Top Picks: Nordstrom Clearance Sale

Lots of US retailers are on sale at the moment to make room for upcoming holiday and resort wear collections. Nordstrom is no exception and today is the official start of the Clearance Sale (previously referred to as the Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale). 

Feel free to ask questions about the merchandise in the comments section because I’ve seen most of these items in person. Remember to look through all colour options.

My descriptions are below, but if you would prefer a layout that combines my descriptions with item pictures, then click on these collections to see them in the Finds area:

Clothing

Footwear and Accessories

There’s lots more to shop in underwear, activewear, sleepwear, hosiery, socks and accessories if those items tickle your fancy. I’m shopping the sales with a client today, but I’ll be back later to answer questions.

Fab Two-Piece Dress for the Holidays

A two-piece dress is an outfit that is made up of a matchy-matchy top and skirt that has a very similar visual effect to a single piece dress. The top and skirt do not need to be made of exactly the same fabric, but they do need to match extremely well. The skirt could be woven polyester and the top a knitted cotton or silk. From afar the two pieces look like a one-piece, hence the term “two-piece dress”. 

You’ll create a brilliant two-piece dress by combining Ted Baker’s Opulent Bloom Print Sweater and Opulent Bloom Skirt. Leave the sweater untucked and blouson over the waistband of the skirt. The sweater is delicate and runs small, so you might need to size up. The skirt has a tulle petticoat, pockets, and swooshes as you stride, which is utterly delightful. 

The Opulent Bloom Print Tee and Sweatshirt are alternatives that you can pair with the same print skirt if the sweater seems a little twee, dressy or overly ladylike. These tops dress down the skirt more than the sweater. And if skirts aren’t your thing but you like the idea of head to toe floral for the holidays, combine any of the tops with the Opulent Trousers for a two-piece jumpsuit. Finish off the look with hose, strappy pumps and a clutch. 

The first rendition with the dainty sweater and skirt was very nearly my holiday look for this year. I LOVE the fresh Winter floral two-piece dress formula, not only for the holidays, but for all sorts of dressy occasions. It’s fresh, very comfortable, as fashion forward as it is Retro, and covered. I desperately wanted the outfit to work, and twirled around the dressing room for a long time. But knew that I’d ultimately be uncomfortable in a flared skirt that didn’t cover the knees. I reluctantly hung the pieces back, but hope that I can live vicariously through you if these pieces tickle your fancy too.

The Lug Sole Trend

A lug sole is a “thick rubber sole with deep indentations that improves the stability and traction of utility wear”. It is common in hiking boots and the like for practical reasons. Over the years, casual fashion footwear has adopted the lug sole as a fun design feature. Lug soles probably made the biggest fashion statement back in the ‘90s when just about every style of footwear could be bought with a lug sole. Since then, the trend took a backseat, although it seems to be gaining momentum now. 

Boots are an expected pairing for lug soles although ballet flats, sneakers, wedges, loafers and sandals are available with lug soles too. Lug soles are for the most part chunky, but more subtle versions with less pronounced indentations and thinner soles do exist. Some lug soles are platformed, while others look fairly flat. The chunky sole generally adds weight to the shoe, but sometimes foamy rubber lug soles are lightweight. 

Most of my clients wear lug soles in one form or another. If it’s not in the form of sports gear, it’s usually with a pair of casual fashion boots that are easy to pair with jeans. Lug soles on non-boot style footwear is more of an acquired taste, and fewer of my clients wear those. 

The lug sole adds an instant casual integrity and chunkiness to a shoe, which is why I’m not all that drawn to it. I prefer a more refined looking shoe, even when it’s casual. Often I find the extra weight off-putting. Plus, I think I’m still recovering from wearing far too many pairs of uncomfortable lug soled shoes back in the ‘90s. That said, I have one pair of brown lug soled casual mid-calf Donald Pliner boots that I wear with pleasure in nasty weather. I wore them a lot last week when it was raining cats and dogs in Seattle. They are also great to wear when it’s icy or there’s a light dusting of snow. But I’m leaving it at that. I’m weary of adding more fashionable lugged soles to my wardrobe because they’re generally too chunky and casual for my style persona. I do appreciate them on others though.

Over to you. Do you wear fashionable lug soles, or are they strictly a look that you wear when sporting gear.

