STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

well as one of the anthro bloggers, I can tell you I love the store because the pieces are unique and one of a kind to me.  I can't go to any other store and find what I find at Anthro.  I find the most interesting, detailed, lovely pieces, and they truly embody what I love about fashion and my true sense of style.  The first time I stepped into anthro, I felt like someone got me and had opened this store just for me!
As for wanting what you see on Anthro bloggers, could it just be that it helps you visual a piece?  It's a lot more appealing to see something on a real person and see it styled and worn, rather than staring at it on a mannequin.

I'll say upfront that I don't shop at Anthro because I just plain can't afford the prices. But if I had an Anthro budget, I'm sure I would absolutely shop there because I like a lot of their stuff.

I think a big part of any store's appeal is the marketing. At places like Walmart, Kohl's, and Target, they're usually just selling you a shirt. But once you get any higher than that - J.Crew, Anthro, Banana - a lot of the pull toward them is that they're trying to "sell" a lifestyle and a vision of yourself. If you aspire to be the arty, quirky girl that Anthro shows in their catalogs, then I think you'll naturally want to dress like her. At some point everyone dresses like the person they want to be in order to feel more like that person, I mean that's why it's so fun to dress up on Halloween and that's why kids have way more fun playing police when they actually have a police costume on. Because when you change the outside of you, part of you feel changed inside. I'm the same person whether I'm in my schlubby jeans or a pretty cocktail dress, but I *feel* 100x cooler in the dress. Because in my mind, people who wear pretty fun cocktail dresses have fun and glamorous lives. So if I'm dressed like that, I must *be* that. At least that's what's in the back of my mind.

Obviously if you like Anthro, you probably like the clothes they sell. I think Anthro has a lot of original, unique, detail-oriented pieces and that's how they've climbed so high. But a big part of that price tag is that you're paying for the vision of yourself that they sell you along with the clothes. I suspect that's a part of the reason why you might not like your knockoffs even if other people wouldn't ever know the difference between the two. Because *you* know where it came from and maybe you're slightly disappointed, even though your dress is probably a zillion times better, handcrafted, and fit to your body.

-- Edited by Kelly on Friday 16th of April 2010 10:05:11 AM

I think finding your own personal style doesn't involve getting a catalog, Anthro or otherwise, and buying ever piece on the model. Instead I think it is finding pieces that you are drawn to and putting them together in a way to fit your life.

I never buy the basics at Anthro because they charge too much for a plain button up, tee, etc. I will splurge though on beautiful dresses, perfectly girlie tops, things that I know I have not seen somewhere else. Plus lately I have found that if I wait certain items out I can get them for a much better price. I love their clothes because they look like a great vintage item you just found, but in perfect condition. I think that also keeps them from looking out of style from year to year since they are not trendy items. 
 
I agree with shopchicago that the style blogs help to see the items in a wearable way by many different people. They make more sense on a regular girl going out shopping than they do on a model in the middle of a deserted circus. BTW shopchicago I read your blog often. It is very cute!

Bloomie I think it is natural to begin to question things when hitting a milestone age. At 35 I do that too! :) At 30 I banned Abercrombie from my life as I felt it was too young. The fun part about fashion though is that you don't have to know who you are, because you don't have to be tied down to one thing. One day I may go to a rock concert and wear all black and the next wear a dress that would make June Cleaver proud.  ;) Enjoy it and don't let 40 hold you back!

To me, the appeal of anthro is that it is very much a boutique-turned-chain store. Its almost as though someone with a very clear point of view and perspective has picked out all of these unique and quirky pieces that you probably couldn't find anywhere else.

The items just feel hand-picked and special.

That said, prices are sometimes outrageous and quality often subpar.

I think its ok to not have a set sense of style. To sometimes feel like wearing a pink floaty dress then the next to wear punk stripes and boots. Sometimes you have more of a sense of style than you think, even though it may not be defined as "bohemian" or "hipster"

I have never bought a piece from Anthro, but will admit that i love to go to the store and just wander around. I like looking at the pieces, but when I have to get honest with myself, most of the pieces would not work on me or my style, let alone my budget. But the atmosphere of the store, the displays and even the smell of the place, is very seductive.

That being said, I think that the fact that you can sew your own clothes is amazing. I think maybe you just need to gain a little condifence in your own abilities. Think about it. You are getting compliments on something you made.  Anybody can go buy a dress.  You created something from a pattern and some material.  If I tried that, all I'd even up with is a mess.  You need to step back, allow yourself to be complimented, and enjoy your talent!

I never used to buy from Anthro, though I loved to browse. But in recent years I find I have quite a few items in my wardrobe from them. I don't buy basics there because I can find basics for a lot less, but skirts and dresses and tops, oh my! I buy a lot of knit-type tops from them. The tops have a bit of (but not too much) embellishment and they are cut to fit me, which is a major selling point. I do find things at Anthro that I can't find anywhere else - I don't shop at F21 because their quality is horrible - Anthro items just have a subtle twist - in fabric, embellishment, detailing - that I like.

I have to be selective because not everything is good quality or fits me well, and Anthro tends to favor what I call "muddy" colors and I look better in pure colors or jewel tones, but I'm quite happy with most of the items I buy there and I get lots of compliments when I wear them. Several of the brands they carry are consistently high quality and have lasted several years for me now.

I'm married to a market researcher so am very cynical about marketing in general so I don't buy to have a piece of the lifestyle...I buy for what I want to wear that suits *my* lifestyle. But I do think they market very well and I love getting those catalogs in the mail. :)

I love to go in their store. I love their catalogs and their styling. I have never bought a piece from Antro however I have seen their clothing at the thift and consignment stores I go to. Without the piece being styled it looks just like any other piece of clothing to me.