A Feminine Suit

 Blazer // Skirt // Heels (SO comfortable) // Crossbody Bag (under $30!) // Lipstick (in "wonderland")

You may remember this suit from my Nordstrom Sale - Product Review post. I have already worn this CeCe suit a few times since then, and receive compliments every time I wear it! The reason I think it is so well-received is that it strikes the perfect balance of professional & stylish/youthful.

The bow detailing adds a hint of femininity. I also love the unique slight a-line cut of the skirt. So few suits diverge from the pencil skirt style, that it was nice to add something different to my wear-to-work wardrobe. 

This Forever 21 crossbody was *such* a great purchase! I use it probably once a week and it cost less than $30! The style reminds me of the famous Chloe "Drew" (but with a price tag that is actually affordable!)

Please forgive my hair in these photos - the humidity has been crazy here in Vancouver this week and I certainly have had the "mane" to prove it. Side note: one of my childhood nicknames was "Simba" lol. 

In other news, I am flying back to the east coast later today to spend a week with my family. I am so, so, excited to eat my parents home cooking, squish my nieces & nephews, & relax with friends by the pool. Follow along on instagram to keep up with my adventures; and like me on facebook to see videos - I will try to post at least one live video while I am away.

linking up with: WW // casual friday // fabulous friday // friday faves // flashback fashion friday 

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My #NSale Purchases - with Honest Product Reviews & Try-On Photos

I am so excited to (finally) share with you my purchases from this year's #NSale. There are only TWO DAYS left to shop the sale, so be sure to check out these items and place your orders STAT!

While general #NSale roundups are great, I wanted to go more in depth and actually provide you guys with reviews of the items I got; sizing tips, notes about the fabric and my thoughts on the item. As a lawyer I couldn't help but structure this by way of me giving you my verdict on each item #lawyerproblems. Without any further ado, here goes: 

Outfit One: Theory Dress

YOU. GUYS. This dress is ah-mazing. It 1000% lives up to the hype. This is my first Theory purchase; though I have been eyeing their suits since the day I stepped foot into law school. I've been hesitant to pull the trigger because of the price tags, but with the dress coming in at under $200, I had to do it. 

Quality: This dress is incredibly well made - the stitching and tailoring are perfect - well worth the investment. 

Size: This fits true-to-size (I am wearing a size 6)

Verdict: 10/10. This is EASILY my favorite score from the sale. KEEPING.

Outfit 2: CeCe Tweed Suit Skirt & CeCe Tweed Suit Jacket

 

Finding suits that are professional but feminine can be very challenging. That's why, when I saw this suit in the sale, I was positively giddy. Overall, I like this.

Quality: The quality is not as great as I would have expected. The lining seems cheap and (for some incredibly odd reason) its is also BRIGHT blue. You can see a hint of it if you look at my sleeve in the last photo. That said, for the price, the suit is still pretty good. I LOVE the slight a-line cut of the skirt - such a refreshing change from the classic pencil skirt (and one that is far more flattering on my body type). I also like that the hem of the skirt is slightly shorter than I am used to finding (but still work appropriate).

Size: This fits just a touch on the large size- I would size down if you are in-between sizes, otherwise stick with your usual size. (I am wearing a size 4).

Verdict: 7.5/10. Despite the mediocre quality, the unique design and flattering fit of this suit make it worth it. KEEPING.

Outfit 3: BP Open Front Cardigan // Zella Leggings // Tory Burch Riding Boots

 

I just have to say this outfit is making me crave fall something fierce. PUMPKIN SPICE ALL THE THINGS. Okay, now that that is out of my system, let me review each item here in turn.

BP Open Front Cardigan:

Quality: Meh. Not much to report. It is neither noticeably good or bad. It is the toast of the clothing world.

Size: Definitely fits large. Size down at least one size (I am wearing a size small, and would have actually preferred an XS)

Verdict: 4/10. This sweater had SO much hype in the fashion blogging world, and to be honest I don't see why. I found the fit to actually be very unflattering - as opposed to a standard loose fit I found it a bit 'bubbled' in the hip area which made my hips (a problem area) appear even larger. RETURNING.

Zella Leggings 

Quality: In stark contrast to the above, these leggings are SO worth the hype. I love the material - just enough stretch to be comfortable but still suck you in nicely. They also sit high on the waist (that perfect sweet spot right underneath your belly button) and are thus perfect in my mind. That said, I do still swear by the Victoria's Secret VSX leggings as the best leggings of all time but these are now my definite second favorite.

Size: Fits a bit large. Size down if you are between sizes (or if you want a really tight fit). I am wearing size small. 

Verdict: 8/10. KEEPING.

