apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

It's not really my style--Anthropologie reminds me of those high school and university kids who try too hard to be eccentric and artsy. People like Amelie aren't amusing in real life. They're grating. Mass-market whimsy isn't much different.

I think they have gorgeous stuff in every department. I wouldn't want to decorate an entire room like they show, as it's a bit too shabby shic for my taste, but here and there throughout your home it gives a vintage feel that I adore. They are also one of the first places I check for clothing. I know quite a few people dislike the company (for the same reason they dislike sister-store Urban Outfitters, which I also enjoy), but what can I say? I'm not into reverse snobbery and socially concious decisions when it comes to my personal taste..

Make that "chic". Heh.

The quality of the clothing is quite bad (and seems to be steadily declining), especially when you consider the price, so I have never really explored the housewares side.

It's a bit too cliche, Rachel-Ashwell-knockoff for my tastes, even without the added issue of the Rick Santorum donations--which I personally do care about.

What's Rick Santorum?

A friend gave me a $50 gift certificate for my birthday a year ago and it took me 11 months to find something I thought was worth it. In the back of the soho store, next to those wine bottles, was a chunky nickle plated french deco coat rack for $49 marked down from $180. I also liked some of the clothes I saw on sale in Westport, CT a few years ago but apart from that I agree with L above. Their merchandise tends to be cloying and overpriced.

i know almost everyone on here is in new york (or at least i think so), but if anyone is in northern california (which by the way is having utopian weather right now), jeremy's on college avenue in berkeley, has all anthropologie overstock including clothes, shoes, bags,bedding, housewares, etc... super cheap and brand new.

kell - here's the Philly Weekly story on Anthropolgie President Richard Hayne's contribution to Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA): www.philadelphiaweekly.com/view.php?id=5725

glad to see someone beat me to the urban outfitters/anthropologie conservative-connection punch, even if in a snub to "reverse snobbery".

this company employs a lot of people i know and yet i still wouldn't consider supporting them. his ex wife's company, however, i would, and do!
http://www.whitedog.com/
http://www.blackcatshop.com/

Anthropologie stocks a thrift-store look for people who would never be caught dead buying anything "used." It's Hot Topic for Martha Stewart shabby-chic fans.

I like their things in moderation. You can occasionally find cute little pieces there. The last thing I bought, though, were these little shiny door pulls. It turned out that they used a strange type of screw and I could never find something with the right thread on it. Wierd as anything. I had to throw them out...

Wow - that article on the Philly-Urban Outfitters-Anthropologie-Rick Santorum connect was something. Who knew? (other than the above readers of this website).

For what its worth re: Anthropologie there are some cute shabby chic, but potentially overpriced housewares there and a mountain of boho chic clothes (lots of puffy spangly skirts).

I actually like the housewares at Anthropologie. Yeah, you can find similar (but more unique) items at other specialty stores and boutiques, if you live in the city. But if you live in the 'burbs, their selection of housewares is pretty well-edited for this style. I wasn't aware that they were under the same corporate umbrella as Urban Outfitters (which made sense when I thought about the way both chains merchandise), so didn't know about the Rick Santorum connection. Good to know. I'll think twice about patronizing them in the future (but I'm keeping the red coral hook I purchased two months ago).

Eric. I just spit up my soda, cracking up at your comment. Thanks for the laugh.

The reason I don't go for Anthropolgie is that everything is horribly over-priced, especially for what you get. If you want to go for the flea market/shabby chic/boho ecclectic look, you can find more unique stuff for better prices at a thrift store, garage sale, e-bay or an actual flea market. And, from friends who have made purchases, Anthropologies product quality (clothing and housewears) leaves something to be desired.

And, oh yeah, that Rick Santorum/conservative agenda issue. I stay away because of that too. Hey, we're in a free country. Its his right to support political causes of his choice. It's my choice to boycott him because of his political views. ;)

too grandma..a nice place to visit but i wouldn't want to live there.

All this is hilarious. I have such a grudge against Anthropologie. If I want to indulge my girly, childhood-type fantasies of retro and lavishly feminine adornments, they are indeed the place to go. The art direction in their displays and catalogs is pretty sweet, if at times overwhelming and rather precious.

However. That being said, the first time I went into one of their stores my immediate reaction of romantic little-girl astonishment was followed instantaneously with sharp bitterness; it's like they did all the joyous work of hunting personal, unique items out at flea markets and garage sales, and commodified the entire look - then priced it for 50 year old women who have too much money and want to dress in romantic clothes nostalgic of their youth.

