The best of the Anthropologie sale

You know me. I like Anthropologie. A lot. And shopping the Anthropologie January sale has become some what of an annual tradition. Unlike some other sales which only reduce things by a few pounds (*cough* Zara *cough*), there are always some decent savings to be had at Anthropologie. This year I wasn't quite as spendy as last year (post here), however I did found some incredible savings on the website. Here are my top picks of the sale this year:

Off the shoulder dress - £98 £28.95
I'm not usually the biggest fan of pink, but the velvet detailing is beautiful and catches in the light to create the illusion of more red / burgundy tones. This looks like the comfiest dress and off the shoulder doesn't just have to be for summer!

Blue printed skirt - £148 £37.95
Anthropologie are at the top of their game with skirts at the moment. I loved everything about how this skirt was styled (those strappy shoes though!). Sadly my size sold out before I could get my hands on one :(

Denim shirt dress - £118 £37.95
You can't go wrong with denim and this looks like the slouchiest, comfiest dress. Perfect for those days when you don't know what to wear, you can just throw a dress like this on and be ready to face the world. This was on my wish list but again, I was late to the game and my size sold out :(

Navy embroidered coat - £378 £188.95
What a coat! The most perfect over-sized coat with pretty gold embroidery around the hem and cuffs which would elevate any outfit. I would wear this draped over my shoulders cape style.

Gold print skirt - £108 £53.95
If you like gold and copper, then this is the skirt for you! This metallic print livens up an otherwise simple black skirt and gives it added warmth. Pair with a plain black knit or tee to keep the print the star of the show.

Blue off the shoulder dress - £118 £34.95
Yes, perhaps more of a summer dress... but it's never too early to build up your summer wardrobe right?! My size sold out in record time but I wait with baited breath in the hope that someone returns one!

Velvet slip dress - £158 £49.95
The most beautiful dress with rich jewel tones. And such a versatile piece. Wear with jumper on top to highlight a seriously dreamy skirt. Or with a white tee or long sleeved top underneath for clever layering in this cold snap we're having.

Layered knit dress - £148 £29.95
On the website it says this dress is grey but it looks more pink to me? I love the marble effect. The beauty of this piece is that on the site it looks like the dress and knit aren't stitched together so you can mix and match them with your own clothes.

Blue pleated skirt - £198 £58.95
Another beautiful blue skirt. A skirt like this should take center stage. Pair with a plain white tee and statement necklace.

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I would seriously buy all of the above if I had the funds (I don't). So I limited myself to the two velvet dresses, the dusty pink layered dress and the embroidered coat. Their current extra 20% all sale clothing was a nice touch and is still active if you want to take advantage!

Which items are your favourites?

What I picked up in the sales....

I wasn't actually planning to shop the sales this year. I was away travelling at Christmas, so had a bit of a digital detox and refrained from all temptation online activity. I came back to London the following week, fully aware that the best of the sales had probably already all been scooped up, so there'd be no point in even looking. But you know how it is. A curious little peek here, a curious little peek there. And voilà, there were actually plenty of good things left. Or maybe it was just good timing of when the more organised sales hunters start to return their goods. This year I chose quality over quantity. It may seem massively 'spendy', but I'm justifying the means in that I'm moving into my new home this year, I can't take all my clothes with me, so I'm trying to cull the existing and refine my wardrobe to the basics. It was a pricey way of doing it admittedly, but definitely a good start into achieving my capsule wardrobe!

Embellished blouse - £90 £51.95

The classiest and comfiest of white blouses. Annoying this one has been reduced even further since I bought it, but that's life! But I loved it enough, and was relieved to pick one up before it sold out!

Bronze pleat skirt - £130 £50
This was a bit of an impulse purchase as I hadn't tried a midi skirt before, so wasn't sure if the length would suit me. But I love how they look paired with chunky knits and heeled ankle boots on the catwalk or in fashion week street photography. I went for one in this lovely bronze sort of colour. It is the skirt of dreams.

