Hello sweet gals! Happy weekend! Time is flying over here as we prepare to move. Of course, time is probably flying everywhere. Hahaha! As we get older it does that, doesn’t it? But I did manage to snap some selfies yesterday of what I bought in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, so I thought I’d share those with you today.
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale opens up to non-cardholders today, so that’s EVERYONE. In review, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is a pre-fall mega sale featuring new, never-before-seen styles for this fall and winter, plus so many fashion staples, such as Spanx shapewear, activewear, jewelry and lingerie. Plus, you’ll find great items for the home, men and children.
When you shop the sale, you’ll see the Anniversary Sale price and the regular price. This is the price the item will revert to once the sale is over on August 5, if it hasn’t sold out. Many of the items in the Anniversary Sale never or rarely go on sale any other time.
My Impressions of This Year’s Sale
I’m still not the most seasoned Nordstrom shopper out there, but with a year+ of style blogging under my belt, I definitely am more acquainted with the store, its brands and its prices than I was this time last year. Here are a few of my impressions of this year’s sale in bullet points:
- There seem to be fewer sell-outs this year, which is a good thing for those of you beginning to shop today.
- The “order online and pick-up at a store” feature didn’t work too great for me. First, a lot of items are not available for store pick-up. Second, some of the items I ordered within minutes of the online store going live took two days to be available to me for pick-up. And finally, several of my “pick up in store” purchases were cancelled, presumably because the store ran out of the item before getting around to fulfilling my order. I found that to be extremely frustrating.
- Nordstrom customer service continued to shine. Despite the fact that some of my orders were cancelled, I’m beyond impressed with Nordstrom’s customer service. I can give you example after example of how they went above and beyond, both online and in the store, to make shopping pleasant and profitable.
What you’ll find in the Sale
In this year’s sale, you’ll find:
- So many GREAT boots. I love, love, love the boot collection this year.
- Beautiful, chic dresses. While I didn’t really shop the dresses, I’m very impressed with the selection, especially for occasions such as fall weddings.
- Long cardigans. Yep, the trend in cardigans seems to be the long, straight silhouette. That makes me happy because this 5’8″ girl likes those. But if you’re petite, beware.
- Spanx. Need I say more. These are essentials!
- Deep, dark but beautiful colors.
- Animal prints and textures. There’s still lots and lots of leopard print, but it’s joined by a brood of snake print and crocodile, too.
What I Purchased in the Sale
I think the best way I can help you out as you shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is simply to share with you what I purchased, what I’m returning and what I’m keeping. I’m also going to share fit tips, the all important fabric performance and some styling tips for the items I show you.
Remember, personally I approached the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale as a great opportunity to purchase fall and winter wardrobe essentials that I need to make my wardrobe work for me. You might want to read this #NSale post from a couple of weeks ago to learn more about my approach.
So that this post doesn’t go on forevah and evah, I’m going to really stick to the information I’ve promised and nothing more. If you have questions about anything I show, however, please ask. I’ll diligently watch comments today so I can help you out.
The Farrah High Waist Ankle Skinny Jeans by AG – I love these jeans. I’d never pay full price for them, but they were worth the splurge of the sale price to me. The denim is soft, giving and luxurious. I’ll be wearing these constantly this fall and winter. I especially like the raw edge and the slit at the ankles. Fit: Wearing 29, TTS. Keeping.
Harper Long Sleeve Top in leopard – This notched collar 100% polyester popover also comes in three other prints/colors. It runs true to size, but I opted for the medium instead of the small just so I could have a little more blousy fit. Fit: Wearing Medium, could have worn Small, TTS. Keeping.
Marc Fisher Zurri pointy toe loafer in ivory croc embossed leather – I was drawn to this off white loafer the minute I saw it. And I haven’t really liked the white loafer trend at all until I saw this one. Marc Fisher shoes fit me beautifully and are so very comfortable. Also comes in available in six other textures/colors. Fit: Wearing 9.5, TTS. Probably keeping.
Gorjana double bar pendant necklace – I’m sorry this pendant necklace is sold out, but there could be returns yet. I rarely see Gorjana jewelry on sale, so I originally bought one for me, my daughter and future daughter-in-law, but alas they cancelled two of my purchases. Perfect for layering and wearing with sweaters. Keeping or gifting.