Tory Burch Riding Boots

Quality: Perfection. I love that these are a smooth leather as opposed to last years 'cobbled' TB boots. The gold emblem is the perfect size and adds just a touch of sparkle. I will be living in these this fall; no question.

Size: Fits true to size or a bit small. I am wearing a 9.5 and I range between a 9 and a 9.5. I also have large calves and these have the perfect amount of 'just a touch' of space for me, so that is great (please note this are the standard not wide calf version). What that means though, is that if you have small calves this may end up being too 'clunky' on you.  

Verdict: 9/10. KEEPING.

Outfit 4: Halogen Belted Pink Top // Zella Leggings // Vince Camuto Lace-Up Heels

Let me just say upfront that I am not a fan of this outfit! I had very high hopes for this top, thinking it would be flattering but comfortable- perfect for fall. But, I don't like it in person sadly!

Halogen Belted Pink Top

 

Quality: So-So. The color of the fabric is beautiful and the material is not too thick and not too thin (yay for not being see through). I don't like the flimsy quality of the tie around the waist though (*though this issue can be addressed as you can see below)

Size: True to size. I am wearing a size small.

Verdict: At first: 2/10 .... but on second thought, 6/10... 

Essentially, I realized that while i do not like the way the tie waist sits as shown on the website, I actually REALLY like the look of this top if you tie the belt around back- as you would if you were tying a trench coat to sit open. This creates a more flattering line and it takes care of the issues I found with the tie being flimsy. So, in the end I decided I liked this top. KEEPING. Here are two more pics to show what I mean about tying it differently.

 Zella Leggings 

See review above. 

Vince Camuto Lace-Up Heels

Quality: Excellent. Lace up shoes can be iffy on quality (always check to see how secure the grommets for the laces are - they can rip on cheap shoes) and these are very well made. The suede and deep burgundy color are beautiful. I did really like these, BUT let me tell you, they take four billion years to put on. You need to carefully pull at all the lace loops to make them go on properly (and have the laces cross evenly across your foot). If you are willing to deal with doing this then these shoes are definitely a great purchase, I just am way too impatient for that. 

Size: True to size. I am wearing a size 9.

Verdict: 7/10. RETURNING. 

THAT'S IT FOLKS! I would love, love, love to hear your thoughts on this post, on my outfits (did I keep the right items?!) and any reviews you may have of these items! Let me know in the comments below. And lastly, to recap, here are the direct links to shop all of the above mentioned items: 

Theory Dress
CeCe Tweed Suit Skirt 
CeCe Tweed Suit Jacket
BP Open Front Cardigan
Zella Leggings
Tory Burch Riding Boots 
Halogen Belted Pink Top
Zella Leggings
Vince Camuto Lace-Up Heels

Also, for anyone wondering the other items you see me wearing in the photos are:
My Heels: Cole Haan 
My Bracelet: Olive & Piper
My Phone Case: Kate Spade

linking up with: casual friday // fab favorites // friday favorites //

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Wednesday Wants: #NSale Handbags & Jewelry

Kate Spade Black Bag // Rose Gold Pave Ear Studs // Aubergine Side Pocket Handbag // Rose Gold Necklace // Rose Gold Earrings

 Ted Baker Black Bag // Diamond Bracelet // Crystal Cuff // Kate Spade - Mixed Material Bag 

The #NSale is still going strong, and so this week my wants are handbags and jewelry from the sale that are work day appropriate and right on trend for this fall. I am especially in love with rose gold & shades of burgundy for fall. How great is that Aubergine side pocket handbag?! So practical and so chic.

The Nordstrom sale has only 5 days left, so if you want to get any of these items at their discounted prices, be sure to order them ASAP! I'll be sharing my purchases with you guys later in the week - including telling you which items I did *not* like, so stay tuned for that.

Happy shopping everyone! I plan on doing one last NSale shop later today or tomorrow. Who am I kidding, it will be tomorrow- this week is just flying by me! Having a 3 day weekend (as great as they are) always seems to just make the rest of the work week insanely busy. I did manage to utilize the extra long weekend to get a bunch of work week prep done though! If you follow me on twitter you know what I mean! (delicious food.... i mean delicious fooooood, haha.) Have a great day readers!

linking up with: what i wore // trendy wednesday // TFF // Throwback Thursday // #WIWT  

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Where to Shop to Build Your Work Day Wardrobe

original photo c/o pink pot

Finding clothes to wear to work that don't cost an arm and a leg can be a daunting task. Below is a round-up of the places I think are best for office wear. I've also picked out some favorite currently available items (so many beautiful pencil skirts!) from each of these stores. Enjoy!

