What You Actually Need From The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
There seems to be a ton of mixed opinions circling around this year about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale — is it all the same stuff as usual? Should we just skip it all together? As someone raised in Seattle, home of Nordstrom, it’s one of my favorite sales of year and something I never skip.
Why is it my favorite? It’s brand new items, not yet available (unlike most sales where it’s end of season stuff that didn’t sell). Sure, there’s the argument that it’s currently summer and the items are fall or sometimes winter, but isn’t that still better than an end of season sale where you likely won’t wear it until the following year?!
Anyway, I’ve sifted through all the items and dropped my top recommendations below, including a ton of things I personally own, love, and highly recommend!
Note: the links below are all affiliate links which means i’ll make a small commission on any purchase you make (at no additional cost to you, of course)! I very much appreciate the support as it helps me keep this wonderful site running :)
Things I Own, Love, and Highly Recommend:
Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Circle Cardigan — I recommend this circle cardigan on a bunch of my travel related blog posts and it is almost always my top seller every month. I have it in a few colors and couldn’t possibly recommend it more! All things Barefoot Dreams are a dream and well worth the money, especially during the Anniversary Sale when it’s on major discount.
This cardigan in particular I love because you can wear it with literally anything — jeans, a skirt, a dress, leggings, shorts, etc. — for literally any occasion — out to dinner, lounging at home or in a hotel, on a train, a plane, etc. It’s as versatile as it comes and is one of the best things I own!
Barefoot Dreams In The Wild Blanket — As mentioned above, all things Barefoot Dreams are a dream and well worth the money, blankets included! My mom is in the luxury linen industry and has access to some of the best blankets in the world yet I still have two (and counting) of these Barefoot Dreams blankets. That’s how good they are.
If you aren’t into leopard, there’s plenty of other options, too! Make sure to check the sizing though since some of the options this year are in dimensions smaller than the normal sizing.
BlankNYC Suede Moto Jacket — another favorite thing of mine is this BlankNYC suede moto jacket. So much so that I, of course, have it in numerous colors! I love it because it can be thrown on over soo many different things and will last forever (the quality is insane).
It’s quite heavy/not lightweight so do note that it’s definitely a fall or winter type of jacket, not summer! It’s definitely worth buying it now and keeping it in your closet until it cools down though.
FRAME Le High Skinny Jeans — These FRAME jeans are included in the sale almost every year, usually with a subtle upgrade. And every year I buy them! They’re $73 off so the savings are big and I promise they’re very much worth the price. I still have every pair I’ve bought and they’re all in great shape, despite me wearing them what feels like 100 times. That’s the thing about “expensive” jeans, you
AG The Legging Ankle Skinny Jeans — These jeans, similar to the FRAME pair mentioned above, are ones I have been buying repeatedly for years and love excessively. If you want the most comfortable jeans in the world, that won’t stretch out, and will last you a very long time, I highly recommend these!
Good American Jeans — I finally bit the bullet on some Good American jeans earlier this year and learned why everyone raves about them. In fact, once I received them and tried them on I immediately placed another order for three more pairs. The ones included in the sale aren’t identical to the ones I have, I don’t think, but it seems like the praise is pretty universal and unanimous so I’m sure you can’t go wrong!
Rails Hunter Button Up — I can’t even begin to tell you how many button ups I’ve purchased in the last decade. I can however tell you how many Rails button ups I’ve purchased - 8 - because they’re the only ones that have lasted. I still have every single one in my closet. They are obviously not the cheapest on the market but (1) like I said, they’ll last forever because the quality is insane, (2) they’re THE softest and most comfortable, and (3) they’re $58 off during the sale! Add one to your cart and I pretty much guarantee you won’t regret it.
GHD Platinum+ Styler — As mentioned on @skincarethatilike, my mom bought me this "styler" (I guess we call it that now since it does more than just straighten?) for my birthday last year and it is AMAZING. It features ground breaking technology, has won a bunch of awards (Glamour, Allure, etc.), and is the best option on the market currently.
