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This is always one of my most popular posts of the year and I’m always so excited to put it together. I just love the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and it’s a highlight of the summer for me. If you haven’t had a chance to check out my top picks from the NSale preview you can see them all here.
Every year I try to balance picking up basics I need along with a few trendy pieces. There are a few items I always look for that are tried and true favorites that I buy year after year. I also try to refresh or update some staple pieces that have worn out or that look dated because they are an older style. This year I had a lot of requests for work tops so I made a point to try a bunch of those for you guys.
I wasn’t able to get everything in store so I still have a few items I’m ordering online and I’ll update the post with more pics when they arrive! For size reference I’m 5’4 and wear a size 12 in jeans and am usually a large in tops. I tried to include plus size options where I could. I felt like there were a lot of pieces that also came in plus size this year which is awesome!
Free People Leo Henley
This is one I always meant to buy but never picked up. I finally did and I know I will wear this one on repeat. It has great bum coverage so I will be able to wear it with leggings and jeggings. The white isn’t too see through either. I sized down to a medium like I usually do in Free People.
Shop it here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmAi
1. STATE Twist Back Waffle Knit Top
This was an impulse buy but I saw the twist back in person and HAD to have it! I love the slightly oversized fit so I bought my true size (large).
Shop it here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmzw
Plus size here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmAy
Free People Cassidy Tee
I really liked these but the pink was too see through for my taste. If you don’t like the see through look I would stick with the darker colors. I sized down to a medium in this one.
Shop it here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmAJ
Madewell Swiss Dot Top
I wasn’t sure about this one on the hanger because I thought it might be too short but I really liked it on! It’s super cute with a half tuck. I sized down to a medium which is what I normally do in Madewell tops.
Shop it here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmBf
Plus size here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmzM
Free People Natasha Ruffle Sleeve Top + Kut From the Kloth Jeans
This one is super cute but I needed to wear my true size Large. Free People normally runs big for me but this one definitely didn’t! I do love the sleeve detail.
Shop it here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmzT
The Jeans are Kut From the Kloth Donna High Waist Ankle Skinny Jeans. They fit TTS (size 12). Shop them here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmBN
Free People Swim Too Deep Turtleneck Sweater
This sweater was highly coveted by many of my blogger friends this year. It’s super cute and I totally bought it BUT it runs HUGE. I had to size down to a small in it and it’s still super oversized. So I definitely recommend going down 2 sizes.
Shop it here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmAh
For reference here’s a side by side of the small and medium (remember that I normally take a large!):
Free People Be Free Tie Dye Oversize Long Sleeve T-Shirt
This is a top I think will be super popular this year. The material is incredibly soft and it’s very comfortable. I sized down to a medium and it’s definitely still got the oversized look.
Shop it here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmCM
The Jeans are Wit & Wisdom and I’m wearing them TTS in a 12. Shop them here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmDt
Caslon Tee + Wit and Wisdom Straight Leg Jeans
Every year I pick up a few of the Caslon tees! I just love them as basics. I prefer the fit of a large but they didn’t have any in my store so this is a medium. I’ll have to order the large online. These jeans were a surprise fave! I actually bought them because they were so cute. I loved that they have CoolMax technology since Florida weather is so stinking hot. Wearing them TTS in a 12.
Caslon tee: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmQ7
Caslon tee plus: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmP6
Wit and Wisdom Raw Hem Straight Leg Jeans: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmPJ
Vince Camuto Embellished V-Neck Blouse + Kut From the Kloth Jeans
This was one of my favorite tops! It’s great for workwear but also looks amazing with jeans. It also comes in so many pretty colors. The material is a shiny satin… the fitting room lighting made it hard to show the color accurately. I ended up with a large. I tried sizing down but it wouldn’t tuck as well so I stuck with my true size.
Shop it here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmDY
Plus size top here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmUR
The jeans are my favorite pair I tried! They are Kut From the Kloth Diana Ab Fab High Waist Relaxed Skinny Jeans. I took most of my pictures with these lol. They fit TTS (12) but I had to have Nordstrom hem them for me so I’m waiting to pick them up. Shop them here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmEb
Vince Camuto V-Neck Satin Blouse
This blouse was another great workwear find. I bought it in this pretty blue color and am wearing it TTS in a large. I like the bum coverage and think it will look awesome for date night with my Spanx Faux leather leggings.
