NAS maybes

So...is it my imagination, or do more of the items this year look like summer items? 

Like Tanya, I'm feeling underwhelmed so far, but I also know that Angie's picks can open my eyes to a whole realm of new possibilities. 

I was hoping to find a great coat (preferably a peacoat), a pair of silver or grey booties, a replacement for my Aquatalia motos, a couple of statement knits, and a patterned or bright jacket. 

Well, so far I'm not doing too well. ;) 

However, I do have some items (below) under consideration. 

I've also been intrigued by the idea of a casual knit dress. I have a navy cotton knit sleeveless that I sometimes wear "jumper" style over a top so the fact that an item is sleeveless is not necessarily a dealbreaker (although, again...could they make a few dresses with sleeves for winter, please?) 

I think the higher end knit dresses are really overkill for me -- I don't wear a dress often enough to make them a smart purchase. But one of the less expensive ones, or the EF, which would be cross seasonal, might make sense. 

I'm a sucker for sleeveless turtlenecks and find them weirdly useful layering items. So I am debating a couple, both high and low end. 

The Veronica Beard jacket intrigues me, but I need to hear from Angie about it. Ultimately, I think it wouldn't get enough wear in my climate to justify the price. 

Also looking at a bag. 

I was hoping for a few pops of colour but that is another disappointing feature of the sale, so far, for me, and I hope it doesn't bode ill for things to come. 

This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

37 Comments

  • Tanya replied 7 years ago

    All the picks look great to my eye for you, Suz, either than the EF poncho which looks a little warm colored.  Of course, it all depends on the fit. My favorites are the CE, DVF and Vince sweaters, AC turtleneck dress, Vince sleeveless turtleneck blouse and the gorgeous VB jacket.

  • viva replied 7 years ago

    I especially love the Alice and Olivia dress -- that caught my eye too, although I wish it were modeled by someone who had SOME shape!!!! That woman is incredibly straight. it's very hard to know what it would be like IRL, but the color is lovely and the price is good. I could be tempted by that and I bet it would be gorgeous with your hair.

  • Suz replied 7 years ago

    Thanks, Viv. My concern about that dress is that it would be too long for me and not alterable because of its being a knit. I do like it a lot, though. It's a good shape for me (theoretically, at least). 

  • Karie replied 7 years ago

    Last fall/winter I bought a few casual knit dresses and I think I wore them just about every day. You can't beat them for comfort and easy peasy dressing. I like the Alice + Olivia best and I think it would be a good color for you. The funnel neck sweater looks like a great casual piece that would keep you warm but not overly so because it's sleeveless.

  • AviaMariah replied 7 years ago

    I've barely looked yet but #1 on my list is a black moto jacket.  I'm actually overwhelmed by the choices, even in petite sizes.  Hopefully Angie's top picks will sort me out or I might have a lot of returns happening.

    I really like some of your choices.  I imagined a more refined gray or silver boot for you than the one in your finds but maybe that's not practical.

  • Suz replied 7 years ago

    AviaMariah, here's a black moto that looks nice...

  • gradfashionista replied 7 years ago

    Suz, Fuzzi also had some dresses with a similar silhouette as the ones you posted.

  • replied 7 years ago

    I love the bag! It is such a perfect colour, at least on my screen, and looks very luxurious. The question is: is it puffer-ready :)?

    Would you be able to tell me how much it is?

    I think also that turtle necks are all good and practical for the winter with jeans.

    I do love that blazer too. But styling blazers for our climate is not my area of expertise. I do love how they've styled it with the hoodie.

  • Jenn replied 7 years ago

    I'm excited to see you in these deep reds with your new hair, Suz. That Eileen Fisher poncho caught my eye, too, but the colors weren't for me, alas.

    I do see a lot of more summery items this year, and like you, I didn't find what I was looking for in terms of a statement knit, but it's still early days, right?

  • replied 7 years ago

    I find a sleeveless mock or turtle neck and oddly useful piece too, and think that grey Halogen number could be good on you.  I'm cynical about the Vince sweaters based on my experience last year at NAS (and based on a comment made by someone else here who suggested that these were pieces commissioned by Nordstrom specifically  for the sale )  I have a Vince sweater bought during the regular season from their winter line, and it is head and shoulders above the piece I ordered and returned from last year's NAS . 

    I like the bag for you too. Sensible shape and size, and interesting colour. I too have been obsessed with a VB jacket for years, but stop short of buying one every time.  The price is just thaaaat much higher than makes me comfortable. Have you ever tried one on? I'm curious about fit.  

