Alright, guys…I did it. I made my first cuts from my initial Nordstrom Anniversary Sale “haul”, and below are the outfits I’m considering actually keeping. There are some new exciting pieces that just came in (yay!), a few of my favs from my first round of At-Home Selfies, and a few pieces here and there from my Budget-Friendly Capsule Wardrobe.
The bad news is, there are 31 pieces that I have tried on that I totally love…including a cashmere hoodie (ridiculously luxe), the heavenly Vince cardigans, MOTHER denim, a North Face jacket under $100, and Vince, Paul Green, AND weatherproof Aquatalia boots (Not good! I am in TROUBLE!). There are a few pieces I ripped the tags off of immediately (I’m looking at you Zella joggers and Vince tee under $50), but most everything else is under careful consideration and debate.
My 10 Favorite Outfits In The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: What Should I Keep?
If you need a little escape (which is what MANY of us are using this TME coverage of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale for), take a look below and shout out in the comments your favs. What do you think I would get the most use out of? Any pieces you think I’ll regret not splurging on? What am I ACTUALLY going to wear this fall and winter while social-distancing (but still wanting to feel kind of put-together…at least some days)? Would love to hear your thoughts on which pieces should be the “Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Winners”.
**In my first round of selfies, I have a whole section on styled-up masks for fall…those obviously are keepers…cute and actually breathable. I also included a “Pieces With Unexpected Sizing Section,” so I threw in some more unexpected sizing “issues” at the bottom of this post..hope that’s helpful…or at least entertaining!
*One more note: If you absolutely love something, but it’s showing sold out, stalk it. With so many folks doing online ordering this year, there will be a TON of returns that pop up back in stock here and there throughout the rest of the sale. This always happens, but I’m confident it will happen even more this year.
Outfit 1: Chic On A Rainy Day
The North Face, Good American, Free People & Aquatalia
Jacket (XS) | Sweater (XS)| Jeans (4)| Boots | Bag
A cute, lightweight North Face jacket for under $100! This is an XS, though, and it’s way too tight zipped up, so I will size up one or maybe two sizes if I want to wear it over sweaters. The Good American jeans are fantastic — so stretchy and comfortable — my kind of jean for a physically-distanced winter. The Free People sweater is cute (but very heavy), and I think I would size up for a slouchier look. I love the Aquatalias…just deciding if I like the light gray that totally pops or the darker green…and if it’s the green, would I rather do the gorgeous Vince’s?
More Outfit Details
Jeans (4)| Sweater (XS)| Tee (S) | Boots | Bag
Outfit 2: Pretty Sweater With A Fancy Bag
AllSaints, Madewell, Aquatalia & Clare V
Sweater (S) | Alternative Sweater | Jeans (27)| Boots | Bag | Alternative Bag
This AllSaints sweater is absolutely gorgeous (as we all knew it would be). I should have sized down (I’m wearing a small here). The gray looks like it may be sold out (for now, but check back…there will definitely be sizing returns). Check out Laura’s expert half-tuck of this sweater in her post. So good. I also love the Cinnamon Marl color in this AllSaints sweater or this Vince sweater that has a similar vibe. In terms of boots, I may go with the darker green Aquatalias or the Vince’s that we all love, but these light Aquatalias are making everything I try on pop in the best way. As is this Clare V. bag that I’ve been throwing on with pretty much every outfit I try and letting it work its magic. If the bag doesn’t come back in stock, this Boden bag is adorable, and this Madewell bag has a similar vibe too.
More Outfit Details
Sweater (S)| Jeans (27)| Boots | Bag | Alternative Bag
Outfit 3: Dress Over Flares
EILEEN FISHER, Veronica Beard, Aquatalia & Clare V.
Dress (XXS) | Similar Dress at Bloomies | Jeans (28)| Boots | Bag | Alternative Bag
This dress fits me really well in the shoulders, has a lot of styling potential, is from Eileen Fisher, AND is under $100! It’s definitely a good Anni Sale find. BUT, the dress needs to be shortened, the jeans need to be shortened, and I don’t love the dress as much as I thought I would with the EILEEN FISHER sandals. I DO love a good dress over flares look, though, so that might be how I wear it the most (especially if I shorten it quite a bit), and I think I’ll like it over tights this winter too. Or…with slippers. If your size isn’t available, keep checking..there will definitely be sizing returns or this one is similar and on sale at Bloomies.
