Here are my top picks of the blouses, shirts, knitted tops and knitwear. None of the knitwear listed here is scratchy. Browse through all the colour options and check availability across petite and plus sizes. Most regular sized items worked well on petites in my experience during early access. Regular sized merchandise often includes a size 14 and 16, and oversized regular styles can fit plus sizes.

Note that sizes do come back into stock over the course of the two week sale, so keep checking the items for your size.

• Tory Burch 'Kaitlyn' Print Stretch Silk Shirt: This shirt fits better than an Equipment blouse. Fab on petite hourglasses and pear shaped gals. Ink blue and rich brown is a fresh combination.
• Kenneth Cole New York 'Buffy' Chiffon Overlay Knit Top (Petite): An excellent blouse for business formal and casual and well suited to apple shaped body types with shorter necks and a larger bust. Layers well under a blazer.
• Hinge Lace Detail Three Quarter Sleeve Blouse: Pretty Boho Casual at its best. Fun with a pair of faded blue jeans and earthy sandals. Non-scratchy.
• Theory 'Sala' Silk Top: Stunningly elegant untucked over jeans, cigarette pants, or trousers. The back pleats provide structure and interest. The front zipper is unexpected and refined. Gorgeous fabric and forgiving on the midsection.
• Bellatrix Print Faux Wrap Front Blouse: An inexpensive drape front blouse that works well on its own and under a jacket. Very forgiving on the midsection and no camisole required. Runs very big. Size down one or two sizes.
• Pleione Split Neck Blouse (Regular & Petite): A more streamlined version of the Bellatrix drape front blouse. Great diagonal sleeve, and is best partially tucked in front.
• Pleione Mixed Media Tunic: A simple and comfy tunic suited to apple shaped body types. Fab over leggings.
• Boss 'Bashina' Fitted Cotton Blend Pinstripe V-Neck Blouse: Impeccable tailoring and scrumptious fabric. The midsection is fitted with darts and two side zippers. Works on a long torso. Sleeves scrunch extra well for a more relaxed vibe.
• Foxcroft Three Quarter Sleeve Print Shirt (Regular & Petite): This works particularly well on a curvy petite. Shaped yet relaxed. The pattern looks better in person. Easy to pair with just about any bottom.
• Halogen Tencel® Denim Shirt (Regular & Petite): Super soft tencel is gorgeous because it drapes back onto the body unlike stiff denim. The best part about this shirt is that it comes in white.
• Lafayette 148 New York 'Leora - Excursion Stretch' Blouse: An excellent semi-tailored white shirt for tall gals because of the length, front placket detail, back pleat design, curved hemline, and beautiful fabric.
• Hinge Double Face Cotton Shirt: A shirt with a subtle plaid design in muted tones of mauve and taupe. Lovely palette.
• BP Plaid Cotton Shirt (Juniors): This shirt is available across an assortment of plaid designs. Soft, fluid and fun over a matching camisole that picks up one of the colours in the plaid. Size up a size.
• Boss 'Bashina' Blouse: One of my clients wore this shirt tucked into the pleated leather Halogen skirt - another top pick - and the combination was killer. The shirt is beautifully made, tailored, and has cuffs on the sleeves that can be worn down or back.
• Treasure&Bond Plaid Shirt: A nostalgic grunge or cowgirl look with jeans and boots. Fab length for tall gals. Wear over a lacy tank top. Runs big so size down.
• Nordstrom Collection 'Abella' High/Low Shirttail Hem Poplin Blouse: Another great white shirt in gorgeous fabric for tall gals. The high-low hemline and fluid fit are on trend.
