Takes on Anthropologie - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Takes on Anthropologie

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

So I commented on Angie's most recent link-love post that the Fast Company article about Anthropologie made me dislike them even more. I've been thinking about why, with the caveat that I've been too big for their biggest size in anything but oversized knits in a while, but I do like to peruse the website and the stores on occasion just to see what the vibe is. And it's always been too gimmicky for me, and cheesy, although by rights I should be their target market (30s, educated, interested in vintage and art, etc.)

Sure, say Gap might be generic, but they don't pretend that they're not trying to sell you something, because they are. Anthropologie try to sell this whole vibe, this whole lifestyle, which just feels inauthentic. I know authenticity can be a selling tactic as well and isn't necessarily sincere, but nonetheless Anthrolopogie has never resonated with me.

I am curious to know from those who are fans, as well as those who aren't, why you feel that way.

Shopping

23 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

Suz

(website)

Veteran

So interested in this. I have felt something quite similar. Admittedly, at my age I am probably not part of their target market. But I have wandered into the store, only to come away empty handed and vaguely irritated. I could not have articulated the reasons as well as you have, Laura.

Having said that, I actually BOUGHT something there today for the first time ever. But a very UN-Anthro type item...or at least unlike what I associate with them.

ironkurtin

Veteran

I love their stores and their catalogue, but have always been disappointed in the quality of the merchandise (for the price) when I purchase it. However, as far as a shopping experience goes, and their return policy, love it.

Kate

Veteran

I'm younger than their target audience (though I usually see a lot of 20-somethings there), and dislike a lot of Anthro's selection. I too think it feels gimicky and cheesy (especially their home decorating stuff), and I really don't like the disorganized searching required to buy things at the store - I much prefer the order of online! Almost everything is overpriced, and the quality is mixed, and often not worth the $$$.

That being said, 10% of my clothes are from Anthropologie (7 out of 70), and I love all of these items (even if my $135 dress started pilling after 5 wears). They are well designed, somewhat original, and get complements often.

Ultimately though, I've decided to stop buying at Anthro. They have rather awful company practices both socially and environmentally (http://www.goodguide.com/produ.....hropologie). Plus, giving up Anthro for moral reasons is definitely a good call for my wallet.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

I was the one that posted that link. I agree, if I was petite or plus size I probably wouldn't shop there if I couldn't find the right sizes.

I used to hate Anthro but now I have grown to love it! Before, I would walk in and see all these weird crazy grandma sweaters and frilly overelaborate dresses and think "who in the heck buys this stuff?" I always walked out empty handed. But now that I am getting better at shopping, I gave them a second chance and have actually found quite a bit of stuff that is really more my style. Things like my red corset trench, cropped mustard blazer, patterned pencil skirts and midi skirts, purple poncho, winter tree shirtdress, etc. It just takes some digging. I always browse online first and pick out the good stuff because if I start by wandering around the store it's easy to get overwhelmed and give up. I still see plenty of weird and crazy stuff that makes me laugh (dresses with ants all over them--makes my skin crawl!).

I agree they are overpriced for a lot of their stuff. But I have gotten really good at watching the weekly sales and getting price adjustments on things I have already bought, so I end up getting good deals on pretty much everything I've gotten there. Their customer service is great. And they have a generous return policy (no time limit) which is really important to me, because I know if I have a quality problem with something I bought I won't have a problem bringing it back.

I think they're my second favorite store behind Nordstrom right now. I posted that link because I thought it was fascinating how well they defined and understood their target market. It's actually kind of scary and impressive at the same time. I think their catalog and their whole "lifestyle" is quite funny though...have you seen the Anthroparodie website that someone else posted about before? With the tagline "Bohemia just got a lot more expensive". HILARIOUS! Love the rattan nuclear submarine.
http://www.anthroparodie.com/

Diana

Veteran

I love Anthropologie even though I do agree that much of their stuff is overpriced (however, it ALL goes on sale, sometimes very quickly, and their price adjustment policy is excellent.) I've always been treated well there. I will say that I am exactly their target demographic and look/dress the part, plus I fall right in the middle of the size range.

Of course, there is stuff that I find ridiculous or over the top but overall, I think anthro is the single store that most reflects my personal style.

Almost all of my Anthro stuff was purchased on sale, by the way...

Chrizzle

Reposting what I wrote in the Link Love thread:
The description of the Anthropologie customer described me in pretty much every way (age, education, work, income, self-image). I love the look of the store because I prefer maximalist decor, partly because I’m not neat enough to pull off minimalism in my house!

