Ok, so all the energy around the Nordstrom anniversary sale on this forum made me very excited to go to the store (originally I had just planned on some online shopping.) I loved when Ana and Patience made plans to go together, so I looked for a shopping friend, too, and Sihaya and I met up at the BelSquare Nordstrom this morning before work. We’ve known each for several years but have never gone shopping together, but I knew it would be great fun and that we’d be very compatible, since we’re both drawn to color and a funky and sometimes bolder style. We’re also both quite honest and direct, which is great when trying on outfits – sometimes you just gotta hear things like “this washes you out” or “watch the pooch in that top”. Sihaya had little time, so I went earlier and hit the clothes on the second floor by myself, and then we browsed shoes and B.P. together. It was SO MUCH FUN!

First, I am just awed by the Nordstrom staff’s professionalism and attitude. It was definite crowded and slightly chaotic in some places, but the sales ladies were all so calm and friendly and helpful, it was amazing. And they had so many people working, both the cash registers and on the floor. I don’t even know where they got all these people from (I heard that no one is off today, so they just call in the whole sales force.) The customer service was VERY impressive.

Now, here is what I bought:

The brown tweed skirt with the full length zipper down the front that I had eyed in the catalogue (classiques entrier). I love it, it’s stylish and sassy, and appeals to my “naughty librarian/secretary” fantasy.
I figure I’ll wear my slim brown heeled boots with it for a sleeker look, and my black riding style boots with buckles for a funkier look.

A top in two shades of fuchsia with black and a little bit of blue (Semantiks). Great colors for me (I love that there is so much fuchsia this fall!) and it fits perfectly. It’ll be great over jeans. Kind of one of those “no brainer” purchases.

A dark grey tweed jacket with black leather piping and pleats that flare out in the back (Semantik). Nice cut and detail, and it fits perfectly. It’ll be a notch up from what I usually wear at work, definitely a "go to" piece for professional occasions, but I also plan to wear it with jeans and fall flats for regular days.) Tried to take a picture showing the detail in the back but that didn't work.

A short sleeved jacket in very fine black corduroy (Halogen). It’s more casual and I think I’ll get a lot of wear out of it. I plan to wear it over patterned long sleeve tops for a funky look (with jeans.)

The one item I’m not sure I’ll keep is a short sleeved cardi in a red that is somehow between coral and berry, from the B.P. department. It’s fine, and I wanted a red cardi, it just seems nothing special (and of course looks really blah compared to all the wonderful fall purchases above.) I’ll keep the tags on for now and will decide in a couple days whether I keep it.

I took pictures of everything. Excuse the lousy picture quality and the lack of actual outfits with the new items, I was in a rush to get back to work (and still haven’t figured out optimal photo taking conditions.) http://s291.photobucket.com/al.....sary-sale/ (password is “youlookfab”)d

I also got Oroblu fishnet hose, a fun pair of tights in a red and black diamond pattern (fun and bold), and a Natori bra.

I was not successful in the shoe section, though. I tried on these FABULOUS Stuart Weitzman pull-on-boots, can’t find them on the Nordstrom site, they were similar to these but with a croc style leather (http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/41576537/c/89.html) They were killer, but I’m really not looking for such a dramatic shiny pair of boots right now and so the $350 price tag (on sale from over $500) was prohibitive. (They also didn’t fit 100% right, which made it even easier to hand them back.) I’ll be patient since I figure there’ll be many more boots coming out.

Sihaya and I both tried on Me Too flats for the first time. http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/29.....rchresults You gals are right – the fit is just amazing, we felt like we had no shoes on. However, we both were looking for black fall flats, and found the Me Too in the black leather just a tad too basic/boring. If they came in a shinier leather etc. I would have gotten them (what a great price at $49!) Sihaya did get a super pair of grey suede wedge Me Too’s, with some button detail, they are awesome and I hope she’ll model them for us

I drooled over a few items in the designer section, including a Trina Turk jacket and a Nanette Lepore blouse, but I didn’t even try them on, since fortunately they weren’t really in styles that suit me well, and I’m not looking to spend that kind of money anyway. So no huge temptations for me.

It was a fab and fun couple hours!