What an adventure this week was!

I went to Chicago this past Monday for a conference. I was very excited about this conference and hadn't really given much thought to what else I would do when I was in Chicago. Finding myself there with a couple of hours to kill before the reception, I decided to take a stroll on Michigan Avenue - and, lo and behold, 2 minutes walk from my hotel, a GIANT Nordstrom.

I had never been to Nordstrom before and had no idea the sale was still on!! I had assumed it was already over (I wasn't following it too closely as I had decided not to shop from Canada), and I actually tend to stay away from department stores as they overwhelm me.

But - armed with Angie's picks and all the amazing choices from forum mmebres - I bravely walked in. And it was a miracle. EVERYTHING I asked about - they had in MY SIZE. And IT FIT. The salespeople kept exclaiming, over and over, "I didn't even know we had that size! We've been sold out for days!" It was shopping serendipity!

First I went to the shoe section, and after reviewing Angie's blog post, decided I wanted to the picolino bootie in black as I needed to replace my black booties. There it was, as if waiting for me! Perfect fit.

Then I went upstairs to Ladies Apparel. The first thing on the rack? You guessed it, the gilet - in every size! At first I hesitated (it's not the sort of thing I would normally pick up, much less spend so much money on) but after Angie's rave reviews, I had to try it on. Then I remembered all the ways Suz had styled it and how much I had loved them and I thought, this could be a very versatile item!

Right beside it on the rack - smittie's gorgeous leather jacket! In my size! That sumptuous leather drew me in, but then I thought, what a perfect counterpoint to my grey hair and my more 'pretty' style as of late. I could see myself throwing it on top of EVERYTHING, a bit of 'French girl cool.' Thanks, smittie! In the cart it went.

Then - back to shoes. All the forum members have been raving about Aquatalia, so i asked the SA - but sadly, no Aquatalia's left. But wait! Actually, there was ONE pair left - a pair of tall, pointed toe, flat boots with a luxe sheen. In one size - mine! This was divine providence. The SA couldn't stop shaking his head at my luck. (I have not added them below as I couldn't find the exact style on the site)

I headed home with the leather jacket and the two boots, but couldn't stop thinking about the gilet - especially after forum members' positive input. After a quick consult on the forum, I snuck back after the reception, and tried it on with a number of things. It was just too beautiful and versatile, I decided, so in it went - along with the most sumptuous silk Vince dress in two different layes of black that is just stunning! For those of you who haven't tried it on - it is a MUST.

So - THANK YOU, Angie and YLF. I would have walked by Nordstrom's altogether without your counsel and support and input on my picks. Instead, I got a well-curated selection of things that fits exactly where I want my style to be now - luxe, clean, sophisticated, with a bit of edge. Perfectly complementing my recent colour palette of ivory, blush, heather grey and black, and feeling like exactly where I wanted my style to evolve to!

Now, I can't shop for the rest of the winter - that was a HEFTY CHUNK of my budget - but I would much rather have gotten some quality investment pieces than frittered it away on sale tops, as I am wont to do.

Thank you YLF!