shopping – The Ginger Introvert

Hello everyone!

Today’s off-schedule post is brought to us by the Nordstrom Anniversary sale! In other words, it’s basically the Fashion Blogger… Olympics? Super Bowl? Whatever… You get the point, it’s a big deal.

Early access to the sales started early early early this morning, and all the bloggers I follow on Instagram are going bananas. So, ‘why not join in?’ is my logic! Since “Early Access” is only available for Nordstrom card holders and ya girl is a broke college kid, I have to wait for the sale to start on July 20th like the rest of us plebs. However, I did page through the catalog online, and I thought I would share my favorites with you guys!

CLOTHES

I love how this dress is a halter style. It reminded me of a dress I loved from Sammy Robinson’s line with Princess Polly, but only shorter (and therefore, more suited to a 5 foot 3 lady like myself).

The colors on this striped sweater are gorgeous and perfect for fall. The neck and the way it’s cropped are so cool as well! I’m also pretty sure I see some sort of detailing on the shoulders, which you don’t see all the time. However, this is way out of my price range (maybe that goes without saying?). I’m pretty confident if I was given a day or two in Goodwill I could find a comparable dupe, but I digress.

This is actually one of the few pieces I can definitely see myself picking up on the 20th. The sleeves, the ribbing, the detailing, and the price are all perfect.

This looks like the coziest sweater I have ever laid eyes on! I love the cable knit and the color (although it seems there are multiple different colors). It is $50, which isn’t too terrible for a sweater in a department store like Nordstrom.

Last winter and fall, I was super into the whole patterned pants trend. I’m glad to see that it is predicted to be no different this coming fall! These are super cute, but with the $50 price tag, I think I’ll stick with the couple of pairs I’ve gotten at the thrift store. H&M has some cute ones in now too, I hear!

This sweater is another possibility that I might not be able to resist. These color combinations are so cute I’m not sure which I would pick. This sweater looks so cozy, I can just picture myself wearing this to class in the fall on a chillier day.

I love a sweet and simple t-shirt. The stripes on this tee are adorable, and the two color combinations they have are very tempting for the fall. Again, I could definitely see myself wearing this with a jean jacket to class.

I’m alllll for sweaters like this with the “varsity” style stripes. I would feel like a 1950s cheerleader wearing this, and I wouldn’t hate it. Also, yet another cozy sweater option.

I already have a shirt just like this that I bought from H&M forever ago, and I wear it all the time every year. For those of you who just want a simple turtleneck to wear literally anywhere anytime, this is it. And you can’t beat the price.

I love the stripes down the sides of these leggings, and they look super comfortable. Perfect for class and studying.

I’m obsessed with Adidas activewear, and given how expensive Adidas usually is, I don’t think you can beat these deals. I’m seriously considering those leggings, not gonna lie!

JEANS

I found sooo many pairs of jeans I loved while paging through the catalogue, so I thought they deserved their own section. I’ll arrange them in pairs, just so you guys can see…

Can you tell I have a jean type? I love how they seem to have lots of cropped jeans for the fall. They’re all giving me serious Carolyn Besette Kennedy vibes, for some reason.

SHOES

This is probably the most dangerous section for me. Everyone who knows me knows I have a slight shoe addiction problem… So I need to practice some serious self-control around shoe sales. However. There are some adorable shoes I think the public needs to be made aware of.

I’m kind of dying over these. This is honestly the kind of heel I was thinking I would want to wear on my wedding day— they’re the perfect height, and the strap is necessary to make sure I’m not falling all over the place when I’m walking down the aisle. The pattern is adorable, too.

I’m loving both slides and snakeskin right now. These are very Taylor Swift-Reputation tour, and I’m here for it. Also, Steve Madden is a fabulous brand that I like to support when I can afford it.

I wear my white Converse nearly every day during the school year. When I bought them a year or two ago I think I spent around $60 in store, so if I were looking to replace them (which… mine have gone from ‘white’ to ‘cream’ to ‘just dirty’) I would consider taking advantage of this sale.

For the last couple of fall/winter seasons, I have been wearing black ankle boots nearly every single day with a pair of jeans and a sweater. I usually thrift mine, but last year that habit bit me in the butt when nearly every pair I owned fell apart. It might be worth it for me to consider investing in a better quality (and therefore longer lasting) ankle boot for the fall. These are a super cute option!

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I hope you guys enjoyed this post as I shared my favorite picks from the Anniversary sale catalog. On a slightly different but related note, I would like to also say that a lot of these things, especially sweaters and striped tees, can be easily found in thrift shops literally everywhere. However, if you really want something particular, go for it. Huge sales like this are the perfect occasion to splurge a little bit! Happy shopping (and reading!) 🙂

XOXO

Hello everyone,

Even though it may not feel like it, the end of the semester is mere weeks away! Summer is fast approaching, and racks on racks of bikinis can be seen in Targets, Urban Outfitters, and Hollisters everywhere. Especially with Spring Break now behind us, we have all probably been thinking about buying that new bikini or swimsuit of the season… Or already have! I know I can’t be the only one who definitely does not look forward to that task.

Now, you’ve been warned. I’m getting personal with some of my body image issues in this post. I struggle with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), and have since I was really young. Whenever I go to try anything on, I never like how I look in it. However, a swimsuit has always been a different ballgame entirely with me. It exposes the features of my body shape that the BDD part of me obsesses over… And if I’m not careful, even a short shopping trip can cause a relapse in unhealthy behaviors and thoughts that I don’t want popping up again. So, over the years, I’ve gotten smarter about shopping for swimsuits. Maybe some of these little tips can help you guys out, too 🙂

Don’t go shopping when you’re already in a bad mood.

This seems like a no-brainer, but I’ve made this mistake time and time again. I’m a girl who likes to schedule her errands. If I’ve allotted time for myself to go bathing suit shopping, sometimes I’ll feel pressure to just go and get it over with… Even if I’m in a mood or already feeling bad about myself that day. And this has set me up for disaster time and time again. Just let yourself off the hook, and don’t go that day.

Decide whether to bring a friend or fly solo.

What would best serve you and your mental health? Do you need moral support? Or do you shop best alone? I honestly never stick to just one. Sometimes I feel like I need a friend there to keep me grounded. Other times, it’s best not to subject anyone else to my craziness. See how you feel, but keep a friend in the loop with how you’re feeling anyway. Texting a friend can sometimes keep you just as grounded.

Find a cut you know and love, and stick with it.

Know you’re comfortable in high waisted bottoms? Halter tops? One pieces? Stick with it, girl. You love what you love.

Remind yourself it is not that big a deal.

The BDD has a way of making little things like this feel way out of proportion. I always need to remind myself that it’s not as big a deal as I’m making it seem to myself. Deep breaths.

Literally look in the mirror and tell yourself you’re beautiful no matter what.

If you look in the mirror and think you look gross, you probably don’t. If you tell yourself you’re beautiful inside and out, and repeat it to yourself, you might just start believing it.

Sometimes, online shopping is your BFF.

Obviously, online shopping has its pitfalls. However, sometimes it works out. To be honest, this year I just wasn’t feeling the whole crying-in-the-dressing-room extravaganza. So, I found a cute swimsuit on Zaful (after checking their return policy, of course) and tried it on at home. And I loved it. No muss, no fuss.

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Let me know how you guys made out with the beginning of swimsuit season, and how you keep yourself grounded during the shopping process. Also, let me know where you guys found your cute suits! Leave a link and a comment below, I would love to hear… As always!