Nordstrom is offering many items at a steep discount over the Thanksgiving weekend. Today in particular, be sure to check out their Black Friday deals. If you are close to a physical store you can get an additional 20% off in some cases. 

They are also running their designer clearance sale at the moment, so some markdowns will continue into the new year. Here are some of my top picks. 

• Elizabeth And James 'Patti' Plaid Quilted Moto Jacket: A plaid moto is a breath of fresh air. Looks as great worn unzipped and open.
• Rick Owens Zip Detail Pencil Skirt: A formfitting tubular pencil skirt that's best on an apple or inverted triangular body type. Check out the fun back detail.
• RED Valentino Bow Detail Tapered Pants: The little black pant is a handy piece to have for the holidays. The tapered leg on these make them extra practical and easy to wear with pumps, flats or booties. Fun bow detail on the ankle.
• Cédric Charlier Intarsia Merino Wool Sweater: A structured piece with an unusual pattern to wear with dressy black pants.
• Alice + Olivia Asymmetrical Wool Blend Sweater: An asymmetrical tunic to wear over leather jeggings for the holidays.
• Nordstrom Signature Waffle Knit Cashmere Turtleneck: An oversized and extra roomy pullover for casual yet fashionable days at home.
• Mcginn 'Dore' Animal Pattern Sweater: Fashionably roomy and super cute over a pencil skirt.
• Jean Paul Gaultier Print Sheer Inset Sweater: Fitted, fancy and festive for the holidays. It's sheer and very lightweight, so not at all insulating.
• 3.1 Phillip Lim 'Quinn' Loafer (Women): These chunky loafers create a refined look on the foot. I didn't find them all that comfy, so they'll be suited to less fussy feet.
• Eddie Borgo 'Medium Supra' Link Bracelet: A chunky bracelet with a high longevity factor.
• Rag & Bone/JEAN 'The Dre' Slim Fit Boyfriend Jeans (Classic): I keep on recommending these boyfriend jeans because of their semi relaxed fit, which makes them more structured than regular boyfriend jeans. I have many, many happy clients in these jeans. You might need to size up a size.
• Current/Elliott 'The Ankle' Destroyed Skinny Jeans (Fool's Gold): A pair of shiny jeans is great to wear over the holidays. Wear boots with higher shafts for extra lower leg coverage. You might need to size up a size. These made it into my shopping basket because I've found metallic jeans versatile and fun to wear throughout the year.
• Faith Connexion Crepe Pants: Roomy crepe pants with a tapered ankle are great to wear in semi casual settings or to work in a business casual setting.
• Prada Buckle Pump: A nude pump with a manageable heel and high longevity factor. Runs large so size down a size.
• Rag & Bone x Coogi Knit Skirt: A stretchy knit skirt in a fashion forward print that's thick and substantial. Great longer length.
• T By Alexander Wang Textured Leather Moto Jacket: A cropped black moto jacket with a fashionably boxy torso fit. It's heavyweight and quite streamlined.
• Mcginn Windowpane Check Sweater: A trendy boxy windowpane pullover. The bracelet length sleeves are particularly roomy, so consider yourself warned.
• 3.1 Phillip Lim 'Small Ryder' Satchel: A gorgeous crossbody bag in a cracked white leather. It looks as distressed as it does refined.
• Alice + Olivia 'Scarlit' Sequin Embellished Sweatshirt: A simple grey sweatshirt with subtle sparkle to pull out for a festive occasion. The welt makes it easy to pair with both pencil and flared skirts, or sleek and roomy pants.
• Tod's Kiltie Oxford (Women): The golf shoe makes a fun statement in an on trend flat oxford. Fab with tapered full-length pants or jeans.

Enjoy the long weekend!

Black Friday is traditionally one of the biggest shopping days in the United States because it kicks off the holiday purchasing season. Each year, many retailers offer deep discounts and interesting deals. If you’re planning on doing a spot of online shopping over the Thanksgiving weekend, then this roundup might come in handy. 

• ASOS: 30% off everything until 11/30 (code: TGIBF!).
• Nordstrom: Great deals from top brands for Women, Men and Kids plus free shipping and free returns until 11/28.
• Yoox: Extra 20% off all orders until 12/01 (code: YOOXGIVING).
• J.Crew Factory: 50% off everything and free shipping for orders $50+ until 11/30 (code: THANKS).
• Macy’s: Extra 15% off Thanksgiving Sale and Black Friday Specials until 11/29 (code: THANKS).
• Bloomingdale’s: Up to 50% off selected items sitewide plus free shipping until 11/29.
• Saks Fifth Avenue: Up to 60% off select designer merchandise until 11/29.
• Oasis (US): 30% off full-price items for today 11/28 only (code: FRIDAY30).
• J.Crew: 30% off select full-price styles and 40% off sale until 11/30 (code: HOLIDAY).
• Brooks Brothers: 15% off your entire purchase and free shipping until 11/29.
• Club Monaco: Up to 30% off everything sitewide until 11/30 (code: TGIBF).
• Vince Camuto: 40% off for today 11/28 only (code: BFRIDAY40).
• Anthropologie: 25% off all items for today 11/28 only (code: HOLIDAY25).
• Lane Bryant: 50% off sitewide for today 11/28 only (code: HOLIDAYLB!).
• Topshop: 30% off select lines, 2 for 1 on sale items, and 30% off all jewellery until 12/01.
• Karen Millen: 30% off full price collection until 12/01 (code: KMCYBER1).
• Last Call: Up to 60% off everything for today 11/28 only.
• Ann Taylor: 50% off your entire purchase until 11/28 (code: THANKS).
• LOFT: 50% off your entire purchase for today 11/28 only (code: TREAT).
• Express: 50% off every single item and free shipping on all orders until 11/28.
• Boden: 30% off everything plus free shipping and returns until 11/30.
• Shopbop: Spend $250 and save 15%, spend $500 and save 20%, spend $1000 and save 25% until 12/01 (code: GOBIG14).
• Eddie Bauer: 30% off your entire purchase plus free shipping and returns on all orders for today 11/28 only (code: FROSTY).
• Gap: 50% off everything until 11/28 (code: BLKFRIDAY).
• Banana Republic: 50% off 1 full-priced item and 40% off your purchase until 11/28 (code: BRFORTY).
• Old Navy: Up to 50% off everything until 11/28.
• Piperlime: 25% off until 11/28 (code: THANKFUL25).
• Amazon: Spend $100 and receive 30% off Fashion until 11/30.

