u/Neverdoubt-PDX

I love fashion and nice clothes. The Devil Wears Prada is one of my favorite movies.

When I started my weight loss journey I knew that I would be dropping sizes and I’d have to invest in new clothing. I also knew that I didn’t want to wait until I got to my “goal weight” or size to look and feel better. I wanted to have a wardrobe that I felt comfortable in during all phases of my transformation.

I opened a Nordstrom Visa card. I decided to go all-in with Nordstrom because they have in-house alterations, and if you reach a certain spend level (Icon) you get unlimited free alterations. I bought all of my clothes, shoes, accessories, cosmetics, sheets and towels, gifts for friends and family … you name it … from Nordstrom. I used the card for other spending, too. I always paid my balance in full every month. Soon I was at Icon level.

I’ve invested in high-quality clothing that’s not going to end up in landfills. I’ve had close to $5K in alterations for free. Some jeans I bought have been altered three times (My favorite denim brands are Frame and Agolde — you can’t go wrong with their 100% cotton styles).

It’s been so good for my mental health to be able to wear clothes that fit my body at all times during this process. It’s felt amazing to make alterations appointments to have pieces taken in. Plus I earn Nordstrom Notes that I can spend on myself or others.

I’m one hundred pounds down. I’ve dropped about five sizes. I had some of my old clothes altered but most of them just aren’t my style anymore. I used to hide my body in loose flowy dresses and pants. Now my style is form-fitting, tailored, and youthful.

I’ve sold, thrifted, or gifted almost all of my old wardrobe. And it feels fabulous.

Nuna TRVL 1X stroller $399.99 / after sale $600

Nuna MIXX next stroller $674.99 / after sale $900

Nuna RAVA next car seat $429.99 / after sale $580

Nuna PIPA aire rx car seat $475.99 / after sale $650

Fragrances — highlights

BYREDO Mojave Ghost full size Eau de Parfum spray with lotion and another smaller atomizer of same fragrance $280 / valued at $415

BYREDO Eau de Parfum small atomizer sampler of Blanche, Rose of No Man’s Land, Mojave Ghost, Bal d’Afrique, and Gypsy Water $200 / valued at $300

Diptyque Eau Rose Eau de Toilette spray and Eau Rose Eau de Parfum spray — full-size bottles $150 / valued at $200

Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede cologne (full size) with smaller atomizer of same fragrance $175 / valued at $262

Parfums de Marly set of three full-sized bottles of unknown fragrances $515 / valued at $765

Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum (full size) with small atomizer of Ébène Fumé $265 / valued at $375

Prada (full size) with small atomizer of an Eau de Toilette $111 / valued at $166

Creed Aventus (full size) with smaller bottle of what appears to be same fragrance $585 / valued at $780

Burberry Hero (full size) with smaller atomizer of same $135 / valued at $202

Gucci Beauty box set with perfume, lotion, and a smaller bottle of something $149 / valued at $221

Montblanc Explorer full-size perfume with smaller atomizer of what appears to be the same $136 / valued at $216

Le Labo Santal 13 Eau de Parfum spray 1 ounce $180 / valued at $230

Le Labo Another 13 Eau de Parfum spray 1 ounce $180 / valued at $230

Le Labo Eau de Parfums spray sampler set of five fragrances: Another 13, Santal 13, Thé Noir 29, Thé Matcha 26, Rose 31 $210 / valued at $268

Prada Paradoxe full size bottle and smaller atomizer of same $98 / valued at $147

Carolina Herrera Good Girl Blush Eau de Parfum spray full-sized and smaller bottle of same $184 / valued at $291

Christian Louboutin Rose Fétjche Eau de Parfum full-sized spray bottle with smaller bottle of same $295 / valued at $440

Other box sets from Valentino, Versace, Viktor&Rolf, Phlur, Yves St Laurent, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Dolce & Gabbana

What I saw in the Anniversary Sale catalog that my stylist forwarded to me. I can’t link the catalog because the file is too large. These are a few of the pieces that piqued my interest.

For women

Vince: a lot of fall fashions, shoes, and accessories. Like, a lot. Vince is all over the place.

