Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2018: What’s Worth Buying?

This article may contain affiliate links; if you click on a shopping link and make a purchase I may receive a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Anniversary Sale

If you follow more than one blog you're likely aware that the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is here. Nordstrom cardholders get to shop early starting today, the rest of the public can shop starting July 20th. This is a much-hyped sale; unlike many sales that just have old merchandise they're trying to get rid of to make room for the next season, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is new stuff, fashion that is perfect for fall. Some are stellar deals, some are items made just for the sale that vary in quality, and some are previous season items at a drastic discount. I look forward to the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale because it's a great time to stock up on staples but also score some fall fashion at a great price.

It's easy to get lured in by the prices and trends. You need to be careful with sales like this and shop with a strategy. Last year I wrote a piece on how to shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale; it's the tactics I use to shop Nordstrom at any time, as well as what I do to search for items for blog posts. I recommend you read it before visiting the sale so you can use your time wisely, stay on budget, and not buy anything you don't need. Speaking of  budget, nothing recommended is over $200.

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Before even clicking a single link to Nordstrom, make a list of what you need, and what you think will update your existing wardrobe for fall and winter.  Having a guide before you get swayed by pretty little things on sale will keep you on track.  Whether it's $5 or $500, it's not a good deal if it's not what you need. Below I share the categories I find the best to shop during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, and the items I find to be the best deals, the best style for fall, or items I already own and know are awesome.

Please note that items in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale sell out fast.  Many complain that by the time the sale opens to the public lots of the good stuff is gone. I have a Nordstrom card that I pay off as soon as I use it for special perks like early access to sales.  You can apply for a Nordstrom card at this link and shop immediately.

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Early Access 2018

Coats and Jackets

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale always has a great selection of outerwear.  Some are made just for the sale; this can be cool for a limited edition item you can't find anywhere but Nordstrom.  However, some of you have found the quality on the occasional sale item is subpar quality.  I tried to stick to brands I know and have found reliable.

Lingerie

Bras, undies, and more are a great purchase for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.  This is when I stock up on Hanky Panky (I love their Retro Thongs and Retro Vikinis), get a new sports bra, and find some good deals on bra brands like Wacoal and Fantasie.

nordstrom anniversary sale 2018 catalog

Activewear

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is an excellent time to stock up on leggings, workout tops, sports bras, and more. It's when I always update my activewear wardrobe.

Beauty and Gift Sets

Who says gift sets need to be gifted to others?  Gift sets can get you some of the best deals on your favorite brands and products and Nordstrom often times has phenomenal prices and items in their Anniversary Sale.  This is also a great time to get beauty gadgets and products that are usually too much of a splurge.

Accessories

Get a statement earring, the ring of the season, a new hat, or a cool scarf at a great price during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. This is a great way to update your wardrobe staples for less.

Suiting and Office Fashion

Any time you can find quality suiting at a great price is a good time.  And the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is great for that.  Blazers, skirts, trousers, as well as work-friendly dresses, blouses, and sweaters abound during this sale. My picks:

Footwear

Footwear is the department where I've found the most inconsistency with quality in regard to made-for-sale items.  However, I still find great deals and quality with brands like Vince Camuto, Sam Edelman, ECCO, and more.  My picks below.

Jeans

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is a fantastic time to get your favorite jeans for less or be able to afford a higher-end brand.

Loungewear and Weekend Style

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is great for casual pieces like leggings, lounge pants, cardigans, and pajamas. My picks for the best from this sale:

This is clearly not all the good things part of the sale.  But I went through 45 pages of content to find what I think are the best buys, the most classic pieces, the most wearable items from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale that are under $200. But take a peek, there's much more and plenty in other categories like home, kids, men, and more!

A woman with curly hair wearing a plaid blazer holds a green fur coat over her shoulder on a city street.

Did you like what you just read?

Consider tapping here to buy me a coffee in thanks. The best gift you can give a content creator is the gift of sharing. Consider sharing this article on Facebook or Pinterest. Thank you so much for your support!

Similar Posts

17 Comments

  1. Hi Allie! On previous sales posts, I remember having the option to quickly swipe through images of your recommendations. I don’t see that this time around, can you bring that back? I find that much easier to navigate. Thanks!

    1. When I made this post, that feature wasn’t working. I’m working on a follow-up post that will go live tomorrow 8am with items I missed, and I’ll add to them items that I couldn’t widget in this post!

  2. I’m constantly adding to my wishlist since I’m not a card holder. A few things have already sold out (y’all are not kidding about that). Crossing my fingers that things are still available when it opens to the public. I’m mostly interested in jeans but I’m still not sure I’m ready to pull the trigger on premium denim. It just seems like so much money and my weight is not whereI want it to be. Anyway, thank you for your suggestions and for explaining how the affiliate link works. I want to be sure you get compensated for what I buy so I’m doing my best to always come back to WO and then add to my list! Happy Weekend!

    1. Oh no! I just realized that suit was not part of the sale. Oh well, it’s still a beautiful suit 🙂

  3. Thanks, as always, for your insights. I’ve been putting things in my cart all week, but remembered to click through your links before I purchased everything I’ve been eyeing (Blondo ankle booties!) *and* a few of your recommendations! 😉 Excited to try the AG jeans (always out of my price range) and Zella leggings. The site kept crashing, but finally went through this afternoon.

    1. Previously I bought XL and that fit comfortably even when I was a 16. If I was buying a new one now I’d likely get L (think the petite would be too snug with heavy sweaters).

  4. Just wish their website hadn’t crashed again! I have my shopping cart loaded and the order won’t go through. I’ll keep trying though. This happened to me last year and I only missed one thing that had sold out.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *