How to Prep for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

The best time of the year is coming up — the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! It’s one of my favorite sales ever, not of just the year, but of all time. I’m getting giddy just thinking about it. If you are a Nordstrom Card Holder, early access is THIS THURSDAY! If not, you’ve got to wait until next Thursday but have no fear — you will be well prepped to shop. After shopping this sale the last 4 years, I’ve got you covered with all the tips you possibly need.

So what is the Anniversary Sale exactly? Besides the best reason for July to exist, it is when Nordstrom puts a lot of their fall merchandise on sale — brand new, never before seen items for fall! It starts July 13th, if you are a Nordstrom card holder, and it goes public July 21st through August 6th. All prices will go up August 7th. See? You are going to need a game plan. Grab a coffee — possibly a cookie, if it were me — and get excited!

make a wish list

Think now and later. Granted it’s hard to make a wish list when you aren’t quite sure what is going to be on sale, but you can have a general idea what you are looking for. Personally I like to look for fall shoes, denim, atheleisure, and my favorite designers on sale. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again and again — this is the time to get designer clothing at sometimes up to 40% off. I like to think that I’m beating fall fashion at it’s own game.

When you are making your wish list, follow it first and then you can go off-roading a bit. If you are in the market for new boots this fall, then start there first. You need denim? Get to it first and get your size because, I promise you, if you don’t someone else will. You get the idea. I always like a game plan before I go into a big sale like this or I get overwhelmed and either miss the things I really want or buy things I don’t need.

set your budget

So here is the deal with the Nordstrom sale — I say it’s always better to buy it and try it than to wait it out. So how do you do this with a set budget? You’ve got to be a little bit elastic at first, then strict. What I mean is to figure out what will work for you, you’ve got to try things on and see them in person.  Follow your wish list and go for your favorites first (or if you can see something is selling fast, grab it up!) I guarantee you that you will have pieces that won’t fit the way you prefer or just wasn’t what you were looking for and those will get returned. Or if you like everything you ordered but perhaps went a bit overboard (sheepishly raises hand every single year), you can choose your very top favorites and then make returns of the items to hit your budget. This is why I like having the Nordstrom Credit Card* because it gives me room to shop, make my decisions and return (promptly!) so that I can stay on budget but get everything I need/want.

sign up for rewards

Sign up for Nordstrom rewards … or even better the Nordstrom Credit Card for access a whole week earlier! This is the best time to procure notes and get early access. During the sale is when I spend the most at Nordstrom and I accrue some points, let me tell you. I’ve bought many a designer bags on “discount” because of my Nordstrom rewards. Of course this year I’ve got a high chair I’m saving my notes for. Funny how things change in a year. 😉 (Pssst want a little tip? If you have rewards that are about to expire, you can always go in a buy a Nordstrom gift card with them. Their gift cards don’t expire!)

get it quick!

There is no disappointment like waiting too long on a piece and letting your size get away. Sizes and styles go fast in the first two weeks of the sale, so don’t be afraid to try things out and take a chance on a style. If you see it and like it, buy it. Returns are inevitable, so take a chance! Speaking of taking a chance, start with your favorite brands  but give other and new brands a chance. Some of my favorite pieces and newest discoveries came from the N Sale! But I had to get to them fast. 😉

take advantage of free online returns

 When ordering online, Nordstrom truly is the best at free returns — by mail or in store, if you have one close! It’s a relief when trying to figure out fit or sizing, so definitely keep that in mind when ordering your styles. It’s a nice little safety net. My only rule?? Be courteous! If it doesn’t work, you will know it pretty immediately so return it quickly  and let someone else can snatch it up!

follow your favorite bloggers

As bloggers, we are trained for this sale. Not literally but after so many years of shopping the sale, we’ve picked up some great tips (ahem) and we know what to look for. I find things that I didn’t see from following my favorite bloggers through their blogs or Instagram and I’m always so glad I did. Think of it this way — we are doing the hunt for you. 😉

use LiketoKnow.It on Instagram

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, then you know that I use a service called LiketoKnow.It to link items that I’m wearing or showcasing. The way the service works is you sign up here, and if you simple ‘like’ or heart my photo, you get an email within a few minutes (if you choose) with all the items I’m wearing. No mystery searching any more. Or you can download their app and simply screenshot my photo to find the products instantly. It’s actually pretty incredible and I find myself doing this so often with my favorite bloggers I follow. This is hands down the quickest way to find pieces from the sale because we are basically shopping in real time during the sale. You can also follow the #Nordstrom tag and find more inspiration there!

Check back regularly for newly added styles

This is unconfirmed and could be totally my imagination but I always feel like when the sale goes public, there are new styles that are added. It could, of course, be styles that sold out and got replenished with stock and I just missed them before. Or maybe I just missed them before in general — there is a lot to look out for! But I’m always on the prowl and of course I’ll be sharing my favorite pieces with you, but check back in every few days for sizes / styles and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Be sure to check back Thursday for my favorite picks from the Early Access sale! See you then!

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