• Halogen Zip Pocket V-Neck Cardigan (Regular & Petite): If you're after a simple V-neck cardigan with a little shape, try this style. The front zippers provide visual interest. All colours are fab.
• Kenneth Cole New York 'Marabelle' Sweater (Regular & Petite): Cascading and drapey, and as great on petites as regular height gals. Non-scratch. The cream is particularly nice.
• Pure Amici Oversized Cashmere Sweater Jacket: One of the best oversized pieces at the sale. Surprisingly, it works as well for petites as it does for tall gals. AMAZING. The design, although oversized, is not overwhelming. Genius. The fabric is very soft and drapes back onto the body. The dropped shoulder is flattering, fashionable and chic.
• Lafayette 148 New York Bateau Neck Matte Crepe Sweater: Awful hanger appeal, but super once fitted on the body. Modern and very fashionable. Size down a size.
• BP Stripe Elbow Patch V-Neck Sweater (Juniors): An inexpensive, lightweight V-neck pullover with equestrian elbow patches. Size up.
• BP Open Knit Cotton Pullover (Juniors): A breezy, cropped and boxy high-low pullover that's great layered over a tank top. A good way to road-test the trendy look without breaking the bank.
• Joie 'Manuela' Genuine Rabbit Fur Collar Cardigan: A luxurious and dramatic higher-end piece. It fits like a cape-cardigan. Avant-garde.
• Nordstrom Collection Ballet Neck Cashmere Sweater: A no-nonsense cashmere pullover that's simple and on trend. The slits on the welt are fabulous, and the neckline works well on a larger bust. You might need to size down.
• Equipment 'Ceclie' Wool Blend Sweater: A very casual pullover with a straight, fluid fit. Ideal paired with jeans.
• Colorblock Cotton Blend Sweater: Graphic, fun, semi-fitted, and lightweight. Runs small so size up. Not suited to apple shaped body types.
• Joie 'Anelia B.' Turtleneck: Roomy, modern and texture-rich. Runs big and long. Does not work on a short neck. Beautiful quality.
• MARC BY MARC JACOBS 'James' Sweater: Hectically oversized and fashion forward. Love the side entry pockets.
• Pure Amici Oversized Cashmere V-Neck Sweater: The second best oversized item at the sale. Like the Pure Amici Oversized Sweater Jacket, the drape and design are genius. It works as well on petites as it does on tall gals. Brilliant on a shorter neck and larger bust. Fashionable, comfy and cozy. Brilliant paired with brown leather leggings.
• Tildon Sheer V-Neck Cardigan: A refined, gauzy and sparkly olive cardigan. The back shadow stripe is texture-rich. Works well over a sheath dress.
• Caslon Split Back High/Low Sweater (Regular & Petite): A little daytime sparkle with lots of back action. Love the vented back tail. Tailored sleeves provide ample structure.
• Halogen High/Low Cashmere Tunic Sweater (Regular & Petite): This pullover is for Team Tall, full stop. An easy pull-on-and-go over leggings or jeans.
• Caslon Knit Tunic (Regular & Petite): This tunic worked a lot better on petites and regular height gals. Fab paired with the Lyssé leggings with a high and wide waistband.
• Vince Camuto Sheer Stripe Cotton Blend Sweater (Regular & Petite): Sheer, pretty, versatile and simple. Dress it up or down. The white looks as good as the black.
• Eileen Fisher Cozy Scrunch Neck Top (Regular & Petite): A drapey lightweight piece that collapses back onto the body. Interesting diagonal and vertical stripes. Size down.
• Eileen Fisher Scrunch Neck Stripe Sweater (Plus Size): Here in plus sizes.
