Wow, wow, wow — am I in trouble.
Admittedly, my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale picks make me so happy that I’m not quite yet sure how to narrow down what I love most for my forever closet…and they haven’t even all arrived yet (*gulp*). I went into this sale very cautiously — it’s my first time participating and I had no idea what to expect — yet optimistic.
Regardless of hearing that others were a bit underwhelmed with the options, I navigated through the clothing for sale and formed a wish list that made me quite pleased, if not really excited.
But you don’t ever really know what something is going to look like until you see it in person. Living many hours from the nearest Nordstrom store, I opted to just shop from home and have everything shipped. Oh, the anticipation that would ensue after completing checkout online (though not for long, because their shipping is surprisingly awesome.)
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Inspo: 6 Trending Fall Outfit Ideas (& A Bit Of Cute Loungewear)
While I still have some hopeful gems awaiting their touchdown at my doorstep (stay tuned) I had a large majority of items delivered already and Oh. My. Gosh. I think I may be… dare I say it…ready for fall. If only just to dress for it. Unknowingly, I think I may have chosen all of the key items that are perfect for completing your fall wardrobe… plus a healthy dose of loungewear (that you can even workout in if you’re feeling it).
Between the perfect dress, the pants that pleasantly surprised me, and the cozy sweater I was hoping most to find, I think it’s safe to say there are some amazingly wonderful pieces too good to pass up on in this year’s #NSale. So let’s get to it!
1. A Floral Wrap Dress (For ’70s Vibes)
As an episode of Friends would name it, The One That Made My Heart Beat Faster. I was actually mesmerized when I first saw this Free People dress in the preview. There was something about the sleeves and the print and the fact that the model was wearing it with suede boots that made me immediately start dreaming about it for my own fall wardrobe. I later told my husband “there is one dress…I might actually be devastated if it’s sold out when I go to shop.” Dramatic? Sure, but I loved it.
To my absolute delight, this floral dress is everything I was hoping it would be! It’s a wrap dress made from the most lovely light fabric, and the sleeves are designed with a little feminine flutter that makes me flutter just a little. It’s best worn with a very deep cut bra, as the V dips down pretty low; this could also be easily fixed with a bit of double-sided tape if you prefer to wear a more full coverage bra! (Missed this one before sell out? Similar dress can be found here and here.)
I’m wearing my true size medium in this dress, and it fits like a glove. At first I paired it with suede boots just as the model did (perfection), but then thought it would be fun to try on these Musketeer Tall Boots — fun fact, these are the first knee-high boots I have ever tried on. Like, ever. I always said the look wasn’t for me… but now? Joke’s on me because I’m in love. These are so comfortable I’m finding all the excuses to style them.
Dress | Sweater | Tall Boots | Crossbody Bag
2. A Shacket (Shirt + Jacket)
Okay, so shackets are kind of my thing. I ended up collecting a lot of them over the past year and am happy to see they’re back heavily for this year’s fall lineup. Of all the ones I have tried and own, this Thread & Supply shirt jacket is the softest, hands down. It has a cozy flannel exterior but is actually lined with something I would describe as sweatshirt material. This baby is going to go miles as the temps begin to drop!
Outfits 1 & 2: Shacket | Plaid Shirt | jeans | Chelsea Boots | Camera Bag
Outfit 3:: Shacket | Dress | Tall Boots | Crossbody Bag
Outfit 4: Shacket | Tee | jeans | Chelsea Boots
It is so fun to throw over just about any look. I sized up to a large to make sure I could get it over sweaters, sweatshirts, the works. This shacket comes in three more colors other than this, and two of them are very dreamy plaids that just scream pumpkin patch in the best of ways.
3. Denim, But Make It Ivory
These are the straight leg jeans that almost got away. As I was prepping my wish lists, I put these on my “secondary” list that mostly hasn’t gotten a whole lot of attention. It was only as I was about to checkout the morning I was shopping that I hesitated, clicked back to my lists and added these to cart. BOY am I glad I did!!!
