Levi’s jeans 24 (hems cut; see sale colors), EF blazer PP, SM boots 5.5 (last year’s), BR cami xxsp, baseball cap
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is now open to all cardmembers! If you’re shopping later, hit “add to wishlist” to save any items you’re interested in. Before diving in, this relaxed ponte blazer (65% off) is a non-Nordstrom sale find that I’ve been wearing on heavy rotation and eying in a second color. I’ve always admired Eileen Fisher’s amazing brand values & practices, but the styles tend to be pricier, more mature looking and loosely cut. After looking everywhere for a relaxed boyfriend jacket that isn’t overwhelmingly big, I decided to give this a try. Their smallest size Petite P is still roomy on me with sleeves a little long, but I really like the draped look, the convenient pockets, and how comfy this is all day long. I’ve worn it with jeans (above), leggings (below) and work pants too!
NSale 2021 Picks
Scroll down for my picks per category and click the widgets to shop. I checked out tons of pieces in person for fit and quality before narrowing it all down! The categories most worth browsing IMO are shoes starting in size 4-13, luxury beauty, and kids gear. Several things I bought last year are back with small updates, and I did try on the new versions on to make sure they’re still worth recommending. I did not have much luck with NSale outerwear and knits this year, most of which were too oversized or long. If you’re petite and hoping to find a fall/winter coat, stay tuned in a few weeks – I got to preview a fab one that’ll be coming out later this year!
- Tried & true fave: Zella restore joggers (my review). Hands down the item I received the most rave reader feedback from last year, even at full price! The xxs is petite friendly on me, and I love that the fabric is soo soft and cozy to the touch but has a smooth finish and isn’t “fleecy” nor pilling prone. Check this post for a detailed comparison of Zella leggings and joggers and which I like best for a petite frame!
- Tried & true fave: The only time of the year these beloved soft and snuggly Barefoot Dreams cardigans go on sale. I recommend the CozyChic Light Long cardigan or the Circle cardigan (see on me), both of which are a little thicker than the belted drape rib cardigan. Their neutral leopard throw also makes the best gift – I burrito’d myself in it all through pregnancy and postpartum, and our family and house guests always go after this one!
- Tried & true fave: Steve Madden V cut booties – the front and side cut make these very versatile and flattering. I tried on this year’s and it’s nearly identical to mine pictured above, except for an added zipper in the back.
On sale: Caslon waterproof boots sz 5, cashmere ruana sweater (see “beige” on me below0, Zella live in leggings xs petite, Auden padded nursing cami sz S
- Under $60 pick: very size inclusive waterproof chelsea boots in sizes 4 through 13! I am usually between size 5 and 5.5 in most brands and got a 5 in these which fit well.
Coach crossbody bag, wool hat, EF blazer size PP, Everlane tee xs, Zella leggings xs (now in petite)
- 50% off this Coach convertible bag with a classic turnlock closure. The detachable chain is actually a little longer than as shown above, but as a hack, I clipped both sides of the chain to one ring inside of the bag to make the strap appear shorter. Coach has definitely had a revival recently, especially with Chanel-inspired designs like this mini chain bag!
Shoes
- Wide calf boots that are short gal friendly: After learning that many of you are interested in wider calf, I wanted to include these Born boots with the cushiest insoles! Shaft height was surprisingly good on me, just not the width.
- Couldn’t find these in store, but these cute sale Marc Fisher boots are similar to their popular Izzie style I love (see on me), but with a shorter shaft. Also, FYI the Izzie boot in 2 colors are marked down 60% off as part of regular sale which everyone can shop now!
Womens
- If you’ve tried the ever popular Spanx leather leggings (which are more like a thin, liquid style legging) and want something more substantial, the Commando 7/8 leather leggings are thicker with a nice looking leather grain texture! Note the Commandos have good tummy hold but start out feeling small and very snug to pull on – scroll down for a pic on me!
Kids
- See my Nuna car seat post comparing the options from infant to the convertible Rava that we use.
- See my Stokke high chair post with info about the different components and which ones you need.
- See my double stroller post which has some info about the UPPABaby Vista in this sale! It comes with 1 child seat + 1 baby bassinet. You can purchase an additional child seat, adapters, and a ride-along board separately.
Beauty & Gifts
- I bought this lash serum at the recommendation of my best friend (with Asian lashes similar to mine), who stocks up for the year during Nsale at the buy one get one price! I just recently started using it, but another friend who started earlier has also been very happy with results.
- I always pick up one of these Anniversary La Mer sets for Nick to indulge in and one to gift. We prefer the original Creme de la Mer as it’s thicker for dry skin. I always warn, La Mer is $$$ so this set contains their itty bittiest size jar of face cream, but it is a deal since that size jar is usually $95 by itself!
