Tomorrow! Tomorrow is the day. Public access begins at the Nordstrom sale. My wish list has been made, some of it already sold out, but tomorrow is a new day and that could change. Let’s chat about this.
What’s with the Nordstrom Sale?
Nordstrom fan or not, you may be wondering, what’s with this Nordstrom sale anyway? Here’s a short and sweet breakdown. The anniversary sale happens once a year (always in July) and Nordstrom offers markdowns on hundreds of items, most of which are new. So instead of waiting until late fall to get the markdowns on the jacket you’ve been eyeing or the new boots you need, you can get them ahead of time. You can also score great prices on beauty (a growing category for sure), baby gear and home decor items.
While the sale is convenient in timing, I will admit, the discounts aren’t anything earth-shattering. You can usually find better deals closer to the holiday season and after Thanksgiving. However, you may not find those deals on certain brands that Nordstrom carries. For example, Steve Madden boots hardly ever go on sale. Right now, they have the most popular boot (linked below) listed under $100. You *probably* won’t find that price on those boots until spring.
Moral of the story – it’s easy to get carried away with all the hype around this sale, so be choosy. Try to see the difference between a really good deal and simply buying something because of a discount.
Why I shop the Nordstrom Sale
My why seems to change each year. The last couple years, I’ve snagged baby gear for Emmett at huge discounts. We’ve saved over $500 shopping this sale for strollers and carseats. We love our Nuna stroller – still marked down here – and have also scored Maxi Cosi carseats.
Before Emmett (and this year), I’m more focused on updating strong basics at discounted prices. I want a good pair of loafers for fall. I’m also one to drag my feet on investing in good activewear. In an effort to not look like such a mess as a stay-at-home-mom, I’m going to pick up a few Zella pieces. More on that below. There are always good coats on sale, too.
I am a sucker for a good sale, but who isn’t? Here are my top picks in categories I focus on (all under $100). It can be hard to look through pages and pages of options, so I tried to break it down a bit. Stock changes by the hour, so some of these items may already be gone, but I’m hoping most have at least a few sizes left for public access. The countdown is on – happy shopping!
Jackets + Shoes
If one thing is for certain, I will be purchasing a new jacket and/or pair of shoes for fall. When the Nordstrom sale rolls around, I can’t help but indulge in one of these discounted pieces (depending on stock!). Right now, I have my eye on this amazing blue plaid blazer jacket and these statement loafers. Two unique pieces for layering and dressing up in the fall.
SHOP MY FINDS
Activewear
Nordstrom always has bulk Zella markdowns during the anniversary sale. Zella is an affordable activewear brand I’ve come to love because of this Nordstrom sale. I tend to grab at least one item each year. This time around, I’m leaning towards their bike shorts & longline bra. There are some other great markdowns in the activewear category as well, including Nike and Beyond Yoga.
Fall layers + Pants
I really wanted to find a fun pair of trousers for fall. Instead I stumbled on a couple pairs of denim, including this cropped pair of Levi’s I feel like I need. Do I need them? Fall tops sell out really quickly, but so far, I think all my wish list ones are still available. I know I can’t buy all of them, but how do I narrow it down? Definitely getting the plaid bell-sleeve top. I have to, right? Lots of questions.
SHOP MY FINDS
Pajamas
Surprised by this? Nordstrom’s Moonlight pajamas are seriously amazing. I bought the long pants pair while pregnant, wore them all through postpartum and now need a shorts pair for summer. You may have seen me mention this budget set from Target because I have a couple and love them as well. Very comparable to the Moonlight sets, but you don’t get the quality that holds up after washes. Since Nordstrom has the shorts set marked down under $30, it’s a fantastic time to stock up. Add it to my list.
While shopping, keep in mind…
Is it really easy to carried away during a sale? Yes. Oh yes. And with all the hype around Nordstrom in particular, it’s easy to think you have to buy something. Guilty. I encourage you to only buy things you truly love, or truly want to try & return if needed. No one needs to blow a bunch of money on unnecessary items to fill your closet with unworn pieces. Buy smart, pay attention to how much an item is actually marked down. There will always be another sale.
xoxo. B
Love everything you shared here, and fingers crossed for you that everything is still in stock! I bought a pair of earrings and some body wash for Ryan, exciting I know. Ha!
Karly
https://www.whatkarlysaid.com
Thanks, Karly! I walked away with one sweater & the loafers. Which are what I wanted most so it worked out. Earrings & body wash are wins, too! 🙂