This has been a good year for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. Not only are there a ton of really wearable statement pieces in the sale (plaid jackets, a whole host of cold-or-warm-blooded prints), but the denim selection has also been especially on point. (For those of you new to this Nordstrom Anniversary Sale thing…this unique sale offers Fall merchandise on a deep discount now…prices go back up on Aug 5th.)
So when Nordstrom reached out and asked for my own personal edit of this year’s Anniversary Sale…the pieces I personally am excited about…it was initially hard to narrow things down.
In the end, I gravitated to pieces that I know I’ll wear all year: exciting (yet comfy) shoe-and-boot combos that complete any outfit (snake print does make an appearance), great denim, and three fun pieces that can be styled for almost any occasion.
ps. This post has been sponsored by Nordstrom & ShopStyle.
Outfit One: A Perfect Date-Night Outfit
This is my new go-to for allllll the Saturday nights: a silk top that is uncomplicated yet sexy, high-rise denim that gives good bum, and comfortable heels. The bag is the kind of bag I like to pack for any trip — it matches everything, and can be used day or night, any season.
Outfit Details
top: FRAME Keyhole Silk Top – this is easily my favorite piece from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. You can wear a regular bra with it, it’s sexy enough for date night, but would be fine for work under a blazer or cardigan. Available in black or white.
jeans: FRAME Le High Skinnies in Wythe – I actually bought these jeans during last year’s anniversary sale, and was thrilled to see they are back in stock! One year later, they’re still one of my go-to pairs of jeans. (NOTE: I chopped off the hem. Which, sad, because there’s a cool split-hem detail at the bottom. Ah, well. #shortgirlprobs) But these things are so comfy that they’re the pair I reach for most when we’re headed out dancing. I’m wearing a size 24…but in hindsight, I’d be more comfortable in a size 25.
heels: EILEEN FISHER Rope Pump – AHHHH I love these things! I can literally walk a mile (or two) in these bad boys. The cut is just sexy enough. The strings (straps?) do eventually leave marks on your feet…but that was literally after an 11-hour day at work. So for date nights (and normal work days) they’re fine.
bag: Rebecca Minkoff Jody Expandable Crossbody Bag – I freaking love the color of this bag. Taupe is, by far, the most versatile bag color of all time. I literally wear it year-round. I also like the (slightly larger) version featured in my dressing room selfies post…but I end up using smaller bags more. I’m just debating between this style and the belt bag style (keep reading).
Outfit 2: A Serious Upgrade To My Everyday Uniform
Let’s start with this: I’m not keeping the jeans. I was lucky enough to snag the rag&bone high-rise jeans before they sold out…and those are the jeans I’m keeping. (But who wants to be bored by looking at sold-out items? NO ONE.) These FRAMEs, however, do have the world’s most perfect wash. It’s that faded, washed black that always makes me wax poetic, yet the rise is decidedly mid-rise.
If you are not into high-rise denim, I highly recommend these jeans. (Also, I left them un-hacked, so tall girls can kind of squint and gaze, and see where they might hit on your legs. I believe they are supposed to be cropped.)
The rest of this outfit is made up of insanely versatile pieces. The knit sweater is flattering and something I could wear to work, dinner, or cruising around town with my guys on the weekend. It’s sophisticated and playful.
The bag and bootie combo is a total win — so on-trend and fresh…yet wildly practical. (And these little snakeskin beauties are my new favorite summer boot. They’re comfortable and perforated, with a very walkable heel.)
Outfit Details
sweater: FRAME 70s Ruffle Cuff Wool Sweater (size S) – Obsessed. Not itchy, easy to wear, hand washable. And the ruffle is small enough that you can layer under a jacket. (Looking for something more affordable? I also love this striped sweater (Halogen) or — ah ha — it’s turtleneck twin.)
jeans: FRAME Le Skinny Crop in Jackson Peak (size 25) – A perfect wash, mid-rise. I found that these ran a bit small. Size up one.
shoes: Dolce Vita Sher Perforated Bootie – Comfy, cute, and walkable. Dolce Vita also lined the inside of the heel with soft leather, so nothing rubs uncomfortably. I found they were more comfortable a half-size smaller than usual, but I’m pretty solidly between a 6 and 6.5 (and I went with a 6). NOTE: It looks like the snakeskin is sold out, but the other color options are great. If you have your heart set on everyday snake boots, try this pair (Jeffrey Campbell).
bag: Rebecca Minkoff Edie Leather Belt Bag – I like this as either a belt bag, or as a crossbody across my chest. Would be amazing for travel.
Outfit 3: Don’t Underestimate This (Faux) Leather Dress
This dress fooled both Gwen and I. I first tried it on in the dressing room, fell in love, and then…slowly….looked at the price tag, wincing. You see, both of us were convinced that this dress was real leather. It looks and feels like leather – like really, really expensive leather, actually. Yikes.
But the price? $236, on sale. Not leather.
Instead, it’s a relatively affordable, insanely fabulous faux leather dress that is genius in it’s simplicity: standard-office-shift-gone-tough-girl.
The result of this modest cut + daring fabric combo is that you end up with a pretty unforgettable (yet very versatile) dress. One that is both wildly sexy, yet completely conservative. Gwen and I both swooned.
This dress will obviously look amazing with sexy high heels and a clutch…but I wanted to show the versatility here, by pairing it with something a little more casual. Just for fun.
Outfit Details
dress: Theory Faux Leather Sheath Dress, size 2 (for reference) – I tried on the 0, 2 and 4. While I could zip up the 0 (there is a bit of stretch) that’s the only size that didn’t look good on — the leather pulled across my body. The size 2 (my typical designer dress size) had a slightly sexier fit, while the 4 skimmed over my curves and was a bit longer. Both the 2 and 4 would work. The faux leather is extremely soft.
shoes: Dolce Vita Sher Perforated Bootie – Comfy, cute, and walkable. Dolce Vita also lined the inside of the heel with soft leather, so nothing rubs uncomfortably. I found they were more comfortable a half size smaller than usual, but I’m pretty solidly between a 6 and 6.5 (and I went with a 6). I like all of the color options. NOTE: It looks like the snakeskin is sold out, but the other color options are great. If you have your heart set on everyday snake boots, try this pair (Jeffrey Campbell).
bag: Rebecca Minkoff Edie Leather Belt Bag – I like this as either a belt bag, or crossbody across my chest. Would be amazing for travel.
Just swinging by…
If you are planning to head in-store to shop the sale, you might want to considering buying online and picking it up in-store. That way you can make sure that your item (and size) is held just for you. (Nordstrom also offers curbside pickup if you just want to swing by.) Also, in select stores you can even reserve items and Nordstrom will have them waiting for you in a dressing room.
Now…which taupe bag should I keep? The standard crossbody….or the belt bag? Help!
xo,
S
A huge thank you to Nordstrom and ShopStyle for sponsoring this post! Frankly, I’d happily shop this sale regardless — it truly is a one-of-a-kind sale. As always, all thoughts, opinions, and product choices are all my own. And readers, thank you for your continued support. It doesn’t go unnoticed, and is so very much appreciated.
.){kind=link}