Are y’all sick of hearing about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale yet? If you are, feel free to skip right past this post (I understand), but since I said I’d share my honest review and try on of what I purchased, I didn’t want to leave anyone hanging. My pieces were a little slow to come in, which is why this is just now going live, but in addition to a blog post, I’m sharing try on videos on my Instagram stories as well (@prepinyourstep).
I mentioned in the videos that when I make purchases from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, it’s because I genuinely like the item and plan/hope to keep it. As with any online clothing purchase, sometimes things don’t look quite as good in person or fit as well as you’d think they might, and returns are inevitable. I have seen a lot of people disappointed by bloggers buying and returning countless items from the sale to make more commission. I hope y’all know that that is not my intention. While I do earn commission though clicks (thanks, as always, for supporting this hobby turned “side hustle”), by sharing my honest reviews of the items, I would like to think that I am helping guide you with your own shopping and understanding of the sizing.
If you are choosing to shop the sale and are looking for a bit more inspiration when it comes to items worth purchasing or how to style the pieces, I’ll leave links to all my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale content below for you. The sale ends on Sunday, so it’s not too late to stock up for the season ahead! And before I get into the reviews, I wanted to share my best purchases of this year, which happen to be underwear (obviously not going to be sharing a try on of that). I grabbed two styles from this brand and think I may go back for more. I was very wary that it was sized as one size fits all, but it worked for me, and now I don’t want to wear anything else!
I love the girly-ness of this blouse and the two patterns working together on the sleeves and body of it. This is one of those pieces that works really well to transition from summer to fall, and it comes in a couple of different patterns. I am on the fence about whether or not I'm going to keep this since I can't decide if the pink washes me out. Would love to hear your thoughts!
These jeans are the very first things I took the tags off of from my order. I love using the Anniversary Sale to try out new-to-me denim lines and was really impressed with this pair in particular. I'd say they run true to size but have a nice stretch. The raw hem makes them perfect for more casual outfits, but they also tuck in really nicely to boots and booties.
I bought into the hype of other bloggers and decided to give this necklace a try for a simple everyday piece. I don't have many necklaces I wear that often, but I haven't taken this one off since putting it on. I knew it wouldn't look blatantly fake since I have a pair of studs from the Anniversary Sale in years past, but I was shocked by how many people have complimented it since I started wearing it.
Do I need another pair of tan booties? No! Am I going to keep these? Absolutely. These are the best booties I've ever purchased from the sale, and I love how elongating the pointed toe is. The block heel makes them really comfortable and the color is versatile.
You can't go wrong with a basic t-shirt, and I love grabbing a few when they are available during the sale. I'd say this style in particular runs a little small, but I'm known to like my clothing looser.
I don't think this is still in stock, but it's as soft as everyone says. I like the circle style of the cardigan since it looks modern and not frumpy and would be perfect to wear in a chilly office or while working from home!
I wish that they had had this in my size since the concept is cute but it's much too small on me. The cashmere is really soft but not overly heavy, and the contrast of the greys on the split side is very unique and cute.
If you order one sweater, make it this one! I love the mock-neck style and that the sleeves are tight enough that it will be easy to wear under vests and jackets as it gets colder. It's a swingy style which is flattering and the length hits just right!
This is a bit of a splurge, but after purchasing it last year and having a year to wear it I'll argue it is worth it! I love the way it dresses up a simple sweater and the material is so soft.
This was a miss for me. I wanted to try a more unique sweater silhouette (since I can't seem to stray from the color white when purchasing sweaters), but the fitted bodie and balloon-y sleeves weren't working for me.
Another basic sweater that comes in a ton of different colors! This is a longer length with a shorter hem in the front as compared to the back. I was really surprised by just how luxurious the material of this one felt for the price.
