You probably didn't need to be reminded but just in case... the fabulous Nordstrom Anniversary sale started on Friday!!  And ends August 2.
Click the pic and head on over!  This sale is so wonderful. 
It's true sale prices on NEW fall clothing. 

Here are a few things I'm drooling over. 
It's $170 off the regular price still out of my budget range.

So cute and very similar to the red bow-neck dress Emma Pilsbury wore on Glee this season. (Love her wardrobe!)

I saw both this and the gold version in the store and was really drawn to it.  The sequins are very matte, which is cool.  It's my favorite sleeve length and I'd love this for date night!

This one, because I lust after wrap dresses with elbow-length sleeves and not-too-low/not-too-high necklines!!

Because I really love what the curved lines of this scuba inspired leather jacket will do for a midsection!

A sweet ruffled cardi in a lovely pale peachy/pink that is sadly already sold out!

So go have yourself some fun!  And keep in mind this little shopping tip - the new item must either Fill A Hole in your wardrobe or Replace something worn or ill-fitting.

I had a wonderful Christmas and we're still enjoying my husband's vacation time.  I hope your holiday was peaceful and joyful as well. I figured it was time for another post and I tried to kick my brain into a creative gear. 
Nothing happened. I thought, "But I want to post something profound and perfect."  Bupkis. 
Could it be that my 2 year old not sleeping in her travel bed AT ALL during this vacation has sapped me of all my zest for style?  Maybe.  I'm pretty sapped. 
Nothing percolated to the top of my conscience.   
Finally, when I couldn't come up with something "profound and perfect", I was inspired by my mother.  We were going through her closet.  She recently lost some weight and many things no longer fit her so we were clearing those items out and reorganizing her closet.  Pretty much heaven for me.  It's one of my favorite pastimes. 
During the shifting, shuffling, trying on and rehanging, I reminded her several times of the two cardinal criteria she is to apply to any future shopping trips:

Does this item fill a hole in my wardrobe or replace a worn out/ill fitting item? 
If the answer to those questions is no - she doesn't need it right now.  And the topic for this post was born.  Many of us were probably given cash/gift cards for Christmas that we are about to start shopping with.  Maybe for clothes. 
As we did with my mothers closet today, a smart way for you to go about any future shopping is to take a serious inventory of everything you have and make a little list of the holes in your wardrobe you would like to fill.  Take it with you when you shop. 
Just as a grocery list helps you focus your efforts and save money when shopping for food (avoiding those unnecessary impulse buys) a style list helps do the same when you're clothing shopping.  You probably won't need a list to spot the items similar to the ones you love to wear right now.  But if you already have five white t-shirts hanging in your closet... you don't need another one.  If you have one black t-shirt that is faded and pilled... replace it.  And by replace I mean REPLACE.  When you get home, you throw out (or donate) the old item. 
An overstuffed wardrobe does not a great wardrobe make.
I hope this little tip is useful and makes your shopping trips this year more successful, culminating in better style and happier dressing. 
And let's all repeat it again, just for good measure -
1.  Fill A Hole
2.  Replace

I've said before that fall is a great time to find modest items that work for spring and I was recently asked for a few examples.  So here are just a very few examples of what you can find.  And remember, these clothes appeal to our frugal sides as well since you can wear them any season!

Sheath dresses - with sleeves!!

Sheath dresses are universally flattering.  But shop for one in spring or summer and nearly all the styles have straps instead of sleeves. 

• Wear it now: with boots, fun patterned tights, sweaters, even a thin long-sleeved turtleneck underneath.
• Wear it later: without the hosiery and layers, add cute jewelry and a bright bag.
  

White shirts - that you can't see through!!

A white button-down shirt that fits you great is a wardrobe essential.  Spring and summer options tend to be very thin "summer weight" cotton.  Shop for one now and you'll score thicker material.

• Wear it now: with anything!  Use it to showcase a great scarf or sweater.
  
• Wear it later: with anything!  It's the perfect counterpoint to summer skirts and bright accessories.
  

Lightweight tops - with sleeves!!

Fall isn't all about heavier fabrics and thicker knits.  You can find lightweight items and more styles with sleeves.

• Wear it now: as a nice thin layer to thicker sweaters and coats.
• Wear it later: as the perfect, floaty spring and summer top.
  

Dresses - with longer hemlines!!

Fall is the perfect time to find dresses that hit at the knee.  This is a great wrap dress in a color that works with boots in fall and sandals in summer.  Personally, I would shorten those sleeves to elbow length.  Easy to do and more appropriate for all seasons.

• Wear it now: with boots, a cute hat and scarf.
• Wear it later: with statement making sandals and a ponytail.
  

Another good dress option.  All it needs is a camisole!

And one more for good measure.  Especially nice for showing off (or creating!) a small waist. 

Again, just add a camisole.  I'd also shorten the sleeves to just above the elbow.

I've been getting some questions about "invite only" shopping sites.  Mainly, "What are they?" They're a fairly recent addition to the shopping world, essentially extensions of the age-old "secret sample sales" that happen in fashion districts in New York and LA (Milan, London, Paris, etc.)

The websites offer a variety of designer (both big name and up-and-coming) clothing, shoes and accessories.  A couple of them offer men's and children's clothing, and some, like Rue La La and Hautelook, even offer perfume, makeup (like Stila!) and home decor sales. 

Items are usually offered at better than 50% off.  I'm currently stalking ideeli for a particular pair of 85% off heels to pop up in my size.  Another nice aspect is these are not super-model sizes.  There's usually a broad range, instead of just 0's and 2's.  These are good sites for scoring deals on those investment items. 

Want a tiny taste of what's available today?  How about the fabulous wrap dress below from Gomatta Girls for $45 instead of $395?!?  Also comes in black, white, and a pale blue floral.

Or either of these two Anne Klein dresses from ideeli for $92 instead of $168!  Love them!

One of the perils of online shopping is the inability to try things on.  You're just not sure whether the item will fit you or not.  As I've mentioned before, knowing your measurements will alleviate much of that fear.  Never trust sizes - they're never the same between designers and stores.  But it's very rare to find a shopping site without a Size Guide.  Clicking on this handy little link will give you a chart (like the one pictured here from Banana Republic) outlining the basic measurements associated with that item.  There are usually specific size charts for jackets/outerwear, blouses, dresses/skirts, jeans/trousers as well as for regular, tall, petite, and plus.

Now, it's easy to measure your own bust, waist and hips in front of a mirror.  But any kind of length measurement without help is much harder.  Bending over to look at the tape measure obviously doesn't work.  Pressing the tape along your body almost always results in a wrong number.  But here's a little trick to determine if the length of an item will suit you or not.

Grab a flexible tape measure (these are dirt cheap at fabric stores!) and a small metal binder clip.

Fasten the binder clip onto the tape measure so that the little arms are directly over the desired measurement.  Now head to your full-length mirror! 

Say you want to know where a skirt that measures "21" from natural waist" will hit you.  At the knee?  Above the knee?  Just hold the 0 end at your natural waist and let the tape measure hang.  The binder clip provides just enough weight for the tape to hang straight and the little arms show you right where the 21" will be.  And because the tape is hanging, like the skirt will, you get an accurate measurement over your stomach and hips. 

This works with dresses and pants as well.  Try it and take advantage of that free-shipping a little more confidently!