Truthfully, I just wanted to try out Levi’s ribcage jeans and this blue denim pair had been out of stock in my size when I ordered. I don’t think I realized this ivory shade was corduroy, which became the best of surprises upon opening the box as I had just looked at another pair of Levi’s cords days earlier (again, my size was out.) Thankfully, I’ve noticed that the sale has been sneakily restocking sizes of a lot of things. This ivory pair has dipped low in stock, but the original blue pair I wanted to try? It was fully restocked! Whether that’s from returns or just the sneaky restocking fairies, it’s telling me that we need to really keep our eyes on the items we are hoping to snag.
That oversized sweater, though?? It’s the one piece I was hoping to find in the sale — a fresh, cozy sweater to wear all season long. It’s super-cute with the sleeves pulled up, tucks into your jeans well despite the oversized fit, and could be rocked in a variety of sizes depending on the look you’re going for. Size down for something a bit more fitted, or size up to grab some extra length and pair it with over-the-knee boots. I’m rocking my normal size, medium, and love ’em as is.
These Marc Fisher suede boots were everything I was hoping they would be. So comfortable, easy to slip on, and true to size. They are easy to pair with just about all the tops I scooped up. The Billabong tee is very oversized and the sunflowers paired with the skeleton give me both a late summer and halloween vibe that makes this a fun choice for the fall season.
Outfit 1: Top | Jeans | Boots
Outfit 2: Top | Jeans | Boots
I’ve got a thing for the color green, and while the Free People henley is such a great basic to have in your closet (multiple color options perfect for the season), it’s this All Saints oversize long sleeve that did it for me. You can scoop it up in the color black, too!
4. Lug Sole Chelsea Boots
I was a bit like a lost puppy when these boots mysteriously disappeared during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale preview period. They were a top choice for me, as I believe they were for other members on the team, too. While a whole bunch of green tones are featured in all categories of the sale, there’s just something about this one that catches you. It reminds me of the vibrant moss that grows wildly in the forest, and I think that makes me love them even more.
These boots, I should warn you, were hard to get on at first. It took me a few times pairing these with different outfits to find the perfect hand placement (both hands pinched right at the back end of the black elastic) but once I mastered it, everything went a lot smoother. I’m a true 9.5 for shoes but always order a 10 for boots. These just fit in size 10, and will need thinner socks. If you’re in between sizes I definitely recommend ordering a size up!
When I threw these green boots on with this flannel, I felt like I won the Fall Outfit Jackpot. The flannel is oversized (but I went up to a large for even extra flow and length) and soooo super soft.
Outfit 1 & 2: Sweater | Jeans | Boots | Bag |
Outfit 3: Sweater | Jeans | Boots | Bag |
Outfit 4: Flannel | Jeans | Boots | Bag
And then I realized the perfect moss green boots were cute with all the things. Even paired with another green item of a slightly different shade, like this sweater we all seem to be grabbing and loving, it worked.
5. Fall Boots…In GREEN
I told you I was into green…and thankfully, so is the Nordstrom Sale. These babies were one of my top picks and I was thrilled to find them so comfortable on my feet! They are a bit muted in color compared to the photo online, but that only made them easier to style. Throwing on a sweater and jeans make them the perfect casual day outfit. This sweater is actually thicker and sturdier in real life than I thought it would be based on the photos, which I definitely appreciate.
Thanks to the buckles, these boots have almost a sassy vibe that makes them really fun to style up for a night out. The Open Edit faux leather trousers are probably the item I am most surprised about. I threw them in my cart just for the fun of it, but I think I love them. The trousers are thick and warm. These will be absolutely perfect for a cold winter!
I know the team are a longtime lovers of MOTHER denim, but this is actually the first pair I have ever tried! These flares are amazing, and I was happy to find that the cropped length wasn’t too awkward on my 5’9″ frame. Another sleeper hit is this sweater from Open Edit, it has the perfect cropped length that pairs well with high-waisted bottoms, and it kept my body looking long with the cropped pants!
6. Something Suede
Two things I have actually never worn: knee-high boots, and a suede skirt (I don’t often wear skirts in general). But I would have been seriously missing out had I not taken the chance on both of these! The combination is flirty and so fun to wear, and I think those are two things I’ve been naturally leaning towards ever since the pandemic. After such a long time in sweats, its nice to feel flirty and fun, ammiright?
