Okay, I am so excited right now. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is right around the corner, and if you know me, you know this is one of my absolute favorite shopping moments of the year. I’ve been working through my Nordstrom anniversary sale tips for you because this sale is different from every other Nordstrom sale you’ll see – it’s all brand new fall arrivals, not off-season leftovers. That’s what makes it so good.
I’ve been shopping this sale since college, so we’re talking years of trial and error here, and I’ve picked up a lot along the way about how to actually get the most out of it without losing your mind in the process. So let’s get into it – here’s everything I do to shop smart, get the good stuff before it sells out, and not feel overwhelmed by the chaos.
WHEN YOU CAN SHOP THE SALE
First things first – you need to know the timeline, because access opens in waves this year. The catalog drops on July 6 at noon Eastern, and that’s when you’ll get to see literally everything that’s going to be on sale.
Here’s how early access breaks down:
- Icon Early Access: July 14–17 (earliest access, for top Nordstrom cardholders)
- Ambassador Early Access: July 15–17
- Influencer Early Access: July 16–17
- Public Access: July 18–19
If you’ve shopped this sale before, you already know – the earlier your access, the better your shot at getting things before they sell out. If you don’t have a Nordstrom card and don’t want one, sign up for a free rewards number instead. It still gets you in the loop and the rewards add up fast throughout the year.
BUILD YOUR WISH LIST FIRST
The single most effective thing I do is go through the categories ahead of time and add everything I love to my wish list. A free Nordstrom account gets you this feature, and it makes shopping the sale so much easier once access opens.
I always check three categories first: beauty, jeans, and shoes. Beauty goes fast and always has some incredible deals. Jeans are my personal favorite to dig through – so many designer and well-known denim brands go on sale, and yes, I will absolutely be trying on all the best ones for you because I am, admittedly, a bit of a jean snob. Shoes – boots, flats, loafers, all the new fall styles – also move quickly, so don’t sleep on that section either.
SHOP ONLINE, NOT JUST IN STORE
In years past, my approach has been simple: build the wish list, order the things I really want right away, then go try things on in store afterward. Nordstrom’s return process is so seamless – honestly easier than Amazon – so there’s very little risk in ordering ahead.
The big reason I shop online first is access. In store, you’re only going to find a portion of what’s actually on sale. Online, you get the full catalog. If you want the best shot at the best stuff, that’s where to start.
TURN ON RESTOCK NOTIFICATIONS
This is one of my favorite insider tips. The sale window is long, which means even after top sellers sell out, people return things and they pop back up in limited sizes. If you’ve added an item to your wish list and turned on notifications in the app, you’ll get pinged the second it restocks.
I’ll also be sharing restocks as I see them, but setting this up yourself gives you a much better shot at snagging the things you really wanted but missed the first time around.
DON’T FORGET THE KIDS SECTION
Now that I have tweens, this has become one of my favorite parts of the sale. The kids’ section gets new, current-season pieces – not last season’s leftovers – from brands like Nike and Adidas at a discount. We use the sale to get a jump on school shopping so we’re not scrambling later, and honestly, spending a little more on quality pieces pays off because they get worn constantly. The shoes my son got last year, he still wears almost every day.
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This is genuinely one of my favorite times of year to shop, and I can’t wait to share everything with you once the catalog drops. Follow along on Instagram and sign up for my email list so you don’t miss a thing.
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