Monday Musings: My Shopping Theory and Strategy For Fall, Including Color Seasons
Fall shopping fashion will be hitting your favorite retailers before we know it. After years of warm-toned fashion, gold details, and accessories, I’m finally seeing more colors for the women who prefer or are more flattered by silver and cool tones. Yay!! This makes it the year to stock up if color is a major factor in how you choose your garments. I thought I’d share my shopping theory and strategy before the new things arrive.
Assess What You Need
You don’t have to go through your entire fall and winter wardrobe for this, but it helps. Assess what was lacking or worn out last year so you can look for fresh, modern replacements this year. Does your winter coat need replacing? Your waterproof leather boots? Did the moths devastate your wool and cashmere sweaters? I like to start with the major pieces so everything else can coordinate with them.
The Nordstrom Anniversary sale is our first big look at what will be plentiful this fall. This is a preseason sale, so the merchandise is all new. It starts tomorrow for people with Icon status. I guess I buy a lot of clothes and beauty items…because that’s me. ( I also buy clothes for my husband and many of my Christmas gifts there, so all of the damage isn’t done for my wardrobe :).
I will be shopping it and covering it here on AWSL because many of my readers also like to shop it. Plus, now that Nordstrom has resumed shipping to Canada (yay), I know some of my Canadian readers will also be shopping it.
Historically, this sale gets so overhyped that by the end, even I’m nauseated by all the hoopla. I have no intention of over-promoting this sale, but I will share what I like, what I think is a good buy, and what I purchase for myself. I’ll also share some finds from the dressing room because that’s what I do on a regular basis.👍🏻 I also plan to update as new categories of shoppers get access.
If you have something you’re curious about or looking for, please let me know because I’ll be in the store bright and early tomorrow to check it out in person…and I’ve already placed my online order.
My Theory On The Nsale
Consider your lifestyle. It can be so easy to get carried away with the sheer volume of offerings that you end up purchasing things that don’t fit your climate and style of living. Skip the dressy clothes if you love to live in athleisure wear.
If you’re on a limited budget, I suggest you start with Nordsrom’s most affordable in-house brands, like Caslon, Halogen, and Nordstrom. Their quality is terrific, and their modern styles are often similar to more expensive brands. Open Edit is also a great option. Check out Zella for athleisure and workout attire.
If you have a larger budget, you should be looking for investment pieces that will round out your fall and winter wardrobe. It helps to narrow your search by brand and then size range. If you have color preferences, plug that in, too. The smaller the selection, the easier it is to stay focused on what you really want. Beware of duplicating what you already have covered in your wardrobe. How many black sweaters do you really need?
Don’t forget the beauty section. Is your ride-or-die moisturizer part of the Beauty Exclusives? These special deals only come a few times a year, so check for your favorites. It’s also a great time to find some holiday gifts. And don’t forget about the men you shop for. This sale carries great clothes and accessories for men, too.
No matter your shopper status and when you can purchase…now is a good time to go through the sale and add things to your wish list. Yes, tons of things will sell out quickly, but some get restocked. The sheer magnitude of this sale can also be intimidating, so take your time and focus on what you need. After ‘need‘ comes ‘what you want‘, and after that, it’s just ‘what tickles your fancy‘, which you may or may not regret and end up returning. Save yourself the headache now by being organized and prepared.
My shopping strategy
As I go through the offerings online, I drill down by the few brands I know I love. I start with the more expensive ones because they often have the biggest discounts and make the most sense to buy on sale. When I find something I want, I check the rise, inseam, and fiber content so I know how it will feel. If I decide it’s a go for me, I always order a few sizes to ensure I have what fits before the item sells out. Yes, this tactic is part of the problem with things selling out, but it also explains why many things get restocked. If there are two colors and I’m not sure which will be the most flattering, I order both. Again, with the restocking, but hey, you want what works best for you while it’s on sale.
