Thoughts on Anthropologie?

[GallopingGreen]

When I lived in the US about 15 years ago I absolutely loved this store- completely aspirational. However I've become less enchanted with it over the years. Have bought a few bits online over the past year from them, but the quality really varies.
I think maybe they are better now at the home stuff.
However for some reason I am addicted to browsing their website and after another online purchase delivered today am fed up with the way off sizing.

Would love to hear from any other Anthro fans or haters! Has it gone downhill or have I grown past it?

I'm not familiar with them generally but randomly bought a great jumpsuit from them over the summer - perfect fit despite being an impulse on line buy

I've only ever bought a couple of headbands from them (before they became a styled with suzie thing). Otherwise, I've never really looked at what else they do.

Very similar to you OP, I first discovered this shop in the US and loved it. I sometimes still look at the website but I'm not convinced. And it seems hideously expensive now.

I have the most amazing skirt I bought from them when I lived in NYC. It’s a bit too big now but there is no way I am ever getting rid of it. They have some great pieces but can be a bit over priced and I’m never going to go the whole hog Anthro style so need to be a bit careful.

Some of the homewares are great. Oliver Bonas feels similar but a bit less maximalist.

It's a mixed bag and very expensive BUT some of my favourite clothes have come from here. I always shop in the sale and just sometimes you get something gorgeous and unusual. Their pilcro jeans are also amazing!

I had a similar experience. I was introduced to Anthropologie when visiting a friend in Toronto and really liked it. Looked in a few of the UK stores and was very disappointed. Most things seem to be made in China (I always try to buy local as much as possible and China is most definitely not local). I don't even bother looking now.

Its a mixed bag, I have a few things from them which are absolutely beautiful, but I think on the whole its very overpriced given the quality of the clothes.

I have just splurged on a dress from there.

It’s gorgeous and I LOVE it but even I think it was overpriced.

That said I had been looking for something like it (printed but not ditsy; not polyester; sack style, long sleeves) for AGES and hadn’t found anything. So in that sense I suppose it’s ‘worth it’.

I look often but this is the first time I have bought; usually I would never pay those prices and a lot of the stuff is too floaty boho for me anyway.

Interesting replies and lots of similar experiences! Yes I've decided if I am buying anything from them now it is strictly from the Sale section and with an extra 30% deal. I might also limit it to homewares as the quality and sizing is so unreliable.

I am early 40's and buying online for for first time over lockdown, so trying to find a new "go to". Boden is a bit too "safe". Not a Cos fan.

@YoureBreakingMyHeartCecilia

I have just splurged on a dress from there.

It’s gorgeous and I LOVE it but even I think it was overpriced.

That said I had been looking for something like it (printed but not ditsy; not polyester; sack style, long sleeves) for AGES and hadn’t found anything. So in that sense I suppose it’s ‘worth it’.

I look often but this is the first time I have bought; usually I would never pay those prices and a lot of the stuff is too floaty boho for me anyway.

I'm happy you found a dress you love! Which one was it? Like a pp, some of my favourite clothes ever back in the day were from Anthro.

I have a few lovely pieces from them over the years, they do have good sales. I think you have to choose carefully.

Expensive

I'm broadly in agreement with the comments above - one of the problems with Anthropologie is that it's one of those US companies that prices the same in Sterling as it would in USD which makes it significantly more expensive here than it is in its home market.

That said, the homeware is fabulous (if sometimes a bit twee maximalist for my own taste), and clothes-wise they stock some unique brands (not all own brand) as well as some of my favourite Scandi high street labels like Selected, Just Female, Samsoe & Samsoe etc (I spend far too much time cross-referencing between Anthropologie, Plumo and Zalando for best prices on these!).

@GallopingGreen have you looked at & Other Stories, Kitri or Sezane? All have elements in a similar vein to Anthro but more interesting than Boden, Hush etc.

I first visited an Anthropologie store in USA - New York and later San Francisco and adored them - I was blown away by the homeware and the styling etc.

I most recently (last year) visited the Belfast store and bought some very beautiful homewear there, I was with my teen dd that time and she loved it too and I even managed to sneakily buy some beauty stocking fillers for her.

This year with travel restrictions I was sad to miss out so I ordered some things online, including 3 mugs with our initials on and to be honest I was disappointed with the quality of the mugs - they're thick and a bit clumsy and also made in China. From the images I expected them to be a bit finer or something.

The other stuff was good (a glass, beauty stuff for dd, liberty pattern masks for me, gorgeous socks with hares on them for me)

I would far prefer to browse in a store and have the whole experience than online

I knew about it but oddly only realised they have a U.K. site last week, so I’ve not bought anything from them.

I covet almost everything, but it seems hugely overpriced. Plus, with homeware, I am a toucher and like to see it in the flesh before I buy.

I absolutely loved it around 12 years ago when it was somewhere different to go when visiting the US. Now I have one in my city in the UK and I feel like I should love it but I just don’t. It’s very expensive and I haven’t bought anything at all for myself from there in years. It’s OK for gifts, but for a lot of the stuff you can find similar in Zara Home or Homesense for a fraction of the price. The clothes often seem dowdy to me and the ones that aren’t are too expensive. I like the rugs and bedding but not enough to justify the prices.

The clothes are nice but the pricing is far too high for the quality. It's all synthetic fibres and I've had stuff from there which has shrunk in the wash and been unwearable afterwards (and, yes, I did follow the care instructions).

@GCAcademic

The clothes are nice but the pricing is far too high for the quality. It's all synthetic fibres and I've had stuff from there which has shrunk in the wash and been unwearable afterwards (and, yes, I did follow the care instructions).

Yes this has happened me too- followed care instructions but the top fell apart in the wash (it was a lovely flattering too). Agree most of the stuff seems to be viscose or polyester. Drives me mad. £90 for a polyester top!

Interesting to see similar experiences to me. Looking at the other stores mentioned up top now.

GallopingGreen - I still mourn that dress which shrank in the wash, even though it was several years ago. It was soooo lovely. I was gutted. Bloody shrinky viscose.

I also discovered Anthropologie when I lived in the US. To be honest I found it pretty hit or miss then (mostly miss!). Sizing and quality was all over the place but there were some gems that made up for it.

I rarely look at the site but if I was somewhere with a store I’d pop in. I did love BHLDN (the bridal/occasion wear sister).

Hush is a good option as a go to... and very easy to order from John Lewis as you can always add stuff in from other brands from there

I found it in the USA 10 years and loved it.
Now - not so much, I like their homeware dept and still buy their candles. Their clothes I think look like a post art teacher which is not my vibe.

The earrings are gorgeous.
My all time favourite jumper was from
Anthropologie....it shrunk in the wash.