Vince Camuto Nestel Knee High Boot in tortilla suede – I’ve been wanting some knee high dress boots and these fit the bill. I have large calves and sometimes can’t even wear the “wide calf” boots. But these are just right. They also come in black suede and a snake print. Fit: Run small. Go up half a size. I’m wearing a 10 and they feel great. Probably keeping.
BP V-neck Tee in white – Great short sleeve layering tee. Fit: TTS, wearing a Small. Keeping.
Leith Longline Cardigan in green thyme heather – This is the first of several long cardigans I picked up. I think it’s slimming and elongating. Available in four other colors. Fit: Runs large, go with smaller size. I’m wearing a small easily. Lots of stretch. Keeping.
Laura croc embossed leather tote in brown mahogany – I need a new brown leather bag, so I decided to give this one a try. It is a nice quality bag. No complaints there. Just trying to decide if the color will work for me. Ballot’s still out.
Tory Burch Everly Riding Boot in perfect brown – I’m purposely using this sale as an opportunity to purchase a few investment pieces I can wear for years, so I ordered these Tory Burch boots. They did not disappoint. These classic riding boots fit amazingly well. Fit: I’m wearing a 9.5 Wide Calf, fit TTS. Ballot’s still out. I have a pair of Frye boots coming tomorrow, so I’ll choose between them.
Marc Fisher Dalar Bootie in cognac suede – These suede booties fit like a dream. I’m not wearing any sock with them, so I could probably only wear thin socks if I ever wore any. But they work great with these ankle fit jeans. They cognac color is a rich, golden brown. Fit: TTS, wearing a 9.5. Probably keeping.
Halogen open front pocket cardigan in red chili – This open front cardigan is fairly lightweight, but still feels like a cardigan. Just a touch of cashmere adds a luxurious softness. It’s available in several shades, but I love this red chili. It’s pretty much a true red. Fit: Maybe a bit large, but more TTS. I’m wearing a medium for more roominess in the sleeves. Keeping.
Merci Beaucoup tee (sold out) – I knew this cute graphic tee would fly off the shelves so I grabbed mine early. But this novelty tee is a cute option. Fit: Wearing a Small, TTS. Keeping.
AG Ex-Boyfriend Relaxed Slim Jeans – These jeans feel great and look really sharp in my estimation. But I have other boyfriend or girlfriend jeans that fit me better. So I really can’t justify paying the premium denim price for these. But hey, if that’s your bag, go for it because they are nice jeans. Fit: TTS, wearing 29. Returning.
Franco Sarto Sloan Bootie in Taupe suede – These suede boots are a little roomier than the Marc Fisher boots above, but they feel really nice on. Honestly, it’s hard to decide between these two pair. I love the pointy toe and the color. Also available in other shades and snake print. Fit: TTS, wearing 9.5. Probably returning.
Caslon plaid shirt in black pink dark shadow plaid – Honestly, I mainly picked up this shirt so I’d have something to show with the jeans and shoes I bought. Ha! But it is soft and easy to wear. It has a very relaxed fit, but does feature pintucks at the top of the sleeves, which is interesting. Available in several color combinations. Fit: TTS, wearing a Medium for arms. Probably Returning.
Felted Wool Fedora (sold out) – I learned from some vloggers I watch that these hats would go fast. I don’t know how fast they went, but they are sold out. But this felt Panama hat might be a nice option. I’m looking forward to scaling up my fall outfits with this hat. Keeping.
Halogen cashmere ruana in grey dark heather – I happened upon this cashmere ruana when I was shopping in the store in Scottsdale, Arizona, this past weekend, and I immediately fell in love. I think it’s a nice switch from the usual cardigan and I’ll be able to wear it the same way. It will especially fit my work from home job. Available in other colors, too. Fit: One size fits all. Probably keeping.
Halogen wool & cashmere long cardigan in black – This black wool and cashmere long cardigan was side by side with the above grey ruana, and I was drawn to it as well. This cardigan is soft and lush and nicely thick, but I don’t think it will make me hot. I love the slenderizing silhouette this extremely long cardigan creates. It’s also available in a rust, grey and heather tan, which I’ve ordered. I just can’t get enough of these luxurious cardigan. Fit: If between sizes, order down. Wearing a Small. Keeping & Ordered Another One.
