Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks - Photos and Reviews

Oh it's that time of year again (eye roll lol), the super hyped Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!
Because of all the attention from the blogging community, this sale has turned into a race and year after year the website crashes. I remember when my mother and I used to shop this sale years ago and no one even knew about it.

Anyways, I wanted to share my thoughts on some items and hopefully this isn't too repetitive for you seeing that everyone and their mothers have posted about this sale. For a great tip on how to shop the sale without the credit card, be sure to read Jess' blog post HERE.

First off, I wanted to share some staples that show up in this sale year after year - these are items I have had for years and love.

Thigh-high Tights That Actually Stay In Place

Today I'm coming at you with a review on a pair of thigh-high tights.

When VienneMilano reached out to me and asked if I wanted to try a pair of their thigh-highs, I must admit - I was beyond intrigued because this is not something I typically gravitate towards.

I am wearing a pair of MATTE BLACK tights with a striped band.

Despite being a medium weight, these stay rather opaque which is something I really like in tights.

Vienne Milano is a luxury hosiery brand and prides itself in their high quality thigh high tights. All the tights are made in Italy and made for woman who want to "reveal their style and confidence by being sophisticated, playful and seductive in every occasion."

The texture is extremely smooth and has amazing stretch. It is medium weight, which I think is perfect for this winter to spring transition weather. Thicker tights may be too warm at times, but the thigh-highs allow your legs to breath.


I have definately tried other thigh-highs in the past, but was never a fan mostly due to the fact that they start sliding down my legs and the constant pulling to fix it is quite unattractive. The Vienne Milano's is the perfect solution (and this is definitely my favorite feature) - the entire band is lined with a thin strands of silicone lining which prevents any sliding! I wore these out all day and I must say, I did not have to tug on them at all.

Old Navy Reviews and Sale

I took a quick trip to my local Old Navy last night for a pair of mittens I spotted online.
While browsing the store, several items caught my eye.

The RUFFLE HEM SWEATER (reg. $34.99) is marked as $8.99 in store and $19.00 - $23.00 online depending on color.
Here I'm wearing the XS (I'm 5'4, 103 lbs). I love the fit and length of this sweater, my only complaint is that it sheds quite a bit. The black tank top I layered under this was covered in white lint. I thought it was still worth it for $8.99, nothing a lint roller can't fix.

RUFFLE HEM SWEATER - XS

I'm in love with this lavender color, however my size was sold out in stores as well as online.

OVER THE KNEE BOOTS FOR SLIM CALVES

Today I'm coming to you with a review on 4 pairs of over the knee boots designed for slim calves.
I have very slim calves (12.5in circumference) and have always had trouble finding boots that fit properly. I've been eyeing the Stuart Weitzman Lowlands for quite some time, but did not want to spend the money.

I did plenty of research and reading reviews online and found 4 pairs that were described as "slim fitting". During the Black Friday, I bit the bullet and purchase all 4 pairs.



First up is the GENTLE SOUL EMMA BOOTS - definitely winners! These retail for $399, but are on sale on several sites for $220-$250.00 and come in black and a beautiful taupe color (almond.) I purchased these in both colors; the black in size 5.5, and almond in 6. When I was in the process of checking out, the size 6 in black sold out, so I decided to get the 5.5 anyways.
To my surprise, these fit about 1/2 a size larger, so the 5.5 was perfect. I was quote unfamiliar with this brand, but knew it was a comfort brand. Gentle Soul is a brand of Kenneth Cole and is definitely made for comfort. I felt like I was walking on clouds the second I stepped foot in these boots. The soul is thick and made of layers of memory pillows, padding, and dear skin lining, completely organic and has rubberized souls for easy walking!

PROS:
- fits my legs perfectly!
- lined with a silky smooth liner
- doesn't slip down my legs when I walk
- genuine sueded
- amazing quality
- good price point for quality and comfort!
CONS:
- pull on boot, without ties in the back, which may stretch out after some use
- run half a size big

Nordstrom BP Trolley Ankle Bootie Review

I attending the private holiday shopping event at Nordstrom last week - an event for level 2-4 customers. Every dollar spent during the event is 10 points. I took full advantage of this and purchased several pair of shoes as well as some beauty products I was running low on.

