Click the image above to shop.

As promised in yesterday’s sale post, today I’m sharing some favorite finds from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale which is currently open to cardholders. (The sale opens up to everyone on July 12th.) While I don’t think there’s any reason to go nuts and buy up the whole store, I do think there are lots of great wardrobe staples (and some fun finds too!) that are worth snagging.

As in years past, I think the denim section is the strongest. This Madewell pair is great for dressing down, and I love the Good American Pallazo jeans for a bit more polish. (Side note, last year I bought a pair of the Palazzo jeans from the Anniversary sale and still probably wear them the most of any jeans I own. They are a different, slightly thinner fabric than the ones sold by the brand the rest of the year, but I like them better. I don’t know, food for thought if you’re on the fence!) And for a little more edge, this studded pair will be perfect now and into fall and winter. Other denim pieces I have my eye on include this staple denim button-down, and I’m loving this cropped denim shirt jacket. (I already own this in a lighter wash and wear it ALL the time during our confusing spring/summer weather.)

Other categories of note include the shoes and in particular the boots. (The taupe color on these Marc Fisher boots is perfection.) I also think these Veronica Beard sneakers would go with a ton in my wardrobe – they’re currently hanging out in my cart. The dresses in the sale didn’t really thrill me, but I do think this one is really cute and have plans to wear it with cowboy boots this fall. I don’t mess with the sweaters and outerwear in the sale anymore as I live in Southern California and just never know if we’ll get fall weather (we won’t), but I do think this little cotton sweater is a great staple piece for me.

The beauty section is always fun and a great time to stock up on favorites that you use throughout the year. Personally, I’ll bypass all the kits and jumbo sizes and probably just grab this mascara duo (my fave!) and this SPF shimmer oil from a brand I love. And that’s that! Adding in my complete list of favorites below in case anything else should strike your fancy. Have a wonderful rest of your week, friends!

xoxo

(Click on the image above to shop.)

You may have noticed a few hundred HUGE sales launching on the interwebs this week, and truly as far as big sales go, ’tis the season right now. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (which I’ll be covering soon) launched for top tier card holders today; there are a slew of deals for Target Big Circle Days; and maybe most exciting for many, Amazon Prime Day is currently in full swing. While the Prime Day deals are truly endless, some of my favorites I’ve found in the fashion department come from Shopbop. From summer clothing essentials to swimsuits, shoes, bags, and accessories, there are tons of great pieces that are currently 25% off with code PRIME25.

Varley knit sweater; Varley shorts; Saint Laurent leather tote (look for less here); Le Specs sunglasses; Melinda Maria tennis bracelet (use code NIKKIP); Target sandals

If you have yet to dip your toe into the delicious fabrics and fits that are Varley, then I suggest you run far, far away from this post and never look back. I held off on trying the brand for as long as I could because I knew I would love it, and well, it’s not exactly cheap. Last fall I was given a couple of pieces for my birthday and became officially hooked. Fast forward to Christmas and Eric telling a Nordstrom sales associate “she’ll probably want anything by that Varley brand” – and he was right. Their “Double Soft” fabric is seriously buttery, and the fits just feel elevated beyond your usual loungewear.

So if you’re already a fan like me (or willing to empty your wallet and become one), then I present to you, with warning, some of my favorites from Varley’s newly launched spring collection. (And while you’re at it, peep the look below for some PRETTY new jewelry pieces from Gorjana – all so GOOD.)

xoxo

Gucci sunglasses (on sale); Varley slim pants; Varley sweater vest; Varley knit jacket; Dolce Vita sandals; rattan clutch; Gorjana bracelet, rings, and necklace

Prada sunglasses (on sale); Varley knit sweater; Varley shorts; Amazon phone chain; Gap denim bomber; Veja sneakers

Amazon sunglasses; Varley sweater vest; Varley shorts; H&M bag; Varley knit cardigan; beek sneakers (use code MYSTYLEDIARIES10); Melinda Maria Jewelry bracelets and necklace – click above to shop (use code NIKKIP)

(Click on Jewelry Images Above to Shop)

It’s been a while since I shared any new jewelry finds around here, but allow me to introduce you to one of my current favorites, Melinda Maria Jewelry. The line is filled with options to layer, mix, and match, and their tennis bracelets and necklaces are truly so pretty in person. Pretty much everything is available in gold or silver options, and there are even some fun and colorful blue opal pieces that I love.

