7 Investment-Worthy Pieces From The Nordstrom’s Sale and The One Book You *Need* To Read This Summer.
Plus my sale-shopping technique that will reduce 73% of your shitty impulse buys. (This is not a legal or scientific claim. Based on feelings, not facts.)
Hi everyone! It’s been a minute, I know. Since we’ve been apart, I’ve missed you, and hope you are well. Turns out that the answer to that lovely, frequent question—How do you do it all?—is that I can’t and don’t. And that’s okay, I think. Thank you for your patience when I ghost for a few weeks, and please know that I always come back. Not to every relationship, not to every project, but to this and to you? A resounding yes.
One of the reasons I duck out from time to time is because I want this newsletter to actually feel substantial, meaningful, and helpful. Could I write something that’s less work on my end? Absolutely. Is that interesting to me? Not really. But recently things have been hectic and I was getting over pneumonia, so this fell to the side. Also, I am attempting to have some balance in my life, and that means not always doing it all. For me, the goal is always to find a way to do it most. Not all, that’s too much commitment. But most. Most feels aspirational, yet achievable. And isn’t that generally the goal?
Moving right along! Let’s talk about Miranda July, shall we? Yes please!
As always, if you have any questions for me regarding this story, or anything, really, please don’t hesitate to drop me a comment below, and I will answer you! (And why am I prompting you to comment? Because while I love DMs and always try to answer you there, my inbox is messy, and comments here are much easier for me to find and use as source material as I’m working on new things. Also, I love comments; they make me feel seen.)
All Fours by Miranda July ($23)
This is the book of the summer, the book of the year, and the newest entry to my essential reading* book list.
Need more? Sure. It’s a cinematic fever dream of a novel, starring an unnamed 45-year-old mid-level famous female narrator who sets off on a solo cross-country road trip from Los Angeles to New York, where—according to the plan—she will “see plays and art and stay in a nice hotel instead of with friends.” The trip sounds like a dream to me; it’s self-funded by an unexpected check for some creative work she’d done previously (absolves the guilt for booking the Carlyle!), plus she has the support of her husband and smallish child to take the time for herself, have a solo experience, and feed her art. It’s the sort of thing I might have done before having a family without much of a thought, but now would feel impossible.
Needless to say, the trip didn't go as planned, and the resulting story shocked me awake, and parts of it hit home in ways I’m not sure I’m ready to contemplate, let alone discuss until I re-read it about seventeen more times. What I do know for sure: All Fours made me realize how few modern stories there are about the middle of our lives (meaning: women’s lives). How little we know about or discuss the changes to our bodies and brains, friendships, and relationships. The way marriage and motherhood obscure and reveal parts of ourselves so unexpectedly. The examination that happens when you realize that the hill of time is starting to slope down, not up, and you are forced to truly confront what you’re going to do with your one wild and precious life.
It’s also full of limerence, desire, longing, independence, societal norms, ambiguity, the complexities of female friendships, parenting, long-term relationships, cohabitation, and one’s ever-evolving sense of self.
And if that’s not enough, consider the following. Some of the smartest women I know are friends I met whilst working at ELLE magazine in the early aughts, and every one of those former print magazine editors is obsessed with this book. When I posted a picture of All Fours the other day, my inbox was flooded with messages from these tasteful brainiacs, each one more excited than the last.
Or maybe this will do it: I lost time reading this book. One Saturday afternoon, I abandoned my family to this novel, allowing my children to gleefully binge on The Octonauts for untold hours, so that I could lounge quietly on my bed and dive straight to the bottom of All Fours. At some point, my husband wandered in, and I was so startled that he existed, that my life existed, that anything outside this story existed, I accidentally sliced my finger open on one of the pages. It’s just that good.
So long story long: If you buy one thing this season, make it this book. It’s weird. It’s wild. It’s complex and messy and maybe you’ll hate it, I don’t even care. Just read it.
*I’m not special in saying this, but I found the HBO show Girls to be incredibly impactful** and meaningful for me, as a viewer. I think about it often, especially as the rewatch podcasts keep dropping scenes of TikTok, which lately has me considering it anew. One of the behind-the-scenes bits of lore I loved was the creative syllabus—movies and books, mostly—created for the writers’ room, that was meant to inform the show. Since then, I’ve often thought about what the syllabus of me would be.