Nordstrom: 

Pro: SO many options. Nordstrom is the mecca for wear to work shopping. My personal favorite brands for office wear are Halogen & Anne Klein (both extremely affordable). I also love Theory (though their clothes are much more expensive).
 
Con: They have far more online than in store. This means a lot of shopping without trying on. If you are in America though, they have a free shipping & returns policy so buy a ton and just return what doesn't fit! Shipping is $10 to Canada.

Some great options:

Club Monaco:  

Pro: Feminine work wear styles. High quality material.

Con: Expensive. I find that shopping their sale section online is that best way to get affordable items.

Some great options:


 

J Crew:

Pro: Timeless, Classic items. You can wear J Crew pieces season after season and still be fashionable.

Con: Expensive. Styles don't fit all body types (I hear many women complain that J Crew just doesn't fit them right. Try some items on and see how they feel for you).

Some great pieces:


 

J Crew Factory:

Pro: Affordable, classic pieces. Also- lots of "mix and match" items with different cuts of pants, skirts & blazers all in the same fabric/color.

Con: Lower quality material. I find the stitching is more likely to come undone, hemlines are more likely to fall, etc.

My favorite items right now:
 

Express:

Pro: Extremely affordable. "Trendy" items.

Con: Not much selection. Very fast turn around in products (ie. if you like it, buy it. It may not be there next week!)

My favorites:
  

White House Black Market:

Pro: Affordable. Very stylish.

Con: Some of their "work wear" items are not the most work appropriate - sometimes they make v-necks that are a little low, slits that are a little high, etc.

My top picks:
 

Ann Taylor:

Pro: Quality materials. They are also really quite good with returns and exchanges.

Con: Limited number of pieces each collection/season (only really a con if you're planning on doing a large haul of work wear)

Some of my favorites:
 

linking up with: casual friday // WW // friday faves // flashback fashion friday // friday favorites  // hello monday // 

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How to Shop the Nordstrom Sale if you are in Canada

~Above are my favorite purchases from last year's #Nsale~

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale starts Early Access on July 13th. Below are some answers to FAQ's about the sale, and how to shop the Sale as a Canadian **note: this was updated as of 09/07/17**

What is it?

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (aka. the #NSale) is an annual sale in which Nordstrom releases new fall merchandise at ridiculously discounted prices. This is different than any other sale out there, because these are not last season's items. These are brand new items from some of the biggest designers (think Tory Burch, Kate Spade, Sam Edelman) that are on sale for a few weeks only before going back up to regular retail prices. This sale is thus the BEST way to do your fall shopping! 

When Does it Start?

The #Nsale starts early access  July 13, 2017. The sale then opens to the general public on July 21st and runs until August 6th; with prices going back up to regular retail at that time.

What is "Early Access" & Can I Shop it?

Early Access runs from the 12th - 20th. To shop early access you have to be a Nordstrom cardholder. They have a credit card (obviously) but also a debit card - which operates exactly like your regular debit card, withdrawing from your bank account. Unfortunately, you cannot get a Nordstrom card without a U.S. billing address. I called and spoke with customer service at Nordstrom on the weekend to figure out if there was any way Canadians could shop early access to the online Nordstrom website without a card. Short answer? No. But don't be disappointed - there are some things you can do!

What do I do then if I am Canadian?

There are two different options for you if you're Canadian. 

1) Shop Nordstrom Canada:

This year for the first time Nordstrom Canada does have early access to shop within the physical Canadian store locations starting July 18th. Similar to the US early access, to be able to take advantage of this early shopping (which you'll note is not as early as the US, and is only 3 days before public access) you need to become a Nordstrom Credit Card holder. My two cents on this? I'm happy to see Nordstrom is at least trying to get something in place for Canadian's to more easily shop the sale, but, considering it is not online and is only 3 days of early access, it's certainly not the most amazing deal. Personally, I will be waiting to shop the first day of public access. 

2) Have a Game Plan for Public Access Shopping:

 
If you don't live near a Nordstrom Canada location or aren't going to get a Nordstrom Canada credit card for early access, then your first day of eligible Nordstrom Anniversary Sale shopping is July 21st. Below are my tips to ensure you still get the items you want: 

- Review the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Catalog

The catalog is out now and lists a number of the items that will be part of the sale. Go through this now and make a list of the items you want - and put them in priority order. That way you can search for them one by one and add them to your cart right away on July 21st.

- Check your Favorite Fashion Blogs for NSale Posts

So many bloggers are obsessed with this sale, that chances are pretty good your favorites will do at least one (... or 5) posts on their picks from the sale throughout the early access period. This is another great way for you to see some of the items you may want to get come July 21st.
Check out my Top Wear-to-Work Picks from the 2017 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.

