Getting Ready for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

My first year shopping the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale in a store was three years ago when I traveled to Atlanta to stay with my sister. We both shopped the sale until we dropped! We’ve made it into an annual tradition, and it’s one of my favorite trips of the year!

WHAT IS THE #NSALE

Let’s start at the beginning because some of you might be new to the BIGGEST sale in the fashion industry. The #NSale, or the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, is like Fashions Black Friday event. It is your chance to get steep discounts on new arrivals and the season’s upcoming fashions. The sale is not limited to fashion; you can also find fantastic deals on beauty and home brands. This is when I take advantage of higher ticket items like a good winter coat, cashmere, leather boots, and maybe a designer handbag that I’ve been eyeing. I’m talking about brands like Coach, Madewell, Vince, Barefoot Dreams, SPANX, and more. These are all brand new fall items that have been brought to you specifically for this sale, and the savings are usually 30-40% off retail.

WHEN IS THE #NSALE?

Now that you know what the #NSale is let’s talk about WHEN it is. Usually, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale starts in mid-July and runs until August. This year, the online preview of all #NSale items began on June 27, 2024. If you haven’t already, you will want to create a Wish List, so you can check out faster when it’s your time to shop. Online shopping will open at 12:01 am ET, so set your alarm clock and be ready, and in-store shopping will be during regular business hours. The sale goes live to the public on July 15th, and the prices go up after August 4.

DO I NEED A NORDSTROM CARD?

I am not encouraging you to open a Nordstrom credit card, but it has some advantages. A limited number of items will be offered at reduced prices, so the “favorites” get picked over very quickly. Getting early access to the sale is worth its weight in gold! But at the very least, sign up for The Nordy Club so you can earn rewards as you shop. (Here) is a complete list of all the advantages of having a Nordy Card so you can decide for yourself.

HOW DO I SHOP THE #NSALE

I don’t have a Nordstrom within a four-hour drive of me, so shopping online is usually the way that I always shop for this sale. I highly recommend shopping online because it can be overwhelming. I get sensory overload when I have too many choices and options to look at. Nordstrom has a great feature to this sale called the WISHLIST. This will make checkout way easier and faster than ever before. You choose an item like a new Coach handbag that you’ve been eyeing and click the ADD TO WISH LIST button. When you get ready to shop the sale, you log in to your account, hover over your name and click on Wish List to see all of your items at once. WOOHOO! This is easier than creating handwritten lists and then typing the names in the search bar. But, you will still need a plan, so keep reading.

THE PLANNING IS EVERYTHING

To quote Dwight Eisenhower, “Plans are nothing; planning is everything.” We are going into a “battle” for the best savings when can get. So, the first thing that we need to do is start the planning phase.

1. Sign up for a Nordstrom Card

   If you don’t have one, this is the perfect time to grab this card. This card allows you early access, where you have your best chance of getting the good stuff. Nordstrom cardholders get to shop first, so if you don’t have one and you’re a frequent Nordstrom shopper, it’s worth considering, but make the decision that is right for you.

2. Personal Double Points Day

   You earn points every time you shop at Nordstrom, and those points add up to Nordstrom Notes that you can spend on anything (yes, anything!) in stores or online at Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, and HauteLook. Depending on the type of cardholder you are, you can earn up to 3 points for every dollar spent. If you plan on doing a lot of shopping on the day of the sale, then make sure to schedule that day as your Personal Double Points Day! Then you will earn 2x or 3x the points, which equals $$$$ for you later.

3. Start the PLAN

   This is when you must decide what you need for the rest of the summer and the upcoming fall and winter. I try to classify my shopping list into categories. Some of the categories that I usually use are Jeans, Shoes, Sweaters, Coats and Jackets, Jewelry, Handbags, and Beauty. To shop, go to the website and click on the Early Access site. Then pick your category and find the items that interest you. Add each item to your wish list, and then rate them in your mind as your top choices.

4. Know Your Size

   Every brand seems to have its own version of sizing. If the items you are considering are ones you are familiar with, then you will know how they fit, and sizing is easy. However, if you are looking at a pair of jeans you’ve never worn, check the reviews first, and then order two sizes if possible. I know this sounds like a pain, but you get free shipping and free returns, so this won’t cost you any more. And, things will sell out quickly, so by the time you realize that you need a different size, they could be sold out.

