After concluding that camis were one of those items where quality couldn’t be scrimped on, I stopped by Anthropologie intending to purchase my old standbys: Seamless Camisoles by Eloise, a.k.a. the Best. Camis. Ever. Except this was the first time I’d be buying said camis with my own dough. I found them; I petted them; I tried them on for size. Then I looked at the pricetag.
Twenty-Four Effing Dollars for a glorified undergarment. If I gave in to buying one, I was leaving with five, and on my way to being $120-plus-obscene-NYC-sales-tax poorer than I already am. Camis are like crack that way – one needs multiple hits. There had to be another way.
I’d never heard of the brand Marika, but it fit and felt just as fab as overpriced Eloise, and it cost all of $7.99. That’s not even the best part. More Googling revealed that, while the exact style and price of my find was unlisted, Marika’s almost-identical Go Red Seamless Tank Top (same 92/8 Tactel Nylon/Spandex Blend and everything, I tag-checked, scout’s honor) retails for…wait for it… $34. I’m assuming my tank was similarly priced. And this time, I think I’m ALL right.Kiss my ass, Anthropologie.
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I shop daffy’s all the time. fyi they also sell only hearts stuff at daffy’s for underwears (I have also found hanky pankies there), plus great shoes sometimes, and their reductions are wayyyy better than loehmann’s/century/filene’s/tjmaxx et al.
there is no sales tax on clothes in nyc….
Funny post and dead on! $24 for a cami is obscene. Marika is a great brand- durable and such. As for handwashing- puhlease; just place your delicates in mesh bags with the rest of the laundry. Of course, your scivvies will need to dry and you have to tolerate them being in full view for visitors as they dangle off a drying rack in your bathroom but at least they are clean and trust me will last longer that way. Dryers just kill delicate items. I even wash wool sweaters this way and block them.
Good job on the Cami!
Y-
Ugh, Anthropologie. Used to be one of my favorite stores when I had money. I once spent $30 on a pair of socks there — and they weren’t even cashmere. Never again.
Great post, and congrats on your great find!
Marika also makes great leggings.
I hate to break it to you but I saw those tanks on sale at Anthropologie for $14
-a fellow cheap jap
ebay – they’ve got eloise camis for 9.99 and free shipping.