Nordstrom Anniversary Sale – Background
It’s that time of year! The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!! For those of you who don’t know why it’s such a big deal… Nordstrom started the Anniversary Sale years ago because summer time is notoriously slow in the retail world. To get people in stores, they did something revolutionary! Traditionally, items go on sale after they have been on the racks for awhile. Sale items are considered the items no one wants…the leftovers. So to get people in stores, Nordstrom started the Anniversary Sale, where BRAND NEW items hit the rack already on SALE!! After the Anniversary Sale ends, these items get marked back UP to full-price!!
My Sale Shopping Strategy!
Normally, Anniversary Sale items are new items for Fall, but this year, they included some summertime pieces. A lot of bloggers take the approach of posting basics and steals. Of course, who doesn’t want sweaters and cardigans for less than $30?! But, the way I see it, the Anniversary Sale is a good opportunity to buy designer items that I could never afford at full price! Also, it’s important to note that some brands make exclusive clothing for the NSale. Personally, from what I can tell…some of the items are made of inferior quality. Plus, brands like Leith and BP…they really aren’t good quality to begin with! They’re cute and cheap, but they really aren’t the best options for sweaters and cardigans because they are prone to piling and falling apart.
When I shop the NSale, I’m going to stick to my styling principles – items I love, feminine touches, good quality, excellent fit, fun prints, etc. Here are a few of the items I loved!
I absolutely adore this peplum navy tweed blazer!! It is just perfect! I will probably pair it with slacks, black jeans, or blue jeans. It’s the perfect feminine blazer for fall! I love how it comes in at the waist and has ruching around the sleeves. It’s perfect!! I would go down a size because Halogen can run kind of big. Also, I happened to buy a Petite size and it fits perfectly. Honestly, I just bought it because it fit perfectly, I didn’t realize it was Petite until I got home. I noticed someone left a 1-star review on the listing, which I thought was crazy! But she complained that the sleeves were way too long…so I guess that makes sense why the Petite worked for me!
LOVE! This is such a fun colorful blazer! This one is a size bigger than my normal size, so that’s why it’s a little oversized here. I would pair this with jeans and a t-shirt, or maybe some cognac colored pants! That would be so cute…! You could wear it with a tapered pant and loafers/mules, or maybe with a wide leg pant and a block heel!
I absolutely love this hoodie! First of all, it’s cashmere! Who doesn’t love cashmere?! Secondly, when I buy a basic, I look for something a little unique. Because, who needs another boring hoodie without any personality? This hoodie is cashmere, has stripes, and nice feminine details with a ruched sleeve! Even if you throw it over a t-shirt and jeans, your outfit will be instantly elevated because of these elements! Also, it comes in cream and navy, which I also love!
For those of you who don’t know, the Rails brand started in Southern California and is a fairly new brand. They are known for their luxurious materials and are super lightweight and comfortable! I love Rails and already own 2 other shirts. They are a little pricey, but worth it when you feel the material against your skin! Trust me! Plus, they are perfect for throwing on when you need something casual but don’t want to look like a slob! Instead of reaching for a t-shirt, I just go to my Rails tops! This is what I mean when I say Anniversary is a good time to buy designer items! These babies are normally around $150 but are selling for about $100 for the sale! They WILL go up to full price after the sale!!
I love this plaid merlot color top. It’s perfect for fall. I see this being a great throw-on top for a casual day with jeans, cognac booties, and a long necklace.
This camo jacket is so cute! I love that it’s a little different than your average camo t-shirt or camo utility jacket. It is slightly cropped, super lightweight – perfect for throwing on, even if it’s a hot summer day. The flowers add a feminine touch a splash of color.
Look at how cute this sweater is!! I love the details of the different buttons, sparkle, and green striped ribbon! This is what I mean when I say, who needs another “basic gray sweater”?! Nice in theory, but throw in a little pizazz! It just makes your outfit look so much better! This sweater is supposed to look slouchy, so if you want it to be a little more fitted, you will have to go down a size.
I absolutely love this Rebecca Minkoff bag! The bold leopard print adds an element of fun to any outfit! Plus, it’s basically a neutral so you can wear it with anything! This one is almost half off for the sale! Here are a few of my other favorite bags on sale:
Initially, I was a little iffy on this Zella top, mostly because I thought it was too baggy. Then I realized it was 2 sizes to big on me! My sister-in-law thought it was flattering despite it being the wrong size. All in all, I like it! It’s super comfortable and a little different! It’s definitely a good option for working out, travel, throwing on before running out of the house, or just to lounge in all day!
I thought these Zella leggings were pretty cool! I like how they look in the front with the little bit of red, you can see that in the first picture w/ the long-sleeve shirt. I also like how these look in the back w/ the red and the black stripes. I wish I had posed better because this is a really awkward picture and it doesn’t do the leggings justice…
The Zella top is not an anniversary item, but I like it! The cool criss-cross back…plus, it covers my bum in leggings!
Rag & Bone sleeveless ribbed tank – excellent fit!! Love this top paired with these Veronica Beard jeans.
However, I love it even more tucked into the jeans! Now, you can see the button-fly. Plus, when I wear the tank over the jeans, it emphasizes my stomach! But now, it emphasizes my waist!
This is my all-time favorite outfit at the Anniversary Sale!! These jeans are so cute with the button-fly and the buttons and red ribbon down the side of the pant. They don’t have nearly as much stretch as other denim, but they are true to size. If you like a sturdier denim, you will like these. They are supposed to fit like a cropped boot, but they are almost full-length on my 5’4″ frame. I would pair these with a loafer mule!
I absolutely love this Veronica Beard blazer! It instantly makes me feel smart and scholarly! I gotta dress the part now that I’m a phd student! *wink wink! The blazer comes with a vest that you can button and zip into the blazer…amazing! This means you can wear it with or without the vest, and when you want to wear it together, there is no extra bulk! It’s a perfect fit!
Hope you liked my Anniversary picks! There were a few items I had been eyeing but they didn’t have my size in store: