How to Get Early Access To the Best Sale of the Year

Once a year I put aside my ‘home blogger’ hat and channel my inner fashion blogger to bring you the best deals from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I’m super self-conscious and hate having my picture taken so the selfie part doesn’t come easily for me, but that being said I adore helping others look and feel their best, and the comments, emails and texts thanking me for being a ‘personal shopper’ make it SO worthwhile! Which is why I can’t let you miss early access to the best sale of the year… there’s a few tricks to getting the goods, and the goods go QUICKLY, so here’s the inside scoop so you don’t miss out.

First things first– I’ll be sharing my hand-picked favorites RIGHT HERE along with a BIG SURPRISE tomorrow, so check back frequently! The links don’t go live until midnight so it’s going to be a long night over here as we work to get them ready for you– but as your ‘personal shopper’, I’m up for the job. 🙂

last year’s awkward selfie sesh

What is the Anniversary sale and why do I want to shop it? Instead of marking down items at the end of the season, Nordstrom does something (amazingly) different– they give the best deals on the hottest finds for fall and winter NOW. Pieces are usually 40% off during the sale, saving you $50, $100, even $200 on popular name brand and even luxury items! I buy almost all my fall/ winter wardrobe during this sale and stock up on holiday gifts too. It’s a great time to get handbags, shoes, designer jeans, cozy cardigans and outerwear along with other accessories.

What are the dates? The sale runs from July 12-August 5th, but July 12-19 is for card members only.

How do you get early access? Simply sign up for the Nordstrom credit or debit card to shop 8 days earlier than the public! There’s no annual fee, and if you get the debit card I believe there’s no credit check. Plus there’s perks for being a card holder– such as you get a $40 bonus Nordstrom Note when you make any purchase with them on your new card the day you’re approved.

Why do you want early access? The best items (actually, most items) sell out very, very quickly. Believe me when I say they may be gone within the first few hours, especially the hot deals such as luggage sets, cardigans, and boots. Sizes come in and out of stock as people return them, but it’s like playing roulette if you gamble on waiting until it opens to the public. Trust me– it’s easiest to buy online on the first day because most likely all sizes will be in stock– and remember, Nordstrom shipping and returns are FREE!!! Buy, try, and return free if needed!

How do I save even more money? If you plan to make a big purchase on the first day of the sale using your Nordstrom Card, make that your Triple Points Day! Or if use the Nordstrom Notes that you’ve already earned.

I’m in. What should I buy at the sale? Obviously everyone has different needs, but over the years I’ve found that this sale is amazing for stocking up on higher-end wardrobe basics for a fraction of the cost. Note that these links will say ‘sold out’ until the sale goes live tomorrow but here’s a sneak peek:

handbags and luggage (the perfect time to save hundreds of dollars on handbags; I snagged my favorite crossbody bag at the sale last year)
shoes, sneakers, boots, and booties (think Tory Burch boots, Vince Camuto booties and Sam Edelman flats!)
designer jeans (yup, AG is on the list)
jackets and outerwear (I bought my favorite winter jacket here last year)
cozy cardigans and layering pieces (these are always super popular and there’s several fab styles this time around)
activewear and athleisure (both of these are on my must-have list)

Ahhhhh… the bags! This was from last year and thinking about it makes me swoon:

You can use our free printable capsule wardrobe checklist to take an inventory of what you have and figure out what you need (and want, haha– this is the time to get the things you’ve been dreaming of!)

Got questions? I’ll do my best to answer them in the comments! And if you’re looking for anything specific let me know, I’ll do my best to scout out the best deals for you. Join me back here bright and early tomorrow for a round-up of the best deals from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale along with gift ideas, hot deals, and what I’m personally buy this time around! Oh, and that BIG SURPRISE too… you’re going to want to be here for that. 😉