Puttin' the UGH in ugly. The mini-maxi caftan.

Mrs. Roper, your new Anthro catalogue is here!. Thanks Chrissy!

Yep, in the bewildering decline of AnthroTaste, they have now sunk to a new low: the mini-maxi caftan. It's a maxi; it's a mini' it's a caftan all rolled into one. And, it is not just ugly girls, it is expensive! Each one clocks in at $310. Yikes.

Poor things aren't even named, and there is minimal AnthroBlather about them and not one review. Why no reviews? They are only available online!! Crazy man. The mini-maxi, which sounds like a serious feminine product, is not generally a lock for the fashion forward unless AnthroLand is attempting a fashion foray into a line called The Emperor Has No Clothes.

This drapey, deep-v dress is cut from a vintage pattern and crafted from vintage material; it's a limited edition find for true retrophiles. An Anthropologie exclusive from SOR Select by Some Odd Rubies.

Now, I looove vintage as much as anyone (anyone who loves vintage). It is one of the reasons I was drawn to Anthropologie in the first place, vintage inspirations with a quirky quaintness. But Mrs. Ropers wardrobe(that's a Three's Company reference for the young and/or clueless) is generally not desirable vintage for, no not retrophiles, vinties. Get the cutsie little terms right, please!

If you are going to retrophit and steal from different eras, then let's go back to the oldies and goodies. But, that sounds like fodder for another post. Here is the visual evidence of Anthro run amuck.

The Great Mompos Dress Conspiracy of 2011

Scandal hits Anthropologie. The poor Mompos Dress is under attack. It has been dissed. According to several Anthromancers, this sweet cornflower blue dress has been viciously targeted by potentially false reviews set up to destroy Mompos’ reputation.

The cutie pie in question...

Kim from Anthroholic states in a five, no wait, seven paragraph review the following…

On reflection, I have edited this for length, not content.

"There has been some uproar over the poor reviews on Anthropologie's website for this dress, and I have to say, I can see why. I cannot believe anyone would rate this dress 1 star. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars. The quality is impeccable. Some said the color was dull in person. The color is anything but. It's a vibrant, gorgeous cornflower blue. I see no dullness, no gray cast, nothing. It has a gorgeous scalloped pattern with white eyelet, and the hem of the dress is scalloped - a super cute touch...


The neck is a higher cut than I'm used to, however, I found it very flattering.

The belt that comes with the dress is adorable! It's got stitching, a bow. I'm in love. It snaps in the back with four snaps. I like that it's removable. You can wear it to the side, wear it in the center, or heck wear it with other things!

I, like many women, am not a huge fan of the dreaded side zip so many designers use on dresses, so bonus points to Tracy Reese for using a back zip! ...

This dress gets 5 stars from me! I am insane over it and thanks to someone special in my life, it's mine! I love that it has that 1950's shape I love so much. Dresses like these make me think Anthropologie is headed back in the direction we all know and love so...

I personally wouldn't chance waiting on this one. It's already backordered for the first time online, and 3 other girls bought this while I was at the store yesterday!

You will not be disappointed in the lovely Mompos!

Zip on over to Anthroholic for a picture of Kim in the dress. She looks adorable in it. No, Iam not being facetious. I am, however, jealous that I am not quite young enough or short-waisted enough to wear it. Cute vintage touch. Anyhoo, the drama continues.

Kim and the Mompos have some support. What the ACLU and Freedom Riders did for blacks back in the 1950s, Anthromancers will do for the poor maligned Dress which will soon be out of stock. Or would be out of stock if these lying, sack o’ diaper meanies would just be quiet. Behind the scenes, bloggers everywhere are quietly and consistently emailing Anthropologie in support of THE DRESS. Apparently, it IS cornflower blue, and it IS NOT washed out. IT is without a doubt the most perfect AnthroLand dress ever, and that is saying a whole heck of a lot. There.

Here are a couple of the supporters…

"I have never been so happy to see someone wearing the lovely Mompos as you Kim. Isn't this dress just thoroughly lovely. I was so upset I actually emailed Anthro about that Bogus 1 star review. Of course I realized that the reviewer was smart enough to make sure they were within the guidelines that would prevent reporting the review as inappropriate. I'm still confused over that skewed helpful/unhelpful vote ratios. Someone is playing dirty pool. I am so happy that honest gals recognized this contemptible review as untrustworthy and continued to order and purchase this gorgeous T Reese."

Them's fighting words. You go girl!

And another…“every time I wear people just are in awe”

Wow! In awe just by wearing this dress! I may have to reconsider my short-waisted issue.

Now, some of the haters. Boo.

I feel like you would really have to dress this one up with red lipstick and sky high heels to not feel like a little girl in this dress. The fit was okay on my hourglass shape, I suppose I'm just not used to such a high neckline. I suppose for conservative gals this would be a plus :

Excuse me, how much of a slut Housewife of New Jersey or insert the major metropolitan city do you have to be to consider that a HIGH neckline? Not low certainly, but high. Has this poster ever heard of Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly? Must the display of massive quantities of faux tanned skin mean sexy or style. Wanna bet this poster long scraggly hair parted in the middle, wears jeans a leetle too often and sun-damaged cleavage.

And here is the review that started it all.

"I was initially thrilled to see this dress online, and it just arrived in my store. Sadly, the dress in real life is NOTHING like the photo. The blue color is very faded and not in a vintage way - more in a way that gives the appearance of looking old and faded. I really expected the pretty blue I saw online, and this color in reality looked completely washed out.
I tried on 3 different sizes, and each of them pulled uncomfortably on my underarm area. This would not be a comfortable dress to wear at all, and I could not see wearing it for more than a few minutes with the way it pulled under my underarms.
I really wanted this one to work, and was prepared to purchase full price, but it was so washed out looking in person, and the fit was so poor, I just couldn't do it."

Heads are going to roll

It is to blog. Honoring Anthromancers everywhere.

Why am I starting a blog about Anthropologie when there are so many out there already and so many good ones at that? Sooo many creative and beautiful girls taking pictures of themselves in their OOTD, reviewing clothes, taking pictures of themselves in Anthro fitting rooms, blogging about their clothes by name, taking pictures of themselves in anticipation of special events, offering fashion advice, taking pictures of…

I want to know the genius chick that first started taking pictures of herself in Anthropologie fitting rooms and posting the reviews on the ‘net? Where is the groundbreaking girl who has inspired so much good in the world? Who was she? Does she it do it for other clothing lines? J. Crew? Laura Ashley?
Surely, there are some rickety ole Sloane Rangers, some Princess Di wannabees left with big bangs and lace trimmed collars that are posting and photographing themselves yearning for the quaint old Laura Ashley? No? Thought not.

There are so many things to admire about these blogs. The soft core fashion porn photography, the creative impulse and bravery to combine prints, plaids and stripes; the even greater audacity to combine a skirt, top and sweater from AnthroLand with shoes, from stop the presses, TARGET.

I rarely have time to photograph my growing son much less my OOTD, outfit of the day for you other Clueless Ones. See below for a list of vocabulary terms. Sadly, I am often remiss in both time and introspection in selecting what Anthropologie dress and sweater will create blissful style moment that aligns the cosmos. When nature, the birds, the mist that swirls from the oh so quaint brick walkway where I lean with a pensive look on my face create a second of sartorial perfection. (For reference on the afore- mentioned fashion porn and misty water-colored moments of style and pensivity, see Little Girl, Big Closet.)

How can there not be a blog that honors the time, trouble and effort these young women take to further their Anthromances? Now there is!