Okay, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is here and based on everyone’s answers on Instagram, you only wanted to see things I would actually buy.
I’m going to be really honest here: I look forward too this sale every summer in hopes that, “this year it’ll be better.” Not to be Negative Nancy, but after scrolling through 16 of 24 pages of clothing, I kind of gave up.
Having said that, I rounded up a handful of items that I think are worth it. Read more below, and WHY I picked each item. My reasoning varies for each: some pieces I already own in other colors, some brands I just really love, and other items are smart purchases that fit in with fall trends.
Hopefully this post help you make smarter purchases.
Like I said, I didn’t want to just round up every single thing I saw at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I only picked things here that caught my eye INSTANTLY. If I had to do a double take on something, it didn’t end up here.
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is currently only open to those right now for Early Access if you have a Nordstrom credit or debit card. Otherwise, the sale opens to the public on July 19.
Basics
A lot of bloggers will write up these posts and share tons of basic pieces. I know you, as my reader, probably have the basics covered. So I’m not really going to bore you with a ton of that. I don’t have a ton of basics here, but if you’re going shop to stock up, here you go:
- Layering turtlenecks – I personally own two of these Halogen turtlenecks and I love them. I have one in black and one in white. They are clingy enough to layer under another item, but since they’re lightweight, you won’t feel suffocated in them.
- A “goes with anything sweater” – I like this open gray sweater because you can throw it on with anything. Wear it around the house lounging to be extra snuggly, or wear it out when you need a layer come fall.
- Spanx Faux Leather leggings – I own these and I love them. I bought them full price years ago and they still hold up. These are my leggings when I want to be comfortable, but don’t want it to be totally obvious that I’m wearing leggings. They are high-rise and suck you in and haven’t lost any shape or stretch. While you can get them any time (AKA not a sale exclusive), the sale price won’t last forever.
- A classic plaid shirt – I love Rails plaid shirts. The material on these is super soft and drapey. And plaid is a closet staple for me in the fall and winter. But truthfully, these are pretty expensive plaid shirts. Get one now while it’s marked down.
Leopard Print
Leopard print will continue to be a strong trend into fall. These pieces below are some of my favorite from the sale.
I only bought a few things from this sale, and this ivory leopard print cardigan was one of the things I got. I like that the base color is lighter than your typical leopard print, and it’ll look cute worn open or closed with a belt.
I also really love this pleated midi skirt. As per my last post, I’m leopard print obsessed, and you can match this skirt with a ton of colors. It’s also a great piece you can wear now with some flat sandals and a tank. Bonus points for being a great office piece, too.
Back in the fall I posted a leopard print slip dress that I wore over a turtleneck (the ones I recommend above, actually) and the dress sold out SO quickly. I spotted this leopard print dress that’s almost like the one I wore back in November. Wear it now as is, and when it get cooler add a turtleneck under the dress like I did.
If you’re looking for something with a little more coverage, this dress with the high neck and midi hemline is darling.
Remember this outfit with the leopard print jeans? Here’s a pair of leopard print jeans similar to mine so you can recreate the look. 🙃
I also love this printed denim jacket and this leopard print blazer. I just got a similar jacket and I already have a leopard print blazer (see this post, this post, or this post for styling ideas!), otherwise I definitely would have purchased these!
Jumpsuits
Not too much to say about jumpsuits, but I love them for all occasions because they require zero brain effort and you can dress them up or down. I’m linking a couple of black options below (see style inspo here), but I also love this olive jumpsuit because not black, yet still goes with everything.
Teddy Coats
It’s so hot that I can’t even fathom the idea of wearing a teddy coat right now, but these are always a favorite of mine come fall.
I have the shorter version of this BB Dakota ivory coat (see here or here) and I love it. It was my go-to layer in the winter when I needed some warmth, and instantly made any outfit look infinitely cooler. I highly recommend this!
Here’s another fuzzy jacket by BB Dakota. I have the same exact one in light brown and it’s uber comfy. They have a darker brown but I love that they made it in link pink, too!
Outerwear
Again, I know it’s way to hot to even be thinking about a top layer, but if you live somewhere that gets decent seasons then it’s probably a good idea to buy a jacket or two now while they’re on sale.
A leather jacket is a closet must-have. Invest in a good leather jacket, and you won’t need to buy another one for years. I’m serious. I have a leather jacket that’s literally 10 years old. This black moto-style one is a classic (also love this one with a slightly different look), but if you already have black, then I really love this blush leather jacket.
