Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks and What to Skip

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2017 - What to Get and What to Skip Every year for the past 6 years or so, I’ve had a ritual of circling items I want to purchase in the Nordstrom Anniversary sale paper catalog. It’s usually mailed out mid-June to cardholders and fashion-forward men and women as well as bargain lovers know the catalog is a sign of what’s to come–Christmas in July.

To say I love the anniversary sale is a bit of an understatement. There have been years where I’ve woken up at midnight just to be sure I got my hands on exactly what I wanted. There have been years where I’ve taken an early lunch break to head to the mall to peruse the early access zones in every department. There have been years I’ve stopped myself from buying any clothing for months in preparation of the sale. I practically factor it into my yearly budget.

There’s a rush I get when I get my hands on something I really really want. And a rush I get when I get something that’s later sold out. Like my taste has been justified by demand or something. Okay now I sound like I need help, but I am being brutally honest with you.

Now, I’m sure you’ve heard of the Anniversary sale before. But maybe you don’t know much about it: It’s a sale that’s different from all other sales in that it’s fall and winter fashion that’s on sale. Not spring stuff or random fashion, but the clothes you’re going to need once the air gets brisk and chilly. Also, everything goes back to full price after the sale.

Well, not everything. You’re probably wondering why Nordstrom would host a sale like this. It’s because they will figure out which items they want to stock for fall and winter based on demand for the items you purchase now. Those Tory Burch boots you like so much that sold out in minutes? They’ll be back in the fall. The Nikes with the weird pattern that still has every size left in stock? They probably won’t be bringing those back.

Smart move, Nordstrom.

And it’s a smart move for people like us if we know how to shop the sale.

First of all, you’re going to need a Nordstrom card. I’ve had mine for years. I actually have a Nordstrom Visa Signature, so I can use that everywhere and earn points which turn into Nordstrom Notes.

Some things to know about the sale:

Early access starts on Thursday, July 13th and ends July 20th. Early means you can shop the best sale picks before everyone else.
You must have a Nordstrom card to have early access. Online, you will have to confirm your card before you can even see the items.
Everyone can shop the sale starting Friday July 21st

So there you have it. Once you see the catalog, it is pretty tough to resist adding stuff to your cart and purchasing (shipping is free, btw).

Now, onto my favorite picks. I’m including items I have purchased and items that I haven’t. I’ll let you know which ones I have bought and which I haven’t.

What to get:

Women’s Trouve Wrap Blouse – $45.90. $69 after sale. (25% off) This blouse has a really flattering silhouette and comes in a blush pink, navy, and pattern. I love love love the blush pink color.

Women’s Chelsea28 Bell Sleeve Poplin Top – $58.90. $89 after sale (33% off). I love the bell sleeve look, and it’s a trend that has been up and coming for a while now. Many style and fashion bloggers have wear bell sleeves in their style shoots. There’s no reason why you can’t turn up to work or a nice dinner in this bell sleeve top. The blue one is sitting in my closet right now :)

Women’s Hinge Ruffle Blouse – $49.90. $79 after sale. (37% off). I have to say, I’m a huge fan of this pattern and style, which is why I purchased this blouse. It’s simple and casual yet put together. It also comes in other colors like black if that’s more your thing.

Zella Live In High Waist Leggings – $35.90. $54 after sale. (33% off) – Available in classic black or fall-inspired burgundy, Zella leggings are a staple at Nordstrom. Well-priced and good-quality, you’ll feel a lot less guilty about buying 3 pairs of Zella leggings for the price of one pair of Lululemon leggings. I personally have the burgundy pair.

Women’s Adidas Originals Trefoil Crewneck Sweatshirt – $39.90. $55.00 after sale. (20% off) – Athleisure lives on with this comfortable but stylish heather grey crewneck sweatshirt. If you’re into brand names or maybe giving your weekend wardrobe a little change, you might be a big fan of this sweatshirt. Cozy, comfy, and goes with almost everything. I love being cozy, which is why I bought this sweatshirt! They’ll go great with the adidas leggings I purchased last year.