• Autumn Cashmere Open Front Knit Cardigan: A refined, high-end piece with pretty cable stitches. Beautifully soft and cozy. Tailored. Works quite well on petites.
• Barefoot Dreams 'Bamboo Chic' Drape Front Cardigan (Plus Size) (Nordstrom Exclusive): A cardigan that works as a casual topper, a robe, or lounging piece. It's just about the softest fabric I've touched, and made of bamboo.
• Halogen Textured Jacquard Sweater (Regular & Petite): An excellent pullover shaped like an upscale sweatshirt. Cozy, modern and versatile. I liked the black and grey patterns best. Size down.
• Halogen Jacquard Crewneck Sweater (Plus Size) (Online Only): Here in plus sizes.
• Halogen Shoulder Zip Intarsia Sweater (Regular & Petite): Super fabulous over skirts and with slouchy trousers. Love the shoulder zipper detail. Runs small so size up.
• Halogen Novelty Print Cotton Sweater (Regular & Petite): A happy, lightweight pullover that's a Ted Baker lookalike. The back is just as fab as the front. Might run a little small. No need to layer it over a shirt.
• Hinge Burnout Dot Sweater: A very lightweight pullover that's fab over a tank and super paired with a skirt. Runs small.
• Lafayette 148 New York Pleated V-Neck Top (Petite): A tailored V-neck pullover that's great combined with business formal separates. Clings a little on the midsection so consider yourself warned.
• Equipment 'Sloane' Print Cashmere Sweater: This little darling is poorly styled in the photos because it looks best worn on its own sans the shirt. It's a refined, fluid and beautifully made piece that came home with me. I'm not into grey but the blue flowers and cream snakeskin patterns made the look for me. I LOVE this pullover.
• Halogen Dolman Sleeve Embellished Sweatshirt (Regular & Petite): A love bug look. Soft and comfy.
• Hinge Burnout Damask Sweater: Don't wear this sweater over a shirt like in the photo because it's too delicate. Wear it over a tank top and Bob's your Uncle. Soft, feminine and alluring. Runs small.
• Diane von Furstenberg 'Shara' Lace Appliqué Wool Sweater: A pretty, ladylike and refined piece that's fab paired with a pencil skirt. Might run a little small.
• Rag & Bone/JEAN 'Camden' Long Sleeve Tee (Nordstrom Exclusive): Boxy and fashionable fabness. Excellent drape.
• Caslon Pointelle Dot Tee: If you're looking for a simple, soft drapey tee with a diagonal sleeve, try this style. It's particularly good on tall gals.
• Hinge Lace Sleeve Tee: Super cute on a straighter body type. It's more pink in person and runs small so size up.
• Boss Elbow Sleeve Print Jersey Top: A luxurious drapey knitted top that works well on a larger bust. Forgiving on the midsection, and as fab layered under a blazer.
• Two by Vince Camuto Shadow Stripe V-Neck Tee: A good drapey tee with a little sparkle and V-neck. Runs small.
• Vince Camuto Faux Wrap Top (Regular & Petite) (2 for $69): Easy to launder and wrinkle-resistant. Excellent layered under a blazer.
• Wildfox 'Mauve Dots' Pullover (Nordstrom Exclusive): A pajama-esque top that can be worn as casual wear. As cozy as it gets. Runs big so size down.
• Eileen Fisher V-Neck Stretch Knit Top (Regular & Petite): My six foot tall size 14 client fitted this on in blue and took my breath away. Brilliantly camouflaging on the midsection. Dramatic, comfy and relaxed. Gorgeous fabric.
• Chelsea28 Textured Mixed Knit Shell: A vest to layer over shirts, or to wear as is with a leather skirt. I haven't layered a sleeveless pullover over a shirt for years, and am in the mood for the combination. Its black and white textured sparkle adds life to the grey, so it followed me home.