Plaid seems to be something I’m spotting here and there for fall; I love this navy blazer to wear with jeans, or to the office with black pants.
Jeans
Having worked in the denim industry for years, I am fully stocked on every silhouette of jean imaginable. So I personally am not buying any jeans this sale. However, I do have some favorite brands.
Rag & Bone make my all time favorite dark blue skinny jeans. In fact, I got mine on during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale a couple of years ago. This season they made an ankle version, perfect for us shorter gals and no hemming required! I found that mine ran big and I had to size down, so you might want to order a couple of options.
I used to work at 7 For All Mankind in the corporate world, but also have worked with them as a blogger. They make some great classics. I love this wider leg style if you’re looking for a non-skinny option. These usually run true to size.
Workout Gear
I’ve been buying every single tie dye piece this summer, so I love love love these tie dye workout leggings by Zella. I have a pair of simple black ones that I wear around the house or to Pilates. I wouldn’t recommend these leggings for lots of running or sweating, but they work for low impact classes.
Alo Yoga is a brand I’ve recently been loving, particularly their High-Rise Airlift Leggings. Swoop these up in both colors ASAP! The waistband is the perfect height, and you feel sucked in without being uncomfortable. I have worn my leggings to everything from Pilates to boxing, and they don’t stretch out. (Plus a HUGE bonus that you do not get a camel toe in these leggings!) I am usually a small but take an XS in these.
To complete you workout look, pair your new leggings with this Alo Yoga crop top. It looks SO cute with the leggings, and it comes low enough where you won’t feel overexposed. I have this top in black and white. Even my mom has one and she loves it! Take your normal size.
Skirts
I didn’t find any tops that I really loved, but these two skirts are super cute as al alternative to pants.
Leather, like I mentioned above, is always a smart investment because it’s material that will last for years and year. Whenever I shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, I try not to ever impulse purchase. I would rather buy one more expensive item than a ton of flimsy cheap pieces “because they were on sale.”
This leather skirt, although still pricey even on sale, is a smart buy. The midi, A-line silhouette is a classic. Wear it to work with some heeled booties, or on the weekend with a t-shirt and some sneakers.
This glittery skirt is kind of random, but trust me when I say that metallics are in for fall. You won’t have to wait until the holidays this year to wear something sparkly, so get ahead of trend now and you won’t have FOMO when fall strikes.
Shoes
I did not love the shoes at this sale this year. There, I said it.
Dad sneakers are still a thing, so I purchased these because I’ve been looking for an all-white pair. (See how I styled my current sneakers here with a suit set – one of my favorite looks ever!)
I used to own a pair of Halogen booties exactly like these. The silhouette is so flattering. Since the front dips low, you get the illusion of super long legs. I remember these shoes so well because I walked all over NYC in them for my first wedding anniversary with Matt and they were so incredibly comfortable. BRB while I add these to my cart.
These low heels are sensible enough to wear to work, a party, or an event. They do come in a couple of other colors including black, but why not go for a fun pop of red here?
Beauty
A handful of my favorite brands have some great values for this sale!
Let’s start with hair first. Oribe is one of my all-time favorite hair care brands, and their texturizing spray is amazing. This full-sized set features the texture spray, plus dry shampoo, for the cost of one. If you love the texture spray you may as well buy this and get a full-sized freebie. Otherwise, this set is a great way to try 2 Oribe products for the price of one!
Diptyque candles are definitely luxuries for me, but I love having them in the house. They smell amazing, but are also so cute just to display. I always rotate one into our guest bathroom, and I love that you can get a variety in this set without committing to a single, larger candle. LIFE HACK: these little candles also come in handy as gifts to have on hand when you need something quick.
Charlotte Tilburys’ cult lip color Pillow Talk is a great pinkish-nude that looks great on all skin types. I already own the color, but this set features the lipstick, liner, and a corresponding gloss.
Last but not least in this exhaustive post is this skin care set from Lancer. I love Dr. Lancer and his skin care line, and I swear by his daily exfoliant, The Polish. This product single-handedly changed the texture of my skin. This best sellers kit features the full size of The Polish, along with other star products from his line.
Are you shopping the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale this year? Would love to hear your thoughts or what you bought!