I finally purchased the highly raved (4.5 stars with over 1500 reviews) BP "TROLLEY" BOOTIES in black. These are currently on marked down from $99.95 to $84.90 for those of you interested.

DESIGN: I love how simple these are - all black with a simple functional gold zipper running down the outer shaft of the boots.

MATERIAL: As I mentioned above, these come in many different colors and comes in leather, nubuck, and suede. The black ones specifically are a nubuck material. Nubuck is cowhide leather that has been rubbed to give it the look and feel of suede, but requires far less maintenance than suede. I typically spray mine with leather/suede spray.

SHAPE: I love the toe shape of these boots. I think the almond boot makes these extremely versatile and also elongates the leg - you can pair these with jeans, leggings, etc., but can also pair these with a dress in the fall or over tights in the winter time.

What I also love about these boots is the ankle opening is rather small which blends seamlessly with your leg rather than create a jagged cut off at the ankle.

COLOR: These boots also come in a multitude of colors (below) - everything from cognac leather to maroon suede. For those of you who want something versatile, I would highly recommend the black leather or grey leather; I have similar boots in these colors and find myself reaching for them with all types of outfits.

Additional colors available

REVIEW - Steve Madden Claara Block Heel Sandal

Navy and camel colored option

I'm reviewing the STEVE MADDEN CLAARA BLOCK HEEL SANDAL that FINALLY arrived in the mail. I originally ordered these during the Nordstrom Anniversary sale, however my order ended up being canceled. Luckily these were restocked in the last week and I immediately purchases it again.  I fell in love with these online, however I was a little skeptical about the 4.5 inch heel. I wanted something I comfortable that I could walk around in and thought these would be a little too tall. When these arrive, boy was I surprised. They are by far the comfiest pair of 4+ inch heels I own. 

Glasses - GENTLE MONSTER

Initial Necklace - KATE SPADE

Bangle - SIMILAR

REVIEW: Halogen Marlie Point Toe Pump

I'm a huge fan of leopard print and own several pairs of leopard flats (one pictured above), but have wanted a pair of heels after seeing all the pairings from JEAN. With the hundred of positive reviews and raves about this HALOGEN MARLIE POINTY TOE PUMP in leopard print, I decided to order a pair myself when they were restocked recently.

Due to mixed reviews about sizing, I ordered my usual size 6 and 5.5. The size 6 arrived last week, but unfortunately was almost an inch too big for my feet. I patiently waited for the 5.5's to arrive and when it finally did, I was so disappointed. The color of the left and right shoe were completely different - it almost looked like I was wearing two different pairs of shoes.

The left shoe was significantly darker than the right shoe

REVIEW- Ann Taylor Gusset Crossbody Bag

I took a trip to my local Ann Taylor store to browse through their sales items, but specifically I wanted to see the GUSSETT CROSSBODY BAG in person. I didn't think much of it when I initially saw it online, but after seeing it on JESS, I knew I wanted one.

Most of the colors were available at the store, but only a few remain available online. I intended to purchase the burgandy one because I loved the little tassel on it, however after seeing it in person, it was a little more brown than I would have liked. Another difference I noticed with the burgandy one was the entire outer perimeter of the purse was lined with a suede border, which meant more maintenance.

After trying on all the colors, I finally narrowed the color choices down to 3 - gray, burgandy, and red. I ended up purchasing the red since I don't own a true red purse, and my husband liked that one the most. The red is a true vibrant red which I adore! For those of you who don't have a neutral colored bag, I highly recommend the gray - it goes with practically anything. I would have definitely purchased the gray if I didn't already own a gray bag. I have THIS ONE by Rebecca Minkoff.

This bag measures 10 inches long, 6 inches tall and about 1.5 inches wide. It has two zipper pockets, which I love and comes with several slots for cards, etc. when you don't want to carry around a bulky wallet.

Using it as a clutch with the straps removed

The straps are removable so can be use as a clutch - this would be great for day to night transitions.

The straps are removable and can be converted to a clutch

Love the size of this bag and the length of the strap is perfect - lays right at my hips

Attached card holders

Hope you find this helpful! Happy Shopping =)

Recent Finds and Instagram Outfits

I wanted to share some outfit details and recent finds with everyone since several followers had asked me on Instagram.