Feel free to ask further questions about the items in the comments section.

Also at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2014

• Dresses and Activewear
• Bottoms
• Jackets and Coats
• Footwear and Handbags

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale has officially begun. It’s my favourite sale of the year and a particularly big event in Seattle, which is home to Nordstrom’s headquarters and flagship store. The sale offers hot off the press new merchandise for Fall and Winter at reduced prices for a period of two weeks. This sale kicks off the new retail season and is NOT an end of season sale. Prices go back up on August 4. 

I’ve spent a week preselecting the sale with my clients. They cover a range of body types, lifestyles and style personas, and we found many good items across an assortment of price points. Don’t be put off by the appearance of the items in the online photos, because they often look better in person. Be sure to check all the colour options and availability across petite and plus sizes.

I’m kicking off with dresses because for the first time ever, clients came home with plenty of Fall frocks thanks to sleeves and extra hem length. All of these top picks were winners on one or more of my clients. Surprisingly, most regular sized merchandize worked well on petite clients this year, and regular sized merchandise often includes a size 14 and 16.

Note that sizes do come back into stock over the course of the two weeks so keep checking the items for your size.

Dresses

• Theory 'Keiran' Leather Accent Dress: Although short, this dress is fabulous over black leggings with a high and wide waistband to prevent lumps and bumps on the midsection. Comfy, sleek and a little edgy. Fab on pear shaped gals. Runs small.
• Eileen Fisher Ballet Neck Handkerchief Hem Jersey Dress (Regular & Petite): Arty, comfy and plenty of length. Does not cling on the midsection. Fab with a pair of tall or short boots. Runs large.
• Taylor Dresses Pintuck Detail Ponte Sheath Dress: A fashionable and sleek dress. Severe, strict and very black, but killer and elegant nonetheless. It's surprisingly forgiving on the midsection. Works well on a curvy hourglass.
• Adrianna Papell Crackle Print Sheath Dress (Regular & Petite): Sleek, simple, slimming and professional. Forgiving on the midsection. Excellent for the office with or without a jacket. The petite is short, so order the regular for extra length.
• Diane von Furstenberg 'New Jeanne 2' Print Silk Wrap Dress (Online Only): DVF wraps with collars and extra length work particularly well on curvy clients. The fabric is heavenly. You might need to size up.
• Classiques Entier Ponte Knit V-Neck Sheath Dress: A V-neck sheath is hard to find, and this one is stellar on a larger bust and shorter neck. Excellent on a curvy hourglass. Covered, forgiving on the tummy, and professional. Tailored but not overly tight. Gorgeous colours. I vote burgundy or teal.
• Nic + Zoe 'Twirl' Pattern Knit Dress: A fun and flirty woolly, but non-itchy, Fall frock. Add brown knee-high boots and you're done. Excellent on pear shaped gals.
• Laundry By Shelli Segal Matte Jersey Shirtdress (Regular & Petite): A graphic and straight shirtdress that's good on an inverted triangle. Can be worn as a tunic.
• Marc New York By Andrew Marc Colorblock Sheath Dress: A modern classic and chic sheath with visually slimming colour blocked panels. Excellent on both an hourglass and rectangle.
• Tory Burch Print Jersey Crepe Sheath Dress: This dress was one of my favourites at the sale because the fabric is extra luxurious. The neckline looks high but it works for a shorter neck and larger bust because it creates a slight cowl when worn on the body. The ruched panel on the midsection is flattering, as is the sleeve and hem length.
• Eliza J Front Zip Houndstooth Jacquard Fit & Flare Dress (Regular & Petite): A fun fit-and-flare with delicious side entry pockets. Great fabric too. Fab on petite hourglass and pear shapes.
• Classiques Entier Structured Ponte Knit Sheath Dress: This dress surprised me the most at the sale because it has little hanger appeal, but looks like a million bucks on the body. The baby peplum is extremely flattering on the midsection. There are architectural pleats on the back of the sleeves that look extra chic. All colours are fab.
• Vince Camuto Lace Hem Sheath Dress: A fab sheath for a straighter body type. The lace trim is beautiful, modest, and breaks up the column of black. This would have been mine if I was looking for a black sleeveless sheath dress. It's knitted and comfy.
• Nicole Miller Ruched Ponte Sheath Dress: Fab on a broad shouldered gal. Great back pleat ruching.
• Taylor Dresses Floral Print Scuba Sheath Dress (Regular & Petite): Machine washable and super lightweight. Tailored but not body con. The mesh insets on the neckline are a fun touch.
• Taylor Dresses Print Scuba Sheath Dress (Plus Size) (Online Only): Machine washable and super lightweight. Tailored but not body-con. The mesh insets on the neckline are a fun touch. Here in plus sizes.
• Adrianna Papell Placed & Print Lace Sheath Dress (Regular & Petite): A lace pattern topped with lace trim makes for an interesting combination. A super sheath for the office. Forgiving on the midsection.
• Betsey Johnson Jacquard Knit Sheath Dress: This was another frock favourite because the fabric is thick and super soft. I love that the print was more cream than black. The neckline looked great on everyone too. Tailored but not body con.
• Vince Camuto Long Sleeve Jacquard Sheath Dress: A beautiful dress on an inverted triangle with a narrower hip. It's quite forgiving on the midsection, but not overly so. Fab weighty fabric. Fresh brown pattern with leather trim.
• Sejour Leather & Ponte Knit Fit & Flare Dress (Plus Size): A flirty fit-and-flare with a hard edge. The back of the bodice is knitted which provides extra comfort. Layer a shirt or tee under for cooler weather. Looks fun with an unzipped bomber jacket too.

