, even though I rarely buy anything. Although it's a little creepy that all across the country they're so uniform - shouldn't a cozy place be unique, not mass-produced?

dot · Marc Jacobs

i'm with a lot of you. i always find myself going in.. but rarely ever leaving with anything. honestly, most of their stuff is not even my style, but i find myself being drawn to go in all the time.

yes! also have to agree that i hate how it's a chain trying to copy a small store ambience!

-- Edited by dot at 14:21, 2005-08-24

shopgirl82 · Chanel

oh, and i just want to add that my bf HATES that place. he thinks a lot of the clothes look like old lady/stereo-typical school lady clothes (NOT trying to offend anyone, but you have admit that a lot of the sweaters look like they would look great paired with a one size fits all jumper). there have been several things that i have picked out that he likes, but i think to him the over all vibe of the store is cute/girly over-kill. so i find that while girls like the store, maybe a lot of boys don't? (could be a HUGE generalization).

i kinda feel the same way and i feel like i really have dig in that store as well. i find it's had to find the right size, fit, price, and an item that doesn't have too many embellishments so a lot of times i give up and go to the home decor section.

flknight24 · Dooney & Bourke

Shopgirl - it's so funny you should mention that your boyfriend hates Anthro, my boyfriend hates it too. He calles it the "junk shop".

Meow · Coach

proof anthro is overpriced: Yellow Tweed nordstrom $74.95

sculpted wedges anthro $128

I don't see the difference shopgirl82--are these the wedges you were referring to?

I do love the mood and ambience of anthro's website and catalog (i have on been in a store once), but I am finding that I use their outfits they put together as ideas to do a look for less. I do own a couple of things from anthro , my giraffe skirt and my red cropped crochet cardi, but I am generally not going to buy from there unless it is a very unique item that I can't find anywhere else. I just cannot afford it

-- Edited by Meow at 15:47, 2005-08-24