Earlier this week, I visited my buddy Liz at Nordstrom for a preview of their Anniversary Sale. And let's just say that "shoppiness ensued." I love that line from Christopher Brookmyre's book When the Devil Drives.
The fashion blogosphere has been buzzing about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale for the past week or so. So much buzzing that you're probably sick of hearing about it. I was a slow convert to the idea of shopping for fall in July. The first year after Nordstrom opened in Ottawa, I told Liz that I simply wasn't ready to shop for fall. I hadn't done my inventory, perused the new fall trends, or made my list. But the lure of big discounts on the new fall stock was too tempting. And I found a few really great pieces. Last year I was ready, I did all my homework, but sadly found nothing on my list which was on sale. Although I did buy my Veronica Beard suit which has become a staple in my closet. This year, I threw all my fashion caution aside, did no homework, other than looking at my list of what I already own in the way of fall and winter pieces. But, aside from that minimal preparation, I decided to wing it. Shocking, eh?
And I'm pretty pleased with the fruits of my labour this year. I stuck to basics, and focused on jeans and possible tops to wear with jeans. And maybe a light sweater to wear under the tweed Max Mara coat that I bought in New York last fall.
![woman in white shirt, jeans, black flats holding collar of shirt]( "And Shoppiness Ensued: Lafayette 148 white shirt, Paige Hoxton ankle skinny jeans, Paul Green black suede flats with laces, earrings from Magpie Jewellry")
![woman in white shirt, jeans, black flats, rolling up shirt sleeves]( "And Shoppiness Ensued: Lafayette 148 white shirt, Paige Hoxton ankle skinny jeans, Paul Green black suede flats with laces, earrings from Magpie Jewellry")
![woman in jeans and white shirt]( "And Shoppiness Ensued: Lafayette 148 white shirt, Paige Hoxton ankle skinny jeans, Paul Green black suede flats with laces, Michale Kors sunglasses, Kate Spade bag, earrings from Magpie Jewellry")
The fashion blogosphere has been buzzing about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale for the past week or so. So much buzzing that you're probably sick of hearing about it. I was a slow convert to the idea of shopping for fall in July. The first year after Nordstrom opened in Ottawa, I told Liz that I simply wasn't ready to shop for fall. I hadn't done my inventory, perused the new fall trends, or made my list. But the lure of big discounts on the new fall stock was too tempting. And I found a few really great pieces. Last year I was ready, I did all my homework, but sadly found nothing on my list which was on sale. Although I did buy my Veronica Beard suit which has become a staple in my closet. This year, I threw all my fashion caution aside, did no homework, other than looking at my list of what I already own in the way of fall and winter pieces. But, aside from that minimal preparation, I decided to wing it. Shocking, eh?
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| I'm tickled with the results of my shoppiness. See the little bit of bling on the neck of this shirt? |
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| My "inventory" from last year. |
I bought this lovely white shirt from Lafayette 148. I don't usually shop in the Lafayette section of the store. I guess I've always considered the brand a bit stuffy, a bit too classic, and not fashion forward enough. Ha. That'll teach me. Liz says that their shirts are made of high quality Italian cotton shirting, and are similar in design (no one is using the term "knock-off") to some of the Fabiana Filippi designs. I love Fabiana Filippi, love her ads in Vogue, lust after her designs, but can't afford them. So this was music to my ears. I loved this shirt even before Liz showed me the similar design in FF. I like the small collar which stands up nicely, the sleeves which are of soft stretchy jersey, different in texture than the cuffs and the rest of the shirt. And the teensy bit of bling in the narrow silver chain detail around the neck. You can see this detail in the first shot above.
If I'm going to don this shirt with jeans, I prefer my collar up slightly and my sleeves rolled.
The jeans I'm wearing I also picked up at the sale. They are Paige Hoxton Ankle, high-rise skinny. These jeans just slide on, and feel wonderful. The high waist smooths out the bumps and jiggly bits. Love that. They're quite light weight, and will be great for fall and for summer. I rolled the bottoms in the store, but prefer them unrolled, here, with my Paul Green flats. The rolled cuff with all those laces looks a bit too fussy to me. So I'm ready for lunch with a friend on a patio downtown. The new me, the retired me. Great shirt, great jeans, teensy bit of bling, some accessorizing, but mostly letting the shoes and bag handle that. Off I go.