It’s hard for me to go to stores like Target or Walmart this time of year and not inevitably wind up in the school supply section. As embarrassing as it may be, I could spend hours looking at different pens and pencils or picking out notebooks that color coordinate with certain binders or folders. In high school, I hated that we wouldn’t get our school supply list until the first day of school which meant that I had to spend an otherwise therapeutic school supply shopping trip with everyone I went to high school with who was also trying to get prepared and organized for the second day of school. Although a lot of time has passed since those days, every August, I still find myself itching for a fresh notebook and some new pens. Maybe that was part of the appeal of being a teacher.
I’m past the time where I operate on an academic calendar, but working from home has given me a bit of an excuse to freshen up my paper goods and desk set up. In some ways, I feel silly even having a planner this year and can’t bring myself to get one for 2021 just yet, so pretty organizational items and notebooks have consumed most of my browsing. Since some of y’all are back at school, I figured there was no time like the present to share my finds with you. If you see anything you like, you can click directly on the item in the image below to be taken to where it can be shopped.
I definitely meant to post this on Sunday (hence why it says "Sunday Styling" at the top of each of the outfit ideas), but was having too much fun with my friends at the lake to remember. Instead of waiting until this Sunday when more of the pieces may be sold out, I figured I'd go ahead and post these 6 outfit ideas for you today since every piece is included in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. If you didn't catch the first installment of outfits with sale pieces then you can find that here. I can't guarantee that everything is in stock, but I am starting to see some items returned so it's worth checking in if there's something you're really interested in.
The links to the items featured can be found beneath each outfit idea. Hopefully, whether you're shopping the sale or not, you'll feel inspired by new ways to style fall pieces.
I’m on coffee cup number two this morning and kicking myself for not keeping tabs of what I was up to last week as the week progressed. Maybe this week, I’ll write next Monday’s Step Into My Week post as the week progresses. With three shoots, one of which was on location, I am glad to be entering into a calmer week. As for last week, though…
My shoot on Tuesday went really well, which in part is thanks to an awesome location to shoot at. All of the other stylists and myself have been having to turn our studio spaces at the office into the “locations” we need, which has added a lot of work to our plate, so it was nice to be somewhere (with a mask on) where that wasn’t necessary. We somehow got through all of our recipes and overall shots by 2:00 that afternoon. That night I went with a friend to get poke bowls at Ono Poke in Edgewood, and then we went to the Vulcan to watch the sunset over the city. I had never been before and am not sure I need to go back up to the top of the Vulcan since the grates made me a little nervous.
Wednesday morning, I worked from home and started a fun DIY that will be coming to the blog before too long. I eventually made my way into the office and packed up boxes to send back to vendors for the majority of the afternoon. I went to true40 after work and finally went to the grocery store following that. Rebecca and I ate dinner in the living room and started a show (which I have since forgotten the name of) before going to bed.
I had another shoot on Thursday that ended up being my hardest shoot in a while. It was for a Christmas cover, and it felt like everyone wanted it to be something different, which was a challenge. I can’t explain how thrilled I was when around 5:00, we were finally told the shoot could wrap. That night I went to a new restaurant in Lakeshore called Half Shell Oyster House with a friend. The food was delicious, and we were able to sit on their patio. After that, we watched a show before I went home and went to bed.
Last-minute, I was put on a shoot for Friday, but since I was with the same photographer from the previous day, we decided to start it a bit later than usual at 9:15. It didn’t take long for us to finish the shot options for the shoot, and we were both relieved at how quickly it went compared to the previous day. That afternoon I made myself lunch, showered, and packed my bags to head to Lake Martin with some of my friends for the weekend. We left around 4:30 and made it to our friend Hallie’s house around 6:30. Once everyone arrived, we hopped on the boat to get pizza for dinner. On our way back, it started to rain, which ended up being a trend for the weekend. Everyone seemed ready for bed, so once we were back, we all went to sleep.
