I'm a Former Nordstrom Buyer—These Are the Outfit Mistakes I Try to Avoid

Susie Wright is consistently filled with great style tips. After all, she not only has a chic personal style but is also full of sartorial knowledge with her work as a former Nordstrom buyer and as a stylist and blogger with So Susie. Wright let us know that there are a few outfit mistakes she tries to avoid when putting together her version of the perfect look. Of course, it’s always smart to remember that everyone has their own style journey and the idea of a "mistake” may vary from person to person.
Below you’ll uncover more from Wright about the tricks she keeps in the back of her mind when she’s creating a look. There’s also a range of actual outfit references from her to use as inspiration, along with shopping recommendations if you want to add something fresh to your wardrobe this season.
The mistake: Not opting for current-feeling denim silhouettes
"Since denim is the starting point of many outfits, it’s important that the silhouette is fresh for the current season. Make sure your go-to denim staples are up to date! Right now, I’m loving straight-leg styles and wider-length styles—they’re perfect for the summer months.”
Shop forward denim picks:
The mistake: Buying impractical pieces
"Buying impractical pieces can be exciting, but make sure to also include ones that work with many of your existing outfits. For example, adding a modern blazer to your collection will give you outfits for days! So will having a few layering pieces and basic dresses on hand.”
Shop easy-to-style pieces:
The mistake: Forgetting to add a special piece
"While we all need the basics, we want to avoid wearing too many of them at the same time. Adding of-the-moment accessories, like embellished shoes (which is this season’s It shoe) and fun colored bags (another trend I love), will balance out your wardrobe and keep it looking current.”
Shop special pieces:
The mistake: Not playing with proportions
"It’s important to play with proportions. Lately, I’ve been loving denim jackets that are slightly cropped, but sometimes they can be tricky to wear. Try styling them over slip dresses or T-shirt dresses. Talk about an easy update that’s cool.”
Shop items to play with proportions:
The mistake: Going for bold accessories when wearing a logo print
"Of course, there are no set rules, but I find that when you’re wearing a bold logo, sticking to understated accessories (like a simple bag and shoes) can really elevate your outfit.”
Shop versatile accessories:
Next, check out more outfit ideas.

Bobby Schuessler is a fashion editor with over a decade of editorial experience covering shopping, style, and beauty. He's spent 10 years at Who What Wear, currently leading the market team to deliver highly covetable and convertible content. He creates data-driven shopping guides featuring top retailers like Nordstrom, Shopbop, and Net-a-Porter and is at the forefront of Who What Wear's shopping tentpole strategies, including Amazon Prime Day. He also works on branded content initiatives and appears on camera in video and shopping livestream franchises.
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