ALERT: Ann Taylor For Reals Not Fug.
Cintra Wilson wrote an alarmingly glowing review of Ann Taylor for the Critical Shopper column and part of me totally thought this was an act of contrition, penance for her J.C. Penney write-up that got all the REAL AMERICANS aggy and made them gravy their pants in an bingo-winged uproar. But then, and not only because I maybe thought I saw Bret Michaels in the street in the Flatiron district, I went IN to Ann Taylor-not even the flagship mind you-and lo (or LOFT) it was good.
Cintra's review, which name drops Dior, Prada, Lanvin, Herrera, and Balenciaga, feels crazypants and megaconciliatory but it's not. There truly is an ambiguity in the suit-weight fabrics where things just FEEL expensive. But on that Ludwig Mies van der Rohe tip, it's the pain-in-the-ass seam finishes, brazenly visible darts, elongated gauntlet cuffs on sweaters, and ballsy architectural collars that play to this price-point's core competencies. I know EXACTLY what I'm paying for in the $200 blazer and while I personally don't actually think it's as sexy as say a Balenciaga (for that you would've had to make the whole thing about 15% longer, drop the lapel the same percentage +4, and hell, maybe make it double breasted but not so tight that the fucker looks cross-eyed), it could certainly pass for at least a Piazza Sempione.
They still do some annoyingly LADYDRAG things like unnecessarily shirred collars on otherwise straightforward trenches but they don't try to make cashmiracles from acrylic. In fact, they don't DO anything particularly magical except make the trunks on their sweaters longer and make hardware on bags matte and substantial. But the really nice thing about Ann Taylor right now is that while the knits and the bouclé cropped jackets with 3/4 sleeves and lowered arm's eyes and grosgrainribbondetailblablabla are all HELLA cute if you work in an office where dudes exclusively use Molton Brown toiletries, there are things for the more, ahem, housepants-wearing amongst us.
The new senior VP of design Lisa Axelson isn't so new. She's been there a year and maybe I'm totally wrong on the production lead times but I swear there are errant pieces that hint at impending goodlookingness like a jersey cocoon shrug that TOTALLY and successfully rips off a cute Norma Kamali for Everlast piece (before everything went pear-shaped over there in the mien of Eastern European Hooker fug) and a black charmeuse shift that is so nondescript that it, like, HAS TO BE Elizabeth and James except that it obviously isn't. And these guys are hardcore on sale. Like thirty bucks.
And while some people WILL BUG at some of the higher pricetags just as we ALL BUGGED when Banana Republic started charging $300 for shoes like it was whatevs, this collection really does body Club Monaco, BR, and even Kate Spade handily. And besides, and not that this should matter but it does, check out what Axelson looks like vs this monster. I rest my case.
That was definitely Bret Michaels. Sinbad was there, too.
SERIOUSLY? I missed Sinbad??!!! I loved him in It's a Different World when he was dating jalisa.
I apologize for the provenance of this link: http://tvwatch.people.com/2009/10/15/photo-bret-michaels-cyndi-lauper-join-celebrity-apprentice/
I don't particularly like fashion so I spend most of my shopping dollars in a random combination of Banana+J Crew+Anthropologie but I have to admit when I popped into an Ann Taylor store the other day and was impressed. So I feel vindicated that those in the know concur with my judgment.
I have an Anthropologie issue.
A lot of their stuff looks so cool and their salespeople assure me it always looks "great" on me.
But when I get home and look in my own mirror, it never quite fits.
I'm tall, so maybe that's the deal…but really, I think it only looks good if you are slouching in some sort of unnatural position in Cuba, on a bike, with a whimsical geegaw in your hair. At least, that's what works in their ads.
Hmmm, I'm 5'10" so I generally don't get pants at Anthro (the J Crew/BR/Gap tall pants and skirts dominate my wardrobe) but their shirts help add a little pop to an otherwise boring closet. But I agree that they have trick mirrors at the stores. Something that looks great at the store can look awful once you get it hom.
Yeah, I have to attack Anthro with sort of that "buy everything that looks remotely appealing and try it on in the safety/honesty of your bedroom … and then go back to return it, think you're going to save a ton of money, and instead rationalize buying $50 candles because they're 'basically free at this point anyway'" battle plan. You can imagine who ends up dead on those French-inspired beaches.
I'm tall as well and Anthro dresses and shirts make me look like I squeezed into doll clothes. Also, I can never see the justification for their prices vs quality. So much of their stuff is obviously going to fall apart in two washings and shrink after one. And it's still made in China! Housewares is what I truly lust after in their store.
About the "prices vs. quality" thing – I suggest everyone take my approach in Anthropolgie, which is to enter the store with eyes squinted shut, fingers in ears, and RUN directly to the sale room. Never stop to look at anything. Once you see that the $70.00 shirts are marked down to $9.95 (score!), paying $70 (or, um, three times that) for anything in the main part of the store makes you feel like an idiot.
Note: hoping and praying that they've got a lot of XLs in the sale room as you run back there is optional, based on how offended you were by Abe's "no breeding fatties" post.
cherrispryte, They usually have the XLs available online.
i've only ever bought plates that you put bracelets on from Anthro. it's too specific cute. like felted cloche, earth/jewel tones cute and that flavor looks bad on me.
@kitten_witawip: thank you muchly!
You mention LOFT briefly but I'd like to take an additional moment to sing its praises. Soft jersey fabrics, forgiving cuts, and surprisingly cute skirts. And cardigans, oh endless cardigans.
At this point I'd say my wardrobe is approaching 50% LOFT. (For those of you who tell me, ahem, that I always look like a bridesmaid, that's the fault of the other 50%. MY WEAKNESSSSS)
Oooh! Speaking of! Can someone please tell me how you make "tied in the trendy CALIPSO way" happen.
GAH! "CALYPSO!"
Sheesh.
i LOVE calypso. it's SO funny. every day is resort season! and everything goes with white pants! especially bright paisley on organza! I want to make friends with calypso.
Go to the Mott St. store and ask for the salesgirl Alice. She is the rare retail representative who makes you feel as gorgeous as she is. LOVE YOU ALICE!
Calypso carries my bff's stuff! Talk about bright and resorty! My retinas are scorched in the MOST delightful way.
I couldn't agree more. The jackets are my personal downfall; I can't stop buying them.
OMG Mary HK Choi's breathless-yet-dead-on descriptions make her the spiritual mother of former G*wk*r commenter The Earl Grey, who also had some sort of Proustian/fashion version of Asperger's that would allow him to write these flowy, gorgeous, bias-cut paragraphs! :-)
Difference being that Mary's posts don't make my eyes glaze over!
(I ain't knockin' The Earl, but DAAAAAMN that was some longass prose.)
I concur. The Earl did love his minutiae.
Oh my God the Norma Kamali link was terrifying. The hair was like a fucking Tell-Tale heart beating louder and louder with every flip of the page.