A Stylist’s Honest Guide to the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2026: What I’m Actually Buying
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale starts this week, and my inbox is already full. Clients want to know one thing: what’s actually worth buying?
Here’s my honest answer; the Anniversary Sale isn’t what it used to be. The days of deep discounts on true investment pieces are largely behind us. But after fifteen years of shopping this sale professionally, I know where the real value hides. And there are still items I buy every single year.
This is what I’m purchasing and why.
Start Where No One Looks: The Intimates Department
Every great outfit is built from the inside out. If your foundation pieces don’t fit, nothing you put over them will sit right and this is the one category where the Anniversary Sale still delivers real value on brands that rarely go on sale.
Chantelle underwear is my first stop, every year. These are the most comfortable, truly seamless panties I’ve found — invisible under tailored trousers, pencil skirts, and anything fitted. When they’re on sale, I stock up. You should too
Simone Pérèle bras are the other standout. Beautiful, supportive, and — most importantly — they actually fit. A well-fitting bra changes how every blazer, blouse, and dress hangs on your body. If you haven’t been fitted in the last two years, this is your sign.
Beauty: Two Products That Earn Their Price
The beauty exclusives are one of the few places the Anniversary Sale still feels like a sale.
Oribe shampoo is worth every penny of its (admittedly steep) regular price ;which is exactly why I only buy it now. My hair looks better, feels better, and the scent is unmatched. This is the moment to try it if you’ve been curious.
Charlotte Tilbury’s primer is also included this year. It’s the difference between makeup that fades by your 2 p.m. meeting and makeup that holds through a full day of presence.
Workwear That Works Twice: Shirts for the Office and Beyond
The smartest wardrobe purchases do double duty. I found several shirts in this year’s sale that transition seamlessly from the office to dinner — the kind of pieces that earn their cost-per-wear within a month.
This is where I’d focus if your budget is limited. One versatile shirt you wear weekly beats three trendy pieces you wear once.
Boots: The Category to Buy Now, Not in October
Buying boots in July feels premature; until October arrives and the best sizes are gone. The Anniversary Sale is the single best time of year to buy fall footwear at a discount.
My favorite this year: Aquatalia. Genuinely comfortable, beautifully made, and they fit my feet which, if you know boots, is the hardest box to check. Weather-resistant leather means they’re a workhorse, not a precious purchase.
The Bottom Line
Skip the noise. The Anniversary Sale rewards shoppers who know exactly what they’re looking for and ignore everything else. My rule for clients: buy the foundations (intimates, boots, one versatile shirt), buy the beauty products you already love at full price, and walk past everything that’s only appealing because it’s marked down.
A discount on something you won’t wear isn’t a deal. It’s clutter.
All the items I would buy you can find here.