Blondo Eliza Waterproof Bootie – I think this would be a good place to explain why I’m not showing you any black booties with all these black and grey cardigans. I ordered these Blondo Eliza waterproof booties with such high hopes. And they are beautiful boots. But they just didn’t fit my fit. I bought them true to size as recommended but they were extremely tight across the top of my foot, and that was without any socks on. Great boots, but I couldn’t wear them. Fit: TTS in length, but very narrow. Returned.
I’ve also ordered these 1.State Rosita booties in black suede, but they will arrive later today.
Halogen open front pocket cardigan in black – This black cardigan is the same as the red one above, so it’s a more casual cardigan than the wool & cashmere variety. I wouldn’t mind having it for a more casual option, but a girl’s gotta draw a line somewhere. Fit: TTS, I’m wearing a Small here, but would prefer a medium for comfort in the sleeves. Returning.
Dover Blazer in vivid sea – Blazers are definitely trending and there are many great options in the NSale. I picked up this beautiful blue one at the store in Scottsdale. It fits beautifully and is a bright and cheerful alternative to my black one. And it does come in black, navy and brilliant yellow. Still, I’m not sure I can justify keeping it. Fit: Runs large. Wearing a 6. Size down, maybe two sizes. Probably returning.
Zella Studio Lite High Waist Crop Leggings – Zella has a reputation for being extremely comfortable activewear, and these leggings are no exception. They fit snug, but comfortably. Fit: TTs, wearing a Medium. Ballot’s Still Out.
Zella Yogista Sheer Stripe Tank Top in green finch – I wanted to love this little running or exercise top, but it just doesn’t fit me the way it does the model. Argh. It feels big, but I’m not sure the small would be better. The fabric is great and the color is sweet. And it’s also available in a pale pink and blue. Fit: awkward??? Wearing a Medium. Returning.
Zella Go To Wrap Cardigan – We’re moving into a house which is just across a parking from a community fitness center we’ll be using. So I thought this Go To Wrap would be great to wear as I walk to the gym. It’s extremely soft with a nice drape and weight. Fit: a little large. Wearing a Medium, might could use a small??? Ballot’s Still Out.
Adidas Edge Lux 3 Running Shoe – I’m way over due buying new running shoes, so I was delight to buy these for the price. Fortunately, they fit me well, too. I’ll enjoy wearing these Adidas running shoes for my workouts. Fit: TTS. Wearing 9.5. Keeping.
Sam Edelman Leather Moto Jacket – From the outset, a genuine leather jacket was at the top of my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale wish list. To me, this is a sale where your money is best spent investing in quality wardrobe essentials that you rarely find on sale. So I had budgeted money for a leather jacket. But I ran into problems with the sleeves on most of them. It seems many leather jackets are made for women with stick arms. That’s not me! I tried on several at the store that didn’t work and I’ve already sent back the Treasure & Bond leather biker jacket. BUT this Sam Edelman Leather Moto Jacket works for me. My only concern is that the sleeves seem a little long, which is unusual for me. And, of course, it was a little more expensive than the others, too. Fit: TTS, wearing a Medium. But it seems just a teensy tad large. Ballot’s Still Out.
Well, that’s all I had to show you. I’ve already returned the checked doubled breasted blazer, which just didn’t fit me right in the shoulders and arms. I’ve been enjoying the Charlotte Tilbury the Pillow Talk lip kit. I did buy my girls Barefoot Dreams Cardigans for Christmas and I purchased this pretty bracelet to wear to my son’s wedding.
Oh, and this sweater and this sweater are still on their way. As is this coat and these rain boots.
Final Assessment
Obviously I’ve got some decisions to make. Just as I encourage you to set and stick to a budget, I’ve got to do that myself. But overall, I love my purchases. So I’ll have to make some hard cuts.
But if I keep to my principle of purchasing well crafted wardrobe essentials that I can enjoy for several seasons to come, I think my decisions may be easier to make.
Let me know if you have any questions. And don’t forget to check out my previous Nordstrom Sale blog posts if you are looking for more options. Here I shared how to Shop the Nordstrom Sale and Build a Wardrobe that Works for You. In this post I shared curated looks with many of my favorite finds in the sale. Finally, you can check in at my Shop My NSale Favorites Page for more categorized suggestions.
