The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale has officially begun. After a week of early access to cardholders, it’s now open to all. Brand new merchandise for Fall and Winter 2018 will be discounted for two weeks only. Prices go back up on August 6. 

I spent a couple of weeks preparing and preselecting the sale with clients and it was AMAZING. We refreshed our wardrobes, had fun trying both predictable and wild card wardrobe items, took ourselves outside of our comfort zones, made discerning purchase decisions, and got a great start on the new colder weather dressing season. There was a higher percentage of warm weather merchandise at the sale this year, which was well received in Seattle’s current Summer heatwave.

Items ran out of stock faster than usual. The reason? Reduced inventory levels, an increase in the number of cardholders, a more desirable assortment of merchandise — your guess is as good as mine. But styles were restocked throughout the sale, which was quite a relief.

Along the way I noted the very best items that were slam dunk winners on clients. I’ve put together six top picks lists that might be helpful if you’re navigating the sale:

• Footwear
• Jackets, Coats & Vests
• Knitwear & Tops
• Dresses
• Skirts, Pants and Jeans
• Accessories, Lounge & Active Wear

I’ve seen all of these items in person and on a range of body types and sizes, across petite, regular, plus and tall women. It’s a wide assortment of items, reflecting the range of lifestyles, style preferences and budgets of my clientele.

This year, Nordstrom did a GREAT job of extending size ranges in both directions. US0 and XXS were included across a larger merchandise assortment, and regular collections frequently went through to XXL and US18. Footwear included extended sizes and widths. There was also a larger selection of petite and plus sizes online. THANK YOU Nordstrom, for being more inclusive in your size specifications.

A few things to consider as you browse the lists:

• I’ve collected one colour in each item, but be sure to browse through ALL the colour options.
• Check whether the items are available in petite and plus because I’ve only provided the description in regular sizes. In some cases regular sizes can work on petites, and regular size ranges extend into larger sizes.
• My descriptions are detailed and specific for a reason. They suggest a match for a particular body type, comfort level, lifestyle, or style preference.
• Items do come back into stock throughout the fortnight of the sale, so be tenacious and keep checking back on the items that tickle your fancy.
• At the end of each list there’s a link to the relevant collection page where you can see the items together with their descriptions.

Feel free to ask questions in the comments sections about my picks or any other NAS items, and I’ll do my best to help you out. We’ve also been discussing NAS items in the forum, which is particularly helpful because you can see the items across a range of body types. And please share your own winning purchases in the comments section below.

If you’re looking for some Summer reading material for the beach, your next trip, or just to relax at home on the couch with a cup of tea or a refreshing drink, then this round-up is for you:

• For a long time women were often viewed as consumers of fragrance rather than creators. This is slowly changing, and women in the perfume industry are finally getting the recognition they deserve.
• Fashionista’s series on the untold tales of fashion’s invaluable fit models is an interesting read.
• Used wedding dresses are a growing phenomenon, here Racked’s Gray Chapman interviews the woman who sold her her wedding dress.
• Bras are rarely given to local charities, which makes it extremely hard for people in poverty to get the undergarments they need.
• What it’s like to shop as a tall woman.
• I found “Why Makeup Matters to Women in Prison” a thought-provoking article.
• Yahoo! rounds up 14 adaptive clothing brands that make getting dressed easier for people with special needs.
• If you’ve been meaning to try Rent the Runway’s $89 subscription service, read these 7 tips before you get started.

Fab Links from Our Members

Kari has been greatly enjoying Dressed: The History of Fashion, a new podcast, and its accompanying Instagram made by fashion historians April Calahan and Cassidy Zachary. They have covered subjects such as the House of Worth and Paul Poiret; Elizabeth Keckly and Gaby Deslys; Givenchy; fashion and physique and how fashion silhouettes and “ideal” body types change over time. The podcast “explores the incredibly rich and complex history behind the clothes we wear,” and Kari finds it fascinating and well done.

She adds: “If you listen to only one episode, I would recommend ‘The Body: Fashion & Physique, an interview with Emma McClendon‘. This episode explores how the body type considered ideal shifts over time, and features guest fashion historian Emma McClendon who talks about her current exhibition The Body: Fashion and Physique at The Museum at FIT.”

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is perfectly timed for me because I like to shop early in the retail season. I can secure the best items in my size, my style feels refreshed when the weather changes, and I can forget about shopping for a while. I’m usually done with Spring and Summer shopping by about May, and ready to think about my Autumn and Winter style in the first week of July.

I practice organized emotional shopping. I’m a very emotional shopper who listens to her heart and feelings on every leg of her style journey, but I temper my emotions so that my purchases are sufficiently practical, cost-effective, and sensible choices. For example, I make a change when I’m no longer feeling a silhouette, colour, trend or outfit combination, but continue with a look despite changing trends if it makes me feel fab. I don’t shop for an imaginary lifestyle or climate, and have zero tolerance for uncomfortable shoes and scratchy fabrics.

The Emotion

I like to evolve my style every season to keep things fresh and prevent outfit boredom. That’s why I’m looking for something different when I shop the NAS, unless I need to replenish wardrobe essentials.

