I don’t know how, but it’s that time of year again. The Nordstrom Anniversary sale. The sale that every blogger loses her mind over. It is truly one of the wildest things I’ve seen in the blogging industry. Between the endless try-on sessions, the super early shopping access, and the “buy buy buy” mentality, it can be truly overwhelming (read my thoughts on that here). Personally, while I do enjoy shopping the sale, I try to treat it like any other sale. I want to make it clear that I will not spam you with any of the above behaviors.
That being said, it’s not like any other sale because of the sale items themselves. So to break it all down for you, I’m sharing what you need to know and my tried and true tips on how to best shop the Nordstrom anniversary sale without absolutely losing your mind.
In all of the images below, I’m sharing items that I purchased during last year’s sale that I wear allll the time!
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Basics
This sale happens once a year, and unlike most sales, this one includes brand new merchandise. Yep. You read that right. You can shop brand new Fall merchandise at discounted prices. So this would be the time to stock up on items like boots, jeans, coats, and sweaters. And pretty much anything else that’s missing from your wardrobe. The sale includes products from all categories: women’s clothing, shoes, accessories, beauty, men’s clothing, etc. This is also a great time to start thinking about gifts for the holidays. If you want to go ahead and take a look at some of the items that will be part of the sale, you can check out the catalog here.
The More You Know
Items sell out FAST so if there is something you’ve been eyeing for a while, I recommend you go for it. Just remember, you’re getting a great deal and it’s unlikely you’ll find that item on sale again. Products that will sell really well (and therefore sell out faster) include denim, shoes, and basics like tees and jackets. Brands that will sell really well include popular and “trendy” brands like Free People, BP, and Topshop. Other items that do well include luxury items that you typically wouldn’t buy because of how much they are. Think designer handbags and high end denim (AG, Paige, etc.).
Important Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Dates
Tips on Shopping the Sale (with the least amount of anxiety)
Get. The. Credit Card.
I’m not gonna lie, this sale can get really overwhelming. I really shopped it for the first time last year and it stressed me out because I could see all of the products during early access, but couldn’t shop them because I didn’t have the card. I know applying for credit cards is kind of stressful itself, but if you really want to shop this sale and get what you want, I highly recommend applying for the card asap.
I’m proud to say Kevin actually let me get one this year (strictly to be used for the sale) and it was a super easy process. It took like half a second to be approved and have the card loaded to my account for immediate use. Self control is key. If you want early access but not the anxiety of another credit card, just limit yourself to using it for this sale and pay if off right after you use it.
Decide what you’re shopping for before you shop.
Whether or not you have a card, this is really the key to getting the most out of the sale with minimal anxiety and buyer’s remorse. Sales like this can bring out the impulse shopper in the best of us and you don’t want to be left with a bunch of trendy things you wear once and hate later.
Go through your closet now and find the holes you need to fill. Need a pair of good denim? A pair of black booties, or goes-with-everything coat for the winter? Use the Nordstrom Anniversary sale catalog to get an idea of what will be apart of the sale too. That way you’ll know exactly what you’re looking for. Make a list of your needs and after you’ve done that, make a list of a few of your wants (I mean give yourself a little room to have fun during the sale!) in case you have room left in your budget. Which brings me to my next tip.
Create a budget for yourself.
Do NOT go into this sale without knowing how much you are able to spend. That’s how you get into major trouble. Set a realistic budget for this sale (don’t go broke for the month). Make sure it’s an amount you’ll be able to pay back in a month at most. It’s important to remember that while this sale is amazing, there will be other sales later (not to mention new things that you’ll surely want to buy before the year’s over) and you don’t need to buy EVERYTHING now. Just get what you absolutely need/wouldn’t normally want to pay full price for.
If there is something you want, don’t wait.
As I mentioned earlier, things will sell out fast. So if there is something you know you want to buy, don’t leave it sitting in your cart while you keep shopping. The great thing about Nordstrom is they offer free shipping and returns. Meaning it’s ok to make several separate purchases because you wont be paying multiple shipping charges. You’ll kick yourself if you finally get all the things in your cart, only to find out that something has sold out while you were shopping.
Do not try to keep up with bloggers.
This last tip is probably the most important, in my opinion.
Guys, I cannot stress this enough. You do not have to have it just because your favorite blogger does. Most of the big bloggers that are covering this sale and are buying thousands of $$$ worth are doing it because 1. it’s their job and 2. they can afford it. Please do not feel bad if you can’t buy literally everything you want. Of course get inspiration and recommendations from your favorite influencers, but don’t waste time wondering how the heck she was able to buy so much. It’ll make you mad. So don’t do it. Know your style, know your budget, get what YOU need, and be at peace with that. Spending too much time watching Instagram story try-on hauls will only make you feel like you need more.
That’s all for now, folks! Be sure and check back next week for another post all about the items I have my eye on from the sale! Or better yet, sign up for my email list to make sure you don’t miss anything.