It heats up completely in just 20 seconds, has "infinity sensors" to monitor the heat 250 times per second, and auto-recognizes the thickness of your hair + the speed in order to adjust the heat as you go for "perfect results in just one stroke". And they mean it. With my old straightener I'd have to turn it up to the highest heat and go over each strand 100 times, yikes, but with this one just once or twice.
This styler has no temperature setting, it's always at 365ºF, which made me nervous because sometimes I feel like I need to crank the heat up to compensate for the atmosphere. But it’s perfect as is in the humid AF Texas weather so it'll be perfect everywhere else, too! It makes your hair super shiny, super straight, and even protects your color. The barrel is rounded so you can also create curls or waves but I have not gotten that fancy yet.
If you're in the market for a new straightener/styler, I would definitely recommend splurging on this one. It'll save you so much time in the long run and even money because it won't damage your hair like the cheaper options will. Plus during the sale it’s almost $100 off so now is the time!
Slip Pure Silk Pillowcase Duo — These Slip silk pillowcases are something I absolutely swear by and highly recommend buying if you aren’t already sleeping on them. It is incredibly important for both your hair and your skin and well worth the investment since you spend 1/3 of your life in bed!
Why? Because unlike non-silk alternatives, your hair and delicate facial skin is able to glide along the silk without tugging (tugging = wrinkles) as you move around throughout the night. Because of this I usually don’t have to do much to my hair in the morning, since when I wake up it looks the same as it did before bed. The silk also won’t strip out any products (haircare or skincare) that you have on which is important when you use nice products. It not only doesn’t hurt your hair and skin, but it actually contributes to making it healthier! If you want shiny, healthy hair and wrinkle prevention, it’s a must.
This would also make a wonderful holiday gift if you’re able to think that far ahead!
Lancome Eye Makeup Remover Set — You might not think using an eye makeup-specific remover is important, but if you want long, thick lashes (without extensions) I would argue otherwise. The goal is to properly and fully cleanse your lashes without damaging them, and this award winning eye makeup remover is *the* way to do it. It’s non-irritating (even on my super sensitive eyes), suitable for all skin types, great for contact lens wearers, works very well on even waterproof mascara, and each bottle lasts for SO long. I have been using it thanks to my mom since high school or whenever I started wearing mascara — 15+ years! And every year during the Anniversary Sale I buy this set to re-stock up.
Supergoop Handscreen Duo — Something I carry in my bag 24/7: this Supergoop hand cream with spf in it. If you don’t already put spf on your hands everyday, you gotta! Your hands are one of the first areas to start displaying signs of aging so you should not neglect them.
I’ve been buying and trying hand creams my entire life because my mom always carries one in her purse so I assumed it was something everyone did. This is the best one I’ve tried because (1) it has spf in it and (2) it’s not crazy thick. It doesn’t really feel thick at all actually, it sinks into the skin right away and leaves your hands incredibly hydrated (and protected!). And what better time to buy it than when it’s on major sale?!
St. Tropez Classic Bronzing Mousse — I test out a LOT of different self tanners and this is the one I have consistently used for longer than I can remember. It's my go-to when I need a tan fast. Super natural looking, easy to apply, and streak-free thanks to the mousse of it all. The biggest problem I have with self-tanners is the way they fade, and I've found that this is one fades pretty evenly. And since you apply it with a mitt, you don't need to worry about it staining your hands (something I'm majorly struggling with with all of the gradual tanning lotions).
Diptyque Candle Set — You can’t go wrong with any Diptyque candle (or Diptyque anything) and this is a great way to try out their most iconic scents for way less.
YSL Libre Eau de Parfum Set — I got this fragrance recently as a sample and have fallen absolutely in love with it. Every time I put it on I cannot stop sniffing my wrists because it is so amazing to me. They describe it as sensual floral lavender, with notes of "lavender essence from France and Moroccan orange blossom combined with glowing orchid and warm vanilla to push this perfume to the extreme". So, so magical!
What I Want:
Bernardo Puffer Jacket — I wanted last year’s version of this but sadly it sold out before I got access to the sale. If it’s still in stock once I’m able to shop I’m absolutely swiping this up!
Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Robe — I’m in the market for a nice robe now that I live in air conditioning in Austin and this is the one I’m grabbing since I know you can’t go wrong with Barefoot Dreams!