I don’t go into the NAS knowing exactly how I want to evolve my style. I enjoy this uncertainty, and I trust that my emotions will help me solve the puzzle as I select and assess items in the NAS dressing room. Apart from shopping with hubby Greg for my birthday, the NAS is my most enjoyable shopping experience of the year because the element of surprise is an adrenaline rush and it’s so very satisfying to step outside my comfort zone and find a winning item.

The day before NAS preselections, and completely by chance, I looked through Boden’s early Fall 2018 collection because I like their commitment to colour and quality. I saw toffee combined with light blue, navy and tomato red, and thought YES, I’m feeling that colour combination (see collection). Then and there I decided that I’m going with earth tones, all sorts of blues, and my usual sour brights to refresh my palette for the season. This set the mood for this year’s NAS shop and I was psyched. Earthy Urban Polish felt dead right.

Boden

Farleigh Coat

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Boden

Broadgate Crossbody Bag

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Boden

Logan Sweater

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Boden

Muriel Sweater

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Boden

Logan Sweater

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Boden

Farleigh Coat

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The Organization

I edit and review my closet monthly, so I know what I own, how it fits, and how I currently feel about it. This prevents me from duplicating items when I shop, and gives me an accurate mental picture of the types of outfits I was wearing last Autumn and Winter. It provides the frame of reference for the items that I bring into the NAS dressing room, and is a starting point for how I evolve my style.

I also keep a running list in my head of wardrobe holes, items that need replenishing, the factors that affect my style, my budget, and my 2018 style goals. This is the “organization” that tempers my emotions when I shop.

I’ve also found it useful to keep a list in my head of what I do NOT want to buy at the sale:

• No grey because it does not make me happy.
• No purple or lilac because I’m not feeling the colours for my own style (yet!)
• No more olive and burgundy because I bought up a storm last year.
• No more jeans unless they’re extremely different to what’s hanging in my closet.
• No dressy Winter blouses because I don’t wear them.
• No cold-weather tops that can’t be layered.
• No oversized slouch because I crave structure.
• No sheath dresses because I prefer dresses with movement.
• No dresses and skirts above the knee because I’m done with that length.
• No heels over an inch and half, and preferably lower.

Black is allowed, but must be purchased with caution and in very specific wardrobe pieces.

The Process

With all this in mind I began focussed NAS browsing at the Flagship Nordstrom in downtown Seattle. You can see what I brought into the dressing room in this forum thread. Skirts, dresses, pants, jeans, a coat, jackets, pullovers, tops, scarves and footwear.

A few more points:

• I include higher price points at the NAS, which eats into my budget faster than lower price points. I therefore come home with fewer items.
• I don’t shop for wardrobe basics like undies, hosiery, socks, loungewear, yoga wear and sleepwear at this sale.
• I want to continue wearing skirts, dresses and pants in the colder months and wear jeans less frequently.
• I continue to prioritize footwear because I need to replace a number of shoes. (I passed on another seven pairs of shoes this year due to discomfort and wear).
• I’m always on the lookout for interesting and warm knitwear, toppers and boots because that’s what I live in from October to April.

I saw the Maggy London Ruched Waist Midi Dress in the NAS catalogue and loved it, so that was the FIRST thing I tried on at the NAS. Slam dunk perfect if you like florals, enjoy sleeves, wear black patterns, adore midis, and like to define your waist. The fit is sublime. It’s crease-resistant, will wear like iron, and I can wear it through Autumn and Winter. I LOVE this dress.

With my style goals top of mind, the next items I tracked down were midi skirts that were not pencil in silhouette, all sorts of pants, and a few pairs of full-length faded jeans. I fell in love with 3.1 Phillip Lim’s Print Asymmetrical Ruffle Skirt because I didn’t have anything like it, it’s a cold-weather weight, gorgeously romantic, and BLUE (not black). I could wear it with a few fitted black turtlenecks I had at home to prevent dreaded orphan-skirt syndrome, but opted to add Topshop’s Popper Crew Sweater in black to wear with the skirt after I saw it on a client with a similar body type later in the week. A fun high-low juxtaposition of brands, and beautifully structured with movement in the right places.

I tried on all sorts of pullovers, pants, coats and jackets, but nothing pulled at my heartstrings enough to earn a place in my wardrobe, until I tried on J.Crew’s Ruffle Sleeve Tee in green. I don’t usually purchase Summer items at the NAS — and very rarely buy knitted tops — but since I spend a lot more time in Salt Lake City these days where the Summers are long and hot it will get a lot of wear. It’s Boden quality, I adore the green, and I don’t have anything like it. Fab with my white jeans, blue gingham pants, and an acid wash denim midi skirt.

