If you live in the USA (or happen to be visiting in late July), mark your calendars! This year’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale starts on Friday, July 20. For those of you unfamiliar with the event, it’s when Nordstrom previews their new season merchandise (Autumn 2007 collections) and offers it at insane prices for two weeks only. Prices are marked up again after the sale period. Meredeth at Noveau Image has a super post explaining the origins of this renowned shopping event.
 
I was able to get a “sneak peak” at most of their sale offerings last week and here is my hot list of exceptional items by department.

Narrative: This department is best during the anniversary sale. You’ll see lots of short cropped leather biker jackets, woolen swing coats, trenches and  black and white hounds tooth. Hot items:   

• “Via Spiga” black single-breasted belted coat with cracked black patent trim $199
• “Gallery” single-breasted modern microfiber belted trench coat available in black, tan, burnt orange, khaki and brown. For $98 this item is my hottest pick because a trench is forever fashionable
• “Laundry” ivory satin belted puffer jacket perfect for casual settings and après ski.

Individualist: If classy career wear is on your list, make a bee-line for this department. You’ll  see neutrals and jewel tones and lots of A-line silhouettes. Hot items:

• All suiting by “ Classique Entier”, “BCBG”, “Laundry” and “Trina Turk”
• Modern classic slacks by “Wowyn” for $107
• “Charles Gray” trapeze coats in grey, black and tan for $235

T.B.D: Denim and denim friendly items always make this department attractive. You’ll see a continuation of hippy chic easy swing tops, trapeze tunics and empire cuts. Hot items:

• “Halogen” corduroy three-quarter-sleeved cropped  jackets with adorable ’50’s inspired detailing available in an assortment of colours for $58
• “Halogen” brushed cotton long sleeved peplum jacket available in an assortment of colours for $72
• “Halogen” voluminous microfiber trench available in black and khaki for $84
• Wide-legged extra dark blue denim  “7 for all Mankind” jeans for $109

Point of View: This department is more affordable than Individualist and a good stop for both casual and career wear. Hot items:

• All “Semantics” suiting. Their cropped trapeze style jackets are fabulous for $84
• “Live a little” checked bell sleeve jacket for $52
• “David Kahn” jeans for $129
• “Nine West” tunic knitwear for between $49 -$69
• “Michael Kors” cream swing cardigan for $65

Shoes: This is usually the area that I head for first, but I was disappointed with their sale offerings this year. There is nothing wildly enticing if you have your basics for Spring and Autumn covered. But if you are in the market for basics, you might be interested in these options:

• “Franco Sarto” ankle boots available in both black and brown for $64
• “Steve Madden” black riding boots for $94
• “Coach” tan and cream fashion sneakers for $64
• “Paul Green” black riding boots for $250
• “Tasha” Patent car shoes for $150

Petite Focus: This is the best department at this year’s anniversary sale. My favorites are too many to list. Be sure to spend time here if you are a petite. 

Savvy: This is usually my favourite department at Nordstrom, but unfortunately no great shakes with their sale offerings this year and sadly, nothing here makes my hot list.

B.P: This area is always worth a look if you’re young,  ultra trendy, and happy to spend money on  a fashion fad.  Be mindful of the quality in this area though, it’s “throw away fashion at a price”.

The first few days of the sale are chaotic and Nordstrom stores will hold special Anniversary Sale hours on July 20, 21 and 22. Doors open at 7am ladies… keep those fashion feet moving!

I have been shopping and travelling for years, but I hadn’t come across an urban mall that has it all under one roof until I found the Westfield San Francisco Centre. Westfield has anchors like Nordstrom (and this particular branch is beautiful) and Bloomingdales occupying opposite sides of the Centre with absolutely everything else in-between. You’ll see European stores like Zara, H&M, Mango, Hugo Boss, Furla, Reiss and Jacadi on the one hand; and virtually every mainstream American chain store from Banana Republic to Wet Seal, and Express to Victoria Secret on the other. This makes for an expedient and efficient shopping experience.

While I prefer to shop like a true urbanite, striding through endless streets spotting hidden treasures along the way, braving the elements can get tedious and tiresome as you traipse from one side of town to the other. But what makes Westfield Centre somewhat unique is that it’s right in the heart of the bustling city. It’s the perfect way to enjoy an edgy urban experience, with all the conveniences of a suburban mall. Make this your shopping destination if you only have an hour or two to spare for a wee shop in San Francisco. It’s quick, convenient  and brings the best of what international retail has to offer all in one place. Brilliant!

The San Francisco Centre is a famous landmark that was all but destroyed in 1906 and rebuilt. In 1996 it closed and was renovated to what it is today, retaining key architectural elements like the dome and facade shown above.

As casual, everyday, “be-seen-in-public” mens and womens footwear, Crocs have to be the ugliest and least stylish shoes I’ve ever seen. Wearing them to the beach, in the garden, during torrential downpours of rain, at home, or as your only option after bunion surgery, is a dash more acceptable. But only in the ultimate practical sense. I’m all for comfortable shoes, but Crocs look really unflattering (and I personally don’t even find them comfortable).

However, shrink them down to toddler- or pre-school size and they’re perfectly adorable. Everything looks cute when it’s child-size. Alas, Crocs for grown-ups are still being offered by the shelf load at department stores, which leads me to believe that there’s a market for them. I just can’t see these garish rubber shoes working in any adult’s stylish wardrobe.

Am I the odd one out?

Crocs are cute when they are little, but then again… what isn’t? 