- Just my luck, several of the eye makeup products that I use daily ended up in an Nsale value pack.
- I cannot be even a day without this Stila liquid liner and always keep one in my purse, one at home.
- Lancome Hypnose Drama has been a mascara I go back to for years now, and their primer + eye makeup remover is the best so this is one useful set if you already love the mascara.
- Brow Wiz + brow gel is another duo I’ve used for years, and easy to apply when on the road.
Intimates & Lounge
- I was stoked to see the winners of my extensive underwear research on sale! My undies drawer will be getting a nice facelift with a couple more of these Chantelle high rise and hipsters.
- So many of you were super pleased with the Neiwai bras (see my review with promo code), while for a few others it didn’t work out. I picked up some True & Co bras from the NSale per reader recommendations, so let me know if there’s any interest in a review & comparison!
Accessories
- $25 for this 100% wool hat (2 colors) in a versatile soft tan. Fit is a little big, but there’s an interior adjustable drawstring that helps! For a higher end version, I love my Rag & Bone wool hat and here’s one at a good discount in this year’s Nsale.
Lightweight cashmere wrap, wool hat, Levi’s jeans 24 (cut shorter), BR tank xxs, Rothys flats 5.5 (my review)
Commando 7/8 leather leggings XS, Vero moda sweater XS (nice weight, soft with wide ribbing)
Allsaints jacket sz 0 – shrunken fit; see how 00 fits on me (my preferred size in this)
Also their classic, petite-friendly Dalby with less metal is on sale
Also their classic, petite-friendly Dalby with less metal is on sale
- Under $90: I bought these elongating, slimming stretch OTK boots last year and wanted to show the fit of this year’s version! The stretch faux suede is narrow calf friendly and doesn’t slide down on me.
Steve Madden OTK boot 5.5 – still love my pair from last year. Just wanted to show the updated heel shape
Adidas Edge Lux 4 sneakers 5 – lightweight and comfy stretch material. Another item where I bought last year’s version and would recommend! This year’s “ash pearl” shade (a champagne pink) is even lovelier in person
Left: Born OTK Hayden boot – short height may be great for petites with wide calves. Insoles are very cushy!
Right: Vince Camuto booties 5.5. I love the deeper coffee color, but these unfortunately rubbed my ankles
Right: Vince Camuto booties 5.5. I love the deeper coffee color, but these unfortunately rubbed my ankles
My high end combat boot pick – Paul Green (starts in sz 5.5)
Left: Madewell bobble cardigan xxs (durable, chunky knit), Veja sneakers 35, Zella leggings xxs
Right: Madewell Belmont mock neck xxs (also thickly knit), Paige straight jeans 24
Right: Madewell Belmont mock neck xxs (also thickly knit), Paige straight jeans 24
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Hi Jean,
Thanks so much for all this information. Any recommendations for men’s clothing?
Thanks!
Honestly not too much caught our eye this year from the sale, but every fall/winter my husband will do a guest post on a couple favorite pieces he has gotten over the past year from a few brands!
Love your style and blog. I am really looking for sustainable, fair-wage fashion items, as much as I can, specifically business casual. I am trying to only buy fabrics that will biodegrade. It is tough because the fashion industry, especially fast fashion, is incredibly hard on the environment. You know how restaurants now show the calorie count. Maybe some additional info could be applied universally to the clothing industry. 🙂
Hi Jean! Where is your bracelet from??
Hi Grace, it’s from a small collection I’m working on coming out in a month or two!
Hoping Nordstrom will restock the feeding chair set!
I love all your fashion and food recommendations! They are always so helpful!
Fun fact: pregnant with my baby girl and super thrilled!
Thank you Jeannette, congratulations on your little one!!
Hi Jean, your blog is a life-saver for petite bodies in a super-sized country. I’ve bought several of your recommendations and am never disappointed. You’ve saved me so much time and money. Thank you! 🤗
Hi girl!
I love your style. It’s hard to find bloggers that do business causal on different budgets. Finishing your blog has been a game changer!-vinisha
Hi Jean! Just want to say I got the Neiwei bras based on your recommendation and love them! Perfect for nursing as well, I didn’t realize the bras I wore weren’t comfortable until I got these. Also wanted to ask, have you ever tried the Chantecaille mascara that’s a part of the sale?
Hi MJ, I’m so glad to hear that! I have not tried the Chantecaille mascara so unfortunately can’t share any insight on it
Thank you for the Zella leggings rec years ago. I have so many pairs now and just got a ton more this Nordy sale!
