My top picks for outerwear and jackets just went out, and it’s onto separates for round two. I’ve seen these items on my clients all week and can vouch for their fit, styling, colour, fabrication and workmanship. Do not worry if your size is out of stock. Items often come back into stock throughout the next fortnight as people return merchandise both online and in stores.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you check whether these items are also available in petites and plus sizes because quite a few of them go across the size spectrum.

Tops

• Vince Striped Boatneck Top: Size down for a less oversized look, or wear it true to size. I adore that dropped shoulder seam. Both colours are divine. 
• Only Mine Boxy Cashmere Sweater: If loosey-goosey cozy comfort is your thing, try this pullover. 
• Classiques Entier Nouveau Print Jersey Top: Gorgeous over a skirt or under a blazer. Graphic and fitted fabness. 
• Sandra Ingrish Roll Sleeve Denim Shirt: Nicely shaped and distressed. 
• Vince Camuto Contrast Trim Houndstooth Blouse: I bought this item because I can’t resist an oversized geometric pattern on a roomy blouse. 
• Hinge Foil Coated Sweater: A nod to the space age trend. It’s quite shiny and SO FUN. A perfect way to add casual shine to your wardrobe. 
• Vince Zip Front Silk Top: Elegant, oversized and modern. That zipper detail rocks. 
• Bellatrix Sheer V-Neck Blouse: Pretty and good on a full bust and strong shoulder line. 
• Bellatrix Sheer V-Neck Blouse: I liked this pattern even more. 
• Trina Turk ‘Rai’ Print Silk Blouse: A sublimely happy and bright blouse with a ’40s fit that looks so “now”. 
• Halogen Tipped Sweater Blazer: An easy and comfy pairing with a pencil skirt or dressy trousers for the office. 
• Trouvé Argyle Tunic Sweater: Feels like pajamas! Very grungy and adorable on a super casual day, 
• Halogen Leather Front Peplum Top: An on-trend peplum that looks great on its own or layered over a shirt or blouse. 
• Only Mine Zip Back Wool & Cashmere Sweater: I bought this in purple because it’s the silhouette of the season. Love the high-low hemline and fun back zipper detail. 
• Vince Camuto Banded V-Neck Top: Sleek, fitted and also a super layering piece. 
• L’AGENCE Star Print Shirt: Stars are the new polka dots and this blouse is slouchy and chic.
• Nic + Zoe Fall Foliage Cardigan: The front tailoring detail is unique. It’s not just that same old cardigan shape.
• Classiques Entier Panthere Cardigan: A different style of cardigan that looks great over a pencil skirt or trousers. 
• Diane von Furstenberg Bairly Louche Blouse: Bohemian pretty. Size up. 
• Foxcroft Dot Fitted Shirt: A simple classic that can be worn in many ways. 
• Foxcroft Roll Sleeve Tencel Shirt: Amazing fabric and fit! It’s like liquid denim. It floats away from the body in just the right way. IMPORTANT: The sleeves do not need to be rolled, nor do you need to hike them up showing the underside of the fabric. Size down.
• Valette Refined Wool Crewneck Sweater: I bought this in three colours because I crave very crisp, non-itchy, dressy, well made knitwear in fun brights. I love the back button detailing and the high neckline. Great worn on their own, or with a scarf, or as a layering piece. 

Skirts

• Classiques Entier Sunmosa Mixed Media Skirt: Fab vertical detailing and length. To my eye, even better than a full leather skirt. Different! 
• Halogen Pleat Front Check Skirt: Petite gals, try this one with a tucked in form fitting top and boots. Bring back a bit of the ’90s magic.
• Rachel Roy Crepe Combo Print Skirt: STUNNING. That inset panel is striking and slimming. 
• Sejour Mini Pleat Skirt: I loved this romantic and flirty style. 

Pants

• Halogen Taylor Curvy Fit Two Tone Pants: For the price, the fit and fabric of these darlings cannot be beat. 
• Halogen Quinn Plaid Straight Leg Pants: And the same goes for these although the fits were slightly different. 
• Wit & Wisdom Dot Print Denim Leggings: These also came in blue, but I vote burgundy because that’s the colour of the season. Size down. 
• Classiques Entier Jesi Trousers: I bought these because they are lined, warm, and swish in a non-fussy way when you stride. I am NOT a wide leg trouser gal but these changed my mind. 
• KUT from the Kloth Diana Skinny Jeans: Good grey colour and flattering fit. 
• Jag Jeans Malia Slim Leg Jeans: Extremely comfortable. Size down at least one size. 
• Lafayette 148 New York Irving Stretch Wool Pants: Streamlined and roomy all at once. 
• Theory Yanette Copenhagen Pants: I bought these and I can’t be more pleased with them. Modern! Size up because Theory runs small.
• Lafayette 148 New York Stretch Wool Pants: STUNNING wide leg trousers. Fluid and luxurious. Looks like they have almost run out of stock online, but stores should have an assortment of colours. 
• Paige ‘Hidden Hills’ Straight Leg Jeans (Fiji): If you’re still after premium denim straight leg jeans, these could fit the bill. 

Feel free to share your sale favourites and top picks in the comments section as this list is by no means exhaustive. Next up, my top picks list for footwear and accessories. 

After an exhausting, but extremely fun week of sale preselections with clients, here is the first of three posts sharing my top picks list for this year’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. Three things stood out for me this year. 

1. Nordstrom’s in-house brands were tops, and often outshone designer merchandise. 
2. Generally the photos online did not do the merchandise justice. 
3. There was lots of glorious colour. 

I’ve see these items on my clients and can vouch for their fit, styling, colour, fabrication and workmanship. Do not worry if your size is out of stock. Items often come back into stock during the next fortnight as people return merchandise both online and in stores.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you check whether these items are also available in petites and plus sizes in their respective departments because quite a few of them go across the size spectrum.

Outerwear

• Kenneth Cole New York Notch Collar Bouclé Coat: When will we see a coat in this colour and length again? Not soon! Runs a little snug on the arms so you might need to size up. Dramatic.
• Mackage Knit & Leather Trim Coat: A casual, yet very chic and interesting topper that’s lightweight and warm. 
• Betsey Johnson Animal Print Capelet: Arty fun all the way. Size down. 
• Michael Kors Belted Trench with Detachable Liner: Perfectly tailored with removable inner and hood. 
• DKNY Double Breasted Coat: The colour alone will launch you into orbit. Great strong shoulder line and fab textured fabric. 
• Elie Tahari Alice A-Line Jacket: So retro and different. The collar also functions as a hood. 
• Bernardo Packable Iridescent Down Walker: Great fit and colours. 
• Calvin Klein High Double Breasted Textured Peacoat: A Kate Spade lookalike. It’s so beautiful in the bright green I can’t stand it. I found the fabric a little scratchy, but no one else did so there you go.
• Zella Z Quilt Moto Jacket: It’s sports gear, ladies. And very unexpectedly I’m recommending it as fab casual wear because it’s pretty cool. 
• Kristen Blake Brocade Double Breasted Coat: A nod to the Baroque trend. Gorgeous jacquard fabrication. 
• Via Spiga Knit Collar Wool Blend Coat: A comfortable knitted number for the earthy ladies who do not want to wear animal print. 
• Miss Sixty Asymmetrical Soft Shell Jacket: A chic way to take a walk in the park or run errands in town. Love the gold hardware. 

Leather Jackets

• Bernardo Topstitch Leather Jacket: A lovely fit with fun, casual top stitch detailing. 
• Cole Haan Notch Collar Leather Jacket: If you’re after a tailored, classic and simple leather jacket — try this style. It will stand the test of time. My client Karen bought it in black. 
• Elie Tahari Tilly Leather Jacket: Gorgeously streamlined and crisp in both colours. Love the suede trim. 
• Buffalo by David Bitton Distressed Leather Jacket: A great rugged and casual look. 
• Marc New York Belted Leather Jacket: Try this jacket if olive is your colour. A super tailored fit and quite unique with the tie belt. 
• Laundry by Shelli Segal Asymmetrical Zip Colorblock Leather Jacket: So modern! But best on long waisted or tall gals. 
• Halogen Seamed Leather Jacket: I had mixed reviews with this jacket because the leather is not super soft. That said, it’s a fab fit on a full busted, curvy gal. 
• Veda Max Leather Jacket: Quite the show stopping silhouette. It looks equally good worn open and closed. 

Blazers and Jackets

• Zanella Shana Jacket: This item is so beautifully made and tailored, I almost cried when my client tried it on. It has incredible back and front panel detailing that does not come through in the photo. Stunning fabric.  
• Classiques Entier Pietra Leather Trim Jacket: A beautiful lightweight blazer with back and front leather and zipper trim that you can’t see on the photo. 
• Elie Tahari Exclusive for Nordstrom ‘Gabbie’ Jacket: Stunningly streamlined and tailored.  Excellent on petites with sleeve length alteration. Stretchy and very comfortable. 
• Vince Camuto One Button Blazer: Clean, crisp, classic, simple and happy. 
• Elie Tahari Exclusive for Nordstrom Patricia Blazer: Another fabulous streamlined blazer with lots of stretch for added comfort. 
• Amber Sun Double Breasted Jacket: Retro, and fab over a pencil skirt. 
• Classiques Entier Aster Weave Jacket: Chic with lots of waist definition. Loving all these one buttoned blazers. 
• Mcginn Asymmetrical Metallic Tweed Jacket: If you love this jacket, try it on. It’s a HUGE statement and has a lot of detailing. Surprisingly, two of my petite clients with long arms rocked this item – and my first thought was that the style would completely overwhelm them. That’s why you have to try things on! Their strong shoulder lines helped carry off the silhouette. 

Feel free to share your sale favourites and top picks in the comments section as this list is by no means exhaustive. Next up, my top picks list for tops and bottoms. 

We have some super talented DIY’ers on YLF, who might be inspired by this Etsy tutorial with a bit of a techie vibe. Crafter Sarah Goldschadt shows us how to make colourful rewired bracelets.

From artists creating bohemian-luxe pieces to one of a kind modern heirlooms, Refinery29 introduces us to 10 rising jewellery stars in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Washingtonian is quite adamant about it: if you buy just one accessory this Summer, then make it a gold statement cuff.

Fab Links from Our Members

MaryK says that the ladies at Fabulous after 40 have some great tips about how to prepare for a photo shoot. MaryK’s personal number one tip: wear brighter than usual lipstick.

Nordstrom is teaming up with Topshop, and Jamie is curious to see how this collaboration will take shape.

Angie loves this juxtaposition of casual grunge plaid with a ladylike clutch, and wants to wear this vibe for Autumn with a wide pair of trousers. Very wearable and modern.

Since packing for travel comes up regularly on YLF, Ornella thought many of us could take notes from Audi’s packing for France blog post.

Tracey found Suleika Jaouad’s musings on the effect of her illness on her style heartwarming and heartbreaking.

Tights and Tea shares an easy DIY for converting a bra to a low-back bra. Laurinda thought this very clever, especially because no advanced sewing skill is required.

KL has a thing for scarf knots and this one by blogger Sidewalk Ready is the coolest – and easiest – style she has picked up in a while.

Is a passion for fashion an unhealthy obsession and a frivolous pastime, or is it a legitimate form of self-expression and means of communication? Goldenpig is struggling with this question, and in that light recommends reading this interesting piece. 

CocoLion points us to Fashionologie, where you can find all the Fall 2012 campaigns in one place. Lots of eye candy, indeed!

Last but not least, a public service announcement for all our fab readers who sew, please don’t hold pins in your mouth.

I’ve noticed that retailers frequently use short shorts and high heeled footwear to amp up the cool-factor and fashionability-quotient of outfits these days. And sometimes the model’s outfit combines both short shorts and high heels. Incorporating them is the retailers shortcut to an increased style quotient. 

Although I don’t personally wear shorts that length and two inch heels are my “everyday” limit, I’m all for short shorts and high heeled footwear on others. These items can absolutely elevate the integrity of an outfit by making it look more fashionable, proportionately flattering, spunky, modern and stylish.

For those of us who don’t wear short shorts and high heels, it is up to us to visualize the look with bottoms and footwear that we would actually wear. That takes more effort and creativity on our part. And is the cool-factor and style-quotient of the ensemble reduced significantly when the short shorts and heels are substituted for other items?

Sometimes, I do believe that’s the case and I stay away from those types of outfits. For example, short shorts can add a level of “desirable youthful cheeky” to an outfit, especially when they are extra baggy and slouchy. Increase the length of the shorts and you’ve lost that cheeky integrity. Extra wide leg patterned trousers look better with high heels to my eye. Wear them with low heels or flats and and you’ll probably feel stumpy.

At other times, I believe that an ensemble can look just as fab with longer shorts and low heels. For example, see a great shirt or blouse matched with denim shorts shorts (I’m looking at you J.Crew) – substitute the shorts with your desired length. Knee length pencil skirts look as good with low heels and flats to my eye. 

And sometimes I believe that an outfit would look better with longer shorts or flat footwear. For example, tight shorts look better to me when they’re longer because I’m just not fond of anything overly tight and short. Choose one or the other. Think tapered Bermuda shorts that end above or on the knee. And flat footwear is the ideal way to dress down an outfit, add a bit of unexpected edge when everyone else is wearing high heels, and take the “sexy” out of a form fitting mini dress or skirt. 

When you’re uncomfortable wearing the items that are considered cool and fashionable in a given retail season, it’s up to you to create your own cool and fashionable version of the look. Although it would be helpful to see outfits styled with an assortment of heel heights and shorts lengths at retail, that just isn’t practical. And the silver lining is that the lack of a worked example forces us to be more creative, perhaps with results that are more unique. 

Personal style can be an expression of individuality. Instead of re-creating looks we see in stores, catalogues, online and on the street from head to toe, we can absorb the inspiration and make the look our own. That’s what a true sense of style is all about.