Unless you live in a cave, (and I'm jealous if you do cause this world is really scary lately)- you've heard about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale by now. The Anniversary Sale is the créme de la créme of sales, because unlike most sales, it gives you the opportunity to buy things from next season on sale, instead of bargains on last season. This is a plus because it gives you more time to wear the stuff and you get a great price on it too. WINNING. One of my favorite traditions growing up was going back to school shopping with my mom at this sale and it still holds so much nostalgia for me because of it.  Here's a break down of some of my favorites. Below you can shop the sale directly by clicking on the pictures of the items that you may like- no need to even leave your couch and go to your nearest Nordie's. Dangerous, I know. My very favorites from the gallery below are:

1.  Alexander Wang booties - I am dying over them and definitely may be purchasing these before the sale is over. Oxblood is something you will be seeing a lot of this Fall, so these can be a total staple for the coming cooler months.
2. The white Frame blouse with the neck bow is another staple I could see myself wearing with everything. My favorite shirts are white, and this one has a detachable bow which is so chic. It can be put with everything from your daily denim to a pencil skirt for those days you have an important presentation or just want to look extra pulled together. 
3. Rebecca Minkoff fringe backpack: I have the non-fringe version of this backpack and it has been a staple in my closet for the past year and a half. I use it so much that it is literally falling apart in certain places and I need a new one, ha! Such an awesome buy for the price- you will not regret this purchase, especially with the great deal Nordstrom is offering- I have never seen these backpacks on sale other than here. 
4. Zella "Cut it Out" High Waisted Leggings: I'm sure you're seeing a trend here and it's that I'm picking all staples. Last year, I bought Zella leggings at the sale and they've held up so well for athletic gear, and they're something that I can wear all of the time when I'm running errands or obviously heading to my favorite workout class(es). On these I love the mesh panels which give them an edge and the fact that they're high waisted which gives you the option of pairing them with a cute sports bra or cropped shirt. 

What are your favorite pieces from this sale? Let me know in the comments below! Happy shopping.

X,

Genevieve

   There are few things I love more than yummy smelling candles, so it's needless to say I was excited to discover a new candle company called Flores Lane that is hand-poured in L.A., made with soy wax, and run by two lovely ladies. I met these girls at the Venice Arts and Fleas a couple months ago and my friend and I bought a couple of candles from them because I fell in love with their "Venice" scent : a subtle blend of sandalwood, musk, and light/fruity notes. It's extremely important to me to support local female entrepreneurs, not to mention they promote a low carbon foot print by offering their customers a 15% discount if you repurpose your jar.

Each candle is named after a different neighborhood in L.A., and includes longitude and latitude coordinates, which is super cool and makes for great gifts for out-of-towners. Current offerings include :

• DTLA: mellow and woodsy with a hint of freshness
• WEHO: a bright blend of orange with a hint of grapefruit (reminds me of the Volcano fragrance which I've been a fan of forever) 
• Beverly Hills: a floral combination of lilac, rose, and magnolia 
• Silverlake: Fresh with hints of bergamot, jasmine, and mandarin
• Malibu: earthy and rich
• Venice (my favorite-and no it's not because I live in Venice!): a subtle blend of sandalwood, musk, and light/fruity notes

While you can't smell the photos, check out the cute jars and should you want to buy some candles from an awesome up and coming Los Angeles business,  you can order at www.shopfloreslane.com . Major perk- they're extremely well priced at just $18 dollars!

xo,

Genevieve

Umami Burger is definitely one of those places that you have to visit anytime you're in Los Angeles - It's a quintessential institution that always hits the spot when you're in need of a favorite American food. While they've branched out to various places in the U.S., it's a burger that was born in L.A. which is why I had to check it out for myself. For this meal I asked 3 friends to join me at their location in Hollywood to try their 9-course tasting menu. 

Umami burger's 9- course tasting menu. Not to be taken lightly! Make sure you come hungry!

The tasting menu is certainly not a small feat and it is not recommended for the faint of heart. I left feeling as though I had taken gluttony to a totally unchartered territory of gluttony levels. On a scale from 1-10 of full we left at like a 17 1/2. Our entire party had to take frequent breaks to try to get through all of these burgers. The server informed us we were the first actual table he's seen finish the entire tasting. This obviously made us all genuinely proud. 

Highlights of our dinner included: "The Manly Burger"- cheddar cheese, bacon lardons, onion strings, and Umami's special house ketchup, "The Greenbird Burger" (best turkey burger I've ever had)- green cheese, smashed avocado, sprouts, green goddess dressing, butter lettuce, and a "Maple Bacon Old Fashioned" which was just how I like my whiskey cocktails- nice and strong! 

Umami's signature burger the "Truffle Burger" . Highly recommended for all my fellow truffle lovers.

Umami Ahi Tuna Burger

Back to what I'm good at, talking about clothes ;). When eating a 9 course burger meal, what does one wear? Well... I opted for all black. I mean, this sort of meal is not for a lacy white dress or anything "dry clean only" if you know what I mean! I'm wearing here high waisted black pants, a For Love and Lemons Knitz body suit, Sam Edelman booties, and my favorite tan Topshop duster jacket. There's something about black and tan as a combo that has been calling me lately, and I've been wearing these colors together more and more. Check out the photos below and let me know what you think!

My friend Jackie and I before dinner

All photos in this blog courtesy of Brian Gove, copyright The Style Sauce 2016.

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