The pieces are plated (instead of solid gold and silver), so they do recommend removing before swimming/showering and avoiding excessive contact with oils and lotions to protect the plating and semi-precious stones. That said, everything is really well made and covered by a lifetime guarantee – pretty unheard of with most brands in the market. And if anything catches your eye, you can use code NIKKIP for 10% off your purchase.

xoxo

(Click on Jewelry Images Above to Shop)

Melinda Maria Baby Not Your Basic Tennis Necklace; Ring Concierge Diamond Pendant; Melinda Maria She’s An Icon Ombre Heart Necklace

Iro Leather Jacket; Brixton Hat; Marni Green Mini Bag; Ray-Ban Green Wayfarers; Versace Oversized Sunglasses; Sashi Double Layer Tennis Necklace; Naghedi Mini Tote; Citizens of Humanity Wide Leg Jeans; Frame Brown Leather Belt; Isabel Marant Sweatshirt; Roxanne Assoulin Bracelet Set; Jennifer Zeuner Gold Ring; Amur Bow Front Mini Dress; Lelet NY Bow Barrett; Missoni Wallet-On-Chain Bag; Reformation Red Mesh Flats

Shopbop’s Sale on Sale is happening now, and it’s the perfect time to snag those boots you’ve been eyeing, coats and jackets on sale (the WAY that I can’t stop thinking about this little cropped leather jacket), or maybe even a little something for the warm weather ahead. The Shopbop sale section is packed with great finds, and right now you can use code EXTRA25 for an additional 25% off items already marked down. The sale ends Friday night, so what better time to treat yourself to a little Valentine’s gift from you to you? Happy shopping, friends.

xoxo

Click on Images Above to Shop

BFFs & Babes Sweatshirts; YSL Beauty Eyeshadow Palette; Gorjana Engravable Bracelet; Backhouse Fragrances Candle; beek Galito Shearling Sandals (Use code MYSTYLEDIARIES10); Caviar; JJwinks Wine Down Top and Power Pants; Melinda Maria Jewelry ring and Heart Necklace (Use code NikkiP); Laurent-Perrier Champagne; Heart Spoons; Kate Spade Heart PJ’s

Ahh, February. Love is in the air, and even if it isn’t, there’s really no reason not to surprise yourself with a little gift or two. (We did just make it through January, the undisputed longest month of the year, right?) So today I’m rounding up some fun little treats and a couple of splurge-worthy gifts for Valentine’s, Galentine’s, or maybe just To: Me, From: Me. (And you just let me know if you need me to send this link to any significant others out there.)

Happy love month, friends!

xoxo

Reformation Wool Sweater; Red Leather Handbag; Sugarfina Parisian Chocolates; Diptyque Roses Candle; Melinda Maria Evil Eye Ring (use code NikkiP); Quince Cashmere Robe; Valentine’s Day Socks; Lamarque Leather Bomber Jacket; Type League Press Personalized Water Tumbler; Sugarfina Champagne Gummy Bears; YSL Beauty Lip Oil; Melinda Maria Tennis Necklace and Mini Heart Necklace (use code NikkiP); Baked By Melissa Mini Cupcakes

First, my overall thoughts on Japan: LOVED it. I certainly have not been to very many foreign countries, but this country is one I would want to visit again. The cities were noticeably clean and safe, and the people were genuinely welcoming and friendly. It’s a culture that is very much about respect. No one is in a hurry, but everyone is on time. Food is prepared with immaculate precision. There is no garbage, litter, graffiti, or the usual smells that you might find in some larger cities. (For that matter, there are hardly any trashcans. If you have trash, you take it with you which really makes you think about your consumption. You want a cup of coffee? Have a seat in a cafe and drink a cup from a real mug.) The parks are pristine; public restrooms are very clean; taxi cabs are well-kept. The language barrier did not feel very difficult, and when we had no other option, we just used Google Translate on our phones.