More Outfit Details
Dress (XS) |Similar Dress at Bloomies | Sandals | Bag | Alternative Bag
Outfit 4: The Battle of the Cardigans
Vince, FRAME, MOTHER Denim, Veronica Beard & P448
Cardigan (XS) | Alternative Cardigan | Sweater (S) | Jeans (28) | Sneakers | Bag | Alternative Bag
Okay, guys…what’s it going to be? We KNOW I will put all the cardigans to good use…I mean half of my entire selfies post was dedicated to various cardigans in every single combination imaginable… but do I need/want both? The Vince is so soft and really a beautiful piece, but the Thread & Supply is only $45, and plenty soft and cozy too. And then there’s the gorgeous black Vince cardigan, and now I’m eyeing this black Vince cardigan too!
Another “problem” is I’m pretty in love with these P448s …ugh! I blame Laura for introducing these super-fun sneaks to my world…the royal blue version is fabulous, the black is so chic, but the orange is definitely calling to me.
Cardi-Coat (XS) | Alternative Cardi-Coat | Sweater (S)| Jeans (28)| Boots | Bag | Alternative Bag | Mask (Not In Anni Sale)
Outfit 5: Black Sweater Uniform
Free People, Madewell, Clare V. & Aquatalia
Sweater (XS) | Jeans (27)| Boots | Bag | Alternative Bag
As mentioned before, the sweater is a bit heavy and I wish I would have sized up for a slouchier look, but I really like where it hits on high-rise denim. The army green and the more classic (but still totally fun) tan and black Clare Vs sold out fast, but if you’re in love stalk them…I’m sure there will be some returns. Alternatively, this similar Boden bag is adorable, and this Madewell bag has a similar vibe too (and both are less $$ too).
Outfit 6: I’m Adulting Today
Vince, MOTHER Denim & Clare V
Cardigan (XS)| Sweater (S)| Jeans (27) | Boots | Bag | Alternative Bag
Will I have any meetings this fall or winter? I’m pretty sure not (other than Zoom), but it’s still nice to have some forever closet pieces that could work for looking a little more polished. I want, though, pieces that could also be mixed and matched for easy at-home or physically distanced outdoor activities as well. The cardigan, the sweater, the jeans, the boots, and the bag have all made several appearances in my mix and match selfies.
Cardigan | Sweater | Jeans | Boots | Bag | Alternative Bag
Outfit 7: My Budget-Friendly Finds
Madewell, Wit & Wisdom, Treasure & Bond & UGG
Cardigan (XXS)| Tee (M) | Jeans (4P)| Sneaks | Bag
I have a whole section of Budget-Friendly Finds in my Wish List, I wrote an entire post on a Budget-Friendly Capsule Wardrobe, but I will admit…I’m probably not going to keep many of the budget-friendly things I tried. There weren’t many wows, and there were a TON of sizing disasters (you can find some at the bottom of my first post and more at the bottom of this post). I am a big fan, though, of this Madewell side-tie cardigan above (so cute!), the super-comfy UGGs (easy slip-on, slip-off action), and these good gray jeans (nice and stretchy and under $50). AND the burgundy Vince tee (close-up selfie here) is under $50!
More Details
Cardigan (XXS)| Tee (M)| Jeans (4P)| Sneaks | Bag
Outfit 8: An I-Feel-Pretty Look
FRAME, Veronica Beard, Vince & Clare V
Top (S)| Jeans (28)| Boots | Bag | Alternative Bag | Mask
I have a whole section on I-Feel-Pretty Tops in my first selfie post. It’s nice to have something you feel pretty in these days for sure. And this FRAME ruffle top paired with these fabulous Veronica Beard jeans definitely does the trick.
