UnAnthropologetic- Vol. 4

This is the last of my take on Anthropologie’s amazing February Lookbook. Enjoy!

Look 1: Anthropologie’sPilcro Avie Denim Jacket ($128), Lunation Tee ($38), Camo Pencil Skirt ($148), Perola Necklace ($278), Florid Clutch ($58)

UnAnthropologetic Pieces: Denim Jacket- Old Navy ($35), Scoop T-Gap ($10 reg. $15), Pencil Skirt- Khols ($20),  Necklace-Forever 21 ($14), iPad Case- Asos ($37).

Savings: $116

Where to wear it: Depending on your office, you could wear this to the office. Alternatively, out for happy hour or to a (seated) concert. Great for a lunch get-together on a Saturday.

A couple of notes: Again, I’ve discussed the Anthropologie purse situation.  This one’s actually insanely loud, but as you can see, with the right monotone outfit, it’s adds some graphic cool-girl punch.  This IS the same jacket from the other day. See, you can wear it again! And again! And again! (Though that’s true of any jean jacket, really.) Also, I know, it's an iPad case and not a clutch. But it's soft-sided, so honestly, it's the same thing. Think outside the bag!

 Look 2: Anthropologie’s Midday Dress ($98), Flotilla Booties ($138), Tidepool Scarf ($118), IndigoTassel Necklace ($108)

UnAnthropologetic Pieces:Dress- Modcloth ($50), Booties- DSW ($55), Scarf- The Hunger Site ($32), Necklace- elinspired: etsy ($36)

Savings:  $173

Where to wear it: To your friend’s house for game night, out shopping, to the park, even to work.  Anthropologie thinks you might want to wear it whilst riding your bike out to the  local street market in an emerging market country, but since that would necessitate shorts that I have not listed and a passport  and a helmet (or this awesome scarf helmet!), I’m not going to suggest you do that. But you could.

Notes: Once again, you’re donating food when you purchase this scarf! Nice one! Go you! Also, I don’t love including etsy as a source in these, since most of the items are one-offs (or marked up Indonesian goods that can be had for less elsewhere). However, I made an exception this time. Mostly because you could wander down to the craft store, buy a skein of embroidery floss and a bag of wooden beads and make it yourself. But I’m telling you where to buy stuff, not to take up crafting. So. Etsy.

Look 3: Anthropologie’s Ivorie Dress ($188), Sparkled Leis Belt ($58), Chibae Earrings ($38), AnglaiseBracelet ($48)

UnAnthropologetic Pieces:  Dress- ModCloth ($75), Belt- Nordstrom ($45), Earrings- Modcloth ($18), Bracelet- Forever 21 ($8)

Savings:  $186

 Where to wear it: Out! Church,  a nice party, a special dinner. This one is perfect for an event.  But don’t wear it to a wedding if you’re not the bride (cute for a courthouse bride). It’s tacky to wear white to a wedding if it’s not your wedding. It just is.

Notes: The belt here is another example of “if you love it, buy the real thing” In THIS case, it’s because Anthro’s version is actually the least expensive true ideation of this concept. As you can see, my best efforts only knocked the cost down 23%. So buy it and cherish it.

UnAnthropologetic- Vol.3

Happy Groundhog day! I have scoured the internet to bring you  another entry of UnAnthropologetic interpretations of my favorite looks from Anthropologie’s February Lookbook.

Look 1: Anthropologie’s NewMoon Dress ($178), Ballina Earrings ($38), and Nerium Bracelet  ($58).

UnAnthropologetic Pieces:  Dress- Modcloth ($58), Earrings- Icing ($10), Woven Bracelet – Cost Plus World Market  ($10)

Savings: $196

Where to wear it: This one says daytime to me. To the park, to class, to a barbecue, on a daytime date. Alternatively, it’d be great for a dinner party or for meeting someone’s parents. Anthropologie seems to see that the outfit is best work at a lantern festival while making new, hesitant young Chinese friends. So you’ve got options.

Look 2: Anthropologie’s Lunation Tee ($38), Swingstripe Skirt ($88), Windchime Pendant Necklace ($398), Canopy Circle Clutch ($58), Medocie Flats ($98), Elizabeth and James HanoverSunglasses ($225).

UnAnthropologetic Pieces: Tee-Talbots ($25), Skirt-  ModCloth ($43), Necklace- Forever21 ($9), Purse:- cafepress.com ($30), Flats- Payless ($25), Sunglasses- Modcloth ( $12).

Savings: $761

Where to wear it: To an art gallery, a matinee theater performance, out to dinner, to a friend’s party- anything that feels special but not formal.

A couple of notes: Anthropologie has seriously unique purses. Finding surrogates for the bags took as long as everything else put together, and they just capture the feel, they are not doppelgangers.  If you love an Anthro bag, buy the Anthro bag. You are NOT going to find a knock-off version. Trust me.  Also, a lot of times, their jewelry is fairly reasonably priced. This is not one of those times. So that’s where a large portion of the difference came in. With the money saved, you could pay your rent. And probably should, anyway.