But I stopped going there regularly because I always left feeling resentful. Anthropologie technically carries sizes larger than 10, but they are either never in stock or just cut too small for my wide shoulders, full bust, and big thighs. That was true even when I was much fitter, and now that I’ve put on some weight, I don’t even bother to look at clothes there. There’s one near my office, so I used to go in, pointedly ignore the clothes, browse through the housewares, fall in love with something but decide it’s overpriced, and leave empty-handed. Now I don’t bother to go in except to look for gifts for other people.

bmed

I found Anthro about 5 years ago, quite by accident. I don't have one where I live, (far west Texas) and had never heard about it. I am 40 with 4 kiddos and for the past few years I have been trying to evolve my style as I move past college and then covered-in-baby-days. I have had many of the same negative feelings walking through the store as you all..."Where in the world would I wear that?" or "Who in the world would ever seriously wear that?" However, I have bought several pieces from Anthro and I love them all! It is kind of strange...I think the allure for me has been the unusualness of the clothes. I ALWAYS get tons of compliments and my Anthro stuff. It is just really hard sometimes to find something that I can reasonably fit in to my wardrobe. I will probably keep trying them. I am just very selective....

lynne

Veteran

I'm an Anthro fan although I'm well above their target demographic age-wise. What I like about the clothing is the whimsy in their design. Yes, much of it is over the top, but I know what works on me and only buy what looks good. I don't think a customer has to buy into the whole aesthetic to find fun items of clothing. Also, incorporating some Anthro pieces helps keep a person away from the "skinnies, boots, scarf" formula feeling that others have mentioned in other threads.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I will repost my comment to you on that blog post:

"Laura, I’m not sure. By way of their description I should be Anthropologie’s target market too – and I am in there frequently with clients, but I do not shop their myself. I generally find their goods too casual and maximal for my own stylistic preferences – but I enjoy shopping there with clients who love their stuff. What is it about their store that you find off putting?"

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

So, Suz, what'd'ya buy?

More thoughts: Remember Seinfeld and the J. Peterman catalog? Anthrolopogie feels a lot like that to me - risable in its attempts to evoke an unrealistic lifestyle in order to get people to buy overpriced stuff you can find elsewhere for cheaper and better quality.

Maybe it is the maximalist vibe that is so not my thing - there's just so much *stuff*, florals and antique housewares and ruffles and details and the whole store always smells like some kind of candle - any of the pieces alone might work in my wardrobe as a focal point, but taken all together they repel me. *shrug*

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I only first heard of them through eBay listings and when I accidentally stumbled across a brick and mortar store on a vacation in Alexandria, VA I honestly was confused! It looked like a hippie shop to me. Lots of knick knacks and almost no clothes. I seriously thougth I was confusing this place with the brand I'd seen online. The BF seemed as confused as I and asked if this was a clothes store. Never seen one again, nor will I seek one out.

Jonesy

Veteran

I see what you are saying, Laura. I used to love Anthro when I lived in Chicago. The store was fun to shop in, and I could always find something. Now, I still occasionally find something interesting and I enjoy browsing their online store, but I'm no longer an Anthro loyalist.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Laura, I bought a grey high waisted pencil skirt. It is a sort of knit fabric. It has a buckle detail on the waist and pockets. The maker is Maeve. I looked online and couldn't find it so I can't link to it; it was on sale (by a LOT) and a very reasonable price. But in the Toronto meet up pictures you'll see it because I wore it today. It was super comfortable.

I laughed at your comment about the candles. My daughter was with me when I went into the store and that was the first thing she noticed. "Mum, it smells like FAKE BAKING in here." But she loved the couch with furry pillows. She sat there and read a novel while I tried stuff on.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I like Anthro because I find some interesting pieces there, and I've gotten better about spotting quality before purchasing. I have a woven top and a light cotton woven jacket I got from them at least 6 years ago and they're still looking good. Knits are more unpredictable, but that's true everywhere.

As for the vibe, well, I suppose I'm the target market, maybe slightly older than their typical customer. I don't bother with the home decor stuff, i can buy the same books they carry at amazon for a fraction of the price, and I definitely get that J Peterman thing, Laura! I laugh and roll my eyes at a good bit of their stuff ( including the prices), even as I find some gems there.

As for business practices, politics, etc, I haven't read that article yet, so I don't know what the issues are yet, but I have gripes with a number of retailers and food chains over their practices and politics, but I still find myself giving them business. Yeah, Target and Chick-fil-a, I'm looking at you.

fern

Veteran

I can find romantic or retro-looking pieces at Anthropologie that I don't find elsewhere and I am sized out of in true vintage clothing. I also look for Noa Noa online/ on Ebay, since we don't seem to have anything like it in the States.
I am not ALGO or maximalist, but I am looking for details and layers in my clothing. And I am within the target market, except not a suburban mom. I actually like the bazaar quality & details of the stores - I spent a few minutes admiring the light fixtures last time I was there. Never done that at other stores.
That said, I actually only own 1 cardigan and 1 top, I think, because the price-to-quality issue drives me crazy.
Laughing at "fake baking", Suz - perfect description of that smell.

