Not that you asked, but let me give you a little piece of advice: don’t board a plane to NYC the morning of the World Cup Finals (which was also taking place in NYC) if you can help it! The funniest part of all the chaos and extra airport security was that I had absolutely no clue what the hullabaloo was about.

I’m so far out of the loop on sports that I didn't even know there was a game happening that day—let alone in the exact city I was headed to! But alas, my mom and I made it to our hotel a few hours late, but safe and sound. Our only plans for the day were to walk around and do some window shopping, and not to brag, but I’d say we executed that plan quite well. 😉

Have you seen the Louis Vuitton Trunk on 5th Ave? 😳 It’s wild!

We also made a quick pit stop at Ralph’s Coffee, which is such a lovely little spot for a cool drink (or coffee) and a small bite to eat. Then, we methodically made our way through all four floors of the iconic Ralph Lauren store, and I savored every single minute of it! I took tons of photos for inspiration for whenever we finally begin our home addition and renovation later this year (hopefully!).

We logged over 20,000 steps that day, and I’m pretty sure I was asleep before 8:30 PM that night.

Monday morning was go-time… the whole reason we came to NYC was for a special event with Nordstrom and YouTube. I really enjoy the opportunity to meet other creators and “talk shop” with people who work in this online space. It’s a rather unique job (in mostly good ways!), so it’s not always easy to find people who understand the little nuances and can offer creative feedback.

We were given the chance to shop the store for a few hours before it opened to the public, and I ran straight for the coats! 🧥 As you may know, every Nordstrom location has a different buyer who chooses what items to carry based on what their local customers buy each year. So when I hit up the Nordy in Atlanta, it’s no surprise—given how tepid our Southern weather is—that they don’t carry many of the heavy coats and jackets featured in the sale. I figured (accurately so!) that the NYC location would have a much better selection.

There were a couple of absolute standouts that I wanted to mention while the sale is still ongoing! First, the Levi’s denim jacket is such a staple, and the quality and fit are excellent. I also fell in love with a gorgeous brown trench coat from Avec Les Filles that features a classic fit and a plaid inset bib hood. If they had had my size in stock, it 100% would have come home with me!

I may have let out a little squeak when I saw they had this Ralph Lauren cardigan. I grabbed it, along with an RL blue button-down and a pair of Levi’s 90s Straight Leg jeans, and headed straight to the fitting room! The best thing about this cardigan is that it is thin—so you can wear it early in the fall by itself, layer it over a button-down, and later throw it over a turtleneck or a vest. And to NO ONE’S surprise, that RL cardigan came home with me! ✨

After the event concluded, my mom and I took an Uber over to the Tuckernuck store where I finally got the chance to see and feel many of their pieces in person. I spend so much time searching for "looks for less," and I love getting to check out the “real thing” in person to look a little closer at the details, the fabrics, and the fit.

We finished the afternoon with a quick stop for lunch at Benihana (my longtime favorite!) and then packed up to head back to the airport.

It was a bit of a whirlwind, but we had a great time. My mom is truly my favorite travel buddy because she’s easygoing, up for anything, but also independent and happy to do her own thing when I have work obligations. It’s definitely not lost on me how lucky I am to have my mom as my traveling companion. 🤍

Now, to wrap up with work stuff and start packing for our annual beach trip! 🌊

If you’ve been following my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale coverage, you know that while shopping online gives you access to the full inventory, nothing beats actually feeling the fabrics and figuring out the sizing in person. So, my mom, sister, and I drove 3+ hours to a Nordstrom to do the heavy lifting for you!

I spent hours in the fitting room trying on as much as I could reasonably find, and I was actually very surprised. Some things I loved online didn’t live up to the hype, and some pieces that weren’t even on my radar ended up coming home with me!

If you want to see all of these pieces in motion, you can watch the full YouTube vlog here. But if you want the quick, ruthless reviews and sizing details (and a place to easily shop them!), let’s get right into the fitting room.

👖 The Denim Breakdown

There is a ton of low-rise denim this year, which I don’t normally love, but there was one pair that won me over and a few hidden gems amongst the high rise jeans.

