Shopping the Summer Sales: Nordstrom

July 26, 2010 @ 1:00 pm
Written by Lucie Amberg

I’m browsing the summer sales in search of great pieces– the kind that will transition into fall. With significant discounts available at even pricey retailers, it’s possible to shop some splurge-y stores without blowing your budget.

Of course, we all know that shopping sales can be an exercise in patience. It’s often difficult to find the items you want in the size you need, but if it were easy, they wouldn’t be on sale! If you’re up for the challenge, the savings make the extra effort worthwhile.

Today I’m hitting the event many shoppers look forward to all year long: the Nordstrom anniversary sale. This sale is legendary because it features a plethora of discounted items– including many for the upcoming season. Since I’m looking to maximize my savings, I concentrated on pieces that are marked down 50% or more. Here’s what I found along with some quick wardrobing thoughts via Polyvore:

Nordstom Dress

Paperwhite Stretch Cotton Shirt Dress ($168 to $83.90), Jessica Simpson Fit & Flare Trench ($138 to $68.90), Hobo International Pleated Shoulder Bag ($298 to $148.90), Circa Joan & David Darleen Pump ($88.95 to $43.90), and Cara Accessories Animal Print Wide Bangle ($38 to $18.90), shown with patterned scarf and black belt.

The khaki dress is great and can be worn well into the fall. It comes with a fabric belt, which I’d definitely ditch in favor of a more polished option like the one shown above. The Circa Joan & David pumps are timelessly gorgeous- a great buy. The bangle is an affordable statement piece, and the mustard hobo is AWESOME. The orange trench provides a luscious pop of color, and I threw in the scarf to pull it together. Since this is Polyvore fantasy world, the scarf is vintage Hermes, but if I were shopping my real-world closet, I’d go for a less luxurious version of the same idea.

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Nordstrom jacket

Steve Madden Faux Leather Bomber Jacket ($68 to $33.90), Via Spiga Shanti Boot ($298 to $147.90), Fossil Embossed Floral Bucket Bag ($168 to $83.90), shown with Kendra Scott necklace.

The jacket is the star of this show. I love it styled simply and accented with interesting accessories like the burgundy bag and statement necklace. The Via Spiga boots are a sexy smoky gray color and a smart buy. FYI- the jacket also comes in black if you’re looking for a basic at a great price.