Activewear

• Zella 'Live In' Cross Dye Capris: A great workout bottom for Summer. Thick, supportive and breathable. I vote blue.
• Zella 'Live In' Reversible Capris: These are reversible and fit in a similar way.
• Zella 'Live In' Leggings (Plus Size): Here's the longer version in plus sizes, which work as well under tunics as they do for working out.
• Zella 'Live In' Leggings (Cross Dye): These are the longer version of the shorter pair for cooler weather.
• Zella 'Live In' Eclipse Space Dye Capris: These were the favourites because the fabric is thicker and the pattern quite flattering. The grey cross dye is a nice change from black.
• Zella 'Live In' Eclipse Space Dye Capris (Plus Size): Here in plus sizes.
• Zella 'City' Shorts (Online Only): If tight activewear is not your thing, consider a pair of baggy city shorts for workout wear. They are fab to lounge in at home too.
• Zella 'City' Shorts (Plus Size): Here in plus sizes.
• Zella 'Pretty' Hoodie (Plus Size): A beautifully made activewear jacket in a substantial fabric. Shaped and longer in length with thumb holes. Warm and flattering.
• Zella 'Pretty' Hoodie: Here in regular sizes.
• Zella 'Easy' Hooded Top: This top runs small so size up a size. It's got a great V-neck and slimming front panels that are forgiving on the midsection.
• Zella 'Easy' Hooded Top (Plus Size): Here in plus sizes.
• Zella 'Essential' Jacket: This little jacket is fab on petites because it's shorter than the other styles. Tight and sleek.

Feel free to ask further questions about size, colour and fit in the comments section, and let’s get you sorted.

Also at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2014

• Tops
• Bottoms
• Jackets and Coats
• Footwear and Handbags

With the photography series “Revolutions“, photographer Yvette Meltzer has turned laundry into art. About the pictures she took of clothes rising and falling in laundromat dryers, she says: “It wasn’t until I went to the computer to upload the photos that I saw the images that emerged in many of the dryer photos and I was mesmerized. Therein, I saw faces and forms of both people and animals.”

Refinery29 has an interesting article (with example photos) about The Zarafication of Fashion Photography.

Here’s a peek at some of the artworks on display in the “Don’t Stop Now: Fashion Photography Next” exhibition that is currently showing in Amsterdam.

Have you read this interesting New York Times article about how more and more people are hiring a professional photographer to shoot profile shots for their Facebook, Twitter and other social media accounts?

Fab Links from Our Members

Amiable just discovered the blog Unfancy, and really likes Caroline’s small, remixable capsules.

Banoff and Joy both enjoyed this Wall Street Journal article on Five Ways to Avoid Shopping Mistakes. Realizing that everyone makes these mistakes, made Joy feel better, and reinforces the thought that one should really love an item… or leave it for someone else. 

MsMary reports that Barbra Streisand built a shopping mall in her basement to store her awesome stuff. And then Jonathan Tolin wrote a hilarious play about it.

Annagybe is very taken with Rodebjer, a Swedish, new-to-her label that she learnt about over at The Man Repeller.

As some YLF forum members are currently on SYC (shop your closet) or participating in No-Buy July, La Belle Demimondaine thought this post on overestimating willpower was a timely read.

Vildy is fed up with carrying a purse as they seem to affect her posture, and crossbodies cause discomfort by pressing against her neck. So she is thinking about trying a hip fanny pack, and this pinboard provides great inspiration.

Real Simple has 20 Tips to Make Your Wardrobe Last. Joy liked hints such as wearing wool athletic socks to prevent foot odour in sneakers.

Angie enjoyed reading the story behind singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat’s song and powerful video about unfair beauty ideals.

For a few years now it has been hard to find wardrobe items in dark brown. The neutral fell off the fashion radar and for six years it’s been all about black and shades of grey. Ink blue returned two years ago and is gaining momentum, but still not much brown. 

Well, I’ve just spent a week shopping the preselections of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale with clients for Fall and Winter 2014 and I’m happy to say that dark brown is back. It was well represented in clothing, outerwear and footwear. There was even dark brown underwear and sleepwear. And of course, handbags in all shades of brown. 

This is great news for lovers of dark brown. Although I’m not drawn to it for my own style, the assortment of brown merchandise went down well with most of my clients. It looked particularly sensational on those who wear earth tones well. We built beautiful Fall and Winter capsules around dark brown by combining it with dusty pinks, mauves, burgundy, denim blue, cream and olive. The browns looked very fresh against the usual sea of black and grey. 

It’s been a LONG time since we’ve had black, grey, ink blue and brown all making a fashionable statement in the same season. I love it. This level of variety should be available every season. Aside from being a great option in itself, dark brown looks great combined with other dark neutrals like black, ink or grey. Mixing it up is what 2014 fashion is all about.