Outfit 9: Workout Motivation
Zella & Adidas
Tank (XS)| Joggers (XS) | Sneaks | Alternative Sneaks
Don’t tell me if these Zella joggers or this tank look bad on me, because I ripped off the tags on both as soon as they arrived. l haven’t exercised since the Nordstrom Sale started…trying on all these clothes is DEFINITELY workout enough… but soon…SOON…I will wear this outfit for working out, and not just typing and eating chocolate chips (although it DOES make for a great chocolate chip eating outfit as well). I sized down in the joggers. My sneaks sold out fast, but they are worth stalking because I’m sure there will be wrong-sizing returns or alternative Adidas on sale here.
Chocolate chips, cardigans and fuzzy slippers go well together too.
Cardigan 1 (XS)| Cardigan 2 (XXS)| Tank (XS)| Joggers (XS) | Sneaks | Slippers
Outfit 10: Crazy Soft Hoodie With Edgy Boots
Nordstrom Signature, Wit & Wisdom & Paul Green
Hoodie (XS)| Jeans (4P)| Boots | Bag
Oh my gosh, I look tired in this photo. SORRY! But I will tell you this…I am NOT tired of talking about this cashmere hoodie. It’s dreamy. Expensive, but dreamy. And I’m still thinking about these edgier-than-my-usual-style crazy cool boots. They have JUST the right amount of sheen (not as shiny as the photos), have such a cool lug sole, and are very comfortable. Thoughts?
More Outfit Details
My Top Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks
I’ve Narrowed It Down To 31…HELP!
So….what do I keep…what do I nix?
**Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Pieces With Unexpected Sizing**
Size Up In The North Face Jacket
This is size XS. I’m going to try the S or maybe even the M.
Jacket (XS)| Jeans (4)| Boots | Bag
This Sweater Is Definitely A Tunic
I guess I should have paid more attention to the name “Tunic Sweater”. My bad.
Sweater (XS)| Jeans (27)| Sneaks
Free People Top Is A Little Meh
I had such high hopes for this top. Unfortunately, it’s way too low cut for me. WAY too low. AND the fabric is a little meh. I do still think it would be a pretty Zoom top (I would just throw a cami underneath), but it’s not a keeper for me.
Maybe If You’re Tall?
This is such a cool and soft and comfy coat/trench/cardigan piece, but I just looked like I was swimming in it.
Coat (S)| Tee (M)| Jeans (4P)| Boots
Not For Me
For the top…a pretty color, cute design, and AH-MAZING price, but not for me. It was too big and just didn’t read quite right on me. The jeans, although incredibly soft and comfortable, were too low rise for what I was looking for and not enough flare.
Make sure to check out our All Things Anni Sale Page. All the contributors at TME have done a pretty tremendous job rounding up their favorite picks, and everyone’s starting to do some major selfie sessions as well.
Okay…any takers on helping me out? Thoughts on what I should keep??? Thanks in advance for the opinions.
-Linzi
It all looks great on you-but my favorite is outfit #2. And also the shoes from #7 (I thought you got them in red? Or did I make that up bc I want them in red…)
Thanks, Ellen. #2 is definitely something I would wear all the time. Hahaha! Laura got them in red I’m pretty sure. They’re REALLY comfortable, too.
Love the Aquatalia booties and the cardigan in #4. Also the Clare V bag, OBVIOUSLY.
Ugh…the Clare V.’s. Since they sold out already, I’m trying to convince myself to return them both so someone else can buy them….but….that green one is looking like it may have to stay with me. Thanks, Erica.
You need those Good American jeans. They look great on you!
I couldn’t believe how comfortable they are. I’m not a huge skinny jean gal, but these are pretty fabulous and will be perfect with winter snow boots…that’s when I always wish I had a really good comfy pair of skinnies. Thanks, Kelly.
Outfit #8 and outfit #10. I also love the Wit & Wisdom jeans on you!
And those jeans are under $50!! Yeah…that cashmere hoodie is so ridiculously indulgent, but may have to live with me for—evvvverrrr. Thanks, Joelle.
Not sure if this will help, but here’s my take! It doesn’t seem like you absolutely love the Free People sweater, due to its heaviness, so I would cut that one out. I would choose the Vince cardigan vice the Thread and Supply; the drape in your picture for the Vince looks so much better. I would nix one of the Clare V cross-bodies as well, since they kind of serve similar purposes and both are equally versatile (maybe just keep the army green?). I’m LOVING those Paul Green boots on you; they’re something a little different and badass and look great with that hoodie…I would keep them over the Eileen Fishers. Not sure about the Vince vs. the Aquatalia booties…they are both great but have a similar aesthetic and are both waterproof. But I guess the Aquatalia are lower shaft and slightly lower heel (maybe more practical?). The Vince seem to be a little trickier to wear with skinnies, judging from Shana’s post. You could also narrow down the jeans too; I like the Mother and Good American the best.