I wear both 28s and 29s in bottoms, but usually order a 29 if I’ve never tried the brand before. This suede skirt fits perfectly, but it is designed with very forgiving material that I think would have worked in either size. Honestly, this makes me want to try wearing more skirts now.
The boots are incredibly comfortable and come with a cushioned sole (with arch support!) that is removable. I don’t usually need arch support, but found these so comfortable I left them in. You can also score them in a reddish-brown color that gives me a bit more western vibes, which I love!
Sweater | Skirt | Boots | Bag | Tee
As definitive as a suede skirt can be, it was surprisingly versatile when styling it up. The looser sweater would be my natural go-to, but the fitted black tee (which spoiler: is a bodysuit!) would be so good for a date night. It comes with shoulder pads which sort of get lost amongst my already broad shoulders, but I love the idea and found it totally cute!
Cute Lounge & Activewear
This year’s Nordsteom Anniversary Sale also features some realllly cute active- and loungewear — as I mentioned in my workout wear capsule wardrobe article. These pieces are SO good. I’m really picky about athletic wear — not only because I want it to perform, but also because I want to look good while wearing it.
1. Bike Shorts In Fall Colors
A. Rust
Sweatshirt | Bike Shorts | Shoes
Smokey hues are what my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale wishlist was all about, so I was excited to get my hands on these bike shorts and hoodie from Nike! I am a longtime fan of Nike’s essentials line — the crewneck is on heavy rotation in my closet, so I knew I had to give the hoodie a try. It’s of course very soft, and lighter than you would imagine!
Shirt | Bike Shorts | Shoes
These Nike bike shorts are a lighter cotton that I wouldn’t necessarily wear on a long run, but would absolutely grab for walks, lounging, and any daytime wear. When I first pulled them on they sat high over my belly button, but as I wore them around they more comfortably and naturally sat below it. The seams didn’t dig into my thighs, and I was in love with how these paired with an oversized tee!
B. Green
base outfit: Sports Bra | Bike Shorts | Sneakers
on top: Jacket | Shacket | Half-zip Sweater | Sweatshirt | Bag | Water Bottle
You guessed it — more green! But how could I NOT?! This color of bikes short really goes the distance, so many of my sale picks seem to pair perfectly. Whether grocery shopping, hitting the trail for a long walk, going to the orchard to pick apples, or even heading out for lunch, these shorts actually worked in numerous ways.
2. A Cute Matching Set
I couldn’t let this try-on pass by without a matching set, cause, c’mon. Alo makes some of my favorite workout gear, and these gray/silvery pieces are no exception (available in bright pops of color, too!). They are a fabric all of their own and nothing like I’ve tried elsewhere — super soft while also very shaping. The leggings actually stay in place and have this fantastic little sheen to them that makes them a cut above the rest.
Jacket | Sports Bra | Leggings | Sneakers | Water Bottle
The jacket is cozy — I mean cozy. This is the item to grab when you’re going on a plane and want a blanket without, you know, lugging a blanket around on your journey. It’s perfect to grab to wear to the gym in the morning, but also to just sit on the couch and eat Cheetos. It’s versatile, if you catch my drift.
Last but not least? I can’t not mention this water bottle. My husband just purchased it a month ago in another color and on the daily has told me that I would love it. I almost purchased one right before the sale, but just got busy and forgot, honestly. Thank goodness for that, because I scooped it up on SALE in this gorgeous grey color. It doesn’t hurt that it matches my Alo set!
I won’t lie, trying on every item is a bit like a workout — but inspiring for myself to see all of these items worn and styled together, and hopefully helpful for you, too! Seeing someone other than the online model wear the clothes always helps demystify them, and I’m so honored to help others get a better feel for what’s all included in the #NSale this year.
If you want to see what the rest of the team is loving in the sale, the best place to see everything is our ultimate guide to the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale — all you want to know about sale, all the good stuff like our wish lists, reviews, top picks, etc., And for the simple, get-straight-to-it, shopping guide, see our #NSale cheat sheet.
We so appreciate your support!
Xx,
Amy
Great looks…thank you!
I love all of your picks! Awesome! P.S. I am also I trouble 😬 LOL
Love all of these looks!!
What size Mother Jeans did you end up wearing? I am trying to figure out my size.