Shop it here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmHt
Plus size here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmUU
Vince Camuto Bell Sleeve Satin Blouse
I tried this one on because I thought it had potential for workwear. I wanted to love it but I felt like it kind of swallowed me. I think on someone taller this would be stunning but it felt like a lot of fabric on my frame. I’m wearing it TTS in a large. I appreciated the snap at the bust and it comes in 7 color options.
Shop it here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmGs
Plus size here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmVH
Vince Camuto Ruffle Satin Blouse
If you want a ruffle top I liked this one a lot better than the previous one! It had less going on and I thought it was just more flattering. It also comes in seven color options and I’m wearing it TTS in a large.
Shop it here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmIt
Plus size here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmUk
1.State Floral Print Flutter Sleeve Top + Black Jeans
I love the colors in this top and I thought it would be easy to dress up or down and be great for work. I’m wearing it TTS in a large.
Shop it here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmOd
I’m good on black jeans right now but I wanted to make sure I tried a pair in case anyone else needs them. I always liked wearing them to work on Fridays because they felt a bit dressier. This pair is Wit and Wisdom and I’m wearing them TTS in a 12. I probably could have sized down to a 10 though if I wanted them more fitted.
Shop them here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmPh
Plus size jeans here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmPm
Madewell Kent Colorblock Cardigan Sweater
I feel like Madewell has released a color block sweater the past few years but I do really love the colors on this year’s if you haven’t bought one yet. I always size down one in these so this is a medium. I absolutely love them but they have wool in them and I’m allergic so even taking this picture was tough so I didn’t bring it home. For people not allergic to wool it’s great though lol.
Shop it here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmKe
Plus size here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmJ9
Blank NYC Plaid Shirt Jacket
I absolutely LOVE the colors in this shacket! I’m wearing it TTS in large. If you live somewhere that gets cold I think this will be a must have for fall!
Shop it here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmI6
1.STATE Check Ruched Sleeve Jacket
I was really looking forward to buying this blazer but they didn’t have my size in store. This is a medium and I definitely needed a large. I absolutely love it though and will order it online.
Shop it here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmLw
Madewell Rib T-Shirt Dress
I wasn’t sure about the ribbing on this one when I saw it online but I actually REALLY like it! It’s very loose (this is sized down to a medium and still roomy). I was worried it would be skin tight but it’s not. This will be a great basic to build outfits with.
Shop it here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmTW
Plus size here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmTf
Boots
There were a few pairs of boots I wanted but my store only had one of them in my size. The Steve Madden Booties are super cute and a good update to my old ones with the chunkier heel that’s in style now. I usually size up a half size in Steve Madden but I preferred my usual 8.5 in these. Shop them here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmRn
These Vince Camuto ones I plan on ordering in black: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmR8
I REALLY want these Treasure and Bond Boots but my store didn’t get ANY! I’m going to try to order them in the camel: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmRA
Bags
I originally planned to buy the smaller Tory Burch bag but when I saw this one I absolutely fell in love with it! I love that the chain can be adjusted to wear as a shoulder bag or a crossbody. I had gift cards saved from my birthday so I splurged. Shop it here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmRJ
Here’s a pic of the more budget friendly smaller bag:
Leather: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmRO
Carson Stripe: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmTG
Bras
Bras are a staple I often stock up on every year at Nsale. Here’s what I loved this year:
Favorite Natori Bra: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmZI
True and Co Bralettes: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmZp
What I HATED
It wouldn’t be a Take It From Nicole Try On without at least one fail pic lol. I wanted to love this Free People Jacket but even sizing down to a medium it was huge and the sleeves were waaaay too long. There was nothing redeeming about this. See what I thought I would look like here: https://shopstyle.it/l/bwmWI
A Very Special Thank You!
As always I have to give a shoutout to Hilary at the Tampa Nordstrom who has helped me for several years now with NSale. None of this would have been possible without her! She’s just the best <3
And there you have it! Make sure to check back; I’ll update the post with MORE pictures as my online orders arrive!