Adrien: Anthropologie, I love/hate you.

Every time I read that Anthro is having another sale I get all worked up and rush out to the store, only to walk away empty handed. See, what I love about Anthropologie is not what Anthropologie is about lately and what I don't love seems to be a lot of what's available. Or, if I love it to pieces it's still too expensive, even with the markdown. The Great Heights shift dress, for instance, was marked down to $79.00 back in MARCH and languished in the sale room for weeks and weeks without ever getting marked down again. I would've paid $50 for it, but not $80. I just didn't love it $80 worth.

Also, I can do a little bit of ruffle or flower embellishment but too much just seems to overwhelm me and annoys my inner tomboy. I like interesting details (especially if they're vintage or nautically inspired) but I can't pull off a lot of crazy floof, especially in sad washed-out non colors. So, this, for instance:

Is my nightmare. Meh color, lots and lots and lots of floof. And still nearly $50. Ugh. And what the hell is all this:

WHO CAN WEAR THIS*? Not me. This, on the other hand, is adorable:

But I think I'm too old to wear it. Cute, but a little too 1950s toddler, perhaps? Then I saw this:

Happy medium, right? It's got details, but not too much and it's a nice color. and $29.95! Now we're getting somewhere.  (I actually put this in my cart only to have it snatched rudely away almost immediately. Now it's out of stock in pink. GROWL.)

So, now I move on to dresses and throw another tiny tantrum. I love this even though it can't see how to wear a bra with it:

But at $89.95 it's still too expensive for me.  At 59.95 this dress is perfectly simple and nicely priced:

But it's the color of SADNESS AND DESPAIR. I mean, really. Really? That is not even a color. That is what you get when color gives up and dies.

If I had unlimited funds and could buy whatever I wanted from the Anthro site right this minute, here's what I'd pick:

The High Seas Dress

Isn't it just so cheerful and fun? I just freaking love it. And this is just the most perfect thing ever:

Graphical Dress

And, oh! Be still my heart. Please behold my dream cardigan:

Masked Stripes Cardigan

I might actually have to buy that one even if it doesn't go on sale. I love it. And finally, I think this little boudoir set perfectly illustrates what I mean when talk about vintage details:

Empire State Set

 I die.

*Disclaimer: If you have one or more of the floofy tops I just dissed and can wear them and make them look good, that is fantastic. I envy you. But please don't be all mad that I don't like them. I like what I like.