Saturday morning, we woke up around 8:00 and had breakfast before changing and sitting on the dock. We stayed out there until lunchtime and then went out on the boat. About 30 minutes into our ride, it started pouring, which wasn’t ideal at the time but was pretty funny. It eventually cleared off, and we went to goat island and boated around before coming back to Hallie’s house to hang out in the water. We tested out their zipline while dinner was being made, ate, eventually cleaned up, and played a couple of rounds of Monopoly Deal before bed.
Sunday was similar to Saturday in that we woke up around 8:00 and had breakfast. After breakfast, we packed up and made our way back to Birmingham, which put us here before lunchtime. I ate, unpacked, and got a weird inkling to clean out and organize my closet. Sophia and I had plans to catch up on the phone around 2:00, so I left my room a mess and went on a long walk while talking to her and my parents. Afterward, I came back home and showered and finished reorganizing my closet and drawers. Eventually, I made dinner and walked over to our Sunday movie night, where we watched The Greatest Showman. I was in bed and asleep before 10:00, so hopefully, I am well rested for the week ahead!
Happy Saturday! I am currently at the lake with my friends and am excited for the day spent by the water ahead of us. Even though we see each other often in Birmingham, there's something about time spent together and away from our regular routines that feels especially nice. Despite the fact that I'll be in a bathing suit and lathering on sunscreen, today's Saturday Shopping post is channeling fall. I know we've got a while before the temperatures dip, but at least with these cute pieces I'll be ready when they do!
To shop the items featured, click directly on the piece you're interested in pictured in the graphic below to be taken to where it can be purchased.
The day is finally here that the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is open for public access! After sharing lots about it already, I figured I should clue y’all in on what I purchased from this year’s sale. As I mentioned in my post, all about the items I’ve purchased from previous sales and love, I tend to stock up on classic pieces that I can wear year after year. Often that leaves me with a cart full of neutral colors that may seem boring initially but serve me well as I’m getting ready in the fall and winter.
I was really hoping that my order would have arrived so that I could share some photos and sizing pointers with you, but sadly it hasn’t shown up on my doorstep just yet. But when it does, I’ll be sure to share that post with you in case you’re hoping to make another purchase or keep your eyes peeled for restocks (I’m hoping for this and this). I am also not positive about which pieces will be worth keeping for me personally and will be sure to clue y’all in on what makes the cut in that regard as well. I’ve included both the sale and after-sale price in the graphic for y’all to see what type of deal you’re getting. As usual, you can click directly on the items you’re interested in in the graphic below to be taken to where they can be shopped. I know stuff is selling out quickly, so if there’s something you love, you may want to snag it sooner than later!
Here are the other Nordstrom Sale posts I’ve shared this year:
I am far from an expert when it comes to guy's clothing nor am I aiming to be. I'd rather spend more time complaining about how easy they have it to put on khaki pants and a polo or buttondown and are ready for just about any outing. But when I shared my previous Nordstrom Sale picks on Instagram I had a few requests to share my favorites in the menswear category as well. So here we are, my un-expert opinion of the best guys pieces included in the sale! If you aren't a cardholder you can officially start shopping tomorrow, so go ahead and add the items you're interested in to your wishlist to make for easy shopping. I will be sharing what I purchased in tomorrow's post!
To shop any of these pieces click directly on the item in the image below to be taken to where it can be purchased.
Good morning! I am up early with a cup of coffee before heading to true40 and starting my workday, and it feels really nice. It also shows that I may have procrastinated writing this during the week, but you win some and you lose some, and at least this is getting done either way. I was explaining to my roommate recently that I feel like I’ve been doing a halfway job of everything lately since I’ve been out of my routine, especially with being out of town every weekend in August. It has made August go by pretty quickly, but I’ve felt a little frazzled in the process, so I’m hoping to settle back into a routine with more structure soon.
