NAS Top Picks: Accessories

To my surprise, costume, semi-precious, and fine jewellery has been selling well during the pandemic. That might be why there are ten pages of jewellery offerings at this year’s NAS. There are some gorgeous items. Of course, there are also some great bags. 

Jewellery

There are no descriptions in this collection because the items speak for themselves. Click on the links to see the jewellery on the model for a better visual. Shout outs to brands like John Hardy, Frieda Rothman, Monica Vinader, Jenny Bird, and Kendra Scott. Colourful jewellery is on trend, so you’ll see that coming through. I’m liking the assortment of dainty and chunkier pieces so that there is something for everyone. There are excellent Apple watch straps too.

Personally, I’m not a big jewellery person, and stick to a few custom-made white pearl jewellery pieces that I wear daily. I did get a white silicone and rose gold Michelle watch strap for my rose gold Apple watch, and absolutely LOVE it. It looks dressy and chic, to my eye. The straps come with attachments for both sizes of Apple watch so look for the attachments in the box. This was my first NAS purchase. I had the strap sized in the store and I wore it right away. Go Team Wear.

Apple Watch Strap

Handbags and a Scarf

Here are my favourite bags from the sale, and a single Kate Spade scarf that works very well with the bag alongside it. 

You can see the items alongside my descriptions on the collection page.

You can see the items alongside my descriptions on the collection page.

NAS Top Picks: Coats and Jackets

This is my eighteenth Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, and I haven’t missed one yet. Wow. Time flies and I can barely believe it. I spent time at the Seattle Nordstrom flagship store last week helping clients preselect items for their wardrobes. Generally it was a good sale. There are dressier items aplenty, with Athleisure and super casual items taking a backseat.

Interestingly, the flagship used to stock most NAS items in at least one colour. But those days are gone, as shopping online in the US takes centre stage. Although it’s always fun to see NAS items in store, you’ll get the best of the best if you shop the sale online too. It’s especially better for getting the right size and colour. I had a good appointment at the flagship and found great stuff, but supplemented my wishlist with an online order. I found fab stuff for hubs Greg too.

The NAS is full of great jackets and coats across an assortment of silhouettes, fits and sizes. Some looks are tailored, and others fluid, and oversized. There are lots of earth tones and fashion neutrals, but non-neutrals, patterns and brights are represented too. There are several relatively inexpensive items that are very well made, and look better than the designer pieces. Lots of sustainably and ethically produced items too.

This year I will highlight what is DIFFERENT and fab as opposed to winners we see every year. Often, the stock photos do not do the Items justice and that’s where my firsthand impressions will help. Items in the collections show one colour and size, but often come in a range. My lists are by no means exhaustive, so please add to them in the comments section.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you’re wearing the right layers under coats and jackets when you choose a size.

Coats

You can see the items alongside my descriptions on the collection page.

