The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is almost here! If you’re a savvy Nordstrom shopper, you know all about it. But even if you haven’t heard about it before, it’s worth taking a peek. Typically, the sale takes place from the second week of July into early August – but due to the coronavirus, Nordstrom pushed the sale back completely into August. And if you’re like me, you have a lot of questions: Will it be the same kind of sale? What’s the timing? When can I shop? What happens if my Nordstrom is closed?
The good news is that Nordstrom has done a few things to make the sale easier to shop while many of us are still in quarantine. But before you shop, I have some tips to share to make your Nordstrom Anniversary Sale shopping a productive and enjoyable experience, whether you’re braving the stores right when they open or you’re scrolling from your phone, contemplating if/what you should buy. Read below for the 5 things you should know before you shop the sale – and then let me know if you’re planning to shop this year!
NOTE: This post was originally published prior to the 2020 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. So, the dates and the graphic (and the pandemic references) are a year old. But the tips and advice are still your best bet for successfully and mindfully shopping the sale.
KNOW WHAT THE SALE IS ABOUT
The big idea behind the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is early deals on fall and winter styles – so it’s sort of a ‘stock up before the season starts’ sale. And since it’s all about cold weather, you’ll see a good deal of heavy sweaters, winter coats, boots, etc. But outside of the cold weather focus, there are also good deals to be had on wear-now styles like tops, dresses, pants, jeans and more. And the sale doesn’t just cover apparel – there’s jewelry, activewear, intimates, beauty and also home product - and men’s and kids’ styles, too.
One thing I have noticed is that Nordstrom has put a lot of ‘quarantine-friendly’ styles in priority spots on the website. So, if you’re just scrolling through all of women’s, expect to see a lot of leggings, cozy knits, pajamas and the like when you first jump online.
KNOW WHAT YOU REALLY NEED
If you’ve shopped the sale in the past, your usual strategy may be to grab a bunch of cashmere, a few new blouses, a handful of booties and a new winter coat (or two). But this year, take a moment to be honest with yourself about what you really need in light of your current lifestyle. And I mean what you REALLY need. If you’re working from home for the next several months, maybe it’s less about booties and more about cozy sweaters. If you’re on Zoom calls 8 hours a day, it’s probably worth focusing on tops more than bottoms. And if you expect your holiday season to be low-key casual instead of fancy cocktail (or virtual gatherings instead of in-person), take that into consideration, as well.
If you’re at a loss in determining what you need, here are three places to look (and read this recent blog article, too!):
Basics – is there anything that you’re wearing more now than usual, that needs to be updated or replenished? Simple knit tops, comfy pants and athleisure may be categories that you normally wouldn’t think of shopping during the Anniversary Sale, but if that’s your daily uniform, consider it.
Holes in your wardrobe - are there styles that you know you’re missing? Think of this two ways: from a place of pure function (i.e. tops that are nicer than a t-shirt for daily video calls, cardigans that aren’t schlumpy) and from a place of style (i.e. things that reflect your romantic side or have an edgy vibe).
Style inspiration – if you follow bloggers or have certain women that inspire your style, check out what they’re wearing that you don’t have in your closet (i.e. if your favorite style maven is always in fun color, but your closet is all black and grey, it’s probably time to try some color).
KNOW WHEN TO SHOP
The way it works is that Nordstrom credit card holders get early access to the sale – which means that cardholders get the best selection. And this year, Nordstrom cardholders have more time to shop than in years past – in 2019, cardholders had 10 shopping days before the public sale started (with a 17 day public sale), but this year, cardholders have 15 days to shop before the sale is available to the public (with only 12 days of public sale).
The cardholder ‘early access’ days start on August 4th (check out the chart below based on your Nordstrom credit card level).
All cardholders can shop starting on August 13th.
The public sale starts on August 19th.
I think this is great for cardholders – if you’re shopping in the store, it gives you more time to get to your local Nordstrom and (hopefully) it means less crowds on those first few days. And even if you’re a cardholder shopping online, it’s a little less of a frenzy. But the challenge if you’re not a cardholder is that there are more days for your favorite styles to sell out prior to your opportunity to shop. (Please know that I am not advocating adding a credit card to your wallet – just giving you the pros and cons for this sale.)