Hi Jean,
I love all your posts! I bought Neiwai based on your reco, and I swear by them! I really do forget I’m wearing a bra when I wear them. I would be very interested with comparison with True&Co, since the price point is very similar
Hi Cindy, so glad you love the Neiwai bras! My True & Co ones haven’t arrived yet, but noted that you’d be interested in the comparison!
Hi! I love your style! I’m getting married next month and have been getting ideas for outfits for my honeymoon from your website. All the tips for petite individuals have been a lifesaver!
Hi – I’m only 4’11’ and your Nordstrom sale picks always include petite sizing which helps narrow down the selections from the sale. Love the Madewell Colorblock Cardigan and Zella Leggings.
Love your style!
Fun fact: followed you for your fashion but love your recipes and life hacks too!
I have horrible fashion but love yours!
Hi Jean – I’m excited the Barefoot Dreams circle cardigan is on sale and I’m finally going to purchase it. What colors is yours? I couldn’t tell if it’s the bisque or another color. Thanks for the early review of the Nsale!
Hi B! So sorry Im just catching up on comments. I got mine a few years ago so the color is old, but Bisque is the closest color
I’m looking at the Longchamp tote on the Nordstrom website. I can’t see the colors in person. Is the grey a light grey that could get dirty or is black better?
Hi Jill, sorry for seeing this late! I just went to see the website to try and remind myself of the color and the grey is gone : /
I recently got Neiwai because of you! And fun fact about me is that I started growing houseplants as a quarantine hobby and this year I ventured outdoors and started growing my own veggies!
Hey I love your review of N Sale Items. I noticed you tried on the Paige straight jeans but didn’t say much about them. They look cute cuffed but must have been pretty long on you? They are actually in my cart but I keep going back and forth about them. I’m 5′ 4″ and was hoping they would hit just above my ankle bone but I’m worried I’m too short
Hi! Yes they were a few inches long on me and would need to be hemmed. They were very soft and stretchy true to Paige’s signature denim which is why they were on my wishlist, and I felt TTS for them. I’m always in between a bit on their sizing between 23-24 so these had a small gap on me. If you are 5’4″ that is a whole 4 inches above me so I actually think they would fit as intended!
Please share your thoughts on the True & Co bras! I tried ordering Neiwai but they don’t ship to Hawaii. 🙁
Will do! What a bummer about that for Neiwai : /
Hi Jean, I’m long time follower of your blog and love your style, but I don’t normally comment. I wanted to let you know that I so liked the way you styled that 47 Brand baseball hat, especially the way you styled it with the Vero Moda dress from a couple posts back, that I considered getting one. However, when I sent to their site and tried to find hats for teams that I’m inspired by and want to suppose (Seattle Storm and Reign) I couldn’t find a single one. I grew curious and tried to find ANY hats for women’s sports teams and found that I couldn’t. In this day and age that’s pretty ridiculous. I contacted them and to confirm whether they really didn’t carry any hats for women’s teams and they said that yes that was true. I then asked why, and the response was that they don’t currently have any licensing for women’s sports team but they’re looking into. To me that’s kind of a non-answer… if a company has taken the time to get licensing for just a plethora of men’s sports teams and leagues, why not a single woman’s? Anyway, obviously myself or anyone else can get hats for women’s sports teams some where else, but I wanted to share that exchange I had with 47 Brand since you feature their hat so often in your posts. It was just a disappointing outcome. Thank you
Hi there – thanks for letting me know about this in detail! They are a local Boston company, not a large business so I hope as they become bigger they can take your feedback into consideration. Licensing can be expensive so I’d like to believe the current ones they hold are less driven by sexism and more simply merchandising based on what license rights to buy per demand from their customer base. I’m glad you brought it to their attention and hope they can evolve as they grow!
What color do you use for Anastasia Brow-baesics?
I use medium brown in Brow Wiz because I like to just have a little light shading, but could easily use dark brown. I was told the guideline is to match your hair color and it’s easier to go a little lighter than your natural color if in doubt, than too dark!
Thank you Jean for reviewing and recommending products the NSale for all these years! It really helps that you’re able to try on pieces and let us know if they’re suitable for petites. I already removed the coats I was going to purchase in my wish list!
Thank you, Anne! I’m so glad you’ve found it helpful
I would love to see a review of the true and co bras
Will do!
Hello! How long did Nori stay in the Pipa carseat. My little one is only 3 months, so debating whether I should get the Rava now while it’s on sale or wait for potential BF/CM deals.
Thanks!
Hi Tracy, we kept Nori in her Pipa until she was 15 months so you likely have time and could wait for a later deal. I don’t recall it going on sale during cyber week though, just fyi!
Hi Jean, were you able to get away with washing the eileen fisher blazer on delicates? Or dry clean only?
Hi Kathy, i just received it so haven’t washed yet, but plan to hand wash cold and laid flat to dry