I felt like from the time I woke up on Monday morning to the time I ate lunch I was on video meetings with the teams I was styling shoots for. We try to have meetings on Fridays, but since I’ve been assigned to shoots on that day lately, I haven’t been able to get them done then. I was in the office in the afternoon and got through with packaging up a ton of returns from a previous week’s shoot and was able to pull props for my shoot the following day. I eventually came home and cleaned before meeting my friend Hallie to play tennis. Afterward, I grabbed Taco Mama to-go with a friend, and we finished watching a movie we had started the day before.
I had a shoot on Tuesday, so I went into the office around 7:00 to make sure I had everything I needed for that. The shoot lasted most of the day, but I still had time to put away my props from that day and pull things for the next, which was nice. I went to true40 in the afternoon and came home and showered before going to a friend’s house to make dinner. We made a recipe out of Southern Living that I had seen while at the beach, and it turned out really well. After that, we went and got ice cream at Mountain Brook creamery before I eventually went home and went to sleep.
Wednesday was another shoot day, and I was afraid it would take a lot longer than it did since we had seven recipes to shoot. We finished around 2:00, and I put my props away and put what I needed for Friday’s shoot on my cart. Since I had assumed the shoot would last longer than it did, I wasn’t scheduled for a true40 class and went for a run outside instead. It had been a while since I had done that, and the summer heat reminded me why. That wasn’t a problem for long since it started raining out of nowhere, and I ended up drenched. After showering, I made dinner and cookies, which I took to bible study that night.
Thursday was my first day of the week without a shoot (aside from Monday, but Monday shoots are rare), so the pace of my day seemed much more relaxed. I woke up earlier than usual to work on blog posts and then went to true40 and showered all before getting to work emails and prepping for shoots to come. I picked up lunch at Hattie B’s with a friend, and we brought it back to my house to eat since it was far too hot to sit on their outdoor patio to enjoy it. Then I continued working in the afternoon and made dinner and watched selling sunset that night while working on blog content.
Friday was really overcast, which made waking up a little harder, but I needed to get into the office to pull the last few items for the shoot I had that day. We wrapped a little after noon, and I came home to make lunch following the shoot. I continued working on some blog images while watching Criminal Minds until it was time to pick up the new washer and dryer my roommate snagged for free. Thankfully we had some guys to help us; otherwise, I’m not sure we would have been able to move it successfully. I showered and got ready for dinner after that. A friend and I went to Five and then made our way to our friend Wayne’s house for a small outdoor gathering.
I took it easy on Saturday morning and eventually showered and packed before some friends and I went to Auburn for another one of our friend’s weddings. We were flattered to have made the cut knowing that she had to have far fewer people than were originally invited. After getting ready and having a belated birthday celebration for Nell with a cheeseboard, we went to the church where everyone was spread out and in masks. The ceremony was pretty quick, and then it was off to the reception. We had a blast and made it back to where we were staying and were asleep by 11:00.
My roommate wanted to get on the road early on Sunday morning, so I got up with her to ride back to Birmingham. We got back to our house around 9:30, and the rest of my day was very relaxed. I unpacked, made lunch, took a nap, and then went for a very hot walk to talk on the phone with my parents. After showering and making dinner, I went to our Sunday night movie night before coming home and going to sleep.
I hope that y’all had a nice week and weekend as well. My week is pretty front-heavy, and after Tuesday should feel a little less busy, which I am looking forward to!
After a few weeks off from these Sunday Styling posts, I am excited to be back with a new installment. You'll see that a lot of these pieces are much more fitting to wear in the fall and winter since everything featured is part of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. If you're not a card holder then these pieces will be available for you to purchase this coming Thursday, but if you are a card holder then you can start shopping these pieces now!
Happy Saturday! It's under 90 degrees out today which feels like a serious win. I'm about to hit the road to head to Auburn for the night to celebrate a friend's wedding with a few of my other friends! While I know it's not the wedding she initially envisioned given that she had to cut it down a good bit, I am excited to be able to attend and help make the most out of these changed plans!