** Standouts: dress pants in navy or deep bottle green. $264.99 / after sale $398

Matching double-breasted blazer. $417.99 / after sale $628

Leather and suede jackets and blazers from AllSaints, Nordstrom label, Vince, Avec les Filles, rag & bone, and Treasure & Bond (Nordstrom house brand)

** Standout: Nordstrom label deep burgundy leather bomber jacket $248.99 / $369 after sale

Shoes — pumps, flats, boots and booties — from Veronica Beard, Dolce Vita, Reiss, Paige, Favorite Daughter, G.H. Bass, Tory Burch, Aquatalia; and the usual suspects Sam Edelman, Marc Fisher, and Steve Madden

** Standout: Staud “Wally” suede booties in deep moss green. $264.99 / after sale $395

Purses and totes from AllSaints, Dolce Vita, NAGHEDI, Clare V, Veronica Beard, Tory Burch, Coach, Madewell

** Standouts: AllSaints suede tote in milk chocolate brown. $264.99 / after sale $399

Dolce Vita leopard print purse with gold handle. $198.99 / after sale $298

Upscale casual and workwear (blazers, non-denim pants, skirts and dresses) from Cinq à Sept, Reformation, En Saison, Theory, Reiss, rag & bone, Open Edit (Nordstrom house brand), Veronica Beard, Polo Ralph Lauren, Ralph Ralph Lauren, Nordstrom label, Treasure & Bond (house label), Julia Jordan, Ever New

** Standouts: rag & bone navy blue pinstripe “Mercer” blazer. $329.99 / after sale $498

Cinq à Sept dark denim sleeveless dress. Appears to be style “Branwen.” $294.99 / after sale $445

Blouses, button-up shirts, and tops from Cinq à Sept, Faherty, Madewell, Vince, Veronica Beard, Favorite Daughter, Frame, rag & bone

Standout: Polo Ralph Lauren classic cotton button-up shirt in deep moss green which is a color theme for the season. $98.99 / after sale $148

Jeans by Frame, Reformation, Wit and Wisdom, Levi’s, Madewell, Veronica Beard, Paige, Kut from the Kloth, Favorite Daughter, Pistola, L’Agence, rag & bone

Standout: dark denim Frame jeans. Unsure of style but they appear to be 100% cotton. Regular and petite sizes. $185.99 / after sale $278

Sweaters from Free People, Vince, Sanctuary, Veronica Beard, Madewell, Varley, Nordstrom label, Pistola

Standouts: none 😔

Coats and jackets from Barbour, Nordstrom label, Ralph Lauren, Vince, BCBG, Avec les Filles, Bernardo, Favorite Daughter, Veronica Beard, Open Edit, Isabel Marant Étoile

Standouts: BCBG dark brown faux fur jacket $149.99 / after sale $298

Nordstrom label beige-taupe full-length wrap coat with collar. $232.99 / after sale $349

I live in Oregon. I’m considering switching my home and auto to AAA’s insurance, CSAAA. I got some decent quotes online and followed up with a local agent to ask a few more questions and possibly move forward.

I asked about adding a personal liability umbrella policy. He said CSAAA offered umbrellas. I mentioned that my home was titled in the name of my revocable (living) trust of which I am sole trustee. He flatly said that their umbrella policies excluded trusts. I asked if they excluded all trusts or just irrevocable ones. He didn’t know the difference. I asked him to check with his underwriters. He put me on hold for about five minutes. He came back on the line and said underwriting told him that their personal liability umbrella policies excluded ALL trusts, revocable (living) or irrevocable.

I asked if I could add my trust as additional party insured to an umbrella policy. He put me on hold again. He came back and told me that underwriting told him no. No coverage for trusts for umbrella policies. Named insured or additional party insured.

I asked the agent if he explained this to his clients who purchase umbrella policies — that if they have a trust and their assets are titled in the name of the trust, those assets are not covered — and he said he did. But he sounded very confused.

Is anyone aware of this practice? Have they encountered this with AAA insurance or other carriers? I mean, what’s the point of having a personal liability umbrella policy if you have a trust that you’ve properly funded with a majority of your earthy assets — from bank to brokerage accounts, to homes, etc — only to find out that the policy doesn’t cover the assets within the trust?

I currently have an umbrella policy through State Farm. I have it in writing that it covers my revocable trust and myself as trustee. I’m named insured and my trust is additional party insured.

Additionally, when I said that I wanted to add my revocable/living trust as additional party insured to my homeowner’s policy, he didn’t know if I could do this. He put me on hold again to speak with underwriting. He came back on the line and said I would have to provide a copy of the deed with my trust’s name on it or the schedule of assets from the actual trust document that shows my address as part of my trust. My previous insurers didn’t make it this difficult to add my trust as additional insured. No documentation was needed.

What’s the deal with AAA and trusts?