Here’s a shopping widget with all the items I’ve purchased. Some I’ve returned; others I’ve kept. But all of them were beautiful, well-crafted and fashionable.
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Blessed for My Day
Now this is just my opinion, but I truly believe we should be able to sing a new song of praise to the Lord every day. What do I mean by that? Every day His mercies are new, His provisions are fresh and graciously chosen, His words pierce deeper and His love is more tangible.
Each day is an opportunity to learn a little more about our God, to see His fingerprints on our lives etched more clearly, to dig deeper in His Word. And as we take notice and see more of God, we have more to praise Him for. What is your new song today? Share with someone what God is doing in your life right now.
Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the godly! ~ Psalm 149:1
I like these posts. It’s helpful to hear what you are keeping and returning and the reasons why. Those jeans look so good on you!! I just can’t justify spending that much on denim, but that’s just me.
Hi Kathy! Thanks for letting me know you enjoy theses posts. A girl never knows! Yeah, I totally get it about the jeans. But I will say I only have three pairs of blue jeans and I wear them almost daily once the weather cools, so I JUSTIFY the price that way. Ha!! Thanks for sharing! ?
I love your blog! Everything from your style to your Blessed for my day. I would like to share it with a friend. How do I send her a link or should I just have her look you up?
These fall looks are just awesome. Even though it’s in the upper nineties here in South Dakota, it’s time to think about fall. Enjoy your day!
Thanks so much for those encouraging words, Bev. I’m delighted that you enjoy the blog and want to share it. You can click on, copy and paste the address of my blog into an email or text to your friend: http://206.189.207.166/ or you could just encourage her to type DressedforMyDay.com into her browser. I absolutely love it when women share my blog with their friends because that is truly the most organic kind of growth. Thanks so much for sharing! ❤️
I like how that leather jacket looks on you! I had to have the sleeves taken up on my leather jacket just a little bit, because it fit everywhere else. It doesn’t cost that much, and definitely made a difference in the look/fit of the jacket.
Tracey, thanks so much for letting me know about the alterations. This may sound silly, but I honestly didn’t know if they do alterations on leather jackets or not. Thanks so much for the information. Have a great day!
I love the leather jacket! You look beautiful in everything, so it will be tough to decide what goes back. I would keep the sleeve length until you see haw cold the winter gets in your new hometown. The extra length might keep the wind and cold at bay. And you can always get it tailored if you still think they are too long.
Thanks for the input, Kate. I really do appreciate that. You know it’s amazing how much it helps to photograph yourself in something and then look back at those photos to make your decisions. I always encourage women to shop that way really. I often take photos with my phone in fitting rooms and then go have a coffee or something while I look back over them and make my purchasing decisions. So I think just doing this blog post will really help me decide what to keep and what to return. Thanks for sharing! ?
Kay, I want to thank you for sharing the Adidas edge lux shoes on your Nordstrom Sale blog. I haven’t purchased new workout shoes for a couple of years because I never know where to look (so many choices ?) Most of the time, the ones I do purchase don’t fit right or I end up not liking them. I am so excited about these Adidas! Not only are they stylish and fun (love the gold accents!), but they are comfortable! You are the best! Thank you! Wow, you spent a lot of time on this today! So much helpful information! Have a blessed day!
Yay!! I’m so glad that was helpful. I HATE buying running shoes for those same reasons. Other shoes fit me fine with little problem but running shoes are a different story. But I love that these Adidas shoes kind of fit like a glove with lots of stretch and give. Thanks for the feedback! ❤️
Kay, I really enjoyed this post! Great job! You look fabulous in the high waisted jeans. I contemplated ordering one of the long cardigans, but didn’t because in the past I felt like they drew attention to my fuller backside. I have ordered a very light weight and economical one from Amazon that I am still waiting on, so we’ll see what I think about it. Like you, I prefer a little extra room in the sleeves of my sweaters, etc. I have very thin and narrow feet, including my heels. I ordered the Blondo snakeskin booties and found them to be wide on me. ? I ordered and kept the Marc Fisher snakeskin booties since the heel is more narrow. While the sleeves of the leather jacket are a tad long, I don’t think they look odd on you. If you were to wear a thicker long sleeve top under it, that would bring the sleeves up some. I am very hot natured, so I ordered a different Zella cardigan with side pockets, than the one you purchased, that is so soft and comfy on. As you talked about, I only ordered items that I really need in this phase of life and pieces that suit me. For a change, I did not allow all of the hype about various items make me order something thatbjust doesn’t make sense for ME! Have a blessed day!
