Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

The sale of the year is here! The annual Nordstrom anniversary sale started at 12:00am on July 18th. This sale is so big that they actually shut down Nordstrom.com to get ready and they started a countdown to midnight around 10pm. I anxiously watched the countdown then jumped on the sale at the stroke of midnight. Here's the goodies I got that night. I'm sure I'll be visiting the stores as well during the rest of the sale.

7 For All Mankind® High Waist Bootcut Stretch Jeans - Sale $125.90, After Sale: $191.00
Hanky Panky Print Thong - Sale $11.90, After Sale: $20.00

Enzo Angiolini 'Sena' Bootie - Sale $79.90, After Sale: $119.95

I Love My Bermuda Shorts

So far, my favourite summer outfits always include my Banada Republic bermuda shorts. The look is flattering and professional; the fit is comfortable. I have a pair in black and a pair in white.

Martin cotton bermuda shorts - $19.99 sale
I like to pair the shorts with a bright coloured top such as this one:

Cap sleeve knot top - $19.99 sale
then top it off with a charming fashion necklace:

Fringe necklace - $29.99

Shopping in Canada Just Got Less Fun

I visit my family in Vancouver, Canada often and in the past, it's always been a fun shopping trip. My favourite stores in Vancouver are Jacob, Club Monaco, Zara and Artzia. Times were especially good when the we used to get $1.5 Canadian dollars to $1 USD. It was like a sale everyday! Sales tax in Vancouver is higher than Washington, it's a 7% provincial tax plus a 7% federal tax (GST). The federal government used to have a GST rebate program for visitors. If you spent more than $250 on your trip, you can get your GST back, i.e. 7% of that total. Well, on my most recent trip just a couple of weeks ago, I found out that they did away with the GST rebate program way back in April 2007. Now with the US dollar at par with the Canadian dollar, shopping in Canada just got a lot less fun.

I Love My Cole Haan Pumps

One of my recent purchases that's become one of my favorites is my Cole Haan pumps with Nike Air. I've always thought of Cole Haan as "comfy" shoes but I haven't really looked hard to see if there were any for me. Nike bought Cole Haan a few years ago and since then I've been intrigued by the idea of Nike sneaker comfort in a stylish shoe. Now I have the evidence! These classy pumps are a staple to any wardrobe. They're not very high, about 2.5 inches which is makes them feminine enough but not unstable. They're regularly about $275 but I found my pair at Nordstrom Rack for $119. I don't usually spend that much on shoes so I was a little hesitant but having worn them now these are worth every penny.

Cole Haan "Fiona Low Air" Pump - $275

Straight Leg Stretchy Jeans

Finding the perfect pair of jeans is a challenge. Everyone's shape is a little different so it's hard to find a pair of jeans that show off your assets and hide your flaws. My latest want is a pair of nice straight leg jeans that I can wear to work and for going out. I have quite a few pairs of boot cut jeans already so I want a pair of straight leg jeans to wear with cute heels. I usually have better luck with stretchy jeans because they fit better. My other criteria is that I don't want pay $200 for jeans. I decided to bite the bullet and look for a pair that meet my requirements around $150. My friend suggested that I go visit Aritzia, a Canadian boutique that has recently expanded to the US. I tried on a few pair of jeans before deciding on the J Brand pencil leg.

J Brand '912 The Pencil' Stretch Jeans (ink wash) - $158. This is the pair that I ended up with. They fit tight but the stretch makes them comfortable. The wash is dressy enough for work and evening.

Womens Melrose - Dark Resin Rinse - $169. These are also very nice. The wash is a bit more casual than the J Brand. They're not as stretchy (only 2% spandex), so they may stretch out and lose its shape later. They're also made of a stiffer material than the J Brand.

I also tried on Proportion of Blue which also had a more casual wash and very flattering fit. I can't seem to find them online. The girls at Aritzia really knew their jeans and it was so much fun to just walk into the store and have them bring me what I wanted. It was almost like a Pretty Woman moment.