Christine…you are fabulous! Thank you so much for the thoughtful comment. Totally agree with you on so many of your suggestions once I stop and think about everything and so nice to see it in writing and in someone else’s words. Seriously..thank you. Ummmmm….do you want to start reviewing ALL my posts before they go out? 🙂
I like outfits #2 for the colors (light sweater and boots, pop of color with the bag & lipstick) and #8 for the balanced proportions that suit you.
Thanks Geraldine. Appreciate it.
I loved everything on you, you’re making me want to go back to Nordstrom to try on more things! I love the Good American, Veronica Beard, and Mother jeans the best along with the green Vince boots. The light gray Aquatalia boots interrupt the line more, maybe the green version wouldn’t do that. The P448 sneakers look like fun and are so striking. I also love the North Face jacket. Overall, I love dark green on you.
Ha! I mean..we are TOTAL shopping enablers, right? I’m excited to see the green boots in person…they’ll hopefully be arriving soon. Thanks for all the opinions….this is all so helpful.
My favorites on you are 2, the first outfit in 4, and 6. You look amazing in green, black, and a pop of orange!
I’m kind of obsessed with that color combo right now. Thanks, Jen, for the votes. 🙂
I love everything in #2 and #6. It all looks fab on you but these are my most favorite and I’m sure you’d get a lot of mileage out of these pieces.
I agree…those are some of the pieces that would definitely get the most mileage. Thanks for the suggestions, Jess.
The light Aqualita boots look so fresh and light with all your outfits… it’s making me want to buy them! I LOVE the cashmere sweater and Paul Green boots… just gives you a different look. Thanks for sharing! Let us know what you decide:)
Thank YOU for commenting!
I also love #2 and #6 as the color combos look awesome on you. Both boots and that Clare V bag are amazing. Those Wit and Wisdom jeans need to be a keeper too!
Boots and bags….boots and bags….those are almost always the hardest decisions. Ha! Thanks, Cristina…I really appreciate all of you guys weighing in. It’s so fun!
Hah, we are all going to have different opinions, aren’t we. I like the Aquatalia in the herb better than the grey. It could just be the way it shows up online, but the grey seems too washed out for me. I love the North Face jacket and I think it would be worn all the time. I would nix the Free People sweater since you don’t really seem to love it and it is just average. I love both the camo tee (sold out BTW) and the Vince burgundy tee. Outfit #6 and #7 are my favs. Ugh I love 10 too! You could probably wear the Zella tank under a cardigan, so it is multifunctional:) and justifies the tags being off already. I love the Claire V bag, but I agree with another comment that one would work fine. The Vince striped sweater rocks, so you have to keep that. As for cardis, if you are trying to cut down and really do a capsule, you only need one black and one heather/khaki/beige. It is a tough decision, because I like them all. I love the Paul Green boots. I have a similar pair that I get complements on all the time, and I wear them with everything. I definitely am living vicariously through all of you, because I decided not to buy anything if I think I will still be at home in the fall and winter. I am living in “activewear”, so who knows when I will be wearing jeans again.
I think nixing the Free People sweater is definitely the consensus. That’s at least one piece gone. Didn’t see that the camo tee is sold out…bummer…I will look for some good substitutes for anyone that was still hoping to get it. Thank you for all the other suggestions and thoughts. Definitely gives me more to think about. 🙂 And totally get the “activewear” wardrobe for fall….my mom asked me last night where the heck I thought I was going to be going in all these cute clothes…ha! I responded…the grocery store, obviously!
Gah! I’ve tried to post twice, and they haven’t come through. Third times a charm? [Crosses fingers].