With more cool-toned things available this year, I will be filling holes in my wardrobe that I’ve previously plugged with unflattering colors. Here are just a few of the things I’ve spotted for the woman with a ‘summer palette’. A few of these hit my cart…
Note- Personal color typing systems abound these days. No matter whether you believe in the tonal system or the seasonal system, most people understand the broad concept of the 4 seasons. It takes into account if you have a warm or cool undertone, deep or light coloring, and soft or bright intensity. It’s obviously more complicated than that, and I believe you need to be typed in person for an accurate diagnosis. There are three types of ‘summers’ in the system I like best, so I’m using ‘summer” in the broadest sense here.
I’m a huge fan of gray footwear and thrilled to find so many options. Some grays skew warm, and some lean to the cool side. These ones above appear cool to me.
Do you shop by color season?
Would you like me to find things in a particular season?
Thanks for reading, and be sure to wear what makes you feel confident and fabulous.
I’m a cool summer, so I’m thrilled that those colors are big for the season. I tend to favor cool beige/nude in footwear because that color (non-color!) seems to disappear.
I love to see those color shoes featured. I don’t usually buy too much if anything at the Nordstrom sale, but I like your tips, so I may make a project out of it this year.
I am so looking forward to cool tones for fall!
Caslon is a great brand, and this Eileen Fisher girl has several pieces. Price is not my first consideration. LOL.
I agree
Never have had my colors done but perhaps some day as I’m not one to say ‘never’ … ☺ ….. however did pop over to Nordstrom’s website to have a peek at their Anniversay Sale and though not listed, purchased a pair of light tan suede loafers (for the early Fall) that were marked down in price which is a plus due the current US/Cdn. $ exchange and tax rates, not to mention shipping costs on top of it. Woo-hoo! That being said; appreciate your input and sharing your strategy Jennifer and will be definitely checking in.
-Brenda-
This is a great time to find lots of things on sale. I’m so happy the’ve resumed shipping to Canada!
I’m a cool winter. I look best in jewel tones – so when I see them I buy them. Some years I don’t find any clothes I want to buy.
Why is it so difficult to find navy blue clothing, especially pants? and while I’m ranting, silver and/or gray shoes/boots?
Colors go in cycles so we should see lots of them this year.
Talbots always carries a number of items in indigo blue, which is a dark navy. They carry fewer items in India ink, which is a lighter and slightly brighter navy. I find that those colors are consistent from year to year.
I definitely do shop by color type. I trained in the old color Me Beautiful system back in 1984. I was typed as a Spring, but I never really liked the extremely limiting 4 season system. There is simply not enough nuance to really determine which colors look best on an individual. I soon stopped doing color analysis for anyone other than family because I did not feel comfortable with the limitations. (I did take the time to pinpoint best colors for family members.) For myself, even back in the 80s I chose colors for myself that straddled Spring and Autumn. For example, I do not wear Spring’s pastels, but I do wear Autumn’s clear rusts (not the muted ones) very well. I do believe that I have a very good eye and have always chosen warm. bright, medium toned colors for myself.
By the time I was 10 years old I knew that some colors did not look good on me. Like so many little girls, I liked pinks and lavenders. When looking around my classroom, I saw girls with light brown hair and light skin looking very nice in those pretty pastels. I knew that I looked bad and could not understand why! I thought I had the same coloring as my classmates. I have very light skin and light, golden brown hair. The thing I was missing as a kid was the fact that my ivory skin has a very distinct yellow cast and my eyes are a green, gold, brown hazel. I need warm colors to look my best. Even at age 10 I knew my best color is tomato red. I say no to pastels, any muted, grayed-down tones, and anything too dark near my face. Murky, grayed down colors are the absolute worst for someone with my coloring. I could never feel comfortable in the outfit featured today. It is too cool and too soft (grayed) for someone with my warm, bright coloring. The system that aligns most closely to the way I like to color type individuals is Jen Vax’s Your Color Style. (I hope it’s okay to say that. I do not work for her.)
It’s absolutely ok to say. Jen did a color analysis on me. Her system is tonal. I agree about the limitations of just 4 seasons.
I believe that I am a summer based on what works with my fair skin and almost whit hair. I love wearing any shade of blue, pale greys and silver earrings. Navy is my go to neutral also alabaster. Red, orange, black, yellow or green drain the color out of my face or make me look jaundiced. Over my 79 years, I have learned what works without paying $600 to have my colors done. I am all shopped out and will buy a few things for my husband. Your suggestions are really good and much appreciated.