- Prioritize your Items

I know this sounds ridiculous, but items in this sale go FAST. The most popular items often sell out on the first day. So, once you know some items you already love (from the catalog & your fashion blog research) go and purchase those right away! You can shop the rest of the sale to see if there are other items you want after you have done that.

- Don't forget the Canadian Dollar!

Once you are on the Nordstrom website you can go under the shipping tab and change your preferences to see the prices in Canadian dollars. This will help you make sure you stay on budget! Also, keep in mind that that shipping to Canada costs $9.95 (as a flat fee).

I hope you found this post helpful and I hope you get all the items you want! I'd love to hear about your wants/purchases - keep me posted via comments (here or on later blog posts.) I will be doing a updating my blog throughout the sale so be sure to check back frequently. As posts go live I will include their links below.

1) Top Wear-to-Work Items from the 2017 Nordstrom Sale

2) Top 15 Picks from the 2017 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 

3) 2017 Purchases Review - Work Wear

4) 2017 Purchases Review - Weekend Wear (Sweaters) 

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Birthday Giveaway!

Happy April readers! This week I turn 30 years old (ahh!) To celebrate, I am SO excited to announce that over the month of April I will doing not 1, not 2, but FIVE different giveaways here on LegalLee Blonde!

I wanted to kick off my birthday month with a birthday giveaway along with 4 of my favorite fashion bloggers. For this giveaway we have teamed up to give you a $50 Nordstrom E-Gift card as well as a pair of Cavalier earrings (pictured) from Olive & Piper. You can see all the giveaway details below!

Have a great start to your work week everyone. I have an insane couple of days, but only because I am taking Thursday (my actual birthday) and Friday off of work! To do so though I jam packed my schedule for the beginning of the week- oops?

See you back here on Wednesday for another post (and to share with you all my birthday plans for Thursday!)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

linking up with: OOTD // let it shine // creative mondays // shoe & tell // hello monday // mix it mondays // garay treasures // the mummy chronicles // thursday fashion files
 

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER.  By entering, you are certifying that you are at least 18 years old, a legal resident of the 48 contiguous states of the United States or of Canada, and you acknowledge that the promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with, Nordstrom.  Winner must respond to email notification of winning the prize within twenty-four (24) hours of another winner will be selected. Full Terms and Conditions:
Promotion Description: The 'Nordstrom Gift Card and Olive & Piper Earrings Giveaway' ("Sweepstakes") begins on 04/04/2015 at 12:00 AM (Pacific Time (US )) and ends on 04/10/2015 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time (US)) (the "Promotion Period"). By participating in the Sweepstakes, each entrant unconditionally accepts and agrees to comply with and abide by these Official Rules, including those posted on Instagram in accordance with the giveaway, incorporated herein by reference, and the decisions of LegalLeeBlonde (legalleeblonde.blogspot.ca.) and the rest of the hosts listed in the giveaway entries (together, with LegalLee Blonde, the "Sponsors"), which shall be final and binding in all respects. Sponsor is responsible for the collection, submission or processing of Entries and the overall administration of the giveaway. Entrants should look solely to the Sponsor with any questions, comments or problems related to the Sweepstakes.
Eligibility: Open to legal residents of the forty-eight (48) contiguous states of the United States who are 18 years or older and to legal residents of Canada who are 18 years or older. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Sponsor and its respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, distributors, retailers, sales representatives, advertising and promotion agencies and each of their respective officers, directors and employees (collectively, the "Promotion Entities"), and members of their immediate families and/or persons living in the same household as such persons, are ineligible to enter the Sweepstakes or win a prize.
Winner Selection: The winner of the Sweepstakes will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible Entries received throughout the Promotion Period. The random drawing will be conducted within 72 hours of the end of the Sweepstakes by Sponsor or its designated representatives, whose decisions are final. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible Entries received. Winner will be notified by email at the email address provided in the Entry Informationon or about 72 hours after the random drawing. Potential winner must accept a prize by email as directed by Sponsor within 72 hours of notification. Any winner notification not responded to or returned as undeliverable may result in prize forfeiture. The potential prize winner may be required to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility and release of liability, and a Publicity Release (collectively "the Prize Claim Documents"). No substitution or transfer of a prize is permitted except by Sponsor. Prizes:One (1) winner will receive one (1) prize package containing one (1) pair of Olive and Piper earrings and  one (1) $50 (US dollar) e-giftcard (together, the "Prize) The e-gift card will be emailed and the earrings will be mailed - contigent upon the winner providing a mailing address.

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