Anthropologie

1365 Post Road East, Westport
480 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich

Typically, I’m not one to root for the national retail chain, but Anthropologie is an exception. The store is colorful and spacious with an eclectic mix of styles and fun-to-wear apparel.

Who you’ll see shopping here: Women from high school through menopause who want to be comfortable, eclectic, and sometimes a little sexy.

Their specialty: Anything corporate is pushing. Typically, separates with loads of pattern, color, texture, wraps, and ruffles—all at once.

What you should buy: Girly/sophisticated day dresses and whimsical loungewear. Great ruffled cardigans, too, if you’re not already sick of ruffled cardigans.

What you may not know but should:
  1. Their nightgowns make cute sundresses.
  2. I’m saddened to recently note, however, the cheesifcation of the quality of their apparel.

Fashion     Greenwich     Westport    

National Cristina Foundation

500 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich

Robin’s note: In 1984, David Bruce McMahan donated a used Apple 2e computer to his daughter Cristina’s special-needs classroom. After seeing the enormous impact this “obsolete” hardware had on the social and educational development of the children, he partnered with Dr. Yvette Marrin and created this foundation to collect and distribute much-needed used technology. To date, computers donated through NCF have helped millions of people around the world.

Who they are: “The National Cristina Foundation provides computer technology and solutions to give people with disabilities, students at risk and economically disadvantaged persons the opportunity, through training, to lead more independent and productive lives.” (website)

What they provide: Donated computers and technology (from individuals and corporations) to charities, schools, and public agencies in the U.S. and other countries.

How to donate: The foundation accepts used laptops, desktop computers, software, peripherals, and other items. Log onto http://www.cristina.org for requirements and donation instructions.
http://www.cristina.org

Give     Greenwich    

Second Time Around

6 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich
135 Post Road East, Westport

This is a consignment store with a cushy downtown location. You don’t have to drive to a weird strip mall or exert any kind of shopping energy other than just, like, going there. Which gives ones shopping excursion a lovely continuity. But wait - there’s more. The Westport store has an events calendar so busy it’s amazing they have time to sell clothes. But they do. So many, in fact, most high-end designer pieces bypass the floor and go straight to “Wish List” customers. So you have to exert all your conserved energy putting your name on a Wish List. Don’t complain: it’s worth it.

Although STA is a chain, its inventory reflects the town in which it resides, with samplings of almost every designer from neighboring stores. The cache includes the girly triumvirate Milly, Nanette Lepore, and Cynthia Steffe (Lucy’s), Lilly Pulitzer (Splash of Pink), Theory (Mitchell’s), J. Crew, Talbot’s, BCBG.. you get the idea. The store is tightly managed, with tear-outs of outfit suggestions and “Selecting an Outfit to Flatter Your Skin Tone” articles in the dressing rooms.

Accessories include Prada and Gucci handbags, Manolos and Sigerson Morrison sandals. A small men’s section (from Robert’s) is in the waaayyy back, along with a clearance rack from which I purchased a Nieves Lavi dress for $43 (regularly $300-400.)

Special discounts are offered almost daily and painstakingly reported on Facebook and Twitter (making me real