On trial pt. 2: Esprit & Anthropologie

I mentioned in last week's thread that I was expecting more new stuff (due to a combination of sales and gift cards), and again, I'd like to run some of it by your eyes to see whether I should keep it. Some of it I've already committed to but would like other ideas for how to use it.

The first two are the "on trial" items:
1. Esprit LBD (aka Maya's dress, which was on super clearance.) Pretty basic, but after seeing Maya wear it I was excited to have a dress that would be a great top layer over button-downs. I don't have a "blank canvas" dress that works as a top layer over wovens. I just pulled these items out of my closet to try with it.

2. Anthropologie black and white knit top and Esprit denim leggings (the pair Marianne suggested.) See them on their own with boots, with a black cascading cardigan, and with my black non-boyfriend blazer worn kind of boyfriend-style. (Please note that the denim leggings are VERY tapered and are perfect to wear with boots, but absolutely will not be worn with other shoes or with shorter tops. I'd probably wear this Anthro top with regular skinny jeans instead as they provide more coverage & save the denim leggings for longer tunics, but I wanted to try them both on.)
I also like the print on the top.

3. I've already taken the tags off, but I also got a gray Anthropologie cowl-neck knit top that I'd like input on. I saw it on a mannequin in the store with a black pencil skirt and wanted to try it myself, then wore it to work with my denim jacket. Do you have any other ideas for how I should try this top? It's quite long and fitted, so I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing it on its own without layers on top.

16 years ago

Anonymous

I especially love the LBD on you. It looks like a perfect fit.
It looks like the leggings are also a great fit and will work with your wardrobe. The gray top is lovely both on its own and with the denim jacket.

Maya

Veteran

Ooh I love the dress on you! I actually like it better on you than on me!

The leggings and the Anthro top are amazing together. I love that outfit, and also the one with your faux boyfriend blazer

Sweaters are kind of tricky for me since you can't really layer them with cardis (sweater-on--sweater is a bit weird), so I'm not really sure what to suggest besides a jacket, which you obviously already figured out. I think you could wear it on its own, but I might go with a different necklace. The long necklace and the drapey neckline are too much to my eye. I'd rather see a necklace that ends above the neckline. I can't remember--do you have a waistcoat? That would look sweet over the sweater.

marianna

I have the polka dot Anthro top too! I wore it to work there with a cropped black blazer and boots over skinnies just like you have it styled and received many compliments. It looks great on you! I personally felt self conscious all day because it is so low cut, but I plan to remedy that with a cami. It looks a lot better on you than me!

I love the other items too!

marianne

Active Member

The dress looks great! It's very versatile and it fits you very well. I really like the outfit with the pseudo-bf blazer, I need to try something like this with my black blazer.
How long is the grey top? Could you wear it untucked with a belt and jacket over it?
Glad you like the leggings, I've been wearing mine a lot.

Kari

Thanks Joy, Maya, and Marianna!

Joy, thank you - I'm so glad that the LBD is getting good feedback so far. For being so inexpensive, I'm hoping it will prove to be a great basic piece.

Maya, great idea about the knit top. It's not actually a sweater - it's a very fine knit - so I think it would be okay with a cascading cardigan (though I haven't tried it.) But I do have a black waistcoat that I'd love to try with the top when it's warmer. (And you really look fantastic in your LBD - I would not have given it a second look if I hadn't seen it on you.)

Marianna, how funny - every time I peek into Anthropologie I wonder what *you* would advise me to wear! Have I seen you in that top already from a picture you posted here and forgot about it?

Kari, I haven't posted pics of me wearing the top. Next time I wear it I'll take a picture.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oooooh! Utterly delicious outfits. All of them. You score KILLER for the entire series.

Kari, your style has evolved. Dare I say that you are developing an edge :0)

medusa

Kari, I like them all!

The black dress looks like it fits you very well. I love the combination of patterned tights and a button-down shirt you wore in the photo. Very flattering and sophisticated.

The Anthro top is so cute I can hardly believe it. That print is adorable! It looks great on you and I agree with Angie that it's a bit more edgy than you sometimes wear. (At least of the photos I've seen.)

I was confused about the cowl-neck top at first because I somehow thought the necklace was buttons...now that I've figure it out it makes more sense.

Oh! I don't know why I thought it was a sweater. Then a cardi should be fine. I actually see a boyfriend cardi over a cascading one. I don't know why. A cowlneck + drapey cardi is just too much drapeyness perhaps.

Vani

The sheath dress looks killer on you as does the anthro top and the cowl-neck. I absolutely love the B&W top with the cascading cardi, jeggings and boots. Killer & edgy!

Christie

The cowl sweater with denim jacket and pencil skirt is fab! I also love your patterned hose in all the photos.

Marianne, you rock for suggesting the leggings. Thank you! The grey top comes down below my hips so is pretty long, but maybe a belted jacket or (to Maya's suggestion) long cardigan would work over pants. I'll have to play around with it. Usually if I wear tops that are that long with pants, I prefer them to be more loosely fitting.

Marianna, I hope you'll share a picture of the top. I'd love to see how you are wearing it.

Thanks, Angie. Dare away! I am so surprised at how my style preferences have changed little by little over the past year. I didn't even realize how my eye had developed until I tried to think back of what I wore this time last year.

Medusa and Maya, I think you're right that I need to be aware of adding too much "drape" as in the necklace or a cascading/ruffly cardigan. Perhaps it would work better to pair the cowl-neck top with structured pieces.

Medusa and Vani, thank you - I honestly was not sure whether the B&W top was going to be deemed a keeper (due to the fact that it's an empire-waist piece) but loved it too much not to try it. I'm glad it has received such great feedback. (One benefit - a top like this will challenge me to wear pants more often...)

Thanks Cricket! Textured/patterned hose is so darn fun to wear at work & with dresses. I've started double-layering them too (a la KristenKP.)

rute

Love all tree items! Keep it!
The only thing i'm not crazy is the blouse on no. 3, I think it creates too much volume on your upper half, i'm not sure if it's because of the stripes..

Category