Kari

Veteran

Huh. I'm surprised to hear so much vehemence against Anthropologie! Since I like their store, I'm wondering if my style inclinations are towards the cutesy, kitschy, or twee...

For my own experience: Anthropologie was one of the stores I "discovered" slightly before I started reading YouLookFab. While the retail prices were (and are) way out of my price range, the store gave me a huge kick of inspiration towards actually being able to do something interesting with my style in terms of the way outfits were put together. Over time I learned that the best Anthro finds (shopping the sale rack in my case) were simpler pieces - the items with "louder" personality didn't mesh as well with other items already in my style, but the items that maybe didn't jump to my immediate attention upon entering the store ended up being very versatile and still very interesting in terms of the way they were constructed.

So while I don't always find something at Anthro, I still think it's worth my while to shop there, especially for interesting knit blouses. (I've had quite a few versatile items over the year.) When I'm choosy about the quality of fabrics and construction - like Janet, I'm more picky about quality when I'm in the store evaluating potential purchases and don't take something home that looks like it is poorly constructed - the pieces seem to hold up well over time. The one time that I bought a jacket that had a flaw (a seam that had been missed under the arm), the customer service reps immediately responded and gave me a further discount on the product since a replacement was out of stock.
I also picked up a couple houseware finds that I love - some teacup/saucer sets that I use weekly, and a soy candle that has an amazing scent that harmonizes well with my home.

I also still love the way that Anthropologie stores are decorated - always something artful and interesting to look at, even if it's not necessarily a design scheme that I'd like in my personal home.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Laura,
Like you- I am their target demographic, but don't particularly care for the store. I like to browse online, but I just find the shops have way too much going on (even though I like a lot of what they have when I separate it out and look at it alone). I also find that many of their pieces are just too busy for me- and it does seem a bit gimmicky.

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

I will say it: I love Anthro.

I "discovered" them many years ago when they opened a shop near a friend's house. It was their window displays that attracted us both. The mix of textures and styles, etc... It really appeals to me in nearly every way. What's funny is that I think part of the reason I love it so much is because it is not a style, particularly the home decor which I LOVE, that does not come naturally to me.

I think I am a little older than their target audience and I'm certainly under budgeted to be their audience. I only very rarely buy things from them and have mixed experiences with their quality. Some of it seems great, some of it not so much.

I recently bought a sweater that I adore. The quality is good, it's versatile and comfortable. I get compliments on it all the time. It is one of 3 or 4 pieces I have from them.

I love browsing their store. I do find it overwhelming and somewhat difficult to shop in. But I like the vibe, the SAs always seem friendly and approachable. When shopping what I do is find something I like online and then go in the store to try it on or check the quality. And in 1 out of 100 times I might buy it. And they are dog-friendly. I frequently bring my "student" dogs there when I am training and socializing them.

I also steal ideas - aprons, decorating, etc.

I will admit, in this context "authentic" is a term that confuses me. How could a style not be authentic? You see it, it's right there. You can touch it. So... it's real. Doesn't that make it authentic? How can an aesthetic not be authentic? Is this word, in a fashion context, used as the opposite of 'ironic'? Both are sort of funny ways to describe fashion sense, IMO.

bmed

I forgot to say in my post above that I absolutely LOVE Anthropologie's aprons!! So fab!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Andrea, I definitely hear you about authentic as a word that seems odd to apply to a look, one that is corporate by nature as so many of them are. The Beheld had a recent post on this and MAC's recent campaign that people might find interesting: http://www.the-beheld.com/2011.....icity.html

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

Thanks for the link! Interesting read.

Anonymous

I was also surprised at the strong feelings about Anthropologie. I don't really see them as more corporate than other chain stores. They do have a very distinctive style, which may not be everyone's preference.

I don't shop there very often because I find it hard to find items that work with my style. They seem to have a lot of statement pieces, while I prefer to build outfits from basics. I But I do have a few things from there that I love and I've had good luck with the quality.

Kate, I thought your link on their corporate practices was interesting. I will look into that further before shopping there!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

OK, I read the article, and here's my take. Keep in mind that I come from a background in media and advertising.

I can't fault Anthro for the way they're marketing themselves. In fact, I give them a lot of credit, and I will continue to be a fan. However pretentious or inauthentic it may seem to some people, it's smart. They've built a successful business by giving women (I rarely see a man in there) a place to shop that does have a unique atmosphere and merchandise that is not easy to find elsewhere.

Atmosphere-wise, it can be a nice break from more straightforward or traditional retailers. I may grumble over the wildly inconsistent sizing, and how hard it is to look for a particular type of garment there (say, you just want to shop for a solid color knit top -- you have to search throughout the whole store, including the shelves under the display tables!). But the truth is, it works to keep customers in the store for longer, finding things other than what they came in for. Cha-ching!

I totally get how a lot of people would be turned off by Anthro. But I also understand the fan base.