    Both boots look like you , too.  

  • AviaMariah replied 7 years ago

    Thanks Suz.  Another good one.  There are too many.

  • Muffin replied 7 years ago

    I really like your picks- all seem like they are made by the same person, very cohesive (as opposed to ALL the colors & styles). The Aquatalia boots are on my list to see today. I will report back. I have worn my others to the ground. If I can't find the right ones I will wait, more will come.
    Thinking of saving for a V Beard blazer with the zip out hoody. Not sure that the NAS style appeals but I think it is in my store so I will check. Kicking myself for having not gotten the blazer/hoody combo when I saw it at the consignment shop last winter--grr! Perfect fit in my regular size 4 but I hesitated and lost.

  • Chris987 replied 7 years ago

    Suz, great pics....

    How would you wear that cape? I'm curious because I always think capes and shawls look impractical at least for me....

    If you order the Caslon dress be prepared for not so great quality. I've owned a few Caslon cotton knit sweaters/tops and they seem to stretch out and look "worn out" pretty quickly. I'm considering a moto sweater in the same brand and am not setting my expectations too high.

  • Suz replied 7 years ago

    Muffin, that would be great if you could check things out and report back -- thank you!

    AV,  I know....   ;)

    Lisa, that's good info about the Vince. I am hesitant anyway because I don't want too many items in that approximate colour (much as I like it) and I got a really great cardigan in cranberry cashmere last year, which I will certainly wear again this year. It was one of my best sale purchases last year. 

    I have never even seen, let alone tried on, a VB jacket. So I won't be ordering until I get Angie's information. And I probably won't order anyway unless she orders me to! I have several great blazers (Reiss, Tahari), 2 great leather motos, 2 other leather jackets, and denim jackets...so enough might be enough. The idea of pattern or bright made much more sense but I may have to go fast fashion. 

    Jenn, I am glad my eyes are not deceiving me about the preponderance of summery stuff. 

    Smittie, the bag is $196 USD -- not cheap! But I've learned that a bag that works is worth the price. 

    Thank you, Gradfashionista -- will look. 

  • replied 7 years ago

    Thanks, Suz. That is in my price range.

  • Author Linda replied 7 years ago

    Oh, lucky woman, you can wear turtlenecks! I like that Autumn Cashmere dress. All of your choices are lovely. 

    I too found those pops of color hard to find. A lot of neutrals and, for me, the wrong colors. EF disappointed colorwise; I'd been hoping for more jewel tones but saw a lot of muted, neutral colors. 

  • deb replied 7 years ago

    Suz, that is what I see. Spring, summer, fall for where I live. I am going onto the store today to try some stuff on. I looked online and want to check these items out.

  • kkards replied 7 years ago

    if i wore turtlenecks, i think each your picks would have been on my list as well....i can see you in any of these...and that wine color would like great with your hair and mix really well with the blues you own.

  • Suz replied 7 years ago

    Thanks, Kkards...I hope you are right. I will probably pick up at least one. 

    Deb, it looks like we've chosen some of the same items! 

    AuthorLinda, it's really odd, isn't it? Lots of dull neutrals and very few jewel tones. 

    Smittie, I would love to be bag twins. Normally I like a more structured bag but I also like the shape of this and the size and the colour...I have had a hobo once in the distant past that I loved and this is a relatively structured hobo. 

    Chris, thank you -- maybe I'd better wait on the knit dress or choose a higher quality one. No point in a dress that wears out after two wears. Knits are iffy at the best of times! 

  • annagybe replied 7 years ago

    I looked up Veronica Beard's size chart, it looks pretty small. I'm really bummed I can't fit into it as I like it, a lot.
    So far the scuttle I've heard here, other forums and my sales associate, it's not a good sale.

  • Suz replied 7 years ago

    Anna, I'm so sorry about the VB; it would be really great on you. Thank you for the info about it. 

    My impression is that it's not as exciting a sale as last year or the year before. But maybe when we hear from Angie she'll find some gems. Crossing fingers. 

  • Joyce B replied 7 years ago

    I also like your picks. I think you are on the right track with the booties.
    I agree that many of the items are more suitable for mild winters. I tried to stay away from those but still got the PG Julias.

  • Angie replied 7 years ago

    I also got nothing on my original list but the knitwear. You can't buy the items when they aren't there! But I've come home with stunning unexpected stuff that screamed my name, some wild cards, and am very happy. All Modern Retro.

    Dressy shoes and boots were the biggest disappointment. The heels are sky high again.

