Get ready friends! The big kahuna of sales is just two weeks away! I can assure you this sale is a marathon not a sprint so knowing how to prepare for it is MONEY! Literally, figuratively, and emotionally. All of the above because if you don’t know how to shop it, I can assure you that it can be overwhelming. After three years of doing this, I know how to find the hidden gems before everyone else and I’m sharing all of it with all of YOU!

WHAT IS THE “NSALE”?

If you have been around here long enough, you know I haunt sales like it’s my job. Unlike other sales that mark down old or last season’s trends, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale has BRAND NEW items (both Summer and Fall finds) discounted by up to 40% off from brands like Tory Burch, Top Shop, MAC, Stuart Weitzman, Free People, Rebecca Minkoff and SO many more! The sale runs for 3.5 weeks with new items added each day and at the end of the sale, everything goes back to full price. You can view some of the first items that will go on sale here.

WHEN DOES THE NSALE START?

July 9th Icon Level Nordy Club members can pre-shop in-store!
July 10th & 11th Icon and Ambassador Nordy Club members can pre-shop in store!
July 12th, 12:30 pm EST Early Access begins for Nordstrom Cardholders
July 19th The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale opens to the public
August 4th The sale ends and items return back to full price

HOW SHOULD I PREP?

1. GET THE NORDSTROM CREDIT CARD

Only Nordstrom cardholders will gain access on July 12th- a full week before the rest of the world. The reason this matters is because most of the good stuff WILL sell out before public access even opens. It happens every year. I finally bit the bullet this year and applied for the credit card because after two years of not having it, I know better.If you want to shop the sale early, APPLY ASAP so you can be approved before early access starts. If you apply before July 10th, you will get a $60 Nordstrom note (aka FREE money!). Apply here.

PRO TIP: Make sure you add your card to your Nordstrom online account before the sale starts so you’re completely ready to shop when it’s go time!

2. MAKE A LIST OF WHAT YOU NEED

The sale will bring out new items geared for Fall/Winter but there will also be items that you can wear now! While you might not be ready just yet to think about cold weather clothing, the deals that you will score now are well worth it later on. In years past my favorite items to shop for were leather boots, lightweight jackets, designer purses, jeans, everyday tops and beauty items. I highly suggest going through your closet now to see what items you actually need verses making impulse decisions when the sale comes.

I also suggest looking at some of my popular blog posts from last year’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale to see what type of items you might be able to score this year. You can expect to see similar blog posts and sale coverage this year!

NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE 2018 FAVORITE PICKS

MY NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE PURCHASES

NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE TRY ON SESSION

3. LET ME SHOP FOR YOU

I will be shopping the sale in real time and will update you on the blog and social media with all of the best items including those that I think will sell out super fast. Make sure to follow along on my Instagram via posts and stories as well as the Liketoknow.it app as this is where I will be sharing sizing guides, favorite items, styling tips and giveaways before they make it to the blog!

If you want to share what items you are shopping for this year, please do! Comment below and let me know what type of items you are looking for. I will be making a list and shopping those items as soon as the sale goes live. While the Nordstrom Sale will have literally hundreds of pages of sale items, it is my job to shop for what you ladies want. So send me your lists and let me do the hard part for you! I will also be checking as popular items come back in stock so once the sale starts, feel free to send me items you might have missed out on because items do get returned within the 3.5 week sale period!

4. SHOP ONLINE!

If this is your first Nordstrom Sale rodeo than you are about to see just how overwhelming the sale can be. Stores are a madhouse. I would say comparable to the hunger games so shopping online is much more preferable and less stressful. If you are nervous about sizing, order two and return the one that doesn’t work. Nordstrom offers free shipping and returns + really affordable expedited shipping compared to a lot of retailers. However, if you need your purchase same-day, you can still shop it online and opt for in-store or curbside pickup!