• Rag & Bone Featherweight Tapered Barrel Jeans: Hands down my favorite pair of denim in the entire sale. They are as soft and light as sweatpants, but they are real jeans with real pockets. Make sure to size down one size!

• Levi’s Baggy Wide Leg Jeans: I didn’t even have these on my list, but they feel exactly like the Rag & Bone featherweights! Because they are low-rise, you actually need to size up one size so they fit comfortably around the widest part of your hips.

• Favorite Daughter High-Rise Jeans: I have never owned jeans from this brand, but I love this dark indigo wash. They are a “dressy jean” with flattering slanted pockets that look amazing with a blazer, and they are under $150!

• Madewell Darted Utility Barrel Jeans: I own the denim version of these from last year, but this year they introduced “Light Umber”—a gorgeous brownish-toffee color. A quick warning: they do run big!

🧥 Coats & Layering Gems

I found myself so pleasantly surprised by the coats in-store. You guys know I love a good layer to finish off an outfit, and these are phenomenal.

• Sam Edelman Corduroy Trim Felted Wool Coat: This completely shocked me! I bought the brown melange color. It’s a stunning, soft felted flannel (not itchy at all!) that does all the heavy lifting in an outfit. Best part? It’s under $100.

• Avec Les Filles Cadmium Red Rain Jacket: This gives me major nostalgic, preppy J.Crew vibes. I love the slightly bubble-shaped fit.

• Sanctuary Colette Faux Fur Jacket: Soft, crushable, and so unique. I actually chose to buy the petite medium instead of a regular size because I preferred how the petite gave it a slightly more cropped peacoat shape.

• Other coats I tried on and loved—kind of wishing I would have bought the short trench (it’s a crepe material and looks even better in person!) The cotton twill green jacket is also such a stunner in person; I really went back and forth about buying that one too! Love the swing style of both the burgundy faux leather jacket and the suede jacket!

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🧶 Sweaters & Tops

• Veronica Beard Christina Cotton Cardigan: I splurged on this. It is incredibly well-made, polished, and perfectly soft since it’s cotton—no itchiness whatsoever. My mom loved it on me, which sold me even with the higher price :)

• Caslon Textured Cotton Cardigan: I got this in the chocolate brown color, and it wasn’t even on my radar originally. I kept pulling it to style with everything in the fitting room. Highly recommend!

• Free People Roll Neck Sweater: Free People runs big, so definitely size down in this. It’s so cozy that my mom, my sister, and I all ended up buying a Free People sweater.

• Rails Flannel Button-Downs: If you have never felt a Rails shirt, you are missing out. They are the thinnest, softest flannels that flow almost like a silk scarf. I grabbed the gingham and the cropped version.

👗 Dresses & Skirts for Fall

• Ralph Lauren Cotton Blend Midi Shirt Dress: I am absolutely in love with this dress in the red terracotta (which is really a beautiful pumpkin color).

  I sized down from a 4 to a 2. It flows beautifully and can be worn now with sandals or later with boots and a sweater.

• Halogen Faux Suede Midi Skirt: A beautifully made chestnut brown skirt for under $75. I sized down to an XS in this as well.

🥿 Shoes & Accessories

• Nordstrom Patent Tortoise Kitten Heels: These slingbacks are an incredible look-for-less for a very expensive pair of Ralph Lauren sandals I already own!

• Rothy’s Driving Loafers: I stuck with my true size (8.5). They fit snug like a knit glove right out of the box, which is perfect since they will stretch slightly with wear.

• Splendid Mules: Both the Lorelai (block heel) and Liza (flat) are in the sale, and they remain some of my favorite effortless shoes for fall.

💄 Beauty & Intimates (My Annual Re-Buys)

I kept my beauty purchases much smaller this year and only bought what I really wanted. I’ll have a few more things to share in Saturday’s video - but here’s what I could grab in-store

• Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow Sticks: The blushing peach and golden bronze have a gorgeous shimmer, and the taupe is a perfect matte.

• Nars Afterglow Lip Balm Duo: Don’t let the dark tube fool you! This is a sheer balm, not a lipstick, and gives a beautiful “your lips but better” wash of color.