Oversized bags and totes are all the rage, but your body shouldn’t ache as a result. Fashion is for fun, not for pain. If you remember two simple things, you’ll sport a statement bag with style and comfort:

• Consider the weight of the bag itself. Large leather bags with loads of pocket and hardware detail can weigh a ton before you’ve even packed your essentials. Faux leather/patent, plastic, PVC, nylon, and canvas fabrications make for lighter and cheaper options. If you are going to go leather, keep design features simple as this tends to shed excess weight off any bulky bag. 
• Don’t pack the kitchen sink. Be ruthless with what you need daily and try and find ways to downsize everything. If the interior of your handbag is a mess, empty its contents and re-pack.

Don’t damage your posture and wreck your outfit by lugging around a heavy handbag. A roomy, light and uncluttered version is a more practical and healthy solution.

A large PVC tote and simple leather bags with no hardware or outside pocket detail.

As an update to last season’s gladiator footwear look, the opulent thong sandal continues to trend for Summer. This year they’re less warrior-like, a little more lady-like and perfect with just about any summer ensemble. Wear these shiny strappy flats with dresses, skirts, jeans, cotton-rich pants, leggings, shorts and swimwear. From bejeweled beauties to patent, colourful or metallic options, there’s something for all thong sandal wearers. While they don’t make my essential “must have” list, they’re certainly a nice to have. Versatile, timeless and ageless, a lavish thong sandal is the ultimate answer to casual chic.

A selection of smart flat thong sandals from Zappos.com. I bought the “Me Too” (middle row on the right) metallic pair last Summer and they’re still going strong. They’re comfortable and make my “4-hour” mark.

If you’ve been here before, you probably know how I feel about perfect pant lengths. In most cases you’ll be buying pants that are longer than you need and having them shortened, but it is also possible to go the other way: taking down the hems of pants is a solution that we often forget.

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to do with jeans, where there is no real hem. But it does work well with other types of pants if you alter them correctly:

• You’ll need enough of a hem before you start: an inch or more will do the trick. A good tailor can utilize an entire hem if they use bias binding. Bias binding is sewn onto the edge of the hem and acts as an additional piece of fabric. This allows the tailor to take down the hem without having to borrow from the fabric to sew another hem back in. You’ll be surprised how effective this method can be, and an inch can make all the difference.
• Have pant hems altered before wearing them because hem creases can be steamed out successfully before the dry-cleaning or washing process. Crease lines tend to become permanent after laundering.

I’ve lengthened quite a few pairs of slacks this way and it really works. You can also apply the same lengthening method to unlined jacket sleeves and skirts. So the next time an item falls a wee bit short in the length, remember to check whether you can take down the hem.

An example of bias binding.

Absolutely. Finding a fab pair of jeans can be challenging, so when you come across a pair that you love because they’re comfortable and fit well; it’s worth every penny. You will feel glorious in them and will wear them constantly, thereby whittling down the cost-per-wear to nothing.

I have an assortment of denim price points in my wardrobe (from $49 to $170). And while all my jeans fit well, my $170 AG “Angels” are definitely a cut above the rest. I’ve had them for years and they’ve retained their colour and shape a lot better than my cheaper versions. They also don’t seem to grow after I’ve worn them for a couple of days. My Abercrombie & Fitch jeans ($89) faded badly after a few months, while my Arden B denims ($118) look brand new after having them for a year.

I’m not brand conscious but enjoy good quality and expensive jeans generally seem to look newer for longer. Enjoy a pricier pair of jeans if that’s what works best for your body type. You are worth it.

Voluminous, blousy swing or trapeze tops are everywhere this season. Styles in heavier draping fabrics without overt empire seams are particularly forgiving for those of us with a little extra around the mid-section (say goodbye to that muffin top). Ensuring that these tops fit snugly across the shoulders is essential as a strong shoulder line is always flattering. Swing tops are best paired with slimmer bottoms like skinnies, straight legs, boot cuts, pencil skirts and walk shorts (because volume on volume doesn’t work). They’re a youthful, flirty and airy element to add to  your Summer wardrobe for hot, hot days.

Casual (on the left) and smarter (on the right) swing tops from Banana Republic and Nordstrom.

This season, I’ve enjoyed the ultra-affordable creations of New York graffiti artist turned fashion designer Marc Ecko. His range of men’s clothing is geared toward the city slick, young (or young at heart) urban man. I’ve been particularly impressed with the detailing of Marc Ecko’s shirt collection. Cuff and hem embroideries, centre front twill tape features, interesting patterns, funky collar linings and diagonally-striped piping make for an avant-guard and smart casual button-down shirt option. Fits are regular (not too slim) and prices are between $39 and $69. They’re not quite Hugo Boss quality, but then you’re not paying $175 for a shirt. Marc Ecko shirts have made those by  Banana Republic, Calvin Klein and Kenneth Cole look boring. I can’t wait to see what he’s got in store for our lads this Autumn.

Marc Ecko shirts are better in the flesh because the pictures don’t do the detailing justice, so be sure to have a look at his range the next time you’re in Macy’s.

Red, white and blue colour combinations are often viewed as American, yet I perceive this combination to be French (perhaps because I lived in France before coming to the United States). In fact, red, white and blue hues are also representative of the British, Dutch and Australian flags.

Sometimes the colour I associate with a country is the national colour. I’m Dutch by nationality, and although the flag is red, white and blue, orange is the Dutch national colour. The Netherlands is a monarchy that is governed by members of the House of Oranje-Nassau (where Oranje is Dutch for orange). Of course, the fact that Dutch national sports teams wear orange is probably what keeps the association alive.

Sometimes the country-colour association is a combination of these factors, or something else completely. I associate Kelly green with Ireland, antique pink with England, earth tones with Africa and red with China.

In honour of Independence Day, I‘ll be wearing a red, white and blue ensemble, feeling sporty and American instead of classic and French. Enjoy the holiday!