Roundups

Simpler Items

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

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Assorted Items

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

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Casual Summer Vibes

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

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Summery Earth Tones

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

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Hints of Spring

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

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Dressier Items

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

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High-Low Equestrian Style For Fall

I have a big soft spot for Equestrian style. I was an extremely horsey child and teen, spending most of my free time at the stables with horses. I rode competitive dressage for years. So the whole equestrian thing is very much a part of me, and that includes my style. I’m very drawn to the polished, tailored, rich and elegant vibe of the classic English equestrian aesthetic, which is a timeless look that defies trends. Turtleneck, riding jacket, white bottoms and flat boots continue to be a great match for my style persona. 

The outfit here combines both high and low-end pieces. The jacket, bag and boots are designer, while the turtleneck and belt are from the Gap. The jeans are premium denim. The outfit is also a mix of essentials and statement pieces. The white jeans, turtleneck, and belt are my essentials. The jacket, boots and bag are statements. All the components of this outfit are new this season, except for the white Adriano Goldschmied Stilt Jeans, which are three years old. 

Pond - Front

Pond - Side

The Smythe Leather Elbow Patch Houndstooth Jacket was my prize score at this year’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I ran to it during preselections, tried it on, and was smitten. It’s my second Smythe equestrian jacket, and a little shorter than the first. The fit is perfect, the quality impeccable, and the style will not date. The bias cut doggietooth design, flared back fit, curved hems, slanted welt pockets, and cognac trim are what make the jacket more interesting than a regular classic tweed blazer. The cut of the jacket is extra great in motion because the breeze kicks out the tail of the jacket as I stride.

Jacket Full

Jacket Close

I like both of my Smythe jackets best with a turtleneck. They look just fine over a plaid shirt or crew neck pullover, but the equestrian integrity is accentuated when paired with a turtleneck. And since turtlenecks are my favourite neckline, I’m not complaining. Gap’s Merino Turtleneck Sweater provides a fluid fit, which looks more fashionable than a tighter fit. I bought three Gap turtlenecks on sale recently — one in toffee and two in black — because I like to update my wardrobe essentials to reflect current fashions. I chose the toffee to wear with with the jacket because it picks up the colour of the elbow patches, but a black turtleneck works just as well.

Pullover - Full

Pullover - Close

I don’t usually enjoy wearing earth tones, but started wearing toffee knitwear last year and haven’t looked back. As long as I can pair toffee with white or faded blue denim, and add an acidic bright to the outfit, I’m happy wearing the earthy shade. My apple green specs add instant bright acidity to the mix, and the clutch brightens things up even more. 

Pullover - Fall Colours

Pullover - Fall Colours Close

Pullover - Wide

Equestrian style isn’t just about knee-length riding boots. In fact, short jodhpur boots are just as popular. My cognac Prada Chelsea boots look like refined little jodhpur boots, which is what attracted me to them in the first place. They are workhorses, and I can’t be happier with them. I rolled up my jeans to showcase more of the boots, and to let the back tab — a very equestrian feature — peek out from underneath the rolls. This does shorten the leg line, but faux tucking the turtleneck and adding Gap’s Clean Leather Belt, which is low contrast to the turtleneck, helps lengthen the proportions. 

Monochrome

The shocking pink Primary Prime Clutch was my pink purchase for Breast Cancer Awareness month back in October. I’ve been sporting it all month and it’s a nice match with my pink man coat. I like its decidedly un-equestrian juxtaposition with the rest of the outfit.

This look has a high happiness factor because of my love for horses. It does not create a long lean line because of the high contrast between the boots, jeans, top and jacket. The components create strong horizontal lines across the outfit which shortens its visual effect. Wearing a column of colour under the jacket and self colour boots would look more conventionally flattering, slimming and lengthening. Yet not nearly as equestrian! Going with outfit proportions that are just flattering enough is very liberating and a lot more fun. 

These photos were taken in the Seattle arboretum, which is especially beautiful in the Autumn, and I also wore it the next day in the city with a client. We are lucky that Seattle has stunning parks close to the city centre, which means that I can feel equally at home with the mallards as I do in the hustle and bustle of city life.

Mallards

October Recap: Preparing for Winter

During October we spent a lot of time on knitwear, which makes sense as we move towards Winter in the northern hemisphere. Plus: five ensembles, another of Karen’s summer outfits and two more outstanding outfit bloggers. 

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October Recap Newsletter