Anthropologie — pleasure in simple things

Tag: Anthropologie

anthro’s reopening

April

The much anticipated (for me anyway) grand opening of the relocated Anthropologie in Westport, Connecticut has happened! I am excited to share some photos of the store on opening day – now located in the center of town in the old YMCA building.

Anthropologie Westport pleasure in simple things blog 210

The view while making your purchases at the newly reopened Anthropologie store in Westport, Connecticut.

I planned on sharing some photos on Friday field trip this week to give you a sense of the gorgeous new space, but when I started going through my photos, I realized I needed more than one post to give you some sense of the aethestics.

So, today I will share a few photos as well as sharing a few more photos on Friday! Believe me, it deserves two posts! :)

The visual team did an amazing job at this store! More display people should take note of their use of negative space…my biggest pet peeve in styling is lack of restraint. Anthro are masters at using negative space in displaying their aesthetic in an artistic way.

If you live within commuting distance to Westport, be sure to check out this beautiful new location!

Thank you for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

4 comments » | inspiration, style, swag

visiting anthro home office

March

I checked one off the list! The ‘places I need to visit in Philly’ list…I visited the Anthropologie Headquarters!

Actually – the Urban Outfitters home office. Urban Outfitters is the parent company for Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People, Terrain, and BHLDN. So, for today’s Friday field trip, I am sharing a few photos of the public areas I visited at the headquarters located at Philadelphia’s Naval Shipyard. The Navy Yard is a collection of historic buildings (and battleships!) on the waterfront and open daily for public visitation. It is easily accessible by shuttle just a few miles from the center of the city. Though it is now closed for any naval activities, the 1,200 acre business campus sits on what was once the country’s very first naval shipyard!

The creative and inspiring atmosphere (with great food) inside the Urban home office makes every visitor wish they were an employee! You can see in this photo, just like in the stores – dogs are welcome! In the Anthro building, I actually saw a dog watching a TV as he sat in his little dog bed next to his owner’s desk! (True story! And, he was watching a show about dogs!)

Some of the historic Navy Yard artifacts are clearly embraced in the decor:

There are two wonderful places to have lunch – both are open to the public.

Yup, it is called The Navy Yard for a reason…I don’t know of any other lunch spots with a battleship view!

One wall makes for an impromptu museum:

Like the stores, unique and inspiring surroundings are everywhere:

If you look closely at this photo, you may spot the employee exercise area on the upper floor.

And here is my prime destination…Building No. 10…

The building containing the Anthropologie headquarters…I won’t show you the inside since it is not open to the public, but I will say that I was NOT disappointed! Oh, and here is an example of one of the many daily happenings while walking by one of the company buildings…the beginnings of a photo shoot:

I hope you enjoyed sharing some photos of the areas open to the public at the Urban Outfitters home office…and, if you should find yourself in Philly sometime – check it out! Because, like the stores, the home office is unique, fun, and inspiring!

Have a fabulous spring weekend! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Comments Off on visiting anthro home office | field trips, inspiration, style

diy dishtowel pillow

February

I am not much of a seamstress. My only formal training was in 8^th grade home economics class where I attempted to make a purple skirt. The school colors were purple and gold and I wanted to make something worthy I could wear on purple and gold day…Go Hawks!…Sadly, I don’t think it was ever even worn.

I do know the basics of using a sewing machine and I can sew a (pretty close to) straight line. As far as following a pattern – that is not something I picked up in 8^th grade. But, when I am determined to make something, it does get made.

So when I saw the cutest bicycle dishtowel in Anthropologie and decided it needed to be a pillow, I knew it would become a pillow…

I was determined to keep the integrity of the towel – without cutting or damaging it in any way. By simply using folds and straight sewing, I was able to create the pillow I wanted. Admittedly, the hardest part was pinning the trim into place!

1. “Pedal power” dishtowel from Anthropologie 2. I added material to the length of the towel to use as part of the back when it was folded (I used four of the bicycle photos on the front of my pillow and two on the back). 3.& 4. I positioned and pinned trim on the left and right sides of the pillow between the front and back. 5. View of the back. 6. After the sides were sewed with the trim, I turned the pillow inside out. Then, I sewed the bottom edge, leaving some room to add polyfill. (I added almost an entire 12 oz. bag.) I completed the pillow by turning it right side out and stitching the opening closed by hand.

I am enjoying it so much more as a pillow than I ever would as a dishtowel! A fun addition to a spare bedroom!

Wouldn’t this pillow make a great Valentine gift? If you don’t want to take the time to make a pillow, just wrap up the towel with a homemade card that reads: my heart races for you! :)

Thanks for stopping by.

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

P.S. If you are a bicycle lover, you may also enjoy this bicycle post. :)

Sharing at Shabby Nest, Craftberry Bush, and Coastal Charm.

4 comments » | diy, gift ideas, inspiration

an anthro home for the holidays

December

Do you have favorite places to visit during the holiday season? Are there a few stores you visit as an annual tradition? Anthropologie is one of those places for me.

I always enjoy checking out the unique home items in the store, but I find it especially fun at holiday time.

As a tradition, I always purchase a tree ornament as a gift for my daughter…but, I can always find some great stocking stuffers as well…

If you are an Anthro shopper, you know that the store always provides a fun package tie-on for gifts purchased at the store during the holiday. This year, there are a couple choices – one is a miniature Russian nesting doll…cute!

Of course I took special note of some of the woodland themed items!

Anthropologie is always a fun place to visit…I hope you enjoyed sharing a few of my favorite things in the store on this week’s Friday field trip.

You have seen two of my annual store traditions – one last week and one this week…do you have any stores you visit as an annual tradition at the holidays?

Thanks so much for visiting.

Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

1 comment » | field trips, holiday

shopping christmas past

January

friday field trip

In the ‘old days’ I would shop the big department stores the morning after Christmas, excited about getting a good deal – sometimes standing in line for hours to get a few rolls of the perfect wrapping paper or some gift tags at half price.

The excitement for this activity has worn off over the years…mostly because stores never close! Today, there is no big deal about waiting for the store to open on the morning of the 26th! And, the sales start way before the holiday even begins! Today, if you do want to shop the after-holiday sales, it is much more efficient to shop on-line…finding the best availability and shopping the lowest prices for holiday wares.

Still, old habits die hard and I couldn’t resist stopping in a store the week after Christmas. I happen to be driving past an Anthropologie and decided to make a stop. Although there was not very much holiday merchandise left, and certainly no long lines to get inside, I felt compelled to walk around the store. This year’s holiday ‘paper cut’ theme was still displayed and I enjoyed greeting the salespeople with ‘Happy New Year’ and walking around to get some final glimpses of the season past.

So, even though I didn’t stand in a line in front of a department store for hours waiting for it to open, or come home with my arms full of wrapping paper rolls, I realized that I did get exactly what I wanted.

My visit to Anthropologie made me realize that I really don’t want the shopping experience reduced to another computer function…particularly at holiday time when senses are in overdrive.

The experience of visiting a store – greeting people, touching fabrics, comparing the smells of candles, feeling the heft of a pitcher…these are all the things I wanted. I hope these are the things you want too.