Mini Miracles Set – La Mer – $85. $140 value. This is a great way to try out one of the most raved about and pricy skincare items out there. While it’s a mini set, it’s enough to see if you’re serious about splurging on a full size set. This is definitely a wish list item for me.

'Resolve Plus' Waterproof Jacket THE NORTH FACE — The North Face ‘Resolve Plus’ Waterproof Jacket

The North Face ‘Resolve Plus’ Waterproof Jacket – $69.90. $99 after sale. (30% off) – I am a huge fan of North Face jackets and they’re pretty much all I wear when the weather isn’t that great. What I love about this jacket is that the hood tucks away so it doesn’t have to be showing all the time. This is great if you have long hair and you don’t want to have the hood out all the time messing with your style.

Benita Off the Shoulder Dress CUPCAKES AND CASHMERE — Cupcakes and Cashmere Benita Off the Shoulder Dress

Cupcakes and Cashmere Benita Off the Shoulder Dress – $79.90. $120 after sale. (33% off) – If you didn’t know, Emily Schuman of Cupcakes & Cashmere has a clothing line at Nordstrom. Known for her pretty LA fashion and lovely lifestyle posts, you can channel Emily’s style with this dress.

Pleione Double Ruffle Sleeve Blouse – $39.90. $59 after sale. (33% off) – Not everyone is a fan of ruffles and I totally get that. To each his own. What I like about this top is that the ruffles are done really well. They aren’t frumpy and they still have some structure. If you do like ruffles but still want to have a clean cut look, this blouse might need a new home in your wardrobe. It also comes in red and white.

Paige Hoxton High Waist Ankle Skinny Jeans – 99.90. 189.90 after sale. (47% off) – This is probably one of the biggest steals of the sale. Designer jeans for almost half price. If you’re like me and aren’t totally ready to let go of skinny jeans, or maybe you like high waist skinny jeans, you might like this pair.

Halogen Button Back Ruffle Hem Dress – 65.90. $99 after sale. (35% off) – I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there’s just something I love about this dress. Maybe it’s the colors…or the pattern…or the ruffle hem. Either way, it’s a very nice dress for fall and it looks like the kind of dress only Nordstrom is carrying at the moment.

What to Skip:

Most of the home goodies – Yes, decorating your home is really fun and finding new items can be really amazing and small changes can make big differences and and and I can go on and on! The thing is, nothing really stands out as something you can only get at Nordstrom. That, in combination with the prices, leaves me personally wanting more out of the home sale. You’re absolutely welcome to take a peek though–I’ve left you the link.

I think you’ll find home items you like better if you go to your local Nordstrom store. It’s easier to browse through the trinkets and notebooks they have in store than online because it can get tedious online.

FOREO LUNA play Facial Cleansing Brush – There are great reviews on this cleaning brush and I have personally seen a lot of people rave about it online. But it’s only a $4 discount. If you want an upgraded version of this brush that’s actually on sale, you might want to take a look at this:

LUNA^™ mini Compact Facial Cleansing Device – $66 on sale, $99 after sale.

bkr Spiked Naked & Tutu 16-Ounce Glass Water Bottle Duo – $50 – It’s a $75 dollar value, and I’ll give you that these bottles are cute. But you really don’t need to spend $50 on two glass water bottles that only hold 2 cups of water each, sorry. I personally have a bkr bottle and I think they’re really pretty, but it was part of a subscription box where I definitely did not spend remotely close to full price on the bottle. I think a better choice would be this one if you really want a fancy water bottle:

Palm Beach Stainless Steel Water Bottle S'WELL — S’well Palm Beach Stainless Steel Water Bottle

S’well Palm Beach Stainless Steel Water Bottle – $22.50. $35 after sale. – The stainless steel will keep your drink cool, plus it’s a cute pattern. They also come in more sizes if you want a larger or smaller bottle.

There’s so much more I could include, but it would take me forever to put the rest of my favorites on here. Go ahead and browse the catalog and see if you find items you like!

Do we have any of the same favorites? What are some of the items you’re looking forward to buying at the sale?

-S

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.