Ok, so, making choices… ditch both Vince cardis, because you love the Madewell side tie and the Thread&Supply has the holy grail of *pockets* (or skip it altogether if you already have an oatmeal cardi at home.) Use what you saved by keeping the cashmere hoodie, which you will love and wear forever. Ditch everything green (it’s not awful on you, but kinda muddy and I think the lighter neutrals are more flattering) EXCEPT the Clare V bag, which was clearly made for you (return the tan one.) Keep the grey Aquatalias because you obv love them and if it’s in the budget get the Paul Greens, too. They totally hit the “edgy without trying too hard” sweet spot. The three sneakers occupy separate niches, so I think you can justify keeping all 3, but if you only keep 1 make it the p448s because that orange sole will make you happy every time you put them on. The Frame ruffle blouse is a total keeper. This time next summer you will wear it for al fresco happy hours with all your girlfriends or your sweetie. The Veronica Beard jeans are super you, but I feel like you already have a pair of cute flares. The North Face raincoat is…not special. Surely you already have a raincoat? And that Eileen Fisher dress…it’s a lot of money to spend to hack half of it off and turn it into a tunic that you don’t even love. If you already have something similar, I would send it back. And I agree with another comment to return the Free People sweater. Too heavy, not special, and I bet you already have something similar in your closet.
Ok, I’m out. Good luck and please let us know what you decide to keep!
I’m so glad you kept trying to post!! Your reply is GOLD! I love your suggestions! You’re totally right…I do have several pairs of good flairs already, so I in no way NEED those Veronica Beards. And the Free People sweater does need to go back…as does the tan and black Clare V. But no on the Eileen Fisher dress? That’s going to be a hard one…you’re right, it’s nothing “special” and I don’t absolutely love it, but it feels like one of those pieces I will regret not buying…one of those pieces I want in my closet for “just in case”. Ha! And those Vince cardis are going to be VERY hard to part with….but you’re right I save a lot of $ going with the budget-friendly ones (or at least one of the budget-friendly ones). Seriously, thank you so much for taking the time to comment…reading everyone’s opinions on these pieces has been SO much fun! I love it!
Just a quick note that you the last few posts about the AllSaints sweater are linking to the Rafa style, not the Tara 🙂 thank you for the escapism!
Jen…thank you so much. So strange…I saw that and then was working on trying to fix it, but then all of a sudden the links are now going back to the correct Tara. I think it was a weird glitch in their system. Hopefully it will be all good now. Thank you again for letting us know…incredibly helpful.
My vote: The P448s! The Mother jeans! And the Vince boots! You’ve got me pretty psyched those are all arriving at my house in a matter of days!
Oh yay! Let us know if you like them too!
After looking at your outfits again, I seriously think #6 is perfection with the Mother jeans and green Vince boots. You have inspired me to look at green boots in the sale. I’m considering the Caslon Keaton Water Resistant Lace-Up Bootie in green, which is a lower price point than the green Vince boots (my actual faves) but has great reviews. Has anyone tried on those boots?
I love #6 and #10 – you look great, very comfortable and very “you” from what we can see on the blog.
The FRAME blouse in #8 is cute, but doesn’t seem to jazz you up as much as some of the other outfits. There’s so many black tops in the world, why not get one that really sings?
Definitely want to re-create #10 and hoping that the hoodie will still be around when I can shop on Thursday.
Hahahaha, I wish I could! I had so much fun with this (much better than my work and “homeschooling”). I was a little worried at first that I was being too brutal, but culling down favorites and figuring out what is most practical/versatile is enjoyable for me; glad it was helpful!
Those green Vince boots look really great on you! They work perfectly with the black Mother jeans and I think would work with any other crop flare-type jeans. The Paul Greens are really cool too! I guess it depends on whether you have other black or green boots you love.
The tan Vince cardigan is so pretty and lush and looks like it will last a lot longer and hold its shape a lot better than the Treasure & Bond one. I also like that tan Vince cardigan on you better than the grey AllSaints. I like the green striped sweater better than the cream striped sweater. The grey hoodie is super cute, but I think it depends on how much you would wear a hoodie considering it is also a more expensive sweater.
The black Frame blouse so so very pretty, but you also have those lovely Voloshin blouses from this summer that give a similar pretty vibe if you are looking to cut something else out.
I think the pop of orange with the Claire V bag is so cool (especially with the Vince boots).
Thanks for letting us all chime in!