Menswear Wednesday: Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Normally I don't really post much about sales on my blog, but I did want to fill my male readers (if there are any out there!) about the amazing sale at Nordstrom going on right now. Here are a few of the best finds, in my opinion. The best deal? Probably the Sperry Gold Cup 2-Eye ASV's that are on sale for nearly 50% off!

1. The North Face rain jacket, $73.90. These almost never go on sale. I have the women's version in red and use it all of the time. It's the perfect light-weight raincoat. Find it here. 

2. I'm a stickler for light blue and/or gingham anything, so of course I found this shirt to be really attractive. It's on sale for $38.90.

3. Polo Ralph Lauren Dot Socks, $8.90. No one wears funky socks like former President George H.W. Bush, but you can at least try to be as cool as he is with these fun orange polka dotted socks from RL. Find them here. 

4. Timberland 'Wodehouse Lost History' Boot, $189.90. I've always been a fan of this style of boots, and really think Timberland makes great quality shoes. Find them here. 

5. Again with the checkered shirts, I know. I just think they look great on all men! Peter Millar's shirts are usually on the more expensive side, so a sale price of $76.90 is a good deal in my eyes. 

6. Sperry Gold Cup 2-Eye ASV boat shoe, $109.90. These are originally $170, which is on the high end for Sperry boat shoes. My friend has this pair, and he's probably kicking himself right about now wishing he'd waited for the sale. 

Dress Week Day 2: Workday Dresses

One of my favorite parts of graduating from college and moving on to the "real world" is that I get to dress up every day. I find myself investing more in work dresses than skirts, primarily because I think dresses are more comfortable, but also because I think they're more professional looking.

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Club Monaco Ellie Dress: This takes colorblocking to new levels, incorporating navy down the bodice, and a lighter, more bright shade of blue along the top. I love the color in this dress!

Laundry by Shelli Segal Dress: I saw this dress in Nordstrom when it first came out, and loved how different it looked. The detailing on it-- which you can see better in person -- looks almost like a basket weave.

H&M Army Green Dress: The best part about this dress (besides the color) is the lace detail along the shoulders and throughout the back of the dress. It'd be perfect with a pair of nude heels.

J.Crew Multistripe Dress: I fell in love with this dress the moment I tried it on in J.Crew the other week. Although I did not buy it, (I went with this one instead!) it's a great summer dress and has a touch of nautical to it. 

An arm and a leg for a shoe

I'm not usually one to spend a crazy amount of money on one particular item. For one, I'm barely 23 and just started paying off my student loans. Secondly, I don't have an incredibly high-paying job for a recent graduate. Third, I think it's completely outrageous to spend $200 on a pair of Tory Burch flats because you're essentially buying the insignia. I don't talk down about those who do (to each his own!), I'm just saying I would never do that myself. However, I am being a little hypocritical, because I'm about to confess the biggest of my shoe spending sins: I spent $298 on a pair of black flats. 

I'm crazy. I spent nearly half my week's pay on shoes.  I must be insane, right?

Not exactly. 

Before this purchase, I had been wearing my $29.95 pair of black American Eagle Outfitters flats I'd had since my junior year of high school (very gross, I know). A lot of girls I knew were buying Tory Burch, J.Crew and other popular brands, but everything I tried on, I found something wrong with. I wanted something simple, but something very comfortable. I grew frustrated every time I made an effort to go shopping for a pair, and all but gave up when my mom recommended I look into Attilio Giusti Leombruni flats, or "AGL's." I laughed when she told me they would set me back $300, thinking it was beyond unrealistic. But when I actually tried them on at Nordstrom, I was pretty much sold.

Here's the thing: My American Eagle flats were cheap, but they weren't half as comfortable as the AGLs I purchased back in August. I will have these flats for at least five years (how long I had my American Eagle ones). I wear them every day, and never, ever have my feet felt sore by the day's end. Yes they were very expensive, but with black flats-- something that you get more use out of than other shoes --you can think of them as an "investment piece," such as a nice blazer or an LBD.

For any of you looking for a great pair of flats (black or not!), I highly recommend AGL. You'll cringe when you hand over your credit card, but you'll never regret your purchase. :)

xxo

{Find all AGLs at Nordstrom here}

Menswear Wednesday: Peter Millar

In a prepster’s world, the male closet is dominated by the presence of Ralph Lauren, J.Crew and Vineyard Vines. When I think of preppy guys, those three labels come to mind, but luckily your closet doesn’t have to be overwhelmed with Polo horses and whales. A much lesser-known designer of luxury sportswear, Peter Millar, is slowly making its way up the fashion ladder, with a resume that includes clothing the U.S. men’s teams in the 2010 Ryder Cup and the 2011 President’s Cup.

Categorizing their apparel as "for work or for leisure," Peter Millar’s menswear line includes everything to dress the preppy guy from head to toe, including sport shirts, knits, sweaters and pants. The line was created in 2001, and, interestingly enough, named after an inscription on an antique lawn bowling ball he received from his mother.

Scope out the best selections at Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack, at upscale boutiques, or on their website. I've always been a fan of Peter Millar's sport shirts, but lately I've been swooning over the designer's footwear and jackets... especially the vests (I'm not sure why more guys aren't into vests).

Nordstrom's fall fashion forecast

My mailbox was graced with the presence of Nordstorm's fall catalogue the other night and needless to say, I had my hands on it immediately. There seems to be a consistent trend of tweed and plaid... not exactly my ideal autumn choices, but it seems like the 70s are lending us the look for the fall.

Also making a comeback-- corduroy skirts, scalloped-edged socks and (my favorite) a wide-array of loafers. I'll save that post for later in the fall, because as much as I love them, I can't write about loafers twice in the same month. :)

I really like these tweed skirts for the fall and into the winter. They can easily be paired with any of the flats below. The maroon tweed mini-pumps may be overkill, but they were too cute to leave out.

xxo

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Photos from nordstrom.com.