5. Set Your Alarm

   I know that this might seem crazy, and if you only have one or two items on your list, maybe it isn’t something you need to do. However, if you’ve been dying for a HOT TICKET item that will sell out quickly, then be ready at precisely 12:01 am ET to hit buy now.

6. Shipping

   I have a list for MUST-HAVES, and I add those to my cart first, and then I check out right away. Last year I did not get something I really wanted, even though it showed that I had purchased it. I found out later that because the computers couldn’t keep up with the massive amount of sales, the items had already sold out by the time my cart was ready to process. So, for my MUST-HAVES, I will check out and also pay for expedited shipping. This will help ensure that my order is processed immediately instead of in a few days. I will pay for the extra shipping only for my MUST-HAVES. I will log back in and place the other orders, but I will use the free shipping option for those.

7. Shop early and often

   I’ve already mentioned that you need to shop as early as possible, but you must keep checking back often to see if additional items have been added to the sale. Usually, as items sell out, new items are added to take their place. So, checking back regularly will help you find the best items.

8. Sell Out Risks

   There are always items that are everyone’s favorite, so those sell out quickly. Certain brands are historically know to sell out quickly.

My Top 10 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Preview Picks

I’ve grabbed a new sweater vest the last few years during the NSale! They are great for those fall days in late September and early October whenever I’m ready to pull out my fall clothes, but the weather is still too hot for long sleeves. This one from Wit & Wisdom comes in four different colors, including this pretty nutmeg shade.

I know it’s hard to think about fall fashion in the middle of July, but this sale is my favorite time to look for fall shoes! This pair of lug sole booties is from Naturalizer, who is known for making comfy shoes. They comes in three different great neutral colors, and you can grab them in wide!

You can find quality outerwear from really big brands at great prices, so don’t forget to check out the jackets and coats! I loved this relaxed trench coat and thought it would look nice over a dress with heels, jeans and booties, or even trousers and loafers for the office! You can find all kinds of other outerwear options here.

This is the time to stock up long sleeve tops and sweaters, gurls! I LOVE this long sleeve polo shirt, and I’m picturing all the ways I could wear it right now. It comes in six different colors in sizes XXS to XXL.

It never fails that I’m ready to switch over to my fall shoes before the weather is ready! A backless mule is a great transition shoe when you’re ready to hang up your sandals, but the temps are still too high outside to pull out your boots. This one is from Dolce Vita. It comes in 7 colors, but this camel suede is my favorite.

Here’s another sweater vest that was love at first sight! I’ve been seeing crochet everywhere, and I love the texture and character it adds. This one has an open stitching, so you will need to layer a tank top underneath it.

I’m picturing this gorgeous dress from Steve Madden with a pair of block heels or wedges for the rest of summer, and then with a jean jacket with boots for winter and fall! Looking for more dresses? You can find the rest of the dresses included in the NSale here!

This suede slip-on sneaker from Vionic is a great casual shoe option for those of you who need arch support! I would pair them with jeans, my favorite tee, and a duster cardigan. They come in five colors, including black, white, gray, and a pale blue!

You gurls know I love investing in designer handbags, and this sale is the perfect time to do it since Nordstrom carries brands like Coach, Tory Burch, AllSaints, Longchamp, Kate Spade, and more! This top handle handbag from Coach comes in a gorgeous saddle brown that will look great with your fall booties and belts, and it’s almost $100 off during the sale. You can also grab it in white or black.

Whether you need a new shoe for the gym or just a new tennis shoe to wear when you’re out running errands, On Clouds are one of the “it” shoes to have in athletic wear. I see On Cloud sneakers EVERYWHERE, on both men and women. They really are incredibly comfortable. I put on a pair while shopping at Nordstrom, and I understood the hype. If you don’t love this style of shoe, you can view more sneakers that are included in the Nsale here.

See More of My Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Preview Picks:

Stay tuned for my Inside The Dressing Room Picks from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!

I hope you liked today’s post. If so, PLEASE remember to pin my post on Pinterest.

Whenever you SHARE my posts on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM, YOUTUBE, AND FACEBOOK, it helps other ladies who might be style challenged to find my blog. I appreciate every one of you, and I consider you a friend.

Are You One Of The GURLS?

You will get a daily email reminder from me alerting you when a new blog post has gone live. And, occasionally, a “special” email will hit your inbox, so watch for those!

To GOD Goes The Glory!

Verse Of The Day

Psalms 77:11

¹¹ I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.