PS: This time, Forever21 lost the necklace. I guess the moral of the story is, if you see jewelry you like, buy it immediately.

UnAnthropologetic- Vol. 2

The February Lookbook is out and beautiful! So here are my first selections (I’ve done a total of 7 for February…. Can I have it all for my birthday? It’s SOO pretty).

Look 1: Anthropologie’s Sundra Top ($118), Nerium Bracelet ($58) Dulces Bracelet ($38) and some jeans. I picked their AG Farrah High-Rise Skinny Jeans ($168). 

UnAnthropologetic Pieces: Top – Fashion Union ($33); Gold Bracelet- Forever 21 ($7); WovenBracelet – Cost Plus World Market  ($10); Jeans- Old Navy ($25).

Savings: $307

 Where to wear it: Anything work-casual. Casual Friday, a creative meeting, drinks with the girls on a Friday night, out on a mid-level date. This is actually a pretty versatile outfit.

Look 2: Anthropologie’s Draped Chambray Popover ($118), Scalloped Lace Shorts ($88), and TasseledNecklace Scarf ($68)


UnAnthropologetic Pieces: Henley- Old Navy($22 – orig. $27), Lace Shorts- Tobi ($54), Scarf- Cost Plus World Market ($20), Necklace-The Hunger Site ($14)

Savings: $110

Where to wear it: Shopping. If you do farmers markets, that’s a good spot. If not, it’s very cute for the mall or even the grocery store.

Notes:  1) I think the Henley is a much more versatile piece than the original popover and

2) The necklace buys like 10 cups of food for the hungry, so not ONLY do you get food, shelter and acute outfit on this one, but someone in need gets food too!
 

Also, I learned that there is no such thing as a cheap pair of cute lace shorts. They either look like a diaper or underwear. So if you are SET on lace shorts, you’re going to be spending some dough. (Or you can make them if you’re crafty like that). Anyway 2 rules on lace shorts: they must be long enough (but nowhere near your knees) and they CANNOT have an elastic waistband. Period. End of discussion.

UnAnthropologetic- Vol. 1

I know I haven’t been updating my blog. And that’s because I’ve been sick and haven’t been able to do shit around my house. It looks awful. Anyway, I thought maybe I’d branch out a bit here. I have a deep and abiding love for Anthropologie. If money were no object, my house would be decorated by and my closet would be full of Anthro. Sadly, I live in a world that does not allow me to buy many of the things made by the good people of Anthropologie, for the simple reason that my wallet cannot take it.

This made me sad for a while. Then I realized the internet could fix this. So I present to you my UnAnthropologetic interpretations of my favorite looks from Anthropologie’s January  Lookbook. (The February ones to follow VERY shortly).

Look 1: Anthropologie’s Vernalis Maxi Dress ($198), Fringed Suede Jacket ($428), Blue Roses BibNecklace ($198), Grommet Savvy Belt ($38).

UnAnthropologetic Pieces: Dress- Modcloth ($60), Motorcycle jacket- JCPenny ($20), Necklace-Nordstrom ($48), Belt-Target ($15)

Savings: $719

I’d tell you what you could buy, where you could go, whatever with that savings, but let’s be honest: we were never going to buy the entire Anthro outfit, no matter how fabulous it is because the money has to go to bills. But hey! My way, you get food, shelter AND a cute outfit. Score!

 

Where to wear it: An evening dinner date or, if you like being ethereal, a beach bonfire.

Look 2: Anthropologie’s Nighthawk Drops ($28), Gold Filigree cuff ($48), Lace-framed dress ($178),Morningside Scarf ($48)

UnAnthropologetic Pieces: Earrings- Icing ($9), Cuff-Forever21($5), Dress- ModCloth ($58),  Scarf- Nordstrom  ($20)

Savings: $210












Where to wear it: Work, church, brunch or the movies.

Notes: For the earrings, this is one of those times where finding a stand-in is probably not worth the effort. I did it for YOU because that’s what I’ve set out to do here. But brass tax: I’d just buy the earrings at Anthro. Unfortunately, they've disappeared from the site. I don't know what happened.

Look 3: Anthropologie’s Pilcro Avie Denim Jacket ($128), Layered Lace Tank ($138), Pilcro HyphenStriped Chinos ($98), Trapeze Hoops ($68), Field Day Booties ($138).

UnAnthropologetic Pieces: Denim Jacket- Old Navy ($35), Crochet tank- Free People  ($48), Chinos- H&M ($25), Earrings- Icing ($10), Booties- DSW ($55).

Savings: $397

Where to wear it: To a ball game, to the park, to the movies or a pub quiz – anywhere you’re one of the guys, this will cover you.

Notes: Originally I had a different crochet tank, but it sold out, so I found this one. Wear a white tank top under this one.  I think Old Navy makes the best denim jackets. Cheap, fairly well-cut and reasonably timeless, they’re good stuff. I mean, my FAVORITE jean jacket is still my dad’s Wrangle jacket from the 70s, but since I have been barred from stealing it (again), this will do.