Floral Oxfords -  £138 £54.95
This was another in-store find, and another incredible saving. They are the marmite of the shoe world - kinda pretty, also quite alternative and weird - but I absolutely love them.

White boyfriend shirt [not pictured]
This was another in-store (Anthropologie), which I can't find online anywhere. I love wearing knits with a collar peeking out of them and this textured, and for lack of better words... "embossed dot" collar is a lot more interesting than a standard, stiff white collar. It's the sort of shirt which would also look great worn under a pair of dungarees or a jumpsuit.

Kitten heel boots - £49.99 £39.99 £19.99
I love the playfulness of knee high boots worn with a little skirt. I'd been on the hunt for some for a while, but never found any that were quite delicate or dainty enough. I think I may have found them!

Velvet stud blouse - £49.99 £25.00
I also found the most incredible black little sheer blouse with velvet and stud detailing which makes me feel like a boho cowboy/girl. This one sold out and is no longer online so can't link to this one - sorry!

Twill Tulip Shorts - £68 £19.95
Weirdly enough the XS were more expensive (£26.95) whereas S and upwards were cheaper! These sold out really quickly so I didn't get my size unfortunately and had to size up. But you know what? These are actually better with a more relaxed fit. They are more flattering on the leg, and these shorts look divine peeking out from under an oversized knit. These shorts have definitely been my wardrobe staple lately.

Camel coat - £120 £84
Sadly this coat had sold out in the River Island online sale, but by chance I found one here. I'd noticed and loved this coat back when it was full price, so pretty chuffed to find it in the sale. It did sell out in record time though. So I was stoked when casually I went onto the site one day and saw they had one more left in my size!

Maple trousers - £100 £29.95
I live in jeans and have always wanted some smarter and comfier trousers. These were an absolute bargain and I was amazed by such a generous saving. I love the leaf print, very autumnal

Scallop shirt (also available in petite) - £80.00 £22.95
Be it food or fabric, I do like a scallop. This offering is slouchy, comfortable and so much more interesting than a bog standard shirt. You can never have too many white shirts!

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So as you can see, my wardrobe basics are coming along nicely! Of course a few non sale items worked their way in too ;) but that's always the way!

Anthropologie // Alice in Wonderland

Long time readers will know all about my fascination with all things Alice in Wonderland. The shocking reality is that I no longer have my own copy of the book. I've been searching for years for my perfect book but to no avail. On one hand, I've been after a modern ish copy with a nice cover - one that I wouldn't be afraid to pick up and actually read - but on the other hand, perhaps an older copy, preferably with an aged leather cover. The latter I half expect to find by surprise one day tucked away in a old fashioned book store. This search has spanned years. However recently I noticed that Anthropologie were selling Penguin Classics with beautiful covers and was honestly so excited to find Alice in Wonderland in this design:

Anthropologie - £9.99

If you remove the jacket, the book underneath is just as nice. Plain white with silver lettering, it's simple and classic - just like the story itself.

The book itself has that lovely new book smell (you know the one). The pages are all higgledy piggledy, meaning that if you close the book and then look at the pages, rather than forming a uniform line, some of the pages stick out more than others. The pages themselves also have an amazing texture - sort of rough, like that of an older book. The pages add a rustic charm to the book - like it is a classic book restored and given a modern lease of life. And as I was on the quest for both a modern ish copy and an old fashioned one, it's like both these things have been rolled into one book.

And the last compliment... the illustrations. The book actually uses the classic Alice in Wonderland illustrations - the ones you will see on most Alice in Wonderland merchandise. You may even recognise the below example:

As well as the universally known, there are lots of illustrations I've never seen before. My favourites are of the weird and wonderful creatures she encounters:

It's a beautiful edition of the text, so if you or anyone you know likes Alice in Wonderland, it would make a lovely gift. Anthropologie also stock beautiful editions of other classics like Jane Eyre (Penguin Classics), A Little Princess, Anne of Green Gables and Heidi (Puffin Classics). For me personally, the classics never get old - but then I am a massive bookworm!