Cheryl Shops

Confession: I sometimes forget what a great store Anthropologie is. They have a little something for everyone: boho printed dresses, unique but affordable jewelry, indie beauty brands, and housewares that look like you found them in a French antiques market. The prices indicate a certain level of quality but aren't too out of reach; the fashion feels current but not trendy; the size ranges are generally very inclusive; and overall, it has that lifestyle vibe that so many other retailers aspire to but often struggle to get right. Often when I'm looking for something specific and can't seem to find it anywhere—the right shoe, a printed curtain panel, a statement earring—I end up finding it at Anthropologie. So when they reached out to me about a partnership, I of course jumped at the chance to work with them. Anthropologie sent me the dress and accessories I'm wearing gratis, however they didn't ask me to write a review and the following opinions are 100% my own. Read on for my honest review of the Anthropologie Somerset velvet dress. 

 

There was a period of time when I would feel a little bit guilty settling for flats over heels while getting dressed for work in the morning. Sure, the outfit I had on would look a lot better with that new pair of peep-toe pumps I've only worn once – not to mention provide my legs with a much-needed slimming illusion – but I also knew that I'd regret my decision after a mere 2 blocks out the door. On a daily basis, I'm likely to choose comfort and function over fashion (within reason, of course), and that's why updated takes on the loafer trend are always on my style radar – especially pairs with a little somethin' extra that help elevate my look without literally elevating my height. And Anthropologie's Lydia Cutout Loafers totally fit the bill. This innovative new silhouette comes in 7 different shades and prints, from classic taupe to bright blue leopard (plus some additional shimmery laser-cut alternatives), and puts a sexy spin on the classic loafer shape. After all, toe cleavage is the new cleavage cleavage, right? The best part? They're less than $100 a pair... so go ahead and stock up for the season ahead! - Alexandra Gambardella

Content provided by TheFind in partnership with Cheryl Shops. 

Jason Wu has already been on the Today show pimping his Target line, and while I have a feeling it won't quite incite the mass hysteria that Missoni did, I think it will sell out pretty quickly. The collection of clothes, bags, and scarves retails for $19.99 to $59.99 and hits stores February 5th. Here are some of my favorites.

Blush blouse ($34.99), lace-print skirt ($29.99), lace clutch ($29.99)

Pleated top ($32.99), pleated skirt ($29.99), lace clutch ($29.99)
Flared dress ($59.99)
Straw flap bag ($39.99)
Cat print scarf ($19.99)




For those of you who like a similar Zooey Deschanel-like aesthetic, Refinery29 reports that New Zealand designer Karen Walker is creating a lower-priced line for Anthropologie, called Hi There From Karen Walker. No word on pricing or exact dates, but it hits stores sometime in March. Check out R29's rather extensive slideshow for a good preview of the nautical-flavored looks, like this cute dress.


For the Zac Posen fans out there, he's designing a special line of 12 dresses exclusively for Lord & Taylor under his Z Spoke label. The collection will hit stores in April and will retail for $149-$199, less than half of what a typical Z Spoke dress usually goes for. No photos (nor exact dates) available yet, but I will post them as soon as I have them.

Finally, for those of you who can't wait for Mary Katrantzou's upcoming Topshop collaboration (due in stores next month), you can buy one of her Longchamp bags right now on the Colette website. Prices range from 55 Euros ($72) for a makeup case to 350 Euros ($456) for a structured tote; the signature Le Pliage bags run 95-160 Euros ($124-$208).

Show me a woman who doesn't like Anthropologie and I will show you a liar. Hence, everyone should be happy that the Urban Outfitters–owned chain is opening another location, this time in the Chelsea Market. In addition to the usual mix of vintage-inspired clothes and housewares, the new store will feature several exclusive lines: SOR reworked vintage dresses from Nolita's Some Odd Rubies, one-of-a-kind dresses from Lorraine Kirke (of the West Village's Geminola), and hand-painted jeans by Carol Horn. The store opens this Friday, 4/16, at 75 9th Avenue (15th & 16th Sts.).

For vintage lovers with a slightly bigger budget, Milly by Michelle Smith has launched an e-commerce shop. My favorite feature is that you can shop directly from a video of her fashion show, although you can also shop more traditionally by look, occasion, or item. Milly is always one of my favorite fashion shows because what goes down the runway is what actually ends up in stores. Case in point: this asymmetrical ruffle dress was my favorite look from last September's show. When it comes to getting straight-from-the-runway looks, there's nothing like going straight to the source.

Lots of exciting news today in the world of masstige! First and foremost, Zac Posen is doing a Go International line for Target [subscription required]. The collection hits stores April 25th and will be available through the end of May (I'll have more details in a few months). This comes on the tail of the announcement that Posen will launch an exclusive line for Saks, called Z Spoke [subscription required], also in the spring. While I was at first concerned that Posen was courting the edgy contemporary customer (in the WWD article, he notes an "urban hipster quality" and the desire to reach new women), Z Spoke will live on the 4th floor at Saks (home to Tory Burch, Tahari, M Missoni, and the like), and the accompanying photos give me hope that Posen won't forsake his retro-feminine vibe in order to chase the cool girls.

In other Target news, Rodarte officially hits stores December 21st, but Racked reports that select items will be available at the Target To-Go pop-up shop, which will be open December 11-13th, from 10-8, at Washington & Gansevoort Streets, right next to the High Line entrance. The To-Go shop will feature 50 pre-wrapped gifts, making your holiday shopping simple--and saving you a trip to the dreaded Atlantic Terminal Target.

We might have Victoria's Secret, but France has Sonia Rykiel, and so perhaps to compete with the former, the latter staged a lingerie fashion show today to promote her collaboration with H&M, which hits stores Saturday. As of now, you can watch the video here; in a few hours, full collection photos should be posted. While the models don't seem to be having nearly as good of a time as the Victoria's Secret Angels, this lingerie is actually wearable. The 70-piece collection hits 1,500 H&M stores worldwide on 12/5, and retails for $12-$114.50.

Anthropologie continues to impress me with their thoughtfully under-the-radar masstige collaborations; their latest is Lawan, a secondary line from knitwear designer Koi Suwannagate [subscription required]. The four-piece capsule collection retails for $228-$298 and includes two cardigans (one of which is pictured), a gown, and a sleeveless top, and three of the pieces are available now at Anthropologie.com. The collection is small, yes, but it looks very Koi, and yet very Antropologie at the same time (in other words, it's a perfect fit).

Finally, this isn't exactly Masstige per se, but it's certainly mass, and, so, well, I'm including it here: MNG by Mango is partnering with JCPenney. 75 stores will carry the brand as of fall 2010 (expanding to 600 stores by the following year), and JCPenney is planning on making Mango the centerpiece of its contemporary fashion department, which also includes Charlotte Ronson's I Heart Ronson and the Olsens' Olsenboye line (and, soon, Liz Claiborne, of which JCPenney will soon be the exclusive retailer). While Mango is a somewhat unexpected choice, I think it's a welcome one--Mango gets to expand rapidly across the U.S., and JCPenney greatly ups its fashion game. I have always been a big fan of Mango, and I hope it catches on in the rest of the country. Well played, JCP!