I agree Inge. I don't care for their website with the tree for beginners. I liked a couple of their blouses when they were styled with alot of texture. Other than that I would have to look more and get used to the blouses so they could grow on me. I'm pretty sure they would, knowing me, I love many different styles.

AF does tend to be a little over the top sometimes. I find that the individual pieces are better tried on in an outfit I've created than the way they have them styled. You can play down the ruffles and all that stuff and make it more wearable.

I like look 7! I would wear that. I think those are two separate tops, one is a cardigan with ruffles (cute!) and the other is a sheer swirl pattern top with a necktie. Yum! I will definitely have to check that one out at the shop. Love look 12, the tops from look 14 and 15, Look 19, the tunic and bag from look 22, the coat from 24 (gorgeous! Inge I could see you in that), the tweed jacket from 28 (I will definitely be checking that one out), Look 41 (another to check out in person, I love the pattern and shape and neckline), and look 51 (ooh la la, I'd have to try it on to see if it worked though).

Yay! Thanks for posting that Inge, I had not seen it before now.

I looked through the catalogue just for fun. I agree that the Styling is definitely over the top but some of the individual pieces might work. These are the pieces that caught my eye:
#10 paoline - gorgeous satin jacket
#28 partage - yummy tweed jacket, a real statement piece
#30 flower belt with beads is cute but i didn't see in the accessories catalogue, I think it is a combination of a necklace with a brooch.
#43poudre - if it is a black shirt and not a jumpsuit

I also like the snake skin accesories, especially belts with flowers (all the colors!) assuming that they are not real snake skin, which is probably unlikely. :)

What bothers me most are the tapered best, who can wear them, seriously!

Thanks Inge! I agree about the overly dramatic feel of some of it. But there are for sure pieces to salivate over ...

All I could think was that I hope that's fake fur, or Angie is going to have one of her apoplexies!

San: you're right, that tree on the start page is seriously starting to get on my nerves.

I think Ana has a very good point (and an excellent eye!): you have to look at these pieces individually and compose your own outfits with them. You've found some gorgeous pieces I had overlooked the first time around Ana. The tweed jacket is YUM, and sigh yes, the coat in 24 could work!!-)
How I wish we could go AF shopping together Ana, I just know you'd find me something I wouldn't have considered on my own.

Bella: I sincerely hope 43 is a shirt, otherwise I don't want it anymore;-)
I forgot to look at the accessories catalogue, will do that in a sec.

Laura: You recently mentioned we might be very busy stalking all sorts of items this Winter. I'm afraid you're very right (I have a boots wish list of several pages long;-). I wonder if we could make money out of this. Stalking items for other people....
The fur: I have a hunch it might be the real deal-(

Thank you for posting it, Inge! Granted I have never seen AF stuff irl except on Angie, a lot of looks are beautiful and I love the styling. I like the vest looks like #19, and the jacket #44. And I don't even know where to start with the blouses.
Not that I am in the market but it's fun to see...

I'm going to be daydreaming about them for a while longer, until I can pluck up courage and actually step into the AF store here. The salespeople are quite haughty. They would get a fit if I tried on a few blouses and left without buying anything.

Inge, to your point, even at AF in NYC, when we marched in there with Angie, I could feel the haughtiness of the salespeople. I don't know if I would have had the courage to go in by myself.

Also, yes, the stalking list is becoming quite unwieldy! Too bad we don't get paid for this ...

Hehe I saw an AF store in SF - walked past a few times but never went in. I felt too much like a scruffy backpacker and it looked way too upmarket for me!! I even felt a bit out of place walking through the Neiman Marcus department store too, but it was such a beautiful building I had to go in!

Thanks for the pointer Inge. I love this style. I especially liked 29 Pablo, 32 Prima, and 40 Primavera. I agree with Ana - you'd have to carefully plan the rest of the outfit so as to tone it down as appropriate since the pieces are so "big" by themselves. I love that drama though in the right, tasteful combination. My wallet is thankful that there isn't an AF near here.

I got the same feeling from Laura. I just did not feel comfortable in there. One of the girls was nice and offered to fit me for some stuff I was looking at, but I was obviously not in the market. She was young though, probably close to my age, so maybe that is why.

As for the collection, I love it but it is definitely not wearable IMO. The first time I looked at the website, I found a lot of gorgeous, covetable pieces, but this time while they are still gorgeous, I have no real desire to wear any of them.

Even as my income grows, I doubt I will ever shop there. Their shirts can't possibly work for anything over a C cup.

I would say that this type of styling works on the runway or a lookbook but does not transalate well into real life. As previously stated mixing pieces with your existing wardrobe is key.Together some of the pieces are a little too costumey for my liking. I love look 41 the pattern and neckline on the dress are beautiful.

As for snooty sales assistants I think we should remember that they are paid to serve us and walk in with our heads held high.

I really don't like almost any of these! # 28 jacket was nice enough but everything else left me cold. Too many flounces and ruffles and unappealing shoulder shapes. Just my taste; I'm sure that some of you YLFers could totally rock it.

The styling is indeed over the top, but I do like some pieces and would wear them, toned down of course. Here are my favorites - I wish I could afford one of them one day :)

12 - Parisa
17 - Pascale-Purdey
28 - Partage-Paola
29 - Pablo
49 - Pollyanna

Inge, I wish we could go shopping together too! Maybe we will get to someday. :D

Inge, thank you for the link. I enjoyed myself very much. I love the drama, the ruffles, the play of feminine and masculine. If I had the budget, I would be their best customer. Just browsing through the catalogue gave me so many ideas to try out.
I had to chuckle about some of the comments about sales staff. Whenever I am in a higher-end store and I get the attitude from the shop assistants, I turn into a really sweet girl who wants to try pretty much everything but can't make up her mind. Politeness drives them crazy much more than rudeness. ;-)