All week I've been telling myself I was going to go through my closet and make a pile of items I haven't worn this season and while that never happened I realized that the real gap in my wardrobe comes in the form of everyday shirts that can easily be worn to work or out and about with friends. Because of that, you'll find a lot of cute shirt options in today's Saturday Shopping post! None of these items are from the Nordstrom Anniversary sale, so you don't have to worry about whether or not you're able to shop them yet. If you see something you like click directly on the item in the image below to be taken to where it can be purchased!
Happy Friday! I’m very excited to have gotten blog posts up every day this week after falling behind last week. I hope that today’s post is especially helpful for any of you who may be considering shopping the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. Yesterday I shared my NSale favorites (find that post here) and, while scrolling through all the offerings, saw quite a few repeat offenders from past year’s sales that had previously made their way into my closet. Part of the beauty of the sale is that it’s a great time to stock up on fall and winter basics that are high quality and can be worn year after year, and that’s precisely what I find myself doing.
When putting together the graphic below, I was surprised by how muted everything was in color, but it goes to show that these are items that can be easily added to your wardrobe to mix in with statement pieces you may have. While the pieces are on sale, some of them still may be an investment, so I’ve broken down why I love each item below for you. I’m hoping I’ll be able to include my purchases (don’t worry, I’ll share those with you next week) from this year’s sale in a version of this post next year!
Some of the items I’ve included are not identical to the ones I own since styles are usually tweaked and updated a bit from year to year but are close enough that you probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference had I not mentioned it.
Heads up: The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is currently only open to cardholders. Full public access begins next Thursday! The image below is not shoppable, but all the products are linked beneath it and are available to shop in the widget at the end of this post.
This is the Barbour jacket offered in the sale that looks the most similar to the style I have. Barbour is known for its waxed styles, and mine has held up incredibly well since I received it during my freshman year of college. I have gotten it rewaxed once, but with such a classic look, it’s an investment piece you’ll likely have for life. While I’m not a fan of the faux shearling trim, don’t let that stop you from trying it out if you hoped to get your hands on a Barbour jacket during the sale since it is removable! For reference, I buy my Barbour’s in a US6.
Sometimes basic white t-shirts can be one of the hardest things to shop for. I like to narrow my search by what is included as a part of the NSale each year. I’ve gotten shirts from this brand before and like that they aren’t too thin but also aren’t thick enough to be hot. The black and white striped version is my favorite but often goes in and out of stock in the sale.
I have this exact jacket without the hood and continuously reach for it as a layering piece in the fall and winter. For being a jacket that keeps you so warm, it’s easy to pack into small spaces and isn’t all that thick. The long version is pretty much identical to the one I have just with some added length and comes in a pretty grey color in addition to black.
I am far from a jean snob when it comes to brands but can be picky about how they fit and feel. I’ve found some really great jeans in past years during the sale and like to use the discounted prices as an excuse to occasionally stray from the skinny, dark wash denim style that I tend to gravitate towards. I liked some of the cuts included in this year’s sale but couldn’t resist a version of my tried and true style.
As far as clothing goes, these leggings may be one of the edgiest pieces I own. They are really fun to pair with a long sweater and slides and are incredibly comfortable. Because they are by Spanx, they are pretty shaping, but I tend to like to wear something longer on the top with them.
Since so many of us have felt like we’ve been living in activewear now seems like as good of a time to stock up on cute versions of your favorite pieces. I like the interest the moto detail adds to these leggings, and they have a good bit of compression. While I own a grey pair, I really love the navy color offered in this year’s sale.
The Zella workout brand has yet to fail me, and these black leggings are a closet staple. There’s a version that is a little bit less expensive that’s equally as good, but I like the pocket detail on these. I know black leggings may feel like a boring thing to buy during the sale, but once you try them on, I know you’ll be thinking otherwise!
The fuzzy fleece pullover I own is from a different brand altogether, but this version looks really similar. While it may not be the most stylish thing to wear (mine tends to look like I’m wearing a blanket at times), I love mine. This is another one of those items that will be a great addition to your work from home uniform.