Happy shopping!

We’re on holiday in sunny Kwazulu Natal, South Africa at the moment and therefore not celebrating a traditional American Thanksgiving with friends. Spending quality time with Greg’s parents reminds me how thankful I am to have such wonderful parents and parents in law, so I’d like to dedicate this post to them. 

I won the lottery with my parents in law. I have known them for many years and every year I’m more in awe of their wonderful attitude to life. Their get-on-with-it attitude, entrepreneurial spirit, and incredible work ethic made them successful in the businesses that they started and ran together. They are positive, humble and generous, and laugh a lot every day. They are truly role models to Greg and me.

Tuppy, who is in her seventies, has the energy of an active youngster. She’ll run circles around you with a smile on her face and a wicked dry sense of humour. I love the way Tuppy appreciates the smallest things. She is the best host: thoughtful, sensitive and gentle. An excellent listener who is completely engaged when you speak to her. Her quiet confidence and tenacity inspire me no end

Gerald is extremely extraverted and can strike up a rapport with anyone. It’s quite amazing to see him in action. He has an incredible eye for detail, is a talented artist, and can’t help but get excited about whatever it is that you’re excited about. I love his genuine enthusiasm.

Gerald and Tuppy celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary last week. Here’s a photo of them back in the early ‘60s in Harare.

My Papa is an absolute sweetheart and a very charming man. He’s gentle, worldly, intelligent, conscientious, generous, and has the best bellowing laugh. A chartered accountant by profession, he doesn’t miss a trick when it comes to numbers. Since my mother passed away 14 years ago he has lived in his hometown in the Netherlands. I am extremely grateful that he manages so well on his own at age 83. He is the most independent, hardy and resourceful man I know. We speak on the phone daily since Mama’s passing, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

My Mama, who you may have met through my annual Mother’s Day posts, is the person responsible for my interest in fashion and style. Like my Papa, she was a survivor, and it’s ironic that she passed away at age 59 after overcoming much childhood adversity. But her life improved dramatically after she met my Papa, which warms my heart each time I think about it. Mama had many great qualities, but it’s her unconditional love and tigress protection for those she loved that tops them all. Without a doubt, she would go through fire for her children and dogs. Here’s a photo of my Mum and Dad soon after they were engaged back in Hong Kong, also in the early ‘60s.

Tuppy, Gerald, Papa and Mama, thank you for being our role models. I am thinking extra hard of you today and love you very much.

We at YLF wish you a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving weekend.

It’s the day before Thanksgiving, which means that the holiday season has officially started in the US. So lets talk about your preferred dress code for the holidays. Do you like to dress up, or keep it low key and casual? 

During the holidays I like the combination of dressing up for fancy events, AND keeping it casual, yet festive, with a pair of jeans or trousers for more relaxed settings. I usually wear a dressy pair of trousers with a pullover for the Thanksgiving day feast with friends. Sometimes I pull out a fun full midi skirt and pair it with a fluid and welted pullover. 

I like to be extra dressy for our annual holiday dinner with close friends in December. The men go all out and wear suits, so I like to wear a more formal outfit like a lace skirt with a sparkly top, a suit, or a party dress. Sometimes we also have a fancy holiday bash at home, and I request a formal dress code. That way I can wear my party dress again. 

I enjoy dressing up jeans for Christmas Eve dinner, which we often have at a restaurant. This year I’ll probably wear my Glitzy Urban Equestrian outfit. I’m usually in fancy trousers with a fluid top for Christmas day, which we also tend to spend with friends and family. This year I feel like wearing my ink blue silky upscale track pants with a sparkly blue pullover and gold booties. A day or two before New Year we usually go out to a more casual restaurant for dinner, so I’m back to dressing up a pair of jeans.

Although I wear both dressy and smart casual clothes over the holidays, I do feel robbed of a fun fashion moment when we don’t have an extra dressy event scheduled. I am Team Dressy for the Holidays. 

Over to you. Do you bat for Team Casual or Team Dressy for the Holidays? Tell us why and no batting for both teams. But if you’re sitting this one out on the bench because you can’t pick a side, I’ve arranged a vegetarian curry with sticky rice, banana salad and cucumber atchar.