But before I do, here's the other two items I bought at the Anniversary Sale. Another pair of jeans. Paige high rise, full length skinny to replace the ones I bought two years ago and have worn out. And this black sweater/jacket from Lafayette 148. This zippered jacket is mostly knit, except for the quilted front. I love the cut; it falls straight from the shoulders. And will be a great fall jacket. Good for crisp days in Ottawa, or for travel. This is the shot I took in the dressing room at Nordstrom. I didn't have time to style it yesterday for this post. So we'll just have to imagine how it will look with a really casual tee underneath, my black leather trousers, and my black Stuart Weitzman boots as Hubby and I head out for dinner. Or with my boots, and these jeans... on a train, somewhere in England, in October. I'm excited about my fall trip. My friend Elizabeth and I, sans spouses, gadding about for two weeks. Shopping. Drinking tea. Enthusing about all things English. What could be better?
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| Looking like I have a crick in my neck in the dressing room at Nordstrom. |
I did some research on Lafayette 148 this afternoon. I had a really good poke around their website, and listened to a few of the short videos about the company. I'm impressed. I like that the co-founder and CEO Deirdre Quinn says that they "want to dress every woman." She says they make clothing in 58 sizes. Huh. I still think that some of their lines are a bit too "worky," too "drapey," or too conservative for me. But I may take a closer look next time I'm in Nordstrom. And not write off Lafayette 148 as I have in the past.
But back to Wednesday. After the shoppiness subsided, and I had chosen the pieces I wanted, I decamped to the restaurant where I was meeting my friend Krista for lunch. The restaurant was crowded, but Krista had a table, next to three very distinguished looking older ladies.
I sat down, and we launched into a rather breathless conversation:
Me- I love that sleeveless, black dress with that scarf, Krista. You do scarves so well.
Krista- Really, do you think? I always feel with my hair this long it's too much. You know?
Me- It's perfect. The black linen dress, black and cream patterned scarf, and those white Birkenstocks... perfect.
Krista- I'm a bit disappointed with these sandals, though. See where the patent leather is peeling a bit? Holding up her foot a little under the table.
And as we continued to discuss sandals and scarves, what I had just bought, what she bought at MAC cosmetics that morning, what she will be looking for when she meets with Liz next week, I noticed looks of bemusement on the faces of our neighbours. And I wondered what they were thinking. Maybe that we were a bit too mature to be gushing over clothes? That the girly chit chat was something we should have out grown long ago? Especially me, seeing as Krista is only in her forties. And I felt a bit defensive. After all, Krista and I are not flibbertigibbets; we're smart, accomplished women. I wanted to throw out a few Shakespeare quotes to tip the balance of the impression we seemed to be making on these women. You know, some erudite reference to the use of clothing imagery in King Lear. Or maybe a quip that, like Feste in Twelfth Night, I look in the mirror at myself in skinny jeans and notice the "whirligigs of time." Something relevant, and deep, that I could slip seamlessly into the conversation.
And then I wondered if their looks might be ones of complicity, and not of criticism. Of recognition. Looks that said: Oh yes, we too know those lovely, easy conversations we women have with our girlfriends. Even our very smart and accomplished girlfriends. The girly chit chats we have despite the fact that we left girlhood behind years ago. Utterly unselfconscious, nonjudgmental conversations which sustain us, and give us so much pleasure.
And then the waitress delivered a gigantic piece of chocolate cake to their table, with three forks. One of them chuckled. And, Krista and I looked over and smiled back.
Ah yes. Definitely complicity... not criticism.
Because who doesn't love a long, chatty lunch with a like-minded friend, especially after a period of very fruitful shoppiness?
So what about you, my friends? Been shopping lately? Lunching with like-minded girlfriends? The ones who never ever assume that you're an airhead just because you gush over clothes.
Linking up this week with: Visible Monday, #IwillwearwhatIlike, Style Me Wednesday, Thursday Favourite Things, A Labour of Fashion, Passion 4 Fashion, Fun Fashion Friday, Fabulous Friday, Saturday Share Link-Up