I was really surprised to see this tank in the sale since I bought the white version earlier this summer. The length of this hits at a good place and can be shortened slightly by tying the side of it in a simple knot. There is an open V in the back, which is useful for keeping you cool while also showing off any cute sports bras you may own.
I love that the Nordstrom sale offers so many options of the Patagonia jackets I own and love. This Better Sweater quarter zip is a really great weight and can transition well from activewear outfits to times when you’re hoping to look a bit more put together while running errands. I’d recommend sizing up on this one! I think I own mine in a medium.
Maybe it’s just me, but I think Hunter boots make rainy days a whole lot better. I have both a short and tall pair and would be more likely to recommend the short version since I find them easier to style. What’s especially great about the styles offered in the sale is that most of them are the “packable” version meaning they are flexible and can roll up to better fit in a suitcase (you know, when we start using those again).
I really love that slide shoes like these are here to stay, and the Dr. Scholl’s ones I own are by far the most comfortable version. There are many different colors and textures of these available, so if you’ve noticed a color gap in your shoe collection, consider filling it with one of these comfy but cute options.
I always love seeing the booties offered during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and year after year have noticed them bringing back a notched option. These are probably the most worn booties I own because they are both stylish and comfortable. I’d recommend getting a pair of these socks to go with them.
When my brother gave me this brand of bracelet for my college graduation, I didn’t know much about it. It turns out, they are a “thing” and I can thank my now sister in law for guiding his decision. The version I have is customized to say “Woody” (since we grew up joking that Gil was really impressive like Buzz and I was old reliable like Woody) and my graduation date, but this non-custom version would look really cute stacked with other bracelets and comes in different metal options.
Even with the sale price, the price tag on this scarf seems steep, but once you try it, you’ll understand why. It works wonderfully as both a scarf or a wrap and is one of the simplest ways to elevate the look of my fall sweaters. I am so tempted to try another color of it this year, but I am really glad to have the camel one in my closet.
I tend to stick to my pearl studs daily, so when I had these recommended to me during the sale a year or two ago, I didn’t really know how much wear I’d get out of them. Dare I say they look real enough to never actually want to get a diamond version?
Today marks the first day of shopping the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale for cardholders, so today on the blog, that means I am rounding up all of my favorites. Since I have a Nordstrom card, this is the day I place my order, and usually creating this post causes me to fill up my cart, eventually causing me to reason with myself that no, I probably don’t need three new grey sweaters for fall.
As my roommate and I were talking about this sale during the week, we both mentioned how we tailor our shopping to fall pieces while scrolling through everything. That’s pretty much the point of this sale, and while I know that we don’t really have a good idea of what fall and winter will look like this year, my wardrobe during these seasons usually leans on the cozier side of things whether or not I am leaving the house. A comfy pair of dark washed jeans, semi-oversized sweater, and booties or slides depending on the occasion seems to be my uniform of choice.
In a lot of ways I am glad that the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale has been tailored down when it comes to the number of products available since it’s making my decisions about what to order a little bit easier. Below you will find all of my favorite finds from the sale that I eventually narrowed down before clicking ‘order.’ Tomorrow I’ll be sharing items that I already own that are included again this year (since there are always some good repeat offenders) and get my stamp of approval. And I’m especially excited for Sunday’s post where I’ve been putting together a regular Sunday Styling roundup for y’all solely featuring items from the NSale. I’ll have more content regarding the sale next week but will be sprinkling in other posts as well for any of you that may not have any interest in the sale. You certainly don’t need to purchase anything to feel inspired and excited about the prospect of potentially having weather where wearing these pieces is acceptable!
If you see anything you’re interested in, be sure to click on the item in the image below to be taken to where it can be shopped. As a reminder, you will only be able to add things to your wishlist if you don’t have a Nordstrom card, and your wishlist will be able to be purchased next Thursday if that’s the case!