    Suz, both pairs of boots are top picks. So are many of your tops.

    Okay! My next client is about to arrive.

  • Tanya replied 7 years ago

    Angie, glad to hear that your impressions of the sale are not that different from ours.  I am curious as a kitten to see which items followed you home :)

  • Suz replied 7 years ago

    Me too, me too -- I want to know what you got, Angie!! 

    And (when you get a second) please let me know which of the items I picked (or others that I did not pick) seem like the best bets. 

    Thank you!! 

  • marianna replied 7 years ago

    Great picks and convo here, Suz. It's fun to get hints of Angie's feedback and top picks. ;)

  • Travelgal Nicole replied 7 years ago

    I've been a bit underwhelmed with the sale this year too but it really helps looking through other people's picks.  Love the Alice and Olivia dress.....I think I'm holding out for Angie's picks before I pull the trigger.

  • Amy replied 7 years ago

    Suz, I like your picks. I don't have a lot of time to comment right now, but just wanted to give you some encouragement :)

  • Suz replied 7 years ago

    Thanks. No way will I be ordering ALL of these! This is just a selection of the type of thing that has (so far) caught my eye. I'm most inclined, at the moment, toward: 

    the bag
    one pair of booties (not sure which)
    Classiques Entier funnel neck sleeveless
    DVF sweater
    Leith boxy sweater

  • crazyone replied 7 years ago

    Suz, I wanted to tell you that I independently thought the same thing, that NAS looked a lot more summery this year!  That was my biggest disappointment in browsing.  I don't know whether that is because of Nordstrom's market (perhaps they have more customers in southern areas where the winters are warm? Even Seattle isn't as cold in the winter as Boston or Toronto) or what.  

  • Suz replied 7 years ago

    I'm wondering, too, Crazyone. I also wonder what else we might see as the sale progresses. They add new stuff daily for a while. So...crossing fingers and not getting too trigger happy yet. :) 

  • Mochi replied 7 years ago

    The bootie is stunning, Suz. I am now tempted myself. 

    Everything you picked has high potential. You know, looking through the catalogue I am not getting excited by the photos, but I have a feeling that once I see everyone wearing their purchases, the items will shine. 

  • Suz replied 7 years ago

    Thanks, Nancy. No way am I ordering all of these items (some are already sold out anyway) but one or two of the knits, plus underwear and probably the booties. But still debating. Haven't pulled the trigger yet!

  • Muffin replied 7 years ago

    Suz- sorry to take so long to get back. I will write a short post on my purchases later but wanted to let you know about the Aquatalia gray boots. I was originally searching for for black but really disliked the black flats with the buckles (just by looks, didn't try on). The gray ones were great- much more interesting in person and for me the perfect heel height. You can even fold the top over for something different. I fit my regular size with multiple sock choices. The back zipper was a little tricky but I find those usually loosen a bit.

    I also tried the Blondos - Did not fit through my high arches well. The high heeled Aqutalias were beautiful and comfortable and if I had a need I would have gotten them. I also tried the Vince bootie but it did not fit well around my larger ankles (the taupe color is gorgeous).
    Hope some of this helps!

  • replied 7 years ago

    I like the Aquatalias. If they are a reasonable price, I will get them myself, but if not, I might look at Fluevogs.
    Does the quality of these brands compare?
    Does Angie do bags are part of her top picks?
    I am also wanting that bag, haha!

    I also would like a navy winter coat. I think it would all work together.

  • Angie replied 7 years ago

    I'm keeping you ALL in suspense with what I bought! But you can PM me if you like, Suz. 

  • Suz replied 7 years ago

    The Aquatalias are $299 which is pricey but good for Aquatalias. My Sweetie boots were godsends to me. Different type of style, but super useful boot. 

    To my mind they are a very different type of thing than Fluevogs. Fluevogs are usually idiosyncratic statement-type footwear. Not waterproof. Beautifully made as a rule but you need to know which of their lasts (if any) works for your foot. If you find the style family that works for you and you like your shoes to make an arty statement, they're great. 

    Aquatalias are mostly classic styles and they are weatherproof. Usually more streamlined than Fluevog. 

    Angie will put a bag in her top picks if she loves it or it is extra-good value, for sure. She usually includes all kinds of items. If you look back in the archives for earlier NAS's you'll see she breaks it down by item type. 

    I think you should go for the bag, Smittie. :) 

    I haven't ordered anything yet. I'm about to phone the Ottawa store and see if items are in stock there yet. Which would make life a lot simpler than the cross border experience. 

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