Outfit inspiration: pre-fall casual outfits

fall outfit ideas casual outfits denim outfits nordstrom sale

Pre-fall outfit idea from top left: short sleeve sweater / lip gloss / ring / jeans / pearl earrings / reversible belt / nail polish / boots / fragrance / black handbag /

With the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale in full swing, I am getting that fall feeling! Pumpkin spice anyone? We will need to crank the air conditioner a bit more. . .but I digress. . .anyway. . .

Fall is a fabulous season because once October hits, the weather starts to cool off and we can enjoy warm drinks, cozy clothing, and start planning for the holidays. Love that!

A short sleeve sweater and jeans work just as well for fall as it did in the spring; just with a different color palette. Think darker jeans, fall colors, and maybe adding a scarf and carrying a pumpkin spice latte. (don’t judge me, I love them!)

So, without further ado, I am starting to put together some fall outfit ideas so that when the temperatures fall below 80 degrees, I am ready! Let’s get our fall vibes on!

Shop fall outfit ideas online:

Thanks for stopping by, and stay tuned for a continued mix of summer coverage and upcoming fall style.

XOXO

Cathy

Best of Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2026

blogger picks nordstrom anniversary sale 2026

Best of Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2026 from top left: short sleeve sweater / Prada lipstick set / classic v-neck sweater / ring / reversible belt / Hermes fragrance set / pearl earrings / Kiehl’s face cream / classic slingbacks / grey suede boots / black Mary Jane block heels /

It’s here! If you have a Nordstrom credit card, you already know your shopping date, if not, the sale opens up to the public on July 18, 2026.

In person, the NSALE is crazy! I can’t shop like that, so I find online shopping is much more relaxing. Some of the sale inventory is pre-fall, while other items are late summer. Before you start shopping, know what you need in your closet. I recommend pre-fall over late summer since you can wear pre-fall well into the fall season.

The key is to not over-buy from this sale. The fall trends aren’t here yet, so this sale is great for buying basics and classic items which will work for several seasons. Remember the sale rule, if you wouldn’t pay full price, don’t buy it on sale.

My Nordstrom Anniversary Sale picks are very curated this year. Normally I find a large amount of fabulous merchandise to recommend, but this year, I am sticking to more timeless items which will blend into our wardrobes right now and well into the fall season. If you live in a climate such as California, these styles will work throughout winter too.

So, without further ado, here are my picks from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale for 2026:

Favorite footwear:

Favorite beauty deals:

Favorite sweaters:

Thanks for stopping by, and happy shopping!

XOXO

Cathy

Japanese Tea Garden San Francisco

wearing: gold hoop earrings / stripe dress / scarf / nail polish / caramel top handle bag / sneakers /

The Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco is located in Golden Gate Park and dates back to the world’s fair in 1884. It’s a peaceful garden filled with well-kept vegetation and beautiful koi. Despite visiting on a holiday weekend, we were able to enjoy the peaceful vibe and take in the beauty of the garden.

After walking throughout the garden, we stopped and had a relaxing cup of tea. I enjoyed the Jasmine tea. It was brewed just right. Love!

You can see my 4th of July blue glitter nail polish above, despite being a holiday weekend, we were able to enjoy the gardens and easily find a seat in the teahouse to enjoy our tea.

One really cool thing about the Japanese Tea Gardens is that they limit how many people can enter each hour, so it keeps the crowds down and allows you to enjoy the setting. Pro tip: 9am-10am is free Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Be sure to book tickets ahead of time online through Golden Gate Park.

After visiting the Japanese Tea Gardens, we walked over to the California Academy of Science and enjoyed the exhibits and aquarium. I recommend checking it out; even my college age kids loved it, so did us adults.

It gets foggy, as you can tell from my photos. So, make sure you bring a sweatshirt, scarf or light jacket.

Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned for more summer coverage!

XOXO

Cathy