Is the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Worth It?

How can one NOT check out the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale? Every influencer is promoting it, and it's all over the site if you visit Nordstrom. But is the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale worth it? I wanted to round up what I think are the best picks from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale from my perspective.

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale preview launched July 6th. Nordstrom cardholders with “Icon” status can begin shopping July 14th, “Ambassador” status can shop starting July 15, and “Influencer” cardholder status on the 16th. The sale opens for everyone July 18th and ends on August 9th. You can begin a “wish list” now so you don't have to waste time when the sale starts to peruse the offerings. Do know, items sell out fast, so making a wish list, checking the offerings now, and shopping early is the key to getting what you want.

Is the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Worth It in 2026?

I originally wrote this post in 2026, but I update it each year of the sale. And I have seen a marked change in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale over the past few years. This post and its content adjust, and as you know, I always keep it real and care more about your trust than a commission (this article goes into how blogs, influencers, and websites make money).

So I went through the 2026 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale preview. focusing on the Women's department and beauty exclusives.

I saw a lot of what I saw last year: similar products, the same brands, and the same sneaky way they offer such a “sale.” A lot of the items are not the typical pieces those brands carry. You will not seed those same exact pieces anywhere else because they are essentially “factory” pieces crafted specifically for the sale.

Outlet and factory stores may carry items with the same designer label, but they are crafted with less expensive fabrics and notions, use simpler patterns and designs, and have fewer details. Outlet and factory apparel are the “basic” versions of the original; they're exciting because they carry the label of a brand you love and have the same general aesthetic and vibe, but they are not the same caliber. And that is primarily what you find in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.

Eye-catching Items You Don't Need (or aren't worth your money even on sale)

I often see items in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale that are oh-so cute, cool, fun, and statement-making. No better time to splurge on that badass coat, bag, or shoes when they're on sale, right? Wrong, if the fabrication isn't worth even the sale price. A few things that charmed me until I looked under the hood:

• This gorgeous plaid wool coat from Sam Edelman comes in the prettiest colors… but it's 78% polyester, 2% nylon, and just 20% wool with a primarily polyester lining and on sale it's $150. This thing is going to be hot on a warmer day, cold on a chilly one, and get giant pill balls under the arm by noon of your first day wearing it.
• Ditto with this chic leopard print faux fur coat from BCBG. Looove the color, the classic style, but it's 76% polyester, 18% wool, 4% acrylic, 2% nylon faux fur for $150 on sale and with that material, you can likely find just as good quality from one of the big online sellers I refuse to promote.
• And this badass leopard print jacket from Bernardo? A brand I have trusted for years for great outerwear but from brushed 51% acrylic, 29% polyester, 20% wool this is going to look like crap by the end of the season.
• If you deal with hairloss, you may be interested in a red light hat, which has been really popular with influencers. The HigherDose red light hat is in the Nordstrom Sale for just $359.20; it is $449 on the HigherDose site and Sephora. That being said, if you go past the raves on social media and filtered reviews on the brand site you'll find plenty of feedback about these hats and this brand that may make you want to consider a different brand or a different method (I personally am taking oral minoxidil and seeing great results).
• As for other skincare tech… it works as well as how often you use it. If you know you're not going to regularly use that depuffing wand or LED face mask… don't buy it.
• My friend, no one needs Dolce & Gabbana under eye patches, no matter the sale price. If you want a cute gift like this, get the reusable ones from Dieux; I have them and they're great (and code ALISON10 gets you 10% off).
• And if you haven't gotten a Dyson Airwrap yet, do you really need one? I know there's a lot of peer pressure, but I personally don't have one, my kid doesn't have one, and the world is still rotating.

Proof of Lower Quality Products Made for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Coach is back as a very popular handbag brand. Carried by stylish celebs and making quite a statement in The Devil Wears Prada 2 film, it can seem exciting to see Nordstrom has an exclusive style of a Coach Pebbled Crossbody Bag in the sale for the price of $229 (will be $395 after the sale).

With a push lock closure and fabric lining, this pebbled leather Coach bag is 9″W x 5 ¼”H x 2″D with a 21 ½” strap drop. It has an exterior slip pocket, and an interior zip pocket. Both straps are fully leather with matching gold hardware hooks to remove; the longest strap is adjustable. I went to the Coach site to see what other bags are around this size so I could compare price and see if this is actually a good deal.

The Coach Jet Shoulder Bag is Length: 9.75″W x 4.5″H x 2″ D with a 21 ½” strap drop. It is made from suede or refined calf leather with an exterior slip pocket, interior zip pocket, and the same push lock closure. Like the Nordstrom bag, both straps are fully leather with matching gold hardware hooks to remove; the longest strap is adjustable. The Jet Shoulder Bag is $295 with some discontinued colors on sale for $177.

When looking at Coach bags around the $395 regular price that are a similar style, it's the Tabby 20, with the quilted version at $395 and the regular leather option $375. The $395 quilted leather Tabby 20 is a smaller bag (7.75″W x 4.24″H x 2.5″D), but made from quilted plush, ultra-soft nappa leather with a long leather chain strap, an exterior slip pocket, two interior compartments and an interior snap pocket.

Also, the Tabby 20 is an iconic and quickly recognized Coach style that is far more likely to have some resale value (or at least be appreciated by next of kin when you no longer want it). Yes, the bag in the sale is cheaper… but if you want a bag of that pricepoint, IMO look for quality and design without the branding for more bang (and style) for your buck. A few stylish leather bags around the same size and same price:

• The Sloane from Quince ($120)
• The Small Leather Shoulder Bag from Tory Burch ($187)
• The Plinth Crossbody from COS ($189)
• The Hudson Bag from Freja ($198)
• The Halo Crossbody from Kate Spade ($198)
• The Aoyama 2 from Lo & Sons ($288)
• The Clementine Bag from The Horse ($299.95)

Proof of Discontinued/Sale Items Elsewhere (AKA not that awesome of a deal)

I am a fan of the bag brand The Sak, and when I saw The Huntley Hobo Bag part of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, I had to investigate. It is $106.99 in the sale, and will be $159 after the sale. The colors sand, moss, and mushroom suede and black grain leather are included.

The Huntley hobo is a style The Sak released in 2018, is primarily in suede, but occasionally in leather. The Moss Suede was part of The Sak's Fall/Winter 2025 collection. The other three options have been in the core collection for a couple of years, meaning they are offered season after season. The moss is on sale for $159 at The Sak; the other colors on sale for $189 with the notification, “Hurry, low inventory.”

I can't guarantee this, but I wouldn't be surprised if The Sak sunsets the Huntley hobo as it has been leaning hard into the Los Feliz hobo, which is getting more textures, innovative textiles, and influencer gifting (and isn't on sale).

If you have liked the Huntley hobo for a while, Nordstrom will have the lowest price anywhere once the Anniversary Sale begins. It's a chic and classic bag from a quality brand and a great price for a lined suede bag with pockets. But don't think you're getting some hot deal as there's a good chance by November this bag will be this price or lower absolutely everywhere.

Y'all know I love SPANX, and I saw Nordstrom had some of the AirEssential Wide Leg Pants in the sale for $78.99, going back to the $118 price (the price these pants are on the SPANX website). However, the only colors in the sale are a shade of brown, shade of moss green, and a rust color. Those three colors aren't even on the SPANX site. And on top of that, similar colors on the SPANX site are on final sale for $59 with an extra 30% off, which is way cheaper than the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!

Not All Sale Items Are Cheaper Alternatives

So yes, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is worth it… if you're willing to do a little research. Don't be swayed by influencers grinning in mirror selfies talking about buttery soft fabrics and amazing prices. Look at fabric content, read reviews, and hit that search engine to look to see if the same item is available for more, or if this is just a cheaper “factory” version to lure you into making a mediocre buy.

Last year, I called out Lauren Ralph Lauren for offering “factory” quality items for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. Similar silhouettes were at Macy's made from higher counts of wool and cashmere, having more details like buttoned pockets, belt loops, and interior pockets. This year, Lauren Ralph Lauren is actually a good deal in the NSale:

• The Ainsworth Double Breasted Trench Jacket from Lauren Ralph Lauren is $139.99 during the sale; it returns to $230 at the end of the sale. The same exact jacket is on the Ralph Lauren site for $230.
• The Reversible Balmacaan Raincoat from Lauren Ralph Lauren is $169.99 during the sale; it returns to $260 after the sale. At first I thought I found an “a-ha!” factory version when I found this balmacaan raincoat on the Ralph Lauren site for $530… and then I realized I was on the RL global site. This coat is not available for sale in the U.S. and from what I can tell, it's the same exact coat.

The other Lauren Ralph Lauren coats were not on the RL site; this could be because they are global designs or because Ralph Lauren hasn't updated their site with fall selections. I wasn't able to find winter coats from this brand on Belk, Dillard's, or Macy's either so it's hard to determine if the others are highest quality, or true sales like the two above. But there were other good deals on great brands:

• Frank & Eileen's Mini Belfast Crop Knit Peacoat is $219.99 during the Nordstrom sale; it is currently $328 on the Frank & Eileen site.
• These Birkenstock Big Buckle Arizona sandals are $109.99 during the sale; the same exact colors are currently $174.95 on the Birkenstock site.
• Vuori is in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and while it's “add to cart to see price,” I did that and found the $128 Villa pants are $95.99 during the sale, the $74 Villa shorts are on sale for $54.99, and the $110 Halo Hoodie is in the sale for $81.99.
• Nordstrom brand cedar shoe trees are $19.99. These are higher quality than you can get from the fast fashion sites, and the price is great. Similar cedar wood trees are $25-$60 at other reputable sites and these will keep your shoes in good shape, dry, and smelling fresh.
• I know folks loooove Donna Karan Cashmere Mist deodorant. I think it smells like a funeral, but we all have different body composition. One is usually $32 at places like Ulta and Sephora; during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale you can get a three-pack for $72. Only do this if you already use and love this product.
• I have an Aurate New York white sapphire tennis bracelet and have found the quality stellar, the clasp secure, the stones super sparkly. It's also a great company; ethical and sustainable. In the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale there are several Aurate tennis bracelets in a range of metals and stones; they are full price on the Aurate website. I know Aurate is trying to increase its brand recognition through influencer gifting; they may have also decided to be part of this sale to get their name out there.
• This is a good sale to stock up on bras and underwear. Since you can do free returns, you can try new-to-you brands and styles. Take this link and filter by your size, and if applicable, your favorite brand/s. Just know a lot of the sales are on colors that are being discontinued, so you may find just as good a price on HerRoom, Bare Necessities, or Bravissimo. Drop the brand and style name into your search engine and do a quick scroll to make sure it truly is the best price.

I hope this novel helps you better break down the sale, make better decisions on what to buy and what to skip, and see the sale in a different and smarter light. Once you're ready to make your wishlist, see my guide on how to shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale like a pro.