Wednesday Wants: Fall Wear-to-Work New Releases

Pleated Skirt Midi Dress // Striped Tweed Skirt // Embroidered Navy Top // Grey Wide Leg Cropped Pants

 

Emerald Ruffle Top // Pink Wide Leg Trousers // Blue Floral Dress // Checkered Dress  

Stores are starting to roll out their 2016 fall fashion and I am in LOVE with so many items. (Despite the fact, I have to add, that we only started getting summer weather here in Vancouver about a week ago. ugh. haha)

This week's wants are my favorite pieces (so far) for fall 2016 from my go to stores for office wear. I love the trends this season - from wide leg pants, to detailed shirts, to so. much. texture. It's going to be a great season for fashion! 

In other news, I finally updated my instagram to the latest version so I have instagram stories! I am already hooked. I love making videos to share with you all throughout the day. If you're not following me already, be sure to do so. My instagram is @LegalLeeBlonde



linking up with: oh hey girl // trendy wednesday // throwback thursday // TFF //

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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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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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