The 2018 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale – What You Need To Know

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The 2018 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Catalog has just been released and the sale is just a few weeks away!  This is my  favorite sale of the year and I look forward to blogging and shopping it every year. Almost all of my closet favourite items have been purchased at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale which is why I always feel good about shopping this sale, plus I get to pre-shop for Christmas gifts and birthday presents for the upcoming year. I stock up on my favourite bras, my favourite underwear, the jeans you guys always ask me about, my best Rag & Bone booties, my leather jacket. This is the time to stock up on either your basics or your investment classic items. The catalog preview we are seeing now is just a tiny sampling of what’s on sale, there will be so much more!

Here are all my previous Nordstrom Anniversary Sale posts.

** If you are using a Nordstrom Credit Card for early access, make sure to sign up for 0% APR 

What is the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale?

This is a yearly reverse sale event at Nordstrom where the discounts are not on out of season or end of season items but new pre-season items that will go up in price once the sale is over. These are all items not yet in store that we will only get to see once the sale starts. This is my #1 sale strategy for buying high-end denim at reasonable prices. Let’s be real though, this is also the time I stock up on seasonless items like my favorite bras, makeup sets and frivolous just because purchases like my favourite candles.

When Does The Sale Start?

Early access to the sale starts July 12 – July 19, 2018 (Canada date July 17). You need a Nordstrom rewards card to access the early sale, but it is absolutely worth it since things sell out fast and don’t always get restocked. View the catalog here!

Public access to the sale starts July 20 – August 5th, 2018 and you do not need a Nordstrom Rewards card to shop it at this point. After August 5th, the prices go up.

 

How I Shop The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

1. With the early access and my Nordstrom Rewards Card all set up, I shop early at the launch of the sale and purchase my ‘must have’ prioritized items. I spend a lot of time planning what I’m going to prioritize for try-ons as well leading up to the sale.
2. I prefer shopping online to guarantee I’m getting my preferred color choice and size and don’t have to deal with babysitting, or shopping in a chaotic frantic store. Shopping in store is for later, once the pressure of getting my top picks is off the table.
3. After I’ve made my first purchases online, I get to the store and try on all the things I can within the categories I like.
4. I love following the sale ‘event’ on social media. If you follow me on the LiketoKnowIt.  app or on Instagram, you will get to see all the items I try on in store. It’s much quicker for me to post try-ons on Instagram than it is for me to formulate a post so I will often post a few gems there first (or quick Instagram stories), and then as soon as I’m home I create a blog post with the full try-on.
5. I’m going to have a dedicated tab on my blog for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale posts, and my sale picks so you can easily access it if you are looking for a review of something, or my recommendations.

 

The Sweat Edit Hardcore Shopping Rules For Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

*Buy Sell-Out Items First*

In my experience, the sell out items are denim, high-end beauty products and beauty tools, high-end shoes or handbags in neutral colors (Stuart Weitzman, Rag & Bone, Rebecca Minkoff, Kate Spade, Le Pliage) Nike and Adidas sneakers. Last year the Kate Spade sneakers sold out lightning fast, and then everyone stalked the site for restocks. There are quite a few really pretty Marc Jacobs Bags this year and I’m certain those will be sell-out fast items as will this pink MCM Ottomar backpack. The Barbour Jacket I got a few years ago sold out two years in a row. Forget about intimate apparel, basic tee’s, store brand (Halogen, BP, Carson, zella), men’s and kids in the first round. You can catch those a bit later in the sale.

*Bookmark Sold Out Items*

If the color you are after sells out, keep checking back because returns happen often and restocks are constantly happening for most items. Use my site as a bookmark for items. Once they are off the site if they are sold out in all sizes and colors, they are still accessible through my blog posts and you are able to click my images to get the exact landing page – then bookmark that page and check it often! This is my #1 pro tip! Use the images on my blog for sold out items.

*If You Are In Doubt, Just Buy It*

Within reason, and if you are within your budget and can’t make up your mind on an item, or between two colors, just purchase and decide later. So many times I’ve been indecisive only to later regret not getting a certain color before it sold out.

*Shop Online For Best Selection*

You should buy your top choices online to get the best selection. Nordstrom offers curbside pickup and in-store pick up if you wish to avoid the crowds but get your items quickly. If I lived in the US and within driving distance of a store, this would be my strategy. Order online, curbside pickup.

*Make A List*

I’m currently making my list of things I want to check out and that I may or may not buy. I like to make notes and write prices out. This keeps me on target and in a budget (usually). This is a very first draft so it will change a few times almost guaranteed.

Veronica Beard Blazer  – this is on the pricey end. I’ve never purchased one but I’ve always wanted one. I try them on each year and then they sell out. This year if there is a great neutral color in a classic style, I will bite. This will be my bigger purchase.

or

Instead of the VB Blazer, I may consider this Rag & Bone Sven reversible wool coat (listed in the catalog), or a J Crew wool coat (in the catalog).

Stuart Weitzman Boots but it really depends on what the style is. Normally it’s OTK boots that are for tiny calves so they don’t work for me. If a classic style, low heel, with stretch panels for larger calves, I will consider them. Looks like this years Stuart Weitzmann selection is the  Lafayette Slouch Boot  and this pair the Waverly Bootie.