As far as costs, there is a reason why you probably know someone who recently visited or is planning to visit Japan. The exchange rate right now makes it a very favorable time for Americans to visit. Americanized hotels and things like that are going to be pricey, but the local restaurants and attractions are very affordable. For example, one night in Kyoto, a great Yakiniku (tableside BBQ) dinner with lots of high quality meats and rounds of drinks was somewhere around 9,500 yen, or about $60 USD.

I cannot take any credit for planning or booking our trip as another member of our group took the lead on that. He made the itinerary through a company called Firebird Tours, and while I can’t really attest to the planning process or the ease of working with them (because I did not actually communicate with them), they did plan a very thorough trip for us with seamless, guided transportation between cities. The walking tours in each city do lean pretty heavy towards Shinto Shrines and Buddhist Temples, and once we had seen a few of those, we did ask some of our tour guides to pivot and take us to the local markets, the restaurants they like to go to, the local underground bar, etc. – and they were usually happy to do so.

We flew from LAX to Tokyo, and there’s just no way around it, the flight is long. Gather all those credit card points and upgrade if you can, and then take a redeye. (We did not take the redeye, but in hindsight, it may have been a better idea. We left on a Monday morning and arrived late Tuesday afternoon.) We did however have amazing seats which really helped eliminate loss of time for jetlag once we were there. Are you sick of reading yet? Because here comes the tour…

First Stop: Tokyo We actually landed in Tokyo on my birthday, and after a long flight, customs, and airport transport, The Conrad Tokyo was a beautiful sight for sore eyes. It’s a high rise hotel near the city center with beautiful views, luxe rooms, and a very friendly concierge that was key in booking a couple of our dinners while we were there. (For the most part, meals were kind of done on the fly. Pop in here, stop there.) The Conrad is definitely more Americanized and offered a Western-style breakfast every morning that I have to admit I really appreciated. I would say the one downside to the hotel is that location-wise, it’s a business area so the districts we wanted to check out weren’t very walkable. (But taxis are very cheap and easy to find, so it wasn’t really an issue.)

While most of our meals in Japan were really affordable, dinner at mon cher ton ton at The Peninsula Hotel was definitely a splurge that was probably the most WOW meal of the trip. This is traditional Japanese Teppanyaki where a chef (or in this case, team of chefs) cook right in front of you. The food was incredible, and the service might have been even better. I would 100% recommend booking this one for a really special night. Also, the hotel was stunning. I would definitely look into booking it if we make it back to Tokyo.

We loved checking out the Tsukiji Outer Market (local fish market with lots of different food options), and enjoyed a nice afternoon shopping and sipping around Shibuya with the prettiest fall tree-lined streets. We did try to wander down the Harajuku district but found the crowds there pretty unbearable. For high end shopping and strolling, Ginza is sort of a Mecca, and Eric and I found the best little basement bar in the area called Bar Penguin. The bartender there tried to help us out with dinner reservations but then finally typed his favorite local burger joint into my Google translate and we walked there. (BROZERS’ was the place, a funny little American style diner, and the wagyu burger was exactly what we needed.)

A couple members of our group really wanted to see a Sumo match, and we learned that the six Grand Sumo tournaments are during the odd months of the year. Unfortunately for us, the November tournament was quite far from us in Fukuoka. Firebird set us up with a Sumo Practice at a Sumo Stable in Kawasaki where we watched a practice, were invited to participate (I opted out), and then shared a hot pot lunch with the Sumo. If something like this is on your list, it’s a pretty well-done tour.

