I Tried on Clothes for 4 Hours at My Hometown Nordstrom—These 17 Finds Are *It*

I spent my Thanksgiving break in the suburbs of the Bay Area (aka, my adopted hometown on the West Coast, where my husband grew up and where we spent a good chunk of the pandemic). You'll be relieved to know that between all the important activities (mainly hikes and trips to the bakery), I managed to dedicate four hours on Sunday to ransacking the local Nordstrom. 

Let it be said shopping IRL the weekend after Thanksgiving is no joke. I arrived promptly at 10:30 a.m. only to discover it didn't open until 11, so I spent half an hour sitting in the sun with a coffee from the Nordstrom cafe, making a game plan for when I got inside. Priorities were cozy winter knits and some excellent outerwear, and (per my rules) I had to try on at least one fun thing I normally wouldn't. You can shop all my best IRL finds below.

Okay, so maybe I recently went to London, and maybe when I go to London, I can't stop thinking about dressing like '90s Hugh Grant should he star in a holiday movie where he has to reluctantly visit his wealthy parents' home in a small village, someplace with stables and several dogs. The point of the story is he would absolutely wear this corduroy-collared jacket (and so shall I).

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On the subject of lovely little jackets, this unlined style is really doing something for me—and it might for you if you're into that Toteme energy but don't care for an attached scarf. (I'm now very into this whole whip stitch trend, and went down a delightfully wholesome rabbit hole of learning how to sew one.)

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I know we say it all the time, but Nordstrom's in-house knit range has ridiculous value. This was my first time trying this chunky funnel-neck style and wowza is it warm. I actually started to get a little sweaty in the changing room. Incredible levels of cozy. 

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If the pants look familiar, it's because these extremely reliable Ref trousers find their way into so many stories. I'm 5'9", and on me, they're the perfect length to team with flats or sneakers.

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Speaking of Reformation, I've been wanting to try on this ribbed cardigan for ages thanks to a friend who has it in black and swears it's insanely soft and highly wearable. Nordstrom didn't have it in the oatmeal or brown (sorry, "Compost") colorways I was initially looking for, but I did discover it also comes in cream (sorry, "Gossamer") and can confirm my friend is very correct on both counts. Highly recommend.

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I'm not sure how I made it until the end of 2023 without trying on a pair of Levi's Ribcage jeans, but here we are. Happy to report that the wide-leg style has strong Drew Barrymore–in-the-'90s energy, which I personally love.

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I continued my journey to discover more great cardigans, and apparently ribbed and collared styles are growing on me. Last I checked, there are just a few left in cream as well.

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Back again with the Nordstrom in-house-brand knitwear. This cashmere V-neck came home with me, mainly because I'm having a brown and black thing at the moment and really like the easy style of wearing this half-tucked into my favorite Nanushka trousers with a nice little belt. I'm wearing an XL for some extra slouch.

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OH, HEY. Here it is, the bonus thing I tried on for fun—a thing I do when I shop in real life. I will know exactly which of my friends read this story based on who texts me immediately after they see this pic of me in a body-con dress for the very first time. But you know what? I felt like a million bucks, and if the mood were to strike me to go out dancing on New Year's Eve, Boy George, I would wear this dress.

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Back to my usual programming. Matching knit skirt sets are such a mood. I don't know why this feels like so much more of a look than a dress would, but it really does. I guess because you had the option to be more low-key and mix and match—but, no. You chose The Look. 

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I've harped on about how good Mango's winter coats are for a few years now, and I'm showing no signs of slowing down. Its wool styles are great value and always feel modern. I tend to go for a longer silhouette that's a little more oversize, but if you're into robe coats, this is a steal (and you could definitely size up for more slouch).

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This vest seems very winter appropriate if your winter takes place somewhere like L.A. But at second glance, high-waist trousers (like the Reformation pair above) and a good coat are really all you need to make it work for a cute dinner on the East Coast.

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The lowest-slung trousers I've worn in a while. These are ultra (ultra) wide, so be prepared for a little drama. I'd be more inclined to style them up with a thin belt, oversize button-down, and some chic patent-leather flats.

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I scooped up this half-zip to try on after seeing it time and again online. It definitely looks 10 times cooler on the model, but I'm still into it as my big cozy winter fleece that will keep me warm to and from Pilates.

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Spotted on my way to the register: Longchamp's little crossbody Le Pliage, which comes in leather and nylon. If you already loves your larger foldable version, this is such a great addition. 

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It feels like every time I leave the house, I spot some cool kid in these grey 990s. On my flight back from London, there was a very chic gal wearing them with chill jeans, a huge wool coat, and what I'm maybe 96% sure was that new Phoebe Philo Cabas bag—and that's really all there is to say about that.

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This post was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.