Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2021
The Nordstrom Sale is officially underway and whether you are able to shop prior to public access (Public Access starts on July 28!) or not, I wanted to provide my top personal picks along with some hopefully helpful tips and advice for when you're shopping this year's Nordstrom Sale.
For some context and transparency, the Nordstrom Sale is something I have shopped for many years now (long before I ever thought about blogging about it). I love stocking up on staples during this sale because they are items that I will legitimately wear throughout the entire year and are pieces I will get to wear for multiple seasons, not just the next few months.
Before I dive too far into the details, I want to also mention that it is completely OKAY to not shop the sale. I never ever want to make you feel like you have to buy something I post about and I will always be upfront with what I am actually buying and if I ever return anything for some reason. The last thing I want to do is steer you in the wrong direction and suggest something that I do not truly love and recommend. I want to be a trusty resource for you for many years to come!
Alright, let's start off with the basics. When can you start shopping? Nordstrom has given early access to shop the sale to everyone who has a Nordstrom Credit Card. Early access actually begins this week on July 12. Depending on how much money you have spent at Nordstrom this past calendar year, determines which "status" you are, and when you get to shop their early access (see image below).
As you can see in the graphic above, there are three tiers of early access:
Icon | July 12 - 27
Ambassador | July 14 - 27
Influencer | July 16 - 27
Public Access (do not have to have a Nordstrom card to shop) | July 28 - August 8
So how do you know which tier you are in? You can find your cardholder "status" by logging into your Nordstrom account and then by clicking on "The Nordy Club" tab on the lefthand side of your screen (if you are on a desktop). Once you click on that tab, it will tell you at the very top which status you are and when you can start shopping! For reference, I have "Influencer" status, so I will be able to start shopping on July 16.
If you do not have a Nordstrom card and would still like to shop the sale early, there is still time! It is super easy to apply for a Nordstrom card and you will be given instant Influencer access to shop the sale on the 16th like me. If you are wanting to sign-up for a Nordstrom card, head here to learn more.
Okay, hopefully that helps clear things up in regards to when you can shop and how you know which status you are if you are a cardholder. Next I want to talk about some general tips to shopping the sale that I have learned over the years.
5 Tips for Shopping the Nordstrom Sale
Set your budget - I know how much I plan on spending ahead of time, that way, I don't get my heart set on something I know I shouldn't buy or can't truly afford. I don't plan on spending crazy amounts of money either (reasons why I only have influencer status lol). There is absolutely no reason you should ever go into debt over any sale. Set a budget from the very beginning, start building out your wish list (I get to this in just a bit!) and make sure those items fall within your personal budget. You can always return things as well, but I recommend only buying what you plan on keeping! Sit down, look at your budget ahead of time and figure out what you feel comfortable with spending.
Find out what you actually need vs. want - One of my favorite tips! Time to start cleaning out those closets and donate items you no longer use or wear y'all. I think this can really help you decide what it is you ACTUALLY need this year vs. what you simply want. I am all about treating yourself, but why buy something that is just going to sit in your closet all year long? Find out what it is you are lacking in your wardrobe and go from there. If you are wanting to start a capsule wardrobe this year, I highly recommend it - I started mine last year during the #NSale. Head here to check out that blog post for some more tips on how you can utilize the sale to kick-start your capsule wardrobe dreams.
Create a wish list & prioritize your shopping cart - If you are a cardholder and still can't shop the sale just yet, you can actually create a wish list when you sign into your account! I have one ready to go, and as soon as I can shop, I am adding everything to my cart (as long as things are still in stock). Unfortunately, things tend to sell out quickly. I recommend getting the items that you REALLY want in your cart first, checkout with those items and then go back for the rest. For me, that means starting with the shoes - hah! Sometimes Nordstrom will restock anything that sells out, but it's definitely not a guarantee. I would prioritize whatever you really want/need first, then move on down your wish list.
Stick to the basics - I personally love using this time of year to stock up on things that can transition easily into multiple seasons. A lot of the items in the sale are more geared towards fall and winter, but there are still some good basics that I will use and wear ALL YEAR LONG.
Most importantly, don't stress - Have fun and treat yourself, but always remember that these are JUST THINGS. At the end of the day, none of these materialistic items will ever matter.
My sizing/height information
I try my best to include all sizing information in the captions of all my LIKEtoKNOW.it posts, but I still get quite a few questions on it from time to time. Figured I would just lay it out here for ya in case you have a question when it comes to the size/s I ordered, etc.
Height | 5'4" (and a half 😉)
Top Size | Typically a small
Bottom Size | Small, Size 4/27
Shoe Size | Size 8
Okay, now for my favorite part - my personal top picks (items I plan to purchase/eyeing)! I spent a ton of time going through the entire catalog and picking out items that I am either buying or would buy if I had an unlimited budget 😂 There were a lot of great picks this year, but I tried to whittle it down to a manageable list. I even had Coop go through and pick out some of his favorites too (I will share those later on)! I will continue to update my top picks as the sale goes on, but just remember, it is never too early to start Christmas shopping 😉(just sayin 🎅🏻).
I will be sure to update you all on the items I actually end up purchasing on the 16th, the ones I end up keeping this year after I am able to try them on, etc. Also, once I get everything in the mail, I will be sure to do a little try-on haul for you all and upload everything to my LIKEtoKNOW.it! I always think it is better when you can actually see it on someone.
Please note that I have included affiliate links to each item you see below as well (or you can shop each image in one place by heading over to my LIKEtoKNOW.it). If you are already able to shop the Nordstrom Sale, you can simply add these items directly to your cart now and purchase! If you are still waiting to shop the sale (like me), you can add them to your wish list in the meantime ☺️ As always, I appreciate it so so much when you shop using my links. I hope you enjoy my picks!
My Nordstrom Sale 2021 | Items I Purchased + Still Eyeing
all items are linked HERE
all items are linked HERE.
with love,
~Katie