Overpriced nostalgia and commodified romance. I still go in there and sigh over some of the clothes, I admit, and every now and then I find a good deal on a housewares item; but mostly the place does a very good job of making me cranky.

Thanks Libby for the heads-up about Urban Outfitters supporting Rick Santorum. I'll never spend a dime in that place again. Their Christian-right politics seem a little hyprocritical considering the parade of softcore porn books and drug-humor T-shirts the store sells.

I am totally horrified at the Santorum connection! Thank you so much for the post.
I've been trawling Anthropolgie for years for the odd bit of wire, portugese pottery, or clothing . . . those rotters!

Thanks for the heads up. I'm done with those stores. Nothing is worth the price of supporting Santorum.

"Overpriced nostalgia and commodified romance." Good one, Faith!

just stopped by there today on Long Island because they were having an outdoors sale and I once got really nice plates and glasses there...you know the French vintage looking stuff...as for their clothes...most is nice from afar but way overpriced...it's like it's supposed to be all boho and the quality isn't amazing for the price. it does make me cranky and urban outfitters is always temptiing to me but whenever I buy something from there I quickly realize the quality sucks. since urban outfitters is in every mall now, could they change their name to suburban outfitters?

They sell beautiful doorknobs, but make sure to save your receipt or bring parts of your existing doorknob in when you buy-- I can't get mine to fit in the door and the guys at Home Depot say that people come in all the time with Anthropologie knobs that are not compatible with standard modern and/or American doors.

Have only been to the Philly store, and never bought anything...now I'm glad b/c of the Santorum connection (though I did buy things at Urban Outfitters...gasp!). However, I always liked looking around in there, though I imagine some of that Indian-looking beaded stuff would look rather ridiculous when i got it home.

I just melted a piece of lace on a shirt I got at Anthropologie and decided to do a Web search and see what others were saying about the clothing quality. This is the second over-priced piece of garbage from that store that I have ruined!The first one had this huge wooden thing on the front---it literally turned to MUSH when I submerged it in water. The directions for laundering said "hand wash/do not dry clean." So, I threw the 85.00 cotton knit t-shirt in the trash! Ugh!

I also bought these really pretty knobs there---only to find out there was no way to fasten them on my doors! I gave them to my mother-in-law to use on a skinny wooden medicine cabinet and my father-in-law rigged a screw thing to attach them! Gees----I do not have the patience for that nonsense!

As for the political connections I was reading about here: Personally, I could care less-- Mainly, because I do not have the time to research the backgrounds of all my purchases!

But, hey, maybe in that great American tradition, this place will go to the dogs just because it is selling low-quality junk at high prices that people will eventually STOP BUYING!

Plus, I agree: A little of the vintage, can-I-actually-use-this-stuff-without-it-breaking-in -two, that-is-my-grnadmother's-lace-wedding-dress-for-a-tablecloth on my table goes a LONG WAY----------- towards the impractical!

People, Get over yourselves. They might have some rather thin material shirts, I do agree... but most places will have something that is either completely ugly and I detest people wearing it, or really nice style but really crap material.

However, I do have to say that being tall and obsessed with vintage looks (i mean georgian, victorian); I particularly like the fact that here you can get some quite decently made skirts (double layer cotton even) for much less than in Europe at a size big enough for a tall, normally sized girl (people in the early 1900s were not this tall, and therefore not as "thicker"). Plus, the fact that we don't wear a corset or a gurdle these days, effects how most vintage store skirts and jackets fit at least. ... and this coming from someone who owns most of her blouses from GoodWill at 3 dollars a pop. Personally, as with all places, you do have to watch what you get, as sometimes, yes you get things that are thin, but other times (As with a few sweaters) they can actually be quite nice and decently priced and rather thick.

It is a bit immature to not purshase from a company because of the owner supporting the replublican party (what if the Chairman of the Board does? Or the CEO?... where does the line stop!

Quite bashing this guy about it. If you want to stupidly not shop at a store because of the owners political preference, you need to make this blanket across industry and life; which will mean not shopping anywhere, ever because one board member might vote republican (the likelihood is better than half given the demographics).

Good call though on the cheap shop near Berkley... now if we can't get an outlet here in NY. Plus maybe some shop that sells vintage styles for tall girls!!!!

My problem with anthropologie (aside from the santorum-related stomachache) is that I kind of forget my own sense of stlye when I walk in the door. They've created such a complete world in there that in the confines of the lace- and rose-covered dressing room, I forget that I would NEVER wear something with little wooden doo-dads or rose appliques at the neckline. Then I get the durn $100 item home and it matches nothing in my whole world! I've forced myself to stop going in. And of course, I got a gift card there for the holidays...