  • Theory Wool & Cashmere Utility Coat: This is GORGEOUSLY luxe and a more rich lilac in person. Boxy and roomy, yet the shaped hem creates subtle structure. It has handy side entry pockets. The sleeves can be cuffed back if they are long.
  • Sam Edelman Mixed Media Wool Blend Trench Coat: Sam Edelman makes fab outerwear and this one does not disappoint. Well made, looks good worn open, good roomy fit on the arms. Elegant and versatile length.
  • OPEN EDIT Relaxed Blazer: The stock photo gives the wrong impression of this awesome peacoat. It has a fab Japanese architectural vibe when buttoned up. Genius sleeve design but long and easily hemmed. Lightweight and warm. Boxy and very fluid, yet streamlined and clean. It's suppose to look big and is not a classic tailored peacoat. Roomy on the hips. Nicely made and $99. Fab fabric. You get a better impression when you scroll through the pics. I have the navy and sized down. An easy throw-on-and-go. It has fab side entry pockets.
  • Bernardo Packable EcoPlume Hooded Walker Coat: Packable Tailored BLUE Puffer Fabness. Streamlined and well made. Nice dipped back hemline. Comes in black.
  • Bernardo Hooded Quilted Long Jacket: If this came in more colours, most of my clients would have it. VERY well made, robust, unique, and fits a range of body types. It might have an inner drawcord for a bit of shaping. Casually chic.
  • AVEC LES FILLES Shawl Collar Coat: This is a fab coat if you like a boxy and rounded shoulder look that is very '90s. Looks good worn open. Comes in a cool taupe.
  • The North Face 700 Fill Power Stretch Down Parka: A practical, super lightweight, and streamlined sporty active topper for Team Dusty Pink and Mauve.
  • Halogen Brushed Plaid Peacoat: One of my clients wouldn't take this off, she loved it so much. VERY cosy and fun. For Team Green, and can work on petites.
  • Nordstrom Short Wool Blend Peacoat: A classic peacoat with a Modern Retro sensibility. You either love the gigantic collar or you don't. Can work well on a larger bust. Rich colour.
  • Bernardo Houndstooth Check Wool Blend Coat: I love the Modern Retro vibe of this coat. It is GORGEOUS. It has AMAZING architectural and billowing sleeves, that might be overwhelming - but remember that to some extent, that is the point of the look. Oversized and beautiful quality. Long and not easy to hem for shorter arms. Love the fabric, colour, and is handmade apparently. I don't know what that means, but it has a label that indicates that. Unlined but warm. Stunning length too.
  • Bernardo Tailored Longline Coat: Sleek, streamlined and classic. Works on a range of body types. Works well on a larger bust. Subtle and simple. Beautiful quality and fabric. Absolutely GORGEOUS detailed stitching on the front and back that accentuate the princess lines. Versatile length for skirts and dresses. It's more of a maxi length on me, and I'm 5ft 6. Comes in tan. The navy is mine.
  • Sam Edelman Crested Button Wool Blend Coat: Military Coat Fabness. The buttons are gold and glitzy so consider yourself warned. A little more lightweight than I expected. Low stance.
  • Lauren Ralph Lauren Quilted Snap Front Coat: Ralph Lauren makes beautifully classic quilted coats with a casual equestrian vibe. This one is semi-structured with corduroy trim. Streamlined. Impeccable.
  • Halogen Double Breasted Coat: Fun green coat with a Modern Retro vibe for Team Kelly Green. The collar makes a statement. Lovely longer length, and comes in tan.

Jackets

You can see the items alongside my descriptions on the collection page.