Next stop was footwear, and that’s where I went to town because it’s a shopping priority, and the assortment was excellent this year. I wanted to refresh my style with shoes in shades of brown, cognac and cream to match the colour palette I saw in the Boden catalogue. I found lots of options, and eventually chose four pairs that suit my walking lifestyle. The Dolce Vita Tommi Perforated Bootie in toffee because I don’t have perforated booties. The Pikolino Pyrgos Oxford in cognac because I don’t have flat Autumn oxfords. The Born Cardi bootie in chocolate because I need casual high-shaft booties to wear with cropped jeans. They all fit perfectly on my low-volume feet, narrow ankles, and are super comfy. I was a little worried about the masculinity of the oxfords, but the cream soles pull them back into “pretty and crisp” territory. Greg assured me that they look fab, which helped.

My ‘80s gene went into overdrive when I saw Rebecca Minkoff’s Koso Bootie in white. My heart skipped a beat and I had to try them on. They fit well with an insole and are reasonably comfortable. Not as comfy as the other three pairs, but fine for a trendy shoe that I won’t do a lot of walking in. Sold. That’s my trendy purchase of the sale.

I tried to make Franco Sarto’s Topaz flat work because I loved the way they looked and adore the colour. They were wide, but I purchased them anyway because I’d hoped to doctor them with insoles at home. No luck, and returned them a few days later.

I then headed to the accessory department to find a belt and scarf to complement my new toffee, cognac and chocolate footwear. I didn’t find a suitable belt, but I found a gorgeous two-toned Halogen cashmere wrap that I will wear as a scarf. Perfect.

This round of my NAS shopping came to an abrupt end because a client was waiting for me at concierge. I hoped to make it back to dresses, but as luck would have it a client suggested that I try 1901’s Midi Shirtdress that we found for her. She was dead right that it worked for me too and the navy followed me home. Classic, Modern Retro, covered, structured, crisp, and very comfortable. I wore it to a belated birthday celebration last week with flat lemon mules and new cream birthday Furla. I also wore it to work the next day with white flats and satchel. It was very fun to wear a NAS item right away, and twice in one week. I LOVE this dress, and might get another colour.

When I had a little time to spare at home this week, I re-tried all my NAS items to make sure that I was happy with how they fit and looked. To ensure that the quality was up to scratch, that they worked on this leg of my style journey, and that there was no unnecessary duplication. I also made sure I stayed within my budget. Happy as a clam, I had a brilliant NAS, and am committed to these ten items. I’m thrilled with my start to Fall & Winter 2018.

Nordstrom

Maggy London Ruched Waist Midi Dress

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Nordstrom

3.1 Phillip Lim 3.1 Phillip Lim Print Asymmetrical Ruffle Skirt (Nordstrom Exclusive) | Nordstrom

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Topshop Topshop Popper Crew Sweater | Nordstrom

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J.Crew J.Crew Ruffle Sleeve Tee | Nordstrom

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Halogen Halogen Cashmere Wrap | Nordstrom

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Dolce Vita Dolce Vita Tommi Perforated Bootie (Women) | Nordstrom

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Børn Børn Cardi Bootie (Women) | Nordstrom

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PIKOLINOS PIKOLINOS Pyrgos Oxford (Women) | Nordstrom

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Rebecca Minkoff Koso Bootie

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1901 1901 Midi Shirtdress (Regular & Petite) | Nordstrom

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22

I’ve noticed that there are a few styling strategies that I use frequently in my outfits. The first three pander to my personal figure-flattering priorities which are to create outfit structure, shorten my neck, and lengthen the leg line. The last panders to my need to create polish and look visually pulled together. 

1. Chunky Pearl Necklace Fills the Gap

I have a long neck that looks even longer because of my narrow shoulder line and pixie haircut. I effectively shorten my neck and broaden my shoulders by wearing close-fitting, narrow, and high necklines because the coverage is visually shortening on the neck and lengthening on the shoulder. Sometimes though, crew necks and boat necklines are still too wide and I need more coverage. My pearl necklaces add coverage by filling the gap, and do the shortening trick. Bonus that they add a dressy integrity to my outfit.

2. Scrunch Long Sleeves

Showcasing skin adds structure to an outfit because it reveals the natural contour of the body. When I scrunch long sleeves to showcase my forearms, I add structure to my look, which makes proportions work better on my slight frame.

3. Semi-Tuck or Tuck Tops

I wear flats 99% of the time. I don’t want to feel dumpy, overly long in the torso, or flat-footed, so I lengthen the leg line from the hips upward by semi-tucking or fully tucking a top. This brings up the position of the hem of the top, thereby shortening the torso and lengthening my leg line. Hinting at or fully defining the waist adds structure to the outfit too.

4. Sport a Complement

I will often add a complement of footwear and accessories to my outfit to pull it together. In other words, I’ll match my bags to my shoes, or match my shoes to my belt. I can also match my bag to a scarf, or my scarf to a belt. I’ve also matched bag, belt, scarf and shoes for maximal good measure.

Wearing a tailored topper over a fluid or flowing untucked top is one favourite styling technique among my clients. The untucked fluid top camouflages muffin top, while the tailored topper tempers the volume and adds structure. Keeping a jacket or blazer open in front is another favourite. It creates a line down the centre front of the body which accentuates the vertical integrity of the outfit. Another is to add heels to an outfit to lengthen the leg line.

Over to you. What are your favourite outfit styling techniques and why? Are they similar or the opposite of mine?