A Dire Situation: My Anthropologie Obsession

I've wanted this for what seems like decades.

If you’ve met me somehow in this life, you likely are aware of my love of shopping and fashion. I enjoy wearing unique, stylish clothing that flatters my figure and generally makes me happy. It’s hard to explain how clothing can make one happy, but I suppose I can try to make sense of it by writing about one of my favorite stores.

One store that has become a favorite is the Urban Outfitters spinoff, Anthropologie. I first got turned on to this store when I noticed that every amazing piece of clothing and jewelry owned by one of my close girlfriends came from there. If you’ve ever stepped foot into an Anthropologie store, you may still be completely unaware of its connection to its oldest, and grungiest cousin, Urban Outfitters. The merchandise in Urban has become more strange and of less quality of late. I would frequently visit the Urban Outfitters on Broadway between Houston and Bleecker and nearly always leave with nothing but for a lingering feeling of annoyance. Everything seemed either too tight, too hipster-ish, too weird, or looked too much like it had made a cameo appearance on Cops. In stark contrast to the tragedy that has befallen Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie emerged as a beacon of light for women in their early twenties who are caught somewhere between Abercrombie and Ann Taylor.

Anthropologie stores are typically decorated in a whimsical, natural theme reminiscent of a fairy tale forest. More importantly, the stores usually always smell amazing, mainly due to the fact that they carry candles and incense, which are typically lit and displayed at the front of the store. Anthropologie stores also tend to have a home-like feel – the store displays furniture and bedding also for sale.  I’ve had nothing but positive experiences shopping in the stores – the staff is always happy and eager to help you find something new. The best Anthropologie store I’ve ever been to is the Rockefeller Center store, located adjacent to the GE building on the 6th Avenue side. The most important thing about Anthro (as it is known by its frequent customers) is their collections of unique and beautiful pieces of clothing, purchased from independent designers and vendors.  Anthropologie has gained a reputation for being quite expensive – I will admit that Anthropologie is not for frugal shopping, but if you want to wear beautiful, well-made clothing, you’ll eventually find that such a thing does not come cheap. I look at buying fashion both as an investment and a hobby.

Not everyone can wear Anthropologie pieces. Many people who know me may have noticed my willingness to wear things that many people probably would not or simply cannot wear. Bold dressing is a part of my personality, and Anthropologie makes it easier for me to dress in a manner that expresses the strength of my personality.

The dress in the upper left-hand corner is something I’ve had my eye on for a while. Now that I actually have a real job (and funemployment is suspended), I’ll probably pick it up within the next few weeks.

Here are some other items that portray the Anthropologie aesthetic (not to mention items from my wish list):

An intricate floral cardigan.

A pretty raffia headband - not for the faint of heart.

Big, chunky necklaces.

A poufy halter dress with Meso-American embroidery.

Tags: Anthropologie, Fashion, Urban Outfitters