HOW TO SHOP THE NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE 2018

photographed by craig mcdean for vogue, 2005

WHAT IS THE NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE

The Nordstrom Anniversary sale {or NSALE as it’s often referred too} happens once a year during the summer months when Nordstrom places hundreds of *new* fall items on major sale. When you think of a regular sale, you probably think of discounted items from the previous season, available in only a smattering of colors and sizes. That can be great, but what makes the NSALE different is that it is brand new merchandise, available in all sizes, and all colors. Yeah. I know. I’ll let that sink in for a minute.

As you can imagine, people go gangbusters for this sale, so to prepare, Nordstrom buys deep into each item so as many people as possible are able to purchase the items they want. With that being said, items still sell out, and quickly, but Nordstrom does their best to restock several times before the sale ends, so just make sure you keep checking back.

But wait, we might be getting ahead of ourselves. You don’t even know when the sale starts! So let’s break it down below!

WHEN DOES IT START

Early access starts July 12th and this is important because it means you will get to shop the sale before a large majority of other shoppers. How? You must be a Nordstrom credit card holder. But before you throw your hands up, and protest signing up for another credit card, let me reassure you that this one is worth it. The best sale items sell out extremely quickly, and if you aren’t a credit card holder, you won’t have access to those sale items before they’re gone. The card has no annual fees, and once approved, you automatically get a $40 bonus note to spend toward any purchase that day. Plus, you earn 2 points per dollar spent in stores and online – points add up and transform into gift cards that you can then use to make purchases. {winning!} To recap, the important dates to remember for the sale are below:

EARLY ACCESS: July 12th
PUBLIC ACCESS: July 20th
SALE ENDS: August 5th

WHAT TO BUY

I’ll touch on this subject in more detail in a week or so, but because the items on sale are all brand new fall items, it’s important to think ahead and get organized. Do a scan of your closet – is there anything you wish you owned? Anything your wardrobe is missing? A new pair of distressed denim? A leather jacket? Some boots or booties? What about your beauty cabinet? Also, now is a good time to think ahead to upcoming birthdays and holidays – christmas especially! I always stock up on gifts during this sale. Make up palettes, lingerie sets {bridal showers//bachelorette parties!}, bath sets, and other small accessories are all great for this kind of thing. It might also be helpful to prioritize your list. The first items to go are always going to be the shoes – boots, booties, sneakers and flats will all go quickly, as well as jackets, sweaters, jeans and big ticket items like purses, and beauty.

HOW TO SHOP

Online or in stores! If you’re like me, and mostly an online shopper, you can purchase your favorite sale items from the comfort of your own home. With the NSALE being such a hectic event, I like to steer clear of the mall and the hoards of people I know are surely fighting over the items in person. Plus, if you keep in mind that Nordstrom has free shipping and free returns, you can order multiple sizes & colors of every item without guilt. Nothing is as easy as returning items to Nordstrom – they have the best customer service.

WHERE TO START

Right here! I’ll be previewing the sale a day early and will be sharing all of my favorite picks with you guys! So check back in on the 12th as soon as the sale starts to see what my favorite items are from each category! And as always, follow along on Instagram to see behind the scene peaks & previews of the items as I see them!

If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments! Can’t wait for this sale to start, and I can’t wait for you guys to score the best fall items at a fraction of the cost!

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