I know exactly what you mean, Hannah! I haven't owned anything from this store, but it is insanely overpriced from the looks of it. I really do find the skirt selection attractive though. I prefer knee-length skirts to shorts in the summer since shorts tend to be unflattering on me. It would be really nice to find a similar selection only more affordable and a wee bit toned down. Personally, I think the stuff's cute, but it's definitely over-the-top artsy. I've never tried flea markets, though, and it's time I do.

not only do anthropologie and urban outfitters donate to santorum, they also donate to right-wing christian groups that are very anti-gay and pro-life. i stopped shopping at both stores after i found this out. apparently, the founders of both stores were a married hippie couple. they got divorced with the husband retaining ownership and remarrying a conservative christian, thus changing the politics of both stores. i find it vile that stores that cater to women and gay men would spend those folks's money to take their rights away.

I really like the store.. And would recommend it to anyone that is into the vintage look.

I really love Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters. They are probably my two favorite stores, third being nordstrom. Contrary to what the majority of you think, I am a 15 year old sophomore in a high school where at least 70% of girls wear really cute clothes from anthropologie and probably more that wear clothes from Urban Outfitters. There is a generalization that it is shabby chic and stuffy, lacy, etc. But thats only if you look at the store at first glance. If you have the time (which maybe some of you dont) delve deeper and find the really cute treasures- and dont forget to go to the sale section! I can always find something good

OK, I really love anthropologie's stuff, especially most recently their "truck tarp ottoman" because I am looking for a long ottoman for my new place. However, the prices there are way beyond my budget. Can anyone recommend places in NYC to find similar type furniture? I am in Park Slope, but will go anywhere for better priced, anthro. type stuff!

Thanks for informing me about the company's ties to the GOP - I had no idea we Republicans could be so fashionable and creative, and will be sure to SPEND MORE THERE!!!

As a liberal Democrat who works actively for progressive causes, I, too, can say that I care less (ok,that's a lie- I care a little bit) about the Anthropologie-GOP connection, as boycotts in the U.S. are hopelessly ineffective (work for policy changes, people) and usually just a way for people to feel superior to others while doing very little actual work for the causes they claim to celebrate. Not that that is the case for those of you who commented (I don't know you) but that has certainly been my experience.
Anthropologie requires that you be a careful shopper. Quality varies, it's true. That said, the store offers quite a lot for those of us on LIMITED BUDGETS (yes, s'true) who have had the same cheap, thrift store clothes for years and need just one or two pieces to brighten and add interest to our wardrobes. Every year I buy myself one carefully chosen item from Anthropologie and I have never been disappointed. This year it was a beautiful, long "Victorian" sweater with a somewhat Russian feel that has brought me through countless hours of teaching, as it can be simply wrapped around whatever is underneath. The knit-lace details are stunning, and I get compliments every day that I wear it. If you know that the knick-knacks/wooden doo-dads are dumb and over-the-top, stay away from them (I do) and search for the pieces that fit you beautifully, seem somewhat unique, and work with your wardrobe. Anthropologie has some great options. (And great sales)

Thanks Jazmine. I dig the sales racks at Anthropologie twice a month and I love them. Anyone who buys stuff without waiting for it to go on sale deserved the price gouging they get. Obviously no one on a serious budget can buy all their clothes there, and no one with a conscience should buy all their clothes new or at chain stores - whatever politics their owners espouse. But all my consignment shop basics look better with something cheerfully bohemian thrown in and the housewares are fun in small doses too.

I was searching for info about their door knobs and tumbled to this whine fest. Few people commenting on this website seem to do so without an ulterior motive. I just LOVE the touted 'liberal open mind'. It's a joke at best. What a liberal never gets is that they are exactly the same as a conservative, just as small-minded and just as serious about taking away others' freedom of choice. Liberal hate is much more obvious than conservative hate every day of the week, and literally twice on Sunday. And self-righteous people are so very boring- and so very dangerous- be they liberal or conservative. Get over yourselves, people.

I am so amazed by the contradictions expressed by some regarding the "political views" of the Anthropologie owners. I would be amused if it weren't so ridiculous and infuriating that a person's support of pro-life views is equated with taking AWAY someone's rights! "i find it vile that stores that cater to women and gay men would spend those folks's money to take their rights away." What about the right of these two groups to be BORN? Please wake up and notice the inconsistency in the term "right to choose". Choices (in nearly every case) were already made, and only one very small person's choice is being taken away.

I can't believe I am taking the time to comment on this.

Are these people looking into the political views of every business they patronize?