• The “Tried & True” Basics: I, of course, restocked my Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Deodorant, my Moonlight Eco-Knit PJs, and my absolute favorite Natori Liquid Full Fit Bra.

🐎Ralph Lauren Style

Click here to shop the Ralph Lauren looks I found in store!

I’ve linked all my recommendations, broken down by category, over on my ShopMy page.

Let me know in the comments below: Which of these fitting room finds was your absolute favorite? Are you grabbing any of these before they sell out?

My style philosophy will always remain the same: WEAR WHAT YOU LOVE! ✨

I’ll see you in the comments!

Happy shopping, and may the Nordy odds be ever in your favor!

xo,

Angie

Hello, my friend! If you watched my latest YouTube video, you might have noticed my slightly nasally “kermit voice”—I came back from a trip with my teenage daughters and caught a little bug. But I couldn’t let a little cold stop me from talking about one of the best shopping events of the year!

I have been shopping the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale for over 12 years, and I’ve learned a few hard lessons along the way. If you aren’t familiar, the reason people love this sale is that it isn’t a clearance event; it’s a chance to buy upcoming fall season items at a deep discount. So, put down your piña colada, grab a chai latte and a fuzzy blanket, and let’s get into the fall spirit!

My #1 Strategy: The Two-Wishlist System

Things sell out fast during the Early Access phases (which start at midnight EST). To avoid panic-buying and missing out on your favorites, I highly recommend creating two wishlists on your Nordstrom account:

1. The “Will Buy / Must Buy” List: Be strictly discerning here. This list is only for items you know without a doubt you are purchasing. When your access tier opens at midnight, you just go to this list, hit “add all to cart,” and check out immediately.

2. The “Maybe” List: This is the list you can hum and haw over. Once your “Must Buys” are secured, you can take your time browsing this second list.

Pro Tip: If an item sells out, Nordstrom now allows you to add sold-out items to your wishlist and will notify you via their app if it comes back in stock! This is a new feature this year and I’m thrilled Nordstrom heard our cries. 🤣

This is SO important, but once your tier opens, all you have to do is open your wishlist #1, click the select all button, and then the add to cart button, and you’re ready to check out! No time wasted adding things to the cart or second-guessing. The items you put in the WILL BUY list should be things you know 100% you want to buy.

1. Use your Double Points at checkout!

2. Pick Up in your local store what is available and have the rest shipped to your home!

3. Save the low sell-out risk items for a few days into the sale so you can use your Nordy Notes from the first day’s purchase to cover some of the cost!

My Annual Re-Buys (The Tried & True Staples)

These are the items I restock every single year because the deals are just that good and so are the products!

• Moonlight Eco-Knit Pajamas: I size up in these. They come in pants, shorts, and short-sleeve options. They are so comfortable and make amazing gifts.

• Natori Bras: The Liquid Full Fit is my absolute favorite bra of all time, but I also love the Bliss Perfection and the Pure Luxe as well!

• Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Deodorant: I always grab the 3-pack.

• Jumbo Beauty Sizes: This is the perfect time to stock up on giant sizes of products you already love, like the Elemis cleansing balm, The Ordinary skincare, Moroccan Oil shampoo, and Kopari coconut body wash.

High Sell-Out Risks & Top Picks

If you want these, put them on your “Must Buy” list immediately!

💄 Beauty

• BK Beauty Brush Sets: My absolute favorite makeup brushes! They have the Angie Hot & Flashy set and a few others in the sale this year.

• Lip Sets: Look out for the Prada lip balm trio (the pH color-changing ones!) and the Charlotte Tilbury lip set.

• Armani Eye Paints & Eyeshadow Sticks: The Armani set has beautifully wearable colors. I’m also picking up the Bobbi Brown eyeshadow stick set for those gorgeous warm, sunset hues.

• Volo Hair Towels (2-Pack) & Longchamp Makeup Bag: These will fly off the virtual shelves.

🧥 Fashion

• High-Quality Button-Downs: Rails and Frank & Eileen are incredible. If you’ve never felt a Rails button-down, you are missing out!