Jeans & Denim. I always buy jeans. AG jeans, Frame Denim and Rag & Bone (these ones for $129)are on my list.

Diptyque Candle and Fragrance Set. I love Diptique Candles. This is a truly indulgent purchase but they make me really happy and they sell out within the first day usually.

Frederic Malle perfume set. I have a few samples and I really love the perfumes from this line. I just can’t bring myself to buy any at full price. So happy it’s offered at the sale this year.

Charlotte Tilbury Makeup Sets I don’t really buy eyeshadow kits or things like that but last year I got a really great limited edition lipstick set from CT at the sale that had two full sized lipsticks and a lipliner. Those three items ended up becoming my holy grail lipstick colors but they were limited to the sale. If the same color comes up, I’m getting it. Found the colors and the sets – Rose Kiss/Blushing Dream Gift of Glowing Skin Set 0r Glowing Pretty Skin Palette

Microneedling Set this is something I’ve been wanting to add to my skincare routine.

My Revised List So Far:

[shopr_shopthepost collection=”nsale” size=”large”]

What’s On Your Shopping List?

The 2018 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Catalog

[shopr collection=”nsale-2″ order=”random”]

Scroll down to read my page notes

Is this just the Canadian version of the catalog? If not, I’m super happy that Daniel Levy is in it and that Canada and the US get to both enjoy him.  I adore him. I crush on him so hard and I love his romance story on Schitt’s Creek. I had to add him to my banner for this post.

The Badgley Mischka coats are always so beautiful every year. I think I’m going to focus my try-ons this year on wool coats for my jacket category and I may pick one up (instead of the VB blazer). This coat comes in this gorgeous violet, camel and grey for $229.

A Stuart Weitzman slouch boot called the Lafayette Slouch boot – comes in black and this Mojave suede for $489.  There is also the Waverly Bootie for $369. These are both good for large calves but I don’t think either of these particular styles are what I’m after. The heel is high, and it’s very dressy.

I really love the quality of Louise Et Cie shoes so I’m curious to see what styles are offered. I DON’T NEED SHOES. But I will look.

Great leather jacket option if this is a classic investment piece you are after. I got mine last year and I wear it all the time, year round. I get lots of compliments on it.

I’ve been wanting to try Frame Denim but it’s so darn expensive. The sale price is still pretty high actually. This is a nice streamlined, classic style in a nice wash.

Love the J Crew offerings here. The pink blazer, and the yellow wool coat. I don’t have any Kate Spade bags but I’m really loving this pink Kate Spade Oakwood Street Hobo Bag. MCM bags always sell out the first day, but they aren’t my style.

Monica Vinader bracelets on the bottom right. I’d love a rose gold bracelet.

These are the Romi Rag & Bone booties on the bottom right.

The Vince sneakers on the bottom right. Love! That leopard print jacket is Veronica Beard. Is this the only VB offering this year? if so I may pass. I like it but it’s not what I had in mind. These Frame jeans are nice too but they are not a classic style. Classic style isn’t essential for me because usually, some trendy denim elements work year after year (or for the life of the jean itself), and if it looks good and flattering on, that in itself is timeless. I try to prioritize classic though so of the two, I prefer the top ones up post.

Marc Jacobs! I highly suspect these Marc Jacob items will be sellouts within the first evening of the sale. The pink will go first.

Some very pretty Madewell items here. I am loving Madewell so much lately so I may bite on a top.

 

I hovered over the next two photos so you could see the label. These are the jeans I want.

And these Rag & Bone black skinny jeans.

I’ve never tried them on yet, but those camo Spanx leggings are huge sellers even outside of Nordstrom and this sale. They constantly sell out on Revolve. I’ve heard really great things about them so I want to try them this time around and see what the fuss is about.

This is new to the NSALE this year. Nordstrom just recently started carrying Sweaty Betty. I’ve been really wanting to try the brand out so bad and even made a long trek to the store in New York to buy an item, but the entire store was sold out of sizes M,L in all of the newest prints.  The store literally only had the very small sizes in the prints I wanted.  I’m happier shopping for it at Nordstrom anyways, and I definitely want to catch it on sale. I suspect they will be sellouts since they are a new high-end fitness brand. The Nike and Adidas will sell out as well, especially sneakers. Check out the Alo Fluid Tunic!

 

Another of my favorite category! Bras, underwear and sleepwear. You read my bra post yesterday? I stock up on Hanky Panky, Chantelle and Wacoal if I can. I also got Barefoot Dreams cardies last year and I highly recommend them. I won’t buy any this year unless my favorite Barefoot Dreams Circle Cardigan comes in solid black. Then I need! (this is the BFD Cardigan I spotted in the catalog)  Commando undershirts are also something I look for at this sale. They are very thin and soft microfibre and perfect for layering.

Oy! This is a dangerous section for impulse shoppers. This section of the catalog is so pretty I can look at it all day. If you are in need of a beauty appliance like a hair dryer, straightener, toothbrush, laser hair removal, simple human mirror, this is the time to get it.

Look at the beauty that is the Charlotte Tilbury sets! The lipsticks look like the same ones I got last year. Need! And the wonderglow cream is something I’ve wanted to try.

I want to cry over how beautiful this section is to me. The Frederic Malle, Diptyque and Jo Malone all on the same page to tempt me. AND Le Labo. AND the Nest home fragrances.