After 3 nights in Tokyo, a driver picked us up and drove us two hours + a ferry ride to:

Second Stop: Hakone We kicked off our visit to Hakone with an Ashi Lake Cruise by ferry boat and then a tram ride on the Hakone Ropeway which provided for some pretty spectacular views. Hakone is known for its onsen which are traditional Japanese hot springs containing high levels of natural minerals. Our hotel, Hoshino Resorts KAI Sengokuhara, featured gender segregated indoor and outdoor baths as well as private hot spring tubs for every room. It could be a nice little retreat for those who love a relaxing hot tub dip, but Eric and I were glad we only had one night there. The hotel and its restaurant were nice but VERY traditional which meant wearing a traditional Samue set to dinner (optional but I obviously loved it) and a very hard to navigate dinner menu for me followed by airplane snacks in the room.

The following morning, a car picked us up and took us to the high speed bullet train with tickets to…

Third Stop: Kyoto When anyone asks which city was my favorite, I have a very hard time choosing, but MAYBE it was Kyoto. It’s definitely an older city, a cultural center, and an amazing place to just roam around. The bullet train from Hakone took a couple of hours, and it was very pleasant. (We did get first class tickets for the bullet train which I would recommend if you are traveling around with luggage – it helps to have the space.) We checked into our hotel, and Eric and I decided to take the day off from the tours. Instead I headed to the spa at the Four Seasons for the most relaxing facial, and 10/10, I would do it again.

For dinner we walked from our hotel to the Nakagyo Ward which is absolutely where you want to be. You’re basically roaming around back alleyways that are lined with restaurant after restaurant, this way and that way, hidden behind sliding doors and curtains – it’s wild. You’ll find everything here from sushi to yakitori (chicken skewers) to yakiniku (tableside BBQ) and speakeasy bars. (And if that’s what you’re looking for, make sure to stop into Bar Alchemist for great cocktails in the coziest space.) We also spent some time wandering around Nishiki Market which is where you’ll find lots of local food and vendors.

After two nights in Kyoto, we took the bullet train about 40 minutes to…

Fourth Stop: Osaka If you ask Eric which city was his favorite, he’ll probably tell you he’s undecided but wishes that we had more time in Osaka. If Kyoto is a bit more old school, Osaka felt really bright and shiny. (But that could be because the weather was so much nicer while we were there?) We stayed at The St. Regis Osaka which was far and away my favorite hotel of the trip. (I know, I know – very Americanized. Sue me.) It was just beautiful and beyond comfortable and decked out for Christmas.

We had a wonderful tour guide in Osaka who took us through the popular shopping districts (Nippombashi and Soemoncho are a couple I recall) selling local food, clothing, knives, chopsticks, you name it and then to a pretty great fried chicken spot for lunch. We also checked out Orange Street which was a cool area for vintage shopping and lesser known street brands. For dinner, our guide recommended this sushi spot that was walkable from The St. Regis, and we had a great night there. The chef noticed that a couple of us (the girls) weren’t as adventurous foodwise as others (the boys), so he brought out some delicious steamed fish and crab, enjoyed some sake with us, and then demanded we become Facebook friends. If we find ourselves back in Osaka, we will definitely be taking our seats back at his table.

We would have loved to spend another day walking around Osaka, but instead we took a…

Day Trip to Miyajima and Hiroshima Admittedly this day was a trek. We took the subway to the bullet train to another train to a ferry boat to Miyajima. It’s a small island outside of Hiroshima, and it was seriously beautiful. The scenery and temples were something to see, but the little deer really stole my heart. They were everywhere – lounging on the sand, following tourists around, rubbing their little heads on your hand like a puppy – I couldn’t get enough.