But the great thing is that you can go in and create your shopping list right now! The preview is currently live on Nordstrom.com (check it out here), so you can save the Anniversary Sale styles you like to a ‘wishlist’ – you can make your selections early and then just go in on the day you have access and purchase. Putting items on your wishlist doesn’t guarantee availability, but at least you can hit the ground running.
BONUS TIP: If you’re shopping in person, a little known tip is that savvy Anniversary Sale shoppers shop early, but they return early, too. So, a week or two into the sale, you can check out the ‘final few’ racks from the sale and discover gems that have been returned and are otherwise sold out.
KNOW HOW TO SHOP SUCCESSFULLY (& NOT MISS OUT)
Here are a few simple tips to help you get what you want (for more of my best shopping tips, read this if you’re going to the store and this if you’re shopping online):
When in doubt, buy it – whether you’re wavering between two sizes or can’t decide between a couple of jackets, just buy both. Nordstrom has a liberal return policy, so there’s no need to rush back to the store right away to do a return. But there’s a big chance that the item you want instead may not be there when you go to the store to exchange it or check online again.
What sells out first? – styles featured prominently in the marketing/website and on blogs often sell out first, so don’t get your heart set on your favorite blogger’s top 10 items if you’re not a Nordstrom cardholder. And the very high end styles are usually bought in small quantities, so these sell out quickly, too.
Have a plan – if you’re going to the store in person, do your research prior. Decide which department you’ll hit, what designers you’re looking for and what your priorities are. If you’re shopping online, use your filters! Definitely for size (you don’t want to keep falling in love with styles that are sold out in your size), but also for brand, color, sleeve length, etc. And no matter how you shop, have a budget. Also - if you’re concerned about getting something specific, just order it online. I’ve heard a rumor that, due to the virus, Nordstrom has set aside the majority of Anniversary Sale inventory for online purchases, so stores may have less of a selection than you’re used to.
BONUS TIP: Nordstrom has a ‘pick up in store’ feature on the website, so if you’re impatient (but don’t want to wander the store), you can shop online from your closest store’s inventory and pick it up in the store. It’s sort of the best of both worlds – you can select styles from the comfort of your couch and you don’t have to wait for it to be shipped.
KNOW THE TRUTH
Yes, you can score some great deals at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, but not everything is as good a deal as it may seem. Many styles are created by brands strictly for the Anniversary Sale, so you won’t see them later in the season at Nordstrom (or at any other retailer). And since certain designers create Anniversary Sale-only styles, they may not be the same quality that you’re used to – which is why the Vince cashmere sweater that you got at full price last year might feel a bit softer than the one you buy during the Anniversary Sale (nothing against Vince, just an example). So the lesson is: don’t depend on brand/designer name as the only indicator of quality. Click here to read 5 ways to spot quality clothes.
You also should know that the Anniversary Sale styles don’t live far into the fall and winter season. After the conclusion of the public sale, Anniversary Sale styles go up to their ‘regular’ price, but just for a few weeks. Then these styles typically get marked down to make room for the bulk of true fall product.
AN IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER: This year has been new and different for everyone. I have never heard the word ‘unprecedented’ as much as I have in 2020. Nordstrom is doing their best to provide their typical level of service, but inventory levels may vary and your local store may not be open the same hours as normal (always call to check if you’re not sure). So, have patience with your salespeople, expect longer than normal shipping timelines and don’t get frustrated when your favorite item is sold out – more fall clothes will be in stores in September and October.
P.S. Are you looking to shop more mindfully in general? If shopping is frustrating or too time consuming or anything other than productive, just let me know. I can help you strategically fill the gaps in your wardrobe so that you don’t just have new clothes - you have new clothes that multiply your outfit possibilities and make you feel great. Click here to read through my services and click this to schedule a free 20 minute consultation.
Photo credits: cover image & sale timeline from Nordstrom, online shopping image from Unsplash by Charles Deluvio