I have been typed as a true summer in the 12 system, and find that although the items are cool, much of the time they are too bright, and not the ‘ dipped in milk’ or chalky colours that I am searching for. When I do find those I tend to purchase even if I don’t have a need for it at the moment, as it will not be around for long. Those grey shoes are great, and I have that or light pinky taupe as my go to. If I don’t have my swatches with me, I tend to come home with a more light summer or even spring type pink or purple, so back they go, or give away. They just don’t fit in with the rest.
Happy that Nordstrom will now ship to Canada, and hope a few more will follow.
I am a true summer as well. I can “get away with” brighter shades bnut prefer not to. It’s the very muted,”soft summer” colors that wash me out. “Dipped in milk” is a great ways to describe it. I tend to think of stormy skies and flower beds when looking for my colors. Soft, cool, but medium intensity. Most brands lean toward primary, bright, or washed out… so medium intensity is illusive.
I really gravitate to the grey colors you were showing. I miss that we no longer get the Nordstrom sale catalog, or do you? Do you have to go online? I love the sale!
Online always has the best selection because all stores are stocking fewer and fewer items
I had a color analysis by a Color Me Beautiful consultant back in the 80s and was identified as a “winter.” That analysis was spot on and continues to be accurate as I’ve let my hair go gray–or I probably should say white! I’ve stuck to my colors most of the time, and if I do stray, those items (mistakes) usually don’t last long in my wardrobe! I love how everything goes together, and shopping is so much easier since I quickly eliminate the wrong colors. I do have a few things on my list for fall/winter and will be perusing the NAS. Thanks for your insight!
You are lucky. It sounds like they got you right.
Hello I got my colors done over 30 years ago while living in the UK. I’m a clear spring. It doesn’t matter what I am purchasing including lipstick and nail polish the color selection always looks best if I keep to my warm spring palette. I’ve been greatful for having had my colors done.
Thanks for letting us Canadians know that Nordstrom will ship to our country. We are so lacking in large department stores here, I frequently ship on line as a result. Thanks for all your great blogs.
I was thrilled to see Nordstrom is delivering to Canada again!
Cool colors for “winter” people, please.
Will do!
Yes, I always shop my color palette, which is a cool winter. It has definitely
Simplified my dressing and everything goes with everything.
I am old enough to remember the old days of the Nordstrom sale….didn’t see much I need/want which is probably a good thing lo.
I’m also so excited for cooler colors and spotted a few long searched for items including navy boots in the sale! I was disappointed in this summer’s red-too warm, and as a dark winter fall and winter are obviously my best time to find my colors . I’m excited for the return of silver. I’m always going on about the seasonal color thing, but since I adopted it all of my clothes go together. I was really tempted to buy brown/tan sandals this summer but resisted and realized my summer neutral shoes are silver and white (plus blavk and navy). All the times in my life I bought anything brown, even the dark expresso brown in the dark winter palette, I have given it away.
It really does help you create a more cohesive wardrobe. I am always attracted to those tan shades in the summer.
I agree about the red that’s been in stores! Way too warm – in some cases almost orange.
I’m a soft summer and I love when you post links to shopping for various seasons. It’s so helpful Jennifer, thanks!
Good to know Kate! I’ll do more
Thanks for the advice on the NSale. One thing I’ve learned is that if you really love something beyond the sale budget, keep an eye on it. I’ve picked up a few items first spotted in the sale each year when Nordstrom runs other sales. You have to wait a few months and run the risk of not having right size or color; just don’t give up if you can’t land it in the sale.
Great point, Susan.
When shopping, I don’t stick to a colour season (having never had my colours done), but am trying to move away from black as it is draining. This winter I tried to stick to a palette of camels, which went out the window when I spied a beautiful pale blue trench coat, but it goes back with my navy and white clothes. Love the range of grey shoes, which I find to be very versatile.
Pale blue, navy, and white are so fabulous, I do love camel with white and camel with navy too.