• Effortlessly Chic Basics: AllSaints’ long-sleeve organic cotton shirt is a perennial fave of mine—and this year they are releasing a new color!

• Mid-Tier Designer Pieces: The Quincy denim jacket from Anine Bing, The Great cardigan, and pieces from Veronica Beard and Varley (cardigan and vest) typically sell out incredibly fast because the discounts on new-season items are so large.

• Designer Sunglasses: This is actually a great place to splurge. You can get steep markdowns on brand-new styles from brands like Max Mara, Celine, Prada, Miu Miu, and Gucci.

👠 Shoes

• Flats & Mules: Keep an eye on the Margaux woven ballet slippers ($100 off!), the Rothy’s driving loafers in leopard or chestnut, and my beloved Splendid mules (the Liza and Lorelai).

• Boots Baby: Staud is new to the sale this year, and both the knee-high Wally and the Ankle Wally Boots are in the sale. But there are less expseive versions in the sale as well! (expensive and Splendid)

👖 Premium Denim

• High-End Denim: Brands like Mother, Frame, Paige, and AG are completely worth it during this sale. I have my eye on the Rag & Bone featherweight tapered jeans, the Rails Del Mar boyfriend jeans, and the Pistola high-waisted jeans.

Shop Online, But Come With Me In-Store!

Remember, every local store has a different buyer, meaning they all carry different, limited inventory. If you want access to everything, shopping online is the best route.

I’ve linked all my recommendations, broken down by category, over on my ShopMy page.

Happy shopping, and may the wishlist odds be ever in your favor!

xo,

Angie

FAQ: What you NEED to know

This is the kind of sale you want to stay up late for—it’s really the key to getting what you want. Each level of access opens at midnight EST (aka 9pm PST the night before). Double-check your access level so you know exactly when you can check out!

For years, we’ve hung out on YouTube talking about everything from finding the best Amazon and Walmart hidden gems to achieving that quiet luxury aesthetic without spending a fortune. But lately, I’ve realized I need a different kind of space.

Life gets so busy, and sometimes I have a brilliant “outfit recipe,” a quick styling tip to elevate your basics, or a deep dive into body shapes that just doesn’t warrant a full 15-minute video, or maybe it warrants more than just a YouTube video. 🤣 I wanted a place where we could have deeper, more intimate conversations about fashion, style, and flourishing over 40—without having to worry about the YouTube algorithm.

So, I created this Substack! Think of it as your ultimate cheat sheet for looking effortlessly chic, even when you only have five minutes to get dressed.

What You Can Expect Here:

• Outfit Recipes (Not just formulas!): I’ll be sharing quick, step-by-step guides to building wearable, casual-chic outfits from the basics you probably already own. No more standing in front of an overstuffed closet in your towel like a naked mole rat, thinking you have absolutely nothing to wear!

• Bougie on a Budget & “Look for Less” Guides: You guys know I love a high-end aesthetic. We will dive deep into how to build that classic “Polo House” or Nancy Meyers coastal-grandmother vibe using affordable finds from Amazon, Walmart, and Quince.

• Ruthless Reviews & Honest Recommendations: You work too hard to waste your money on crap. I’ll be breaking down exactly what is actually worth your money, from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale to my favorite mature skincare and beauty products.

• Flourishing Over 40+: We’re 40, not dead! 🪦 We’ll be talking about the real-life habits, feminine hygiene tips, and style rules to help you feel confident, polished, and vibrant in this season of life.

• The “Extra Seasoning”: Quick tips on how to balance masculine and feminine pieces, how to use the “wrong shoe theory” to make an outfit effortlessly cool, and the accessories that take an outfit from boring to brilliant.

My style philosophy has always been simple: WEAR WHAT YOU LOVE!

But I also know that it helps to have a little guidance on how to wear it so you feel your absolute best.

I am so incredibly excited to start this new chapter with you all. To kick things off, let me know in the comments below: What fashion dilemma do you want me to deep-dive into first? (Need a closet detox checklist? Want to know how to style a specific body shape with my body shape workbook? Tell me!)

Make sure you are subscribed so you don’t miss a post straight to your inbox.

I’ll see you in the comments!