I think you guys know that I get pretty excited about a good sale; it’s the best opportunity to invest in your wardrobe and snap up a good quality style staple at a fraction of the retail price. Even better? When the items on sale are new season stock, that are discounted by up to 40% the moment they hit the shop floor. In case you didn’t get the memo, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale for 2018 has now begun. If you’re a Nordstrom cardholder, you are lucky enough to get early access, which means you can start shopping now. If not, the sale opens up to the public on 20 July, which means you have a week to start planning out your shopping list (perfect if you’re on a budget and need to map out your spend, or like the opportunity to have some time to think through your purchases).
KEY DATES
The Nordstrom Anniversary sale starts on Thursday 12 July (today!) for Nordstrom cardholders. Public access to the sale opens at midnight on Friday 20 July, and the sale wraps up on Sunday 5 August, from which point all items will return to full price.
WHERE SHOULD I START?
The sale can be a little overwhelming, so I highly recommend going in with a bit of a game plan. I usually like to tackle any sale by identifying what it is that I actually need. I’ll do a little scan of my wardrobe to see which pieces might need replacing, and have a think about what my wardrobe is missing, or if there are any key trends for the season ahead that I would like to try out and incorporate into my daily outfits. My favourite way to shop is to search by category or by brand – you can easily narrow items down that way, even though there’s still a lot of choice. For those of you not even sure where to start, I’ve done a lot of the legwork for you, and have compiled a little list of some of my favourite sale finds below.
DRESSES
I’ve spotted so many fantastic options for the office, and was pleasantly surprised to see that you can pick up one of DVF’s iconic wrap dresses in the sale. My favourites have to be this absolutely gorgeous smock dress (the colour is to die for!), and I also really love this dupe for my polka dot dress I’m wearing in the first pick above. I’ve picked out a few options that I think you could transition from summer to winter and back again, just my mixing up your accessories and adding a few layers (a simple slim fitting turtleneck is my favourite trick!).
1. Bold stripe long sleeve midi dress
2. Black/navy floral midi dress w/ hanky hem
3. Grey cashmere wrap dress
4. Navy a-line lace dress
5. Eggplant ruffle sleeve tie waist dress
6. Blush pink sleeveless midi dress with full skirt
7. Emerald green pleated long sleeve smock dress
8. Black oversized cotton poplin tunic dress
9. Leopard print puff sleeve dress
10. Polka dot midi dress with slit hem
11. Paisley printed mini dress
COATS & BLAZERS
Perhaps one of thing to invest in during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is a classic coat. If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, winter coats are probably the furthest thing from your mind. I’m of the opinion that a coat is an investment – something that you’re going to hang on to for years so it’s only worth picking up something new if your current coat is looking a little worn, or if you’re in the market for a new statement coat to help mix things up. It doesn’t get too cold here in Sydney but I personally like to have a couple of options which I can cycle through to keep my outfits looking fresh, plus it increases the longevity of my coats too, because I’m giving them a little rest between wears.
1. Grey plaid lightweight trench coat
2. Charcoal grey boiled wool topcoat
3. Tan tie sleeve trench coat
4. Dusty blue coat with knit collar
5. Classic beige trench coat
6. Grey double faced coat with ribbed sleeves
7. Pink boxy blazer
8. Lavender boucle coat
9. Oatmeal/grey plaid long coat
10. Brown check double breasted wool trench coat
11. Menswear inspired check blazer
TROUSERS & SKIRTS
Denim has become a huge part of my style uniform this year, so one thing I’m definitely looking at in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is the incredible denim selection. I’ve been wanting to invest in some new denim from Frame, and there’s no better time to do so when the price has been slashed by 40%. I’ve also spotted a couple of great trouser options for the office (I love these and they come in a few different colour options), in addition to some beautiful knee-length skirts which look perfect for that transitional period of the year.
1. Tweed slit front pencil skirt
2. White/black grid check windowpane knee length skirt
3. Beige suede a-line mini skirt
4. Black/white polka dot midi skirt
5. Khaki knee-length wrap skirt
6. Navy pinstripe trousers
7. Khaki green slim fitting jeans
8. Mid-rise black skinny jeans
9. Mid-blue wash straight leg jeans
10. Black skinny jeans with frayed hem
11. Indigo blue skinny ankle length jeans
TOPS & SWEATERS
My go-to essential in the winter has quite quickly become a great cosy knit sweater, though I like to mix things up occasionally with a gorgeous little blouse, that I’ll wear underneath a blazer when I want to layer up a bit. My favourite pick has to be this gorgeous blouse with ruffle collar detail – I’ve never seen anything quite like it!
SHOES
One of the first places that I tend to look for shoes these days (aside from The Real Real) is Nordstrom; their selection is pretty fantastic and I’ve spotted quite a few designer dupes that are still made from really high quality materials, something which is a non-negotiable for me when buying a new pair of shoes. I picked up a great pair of boots from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale last year, and am thinking of doing the same again for 2018 as they’ve really lasted the distance, plus they feel like wearing slippers on my feet. A lot of the options that I’ve selected down below come in classic colour options like black or tan, so it’s worth taking a second look if you love the style!
BAGS & JEWELLERY
I tend to put a lot of emphasis on the impact that a pair of shoes has on my outfit, but a great bag or a statement pair of earrings can also be a complete show stopper. I’ve picked out some of my favourite classic options, and a few more fashion forward styles below.
Will you be buying anything from the sale?
