If you’re anxious about missing out on all the great deals at the upcoming Nordstrom Anniversary Sale – STOP – you’re not missing out on much, and here’s why.
Full disclosure, I am a bit peeved at the moment because after shopping the NSale preview over a week ago, the ONE item I had hoped to pick up at the sale, the 70’s Belted Denim Jacket by FRAME, sold out before my window as an Early Access Shopper with Influencer Status opened for me to purchase said item, on 7/11/2024.
37 Years of Nordstrom Anniversary Sales
I have been a loyal Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (NSale) shopper, since being hired to work the sale while in college, in July of 1987. I had so much fun working the sale that, after graduating from college in 1989, I decided to become a full-time employee. I worked my butt off and was promoted to department manager, then on to Buyer/product development for the Brass Plum department, where I bought everything from dresses and accessories to coats, denim, and sportswear for Northern California stores. My last assignment, prior to making a career shift in 2004, was as a Store Manager for two different stores in the Bay Area.
In 37 years – 17 of those as a Nordstrom employee – I have never missed the opportunity to shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.
Unfortunately, the entire retail landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past 10 years. There was a time when the NSale was more than just a sale; it was an event, a celebration of style. Customers would line up out the door, eagerly anticipating the fabulous fall items curated by buyers—unique pieces you couldn’t find anywhere else – all at amazing prices. It was truly a special occasion, one that I shopped religiously for 37 years and blogged about for the past 11 years. If you were willing to queue up for free coffee and donuts at 6:55am at your local Nordstrom store, you had a chance to snag unique pieces at great prices. If your size sold out, it was no problem—a friendly salesperson, who already knew your name, would call other stores to locate it for you. What was once a special event is now dominated by Influencers of every age promoting their “must-have” items (btw – how do they know what’s in
your closet and what
you “need??) coupled with Nordstrom opening up the sale to browse their offerings online and create a wish list weeks in advance, only be disappointed by your “favorites” being sold out before you ever got a chance to shop.
Oy-vey!
Nsale is a great sale, but it’s just that, a sale
- If you are shopping for basics or investment items; shoes, sneakers, jewelry, handbags, sunglasses, denim, or athletic wear, the Nsale offers some great savings on quality pieces.
- If there is a trend you LOVE and can’t live without – say a pair of Mary Jane flats in red – pick them up, Nordstrom has an excellent return policy.
- If you live in a cold weather area and don’t mind purchasing a coat or sweater in July, the prices are good.
- For outerwear, Avec Les Files has some great pieces like (this) double-breasted dickey trench coat, (this) 70’s vibe long denim coat, (this) double-breasted faux sued trench coat. (this) faux suede trucker jacket by KUT is a great piece at $72.99
- Faherty has some great pieces that I think could get overlooked, PRESS HERE to browse what’ on sale from Faherty
- If you do decide you’d like a few things to round out your wardrobe, evaluate what you have and make a list. Then, review it again, what do you need today?
- How is your underwear drawer looking? The NSale is a great time to stock up on foundations like shapewear, bras, and underwear.
- If you miss out, don’t stress, this sale is how Nordstrom gets a “feel” for what customers are voting “yes” on for fall. There will be more in the stores to shop come September/October when you can actually wear fall pieces, and most items will even go on sale again, come November.
- It’s July, and “Wear Now” items are available at deep discounts under the Clearance tab – and you can wear them now!
- Don’t forget the Rack! Where do you think all that wear now summer merch goes when fall comes early? What about refurbished Dyson products? I have found some great deals over at The Rack, during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.
- Trends come and go, but true style is timeless. Keep the focus on what you love to wear and what makes you happy.
I hope this post doesn’t come across as grumpy. It’s no secret that I am, and will continue to be, a loyal Nordstrom shopper. To my knowledge, no other retailer matches the service Nordstrom provides – even if it’s changed some over the past 10 or 20 years. Their generous return policy, in-store alterations, and little touches like an in-store espresso bar, beautiful bathrooms, an operator who answers the phone, a knowledgeable cosmetics department, and friendly staff make Nordstrom one of the few stores I feel good about spending my money at.
So, take a deep breath and ignore the size 0 influencer insisting that your life will be transformed if you just buy the “x” cashmere sweater. Instead, ask yourself if you need a cashmere sweater in July. Maybe you do, and that’s perfectly fine. Or perhaps you wait until October or November when you have a clearer idea of what you want your fall wardrobe to look like. Or not, you decide.
Ok?
With that in mind, here are the items that caught my eye and made it to my “wish list” – this is not a “buy list”, but rather pieces I want to “learn more about”. If something I love goes out of stock as the sale goes public, I add it to my “wish list” on Nordstrom.com. And if you enable notifications from Nordstrom, you might get alerted when the item is back in stock. However, if there’s something I really want, I check back regularly, to see if it’s been restocked or returned in my size. Or, you could go old school, call the store, and ask a salesperson to try to track the items down for you and send it to your home.