  • Zella Quilted Pocket Jacket: This looks MUCH better in person and is a super easy mega casual throw-on-and-go. It's straight and hangs very well. Fab quality and comes in black. Super duper on a larger bust, and or broad shoulder line.
  • Halogen Leather Moto Jacket: Best versatile non-moto leather jacket at the sale if you wear black. Great fit and drape. Nice quality. Longer length works well with pants and jeans.
  • Cinq A Sept Kylie Blazer: Very fun oversized blazer with loads of embellishment and embroidery. Check out the back detailing. Extremely lightweight, and handy scrunched sleeves. Size down a size.
  • 1.State Plaid Double Breasted Blazer: On Trend Oversized Blazer Fabness. Comfy and straight. Looks wonderful with skirts in that early '90s Elaine from Seinfeld way.
  • Pendleton Foxglove Fleece Bomber Jacket: A patterned fleece jacket with a '70s integrity. Beautifully made and size down a size.
  • Sam Edelman Women's Fleece Trim Faux Leather Bomber Jacket: I have a very similar aviator jacket in red from Sam Edelman that I got several NAS's ago, which is one of the most worn jackets in my outerwear capsule. Striking, comfy, robust, and unique. Great quality.
  • Vince Oversize Sweater Knit Blazer: An extremely cosy and soft jacket that can work well when you need layers at home. Fab on broader shoulders and a larger bust. Comes in grey.
  • Sam Edelman Mixed Media Puffer Jacket with Faux Fur Trim: ADORABLE jacket, and the bulky hood comes off. Great fluid yet sleek fit. COMFY and cosy. Different. Loved it, but is too earthy for me. Maybe fab for you.
  • SAVE THE DUCK Joan Water Repellent Recycled Nylon Puffer Jacket: BEST short puffer at the NAS if you don't need a hood. Save the Duck is hands down my favourite brand of puffer because I prefer not to wear down. Lightweight, easy to launder, excellent quality, comfy, and feels fabulous. This one has an architectural collar and a nice shape. You might need to size down. The colour is too grey for me, and not as blue in person. Could be great on you.
  • Veronica Beard Farley Stand Collar Blazer: Structured Tailored Polished Fabness. Impeccable quality, gorgeous rich colour, and might run a size big. The stretch and good fit makes it mould to a range of body types. Can be worn as an item, or as a suit with matching trousers. I have the blazer and bought bottoms to create a suit.
  • SAVE THE DUCK Demi Water Repellent Recycled Nylon Puffer Jacket: I can't rave enough about this style of puffer and the GENIUS zipper. I have the citron from last season that is my favourite short puffer of all time. It's streamlined and shaped, very warm, weather resistant, and lightweight. The infinity zipper zips as high up as you want it to, so you can create excellent insulation, especially when wearing the hood.
  • BLANKNYC Faux Leather Moto Jacket: BEST faux leather jacket at the NAS. Beautifully made, very polished, and looks better than the designer faux leather that was on offer. Gold hardware is only on the peachy toffee colour option. The sage and black have silver hardware. The tiny bottom front pocket is a unique touch. Short length looks great with skirts and dresses. Narrow fit. It's $60 well spent.
  • Barbour Saltwater Quilted Jacket: A different jacket from Babour with soft stretchy sleeves. Great fit and nice hardware. Good on Team Tall.
  • Treasure&Bond Collarless Quilt Jacket: An incredible architectural jacket with a Japanese vibe. Very COS-esque too. Fab rich shade of navy. Well made, genius shallow V-neckline, and the quilted stitching is perfectly lined up. Click the link to see it closed. The sleeves turn back if they are too long. Nice high-low neckline. $79 well spent.
  • Vince Camuto Geo Jacquard Ponte Blazer: AMAZING oversized on trend blazer that is soft, stretchy, semi-structured, and dressy. Very comfy. It is GORGEOUS and looks designer with the matching sleeveless halter neck top to create a TWINSET effect. Fab with black bottoms or jeans. Every client who tried on the twinset effect of jacket with matching top loved it.
  • AllSaints Dalby Leather Biker Jacket: BEST leather moto at the NAS. Beautifully made, simple, sleek, and is a versatile length. Size up at least one size for a tailored fit. Two sizes for a fluid fit.
  • Nordstrom Hooded Quilted Jacket: This olive puffer has a tapered back that structures the topper in an interesting way. Super cute on a range of body types. Straight, yet shaped.
  • AVEC LES FILLES Relaxed Blazer: '80s Jacket Fabness for Team Mustard, although it comes in black. Has a bit of a '40s integrity too. Rounded architectural fit with beautiful sleeve darts.
  • Zadig & Voltaire Viva Skull Wool Blazer: Fab on trend oversized blazer with fun skull embellishment at the back. Silky and soft. Click the link to see it.

Halternecks: Yay or Nay

Halternecks are on-trend again, after wafting in and out of fashion every decade or so. While they enjoy their fashion moment, we’re seeing them on dresses, tops, and swimwear in an assortment of colours, patterns and fabrics. They vary in silhouette. Some are backless, and some have criss-cross front-strap detailing. Some necklines cover the décolletage, and some don’t. Some bare the midriff. Some fits are fluid, and others tailored and body-con. Some are casual and others dressier. The silhouettes are cut away at the shoulder-neck-point to expose the shoulders and arms, but some styles are more cut away and expose more skin than others.

Here are some examples.

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Ruched Halter Top
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If you’re on Team Sleeveless Alluring Shoulders, halternecks are one way to go. They require a strapless bra, a halterneck bra, supportive breast cups, or you can leave off the bra. They are very breezy, beachy, Summery, and great in high heat when you don’t want to cover up, although you can layer over them with ease.

Some halterneck styles are skimpier than others, so find a silhouette that exposes and conceals in a way that makes you feel comfortable and fab. Some enjoy the high-necked and cris-cross versions, whereas others prefer the tank tops and blouses with cut-away shoulders. Some prefer a covered décolletage and back whereas others don’t. Some like a lot of underarm coverage.

I don’t have halterneck wardrobe items at the moment, but I’m a YAY. The silhouettes look awfully pretty, interesting, and alluring to my eye. I love the look of exposed shoulders. I like the dresses with criss-cross front detailing, and some of the fluid tops. I prefer my halternecks covered under the arms and over the midriff, but backless is okay. I wore them when I lived and worked in hot climates in Africa and Asia, and would wear them again. But infrequently because I prefer to cover up when I’m outside in the sun, and air conditioning is freezing. But as I mentioned, it’s easy to layer a jacket or cardigan over a halterneck. It can be annoying to wear a strapless bra, but there are excellent options these days.

At the moment, I’m considering a halterneck one-piece swimsuit, although I might go for a one-shoulder style instead. It’s exciting to have options.

Over to you. What’s your verdict on halternecks?

Roundups

Simpler Items

This week's list of top picks list is about basic pieces.

Read More

Assorted Items

Items for Summer, both in and out of air conditioning.

Read More

Casual Summer Vibes

This week's top picks are good for a casual Summer vibe.

Read More

Summery Earth Tones

These items are for those who like to wear casual earth tones in warm and hot weather.

Read More

Hints of Spring

Some tried-and-tested winning items to refresh your style for Spring.

Read More

Dressier Items

An assortment of dressier top picks might be just what the doctor ordered.

Read More

52 Years

I turn 52 tomorrow, and I’m excited. We love birthdays at the Cox Castle and celebrate all month long. I’ve spent most of the week working long hours with clients at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, but I’m taking today and the weekend off to do fun things with hubs Greg, and Yorkies Sam and Jo. An abundance of tasty food, tea and cake is guaranteed.

Reflecting back on what it means to be a year older and hopefully wiser, I think hard about what hubs Greg and I want from life right now and in future, and how we can go about achieving it. Building our bucket list together is therapeutic, motivating, and hopeful. As we figure out which paths to follow, which experiences to prioritize, and which life goals to pursue, I find the uncertainty of it all somewhat stressful. But that is part of life’s rich adventure — both exhilarating and nerve-wracking — and yet another thing to be grateful for. It feels good to have a range of options, to not be too boxed in, and to have a set of plans to work towards.

Despite being an enthusiastic planner of just about everything, I try to be equally aware of living in the moment so that life does not pass us by. It’s an ongoing goal to seize opportunities, live in the present, be more serendipitous, and make every day meaningful.

One of my clients talked about being determined to look back on herself with kinder eyes when browsing through old photographs. We are often our harshest critics so I was greatly inspired by that. I’m taking it a step further by looking at myself with kinder eyes, full stop, and inviting you to do the same.

I wear what I like, and I’m confident in my choices. I continue to have fun with fashion and style, because it’s an enjoyable creative and social outlet that relieves stress and gives back to me each day. Looking older is not the enemy, and being older brings the benefits of memories and experience. Cheers to making more memorable moments and feeling comfortable and more grateful in our skin all the time.

Link Love: Fashion Funnies

I was in need of a giggle this week, and Reductress delivered. Maybe these will make you smile too:

Breaking: The First Outfit You Had on Was the One:

“It’s just a lot to process at the moment,” you said. “I’m on outfit number 12 right now, so it’s pretty hard to accept that I could’ve stopped eleven outfits and two rage-cries ago.”

Hairdresser Has Own Definition of Inch:

“I was gonna say something, but then a week later it looked fine?” said Maltby. “And she’s a really good hairdresser. I mean, she doesn’t cut my hair the way I want, so I don’t know why I said that. But she is?”

Fab Links from Our Members

Stagiaire Fash has seen this sentiment expressed in the YLF forum; people should be free to dress up (or down!) as they choose.

Runcarla is wondering about the impact of Barbiecore on fashion: Greta Gerwig’s movie “isn’t due for release until next summer, but already there seems to be a hint of a fringe trend to come. I don’t know if I’m down for all the pink, but I like the idea of bright colours!”

She also found herself nodding along with a lot of what this fashion and style editor wrote about her capsule wardrobe.

This article on sustainable fashion really resonated with nuancedream, particularly the decision to mend or significantly alter an item of clothing. She says: “I have a vintage silk bowling shirt that belonged to my husband’s father altered to fit me. It was a complicated alteration and took several months to complete. The personal value of the shirt as well as the connection to the father-in-law I never had the opportunity to meet is priceless.”

Minaminu enjoyed this article about the upcoming Africa Fashion exhibition at the V&A, and just booked a ticket!

Vildy enjoyed this video about Japanese style: “In Japan, fashion magazines are thriving but they don’t have the monolithic editorial viewpoint that I recall from years of reading U.S. ones. Instead, they examine eras and trends from a template point of view. People study how to put outfits together and then refine them. And it is this refinement or improvement that garners respect for the individual.”