We enjoyed a little ramen and tempura lunch and then headed to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum which unfortunately was a big bust for us due to the crowds. I have never been packed into rooms with more people, shoulder to shoulder, overheating, all shuffling around trying to figure out how to either see the exhibits or get to the exits. The tickets were way oversold and packed with school fieldtrips, so if you’re interested in that one, buyer beware. We made the trek back to Osaka for our final night then took the bullet train back to Tokyo the next day to make it to the airport for one last stop before home…

Aloha from Hawaii On our way home, we stopped in Hawaii for three nights, and after all the go, go, go in Japan, it was such a nice way to wind down from the trip. Plus, when we finally made it back to Southern California, the two hour time difference felt like nothing. We left Tokyo at 9:00 pm on Wednesday night and arrived in Honolulu at 9:00 am Wednesday morning, time traveling backwards towards America. (If given the option, a redeye is definitely the way to go.)

All in all it was an amazing trip that we will talk about for years and years to come. If you’re considering visiting Japan, my advice to you is to GO for it. (And pack your most comfy shoes.)

xoxo

Well, gals – it’s that time of year again. It’s July, when the sales are everywhere you turn and every blogger and her mom is pushing links at you daily. While I won’t be covering every single sale that’s happening over the next couple of weeks, today I’m sharing some of my favorite finds from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale because honestly, I enjoy shopping the sale myself. (The sale is currently open for “Early Access” to cardholders and will open to everyone on July 15th.)

In years past, I rounded up EVERYTHING that I loved in the sale, but these days, I’m only interested in things that I really love that I can use right now. (Let’s face it, we never know if or when sweater weather will show up in Southern California. It’s a big IF.) This year the things that caught my eye the most are denim, sneakers, and designer sunnies (like I need anymore sunglasses). Oh, and socks. I really just freaking love Stance no-show and athletic socks. I would also absolutely buy these slippers if I didn’t already own them.

But below I’ve also included a couple of sweaters, loungewear pieces, and boots/booties just in case you’re looking for those. (Side note: these boots are giving major Staud vibes for a fraction of the price.) And I’ll be sharing more fave finds over on my Instagram in stories all week long. If you’re shopping the sale, here’s hoping you find just what you’re looking for. Happy shopping, friends!

xoxo

Paige wide leg jeans; AG high waist ankle jeans; Madewell denim shirt jacket; Pistola large pocket jeans; New Balance sneakers; JW PEI bag; Steve Madden denim dress; Frame denim shorts

A holiday blazer, but make it SoCal warm weather friendly. That’s exactly what I love about this cute and comfy little cape blazer from (where else?) Walmart. Wear it solo with a camisole and flowy skirt like above, or layer it over a dressed-up turtleneck and leather leggings. It makes for an easy and chic holiday look, and luckily it was just restocked in all sizes. Grab one before they’re gone again, and I’d recommend sizing down – wearing a small here for reference.

xoxo

November has barely arrived, and the holiday sales have already begun. But what’s not to love about that? beek has been one of my favorite brands of shoes for years now, and if you’ve had your eye on something from the line, now is the best time because their biggest sale of the year is here. Technically, the sale starts tomorrow, BUT you can shop it today using code NIKKI20 to take 20% off anything on the site.

beek’s shearling-lined styles are some of the coziest fall footwear you’ll find, and every style is just so chic. The Penguin bootie in today’s post is so comfy and kind of give me elevated Ugg vibes. I also LIVE in this Gallito style and have my eye out for a restock in the Vulture. You can also check out this post for a few more of my favorites, but if you plan on shopping the sale, don’t wait because some styles/sizes will definitely sell out.

Here’s hoping you snag a little something to make the upcoming holidays the coziest yet.

xoxo

Splendid pants; Amazon sweater; similar Express coatigan; beek shoes (use code NIKKI20); Lack of Color hat; Tod’s bag

Photos thanks to Candace Rock