The first is a very casual, yet put together outfit. It gives off the sense of “I woke up like this.”I layered this BLANKNYC FAUX LEATHER JACKET over my gym clothes (yoga pants and a loose grey T) and switched gym sneakers for a pair of KED'S CANVAS CHAMPION SNEAKERS. To keep warm I added this HUNTER GREEN SOLE SOCIETY WOOL PLAID SCARF (also SEE HERE). For my bag, I'm wearing my LOUIS VUITTON BANDOULIERE (REVIEW HERE, SEE ON ME)
I purchased this jacket earlier last year and have worn it to death. I was hesitant and wanted to return the purchase initially because the jacket was a little too edgy for me as I tend to gravitate towards more classic pieces. However, I quickly learned that this jacket would become one of my staples during the fall/ early winter and even spring time.

J. Crew Factory City Coat Review

I recently took a trip to my local J.Crew Factory store and tried on the CITY COAT. The City Coat ($228) is reminiscent of J.Crew's Stadium-Cloth Cocoon Coat ($350) at 2/3 the cost and is a wool-blend. 

You can see the similarities between the two below (City Coat on the top and Stadium-cloth Cocoon Coat is on the bottom:

I think the City Coat is great for late fall and early winter in New Enland; it is probably not thick enough to battle the blistering Boston winter - I will stick with my J.Crew Double Cloth Lady Coat with Thinsulate for those cold days.

The ended up purchasing the coat in the color heather stone, since I don't have anything like that, for $114. I don't think I would purchase this at its full price of $228  since the Cocoon Coat can be purchased at almost the same price during a 25% off sale.

As for sizing - this coat is a boxy/over-sized fit, so I think the sizing may be a little off. My coats from J.Crew are 00, however I ended up purchasing the Factory City Coat in a P00. There is only an inch differnce in legth between the regular and petite sizing. However the real issue for me was the sleeve length - the 00 was way too long and covered half my hand; the petite was surprisingly perfect.

Here's a picture of me wearing the 00P. The length was great; it hit mid-thigh. (I'm 5'4, 105lbs for reference).

There's plenty of room for layering thick sweaters underneath.

Louis Vuitton Monogram vs. Damiere Ebene

I've always wanted a Louis Vuitton Speedy bag for as long as I could remember, but regrettably never purchased one since the price keeps increasing for these bags. Last year alone, there were two price increases on the Speedy's.  A few weeks ago, I came home to a giant Louis Vuitton box and inside was the Speedy Bandouliere 35 that my husband surprised me with. The 35 was much larger than I expected, and with the straps on the Bandouliere style, the bag resembled an smaller over-night travel bag.

Over the next 2 weeks, I made 4 trips to my local Louis Vuitton  trying on different sizes and styles. My dilema was: 

      1. Keeping the 35 or exchanging it for the 30

      2. Which pattern? Monogram vs. Damiere Ebene

While at the store, the sales associates made suggestions for alternative styles, but I knew I wanted to keep the speedy. After all, the speedy is number 3 on the top 10 classic handbags of all time list- the Speedy was originally created in 1930, and it's more popular than ever now!

In my head, I debated between the 35 and 30. I travel quote frequently for work, so the 35 would have been great for traveling - there was more than enough room in it for an ipad, laptop, scarf, and even a sweater. However the 35 looked a little too large on me as an everyday bag. 

My second problem was the pattern - I was originally gifted with the monogram, but after doing more in-depth research, I shied away from it.

MONOGRAM PRINT-

PROS: 

• Light colored handles made the bag more versatile while pairing with different outfits/colors and could be used all 4 seasons
• Classic recognizable logos (althought this could be a negative as well)
• This is the pattern I've always wanted

CONS:

• Vachetta leather on the handles and straps. When the bag is new the leather on the handles and straps is a beautiful light beige color, and over time it darkens with use (although some people prefer the darker color). This darkening process is called patina. I didn't mind patina, but my fear was the color change would not be uniform across all the leather, and didn't want to end up with spotty handles and straps. (Please see photo below for patina process).
• High maintenance - the sales associate told me not to touch the handles after applying hand lotion, hand sanitizer, and definitely not while my hands were damp after a wash - all of these would cause spotting on the light colored leather. She said it was best if I didn't use it very often.