**I met my husband when he was a music supervisor on the show, and needless to say, I was a fan of his work. I communicated that fact extravagantly when we met, and many times after, and now here we are, a decade later, with a whole life together. This makes me sound exceedingly cringe, and I’m okay with that.
In Other News: Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
I wasn’t going to cover the sale, but a dear friend showed me everything she bought already, and I’m not going to lie: It got me thinking. (Thanks, Jill.)
As always, my advice is to do some pre-work so you don’t regret your purchases. Before shopping, I try to make a list of what I’m looking for—classic staples that I can wear lots of different ways and to multiple types of events—and key brands I love, and start by searching for those pieces first, before doing an overall tour of what’s for sale. It helps me stay focused on quality and practicality.
I also try to be a stickler about fabric, and search for things that will hold their value and shape over time, like wool coats (pay attention to what the wool is blended with, if anything), leather outerwear or accessories, and cotton, linen, or silk pieces.
Bony Levy Liora Diamond Tennis Necklace ($9882.99 now, $14,750 after the sale)
Every year, I always start with the fine jewelry in the sale, because I’m a magpie and am curious about the big ticket items (like a pair of 5-carat round brilliant platinum and diamond studs for a cool $69,563.99?). While most of the options are not things I’d pick, I was intrigued by this simple diamond tennis necklace, which has 628 diamonds set in 18k gold and comes in at 4.49 carats. Just saying.
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer ($343.99 now, $429.99 after the sale)
I don’t have crazy thick or curly hair, so I didn’t really think I needed a special hairdryer. I was wrong. The Dyson is actually worth the hype; it’s so fast, powerful, lightweight, and kind on the ears, I very much think it’s worth the splurge.
Tumi V4 Collection 30-Inch Extended Trip Spinner Packing Case ($696.99 on sale, $995 after the sale)
As someone who has owned her Tumi carry-on bag since I was 21 (and it’s still excellent) and who used Tumi luggage whilst driving my newborn kid from New York to Los Angeles, I have a very soft spot for Tumi. But I’m not the only one; every time I write about travel, an expert gives it a shoutout for its excellence, and for good reason. The luggage is crazy good and will last you forever. There is a carry-on version for less.
AllSaints Dalby Leather Biker Jacket ($349 on sale, $529 after the sale)
Leather bikers jackets are like trench coats or blazers to me: A key piece to have in your wardrobe, because they’re just classic at this point. I own several different styles, include two from AllSaints, and I’m here to say they wear really well. This one is midnight blue, but super dark, which I think is kind of a nice novelty for an otherwise straightforward piece. It’s also available in black for $333.99, if that’s more your thing.
Veronica Beard Lada Chelsea Boots ($349 on sale, $475 after the sale)
Another key style that never goes out of style! I love a Veronica Beard blazer as much as the next person, but I think their accessories don’t get enough love, overall. These boots are so simple and understated, you’ll be able to wear them with anything, and they come in black leather, dark brown leather, or caramel suede, giving you wardrobe-building options galore.
T3 Switch Kit Classic Trio ($199.99 on sale, $299.99 after the sale)
This three-barrel curling set has been my go-to device for curls for the past few years. It comes with a 1-inch clip barrel, 1.25-inch clip barrel, and a 1.5-inch clip barrel, which is truly everything one needs for most looks. After using it many times a week for years, mine still looks brand new and works like I just took it out of the box. Cannot recommend enough.
Staub 4-Piece Mini Round Cocotte Set ($69.99 on sale, $106.99 after the sale)
Everyone goes crazy for Le Creuset (and I own a lot too; it’s hyped for a reason), but my not-so-secret favorite cookware brand is Staub. These little mini pots are perfect for individual desserts and have been on my wishlist for ages, but I don’t need them, so I’m not willing to pay full price for them. But at this price, you can bet they’re in my cart now.
Okay friends, that’s it for now. If you want to follow me on @hillarykerr, I’d love it. And if you have anything to say or ask (preferably nothing terribly mean), please drop me a note either via DM or in the comments below.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read this post. I’m truly so glad you’re here. If you like what you’re reading, please consider sharing this newsletter. (And if you have the time to like it, that would mean a lot to me!) All products mentioned are independently chosen, and some may be affiliate links. Your support is appreciated.
Thanks it’s always for being super transparent and I do hope you’re feeling better! I love that you’ve picked things from the N sale that not everyone is posting about! 😆 💙
Hope you are feeling better!