Thursday, August 18, 2011

On-tro-po-lo-jee...

I didn't know I pronounced it the French way (as above) until I hear myself whispering the name in awe when I saw it on wooden hoardings in George Street this April. I came very close to getting inside it this June, but it opened the day after my flying visit to my dad ended. So it wasn't until this Tuesday that I entered its hallowed gates: Anthropologie, Edinburgh.Of course, as a blogger, the shop has been on my radar for a very long time. I'm aware of it as a shop that has a great eye for displaying the quirky, the found, the handmade, the recup'...So I was very keen to see it with my own eyes! When I got in out of the rain, it took a while for my eyes to actually see. I was a bit overwhelmed, and it took some time for me to settle down. Spotting two of my favourite books:
was a help.
The shop assistant I asked was very happy for me to take photos (I guess if you're going to stun people with your displays you do want people to study and share them) and, with my camera in hand, I began to focus enough to take things in.
Secretly, I'm waiting for the day that mis-matched chairs aren't the In Thing. Much as I like them, it is clear that they're only a trend, and style writers don't seem to realise that... But yes, I love that little table-setting!
Super hand-painted plates.
j
And then on, past the work of a local artist, down the stairs...
This is very much to my liking. The plates have been cleverly covered with real canvasses. I won't be doing it, but the overall effect, and the clever idea, are great.
I have a real aversion to the chinaware (on the left, below) that slopes and slants and doesn't follow the rules, however. I felt my mother tutting along with me at that moment...
But I can see myself doing something with old books, old cutlery and string.
Minus the candles - I'd be constantly wanting to pick the dripped wax off.
Watch this space...
Always looking for ideas with mirrors - this is very successful, I think!
And chairs too - when I taught the Infant Class in a tiny Cumbrian school I got very used to chairs like this, although very few of the wooden ones were left. Theywere mostly grey-blue plastic, if I remember rightly...
So I found Anthropologie inspirational, nostalgic, fascinating and, fortunately for my budget, totally un-tempting on this occasion. But I will be back!

7 comments:

scrumptious days said...

Oh! I do love Anthropolgie, I was thrilled when it opened in London and love to pop in.
What a shame you don't like miss matched chairs! I love them! My Mother was doing miss matched chairs in the 70s it's a classic country house style, I think it will be around for as long as people need to sit more then four people at a table, but that's probably just me! :-)
Really great photos you've got the atmosphere just right.

Jane and Chris said...

I have never seen an Anthropologie store, are the things you showed for sale or are they props?
Jane x (a country bumpkin!)

Elizabethd said...

What a fascinating shop. I wonder if they will come to FRance!

Shane Pollard said...

Anthropologie looks amazing - each display is like a piece of art!!
I don't think we will ever see it in New Zealand though!!
Great experience for you Floss.
Shane :)

Sue said...

Lovely to see real photos from inside the shop, magazines tend just to show items. It looks fascinating and very eclectic, I shall definitely have to try harder to make a visit to the London one.

::cupcakesandbiscuits:: said...

Is it in George Street you say? I didn't realize one has opened there. Must go in for a spoach next time I'm in Edinburgh. Ali x

Elderberry-Rob said...

Oh that was interesting as I had not heard of Anthropology I don't get the mis-matched chair thing - we grew up on mismatched furniture so to me it spells 'make do'. It looks like the kind of place you would walk away from and then wish days later you had purchased that certain something you noticed!