Oh my. That’s funny that the Blondos were wide in you! And narrow on me! And I don’t really have wide feet, but I think the top of my foot is high. Does that make sense?? But, yes, I am loving Marc Fisher shoes and boots. It’s funny that they fit you and me both. Ha!
Ya know, I think we’ve really hit on something here, Ginger. There is a lot of hype with this sale but if you can approach it with a strategy that fits your life and wardrobe needs and stick with that plan, you can do well. Thanks so much for sharing your purchases! ?
GM Kay, this was my first Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and I must say it has been so much fun! I love all of the cardigans that you styled, I have a couple in my cart right now. haha I agree with the lady that said leather sleeves can be altered, I too had a tailor hem mine. BTW, I have lived in many parts of this wonderful country but my first love is where I was born and raised, OHIO…Enjoy your new adventure !
Ah, thanks so Pamela. We are really looking forward to moving to Cincinnati. I’m especially excited about having four seasons and meeting people. Thanks for sharing about the leather jacket alterations. You gals have enlightened me! ?
Loved this! I got the Marc Fisher flats in snake print (beautiful shoes!), waiting on the Leith cardi in burgundy(hope it’s not too long!), ordered a tan suede tall boot by Blondo, and also returned the snake Blondo bootie because of fit.(too loose in heel) It was fun to hear your take on the items we both purchased! The AG Farrah’s look great on you!
Ahh, thanks so much for sharing your purchases, Tammy. I love hearing about what you gals bought, love and returned and why. I know that is so helpful to my other readers too. Sounds like you got some beautiful essentials you will enjoy for a while. Blessings!! ?
Thank you Kay for sharing all your outfits and wisdom with us about the NAS! I’ve had items waiting in my wish list until I could shop today. I’m pleased that everything I wanted was fully stocked except for one item! Whew, how stressful! LOL I did click onto your site before placing my order so I hope you earn the commission, you deserve it! You have laid the ground work for me so beautifully, and I’m pleased to be able to shop from your links! I pray you have a restful weekend. I’m guessing that won’t happen until next month sometim, when your’re settled into your new home. Keep Looking UP!
Hi Nancy! I’m glad you had such a successful time of shopping. Yay! It was a little stressful to me, too! I hope you enjoy what you ordered. And thank you so very much for shopping through my links. That means the world to me. You gals are the best!
Actually, I’m trying to rest a little this weekend. We’ll see how that goes… 😉
Hi Kay, you look ah-mazing in those AG jeans!! I think the fact that you can zip your leather jacket will be beneficial to you once you move to Ohio. I can zip all of my leather jackets and that allows me to wear them longer in the fall and sooner in the spring. You have made some very wise buying decisions as all of your purchases look great on you. Enjoy a restful weekend!
Thanks so much, Bev. I have already boxed up a few things to return today. In fact, I’m returning the Tory Burch boots even though I love them. Turns out the Frye boots that arrived yesterday are EVEN BETTER. But yes, I think I got some great deals. Thanks so much for sharing! ?
If you are still on the fence about the leather jacket, I recommend that you keep it. It may feel a bit too big, but it doesn’t look too big and you’ll want that extra room when you layer sweaters under it. I really appreciate the detailed analysis for each piece you modeled. It helped me to decide sizing when ordering for myself.
Thanks for that input, Darlene. I really do appreciate it. It’s so hard to see things on yourself and know, you know?? Anyhow, I think I am going to keep it. It’s still a lot of money to pay, but I think it’s a jacket I’ll wear for years and years…and definitely better than full price. I’m letting other things go so that I can keep the jacket! 😉 I’m so glad the post was helpful to you!
Hands dow the high waist Farrah’s are the most flattering pants I’ve seen you in Kay! My body type is similar to yours so I’m definitely contemplating them. The wool fedora is adorable on you and will be a perfect accessory for cool and cold weather in OHIO. My husband wears a wool hat each winter and it has lasted for years…through the wind, rain and snow in OH. Great purchases!
Great!! Thanks for letting me know about the fedora ?. And I really do love these AG jeans. They’re soft and forgiving but somehow manage to suck everything in too. Hahaha! ?