The Most Iconic Sale In Fashion History is Here
The Long Live Guide to the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
This letter is brought to you by Nordstrom.
Department stores have my heart. I spent hours in them shopping for suiting with my dad. Later, I tried on homecoming dresses in three-way mirrors for girlfriends giggling behind digital cameras. And when I travel, I always make sure to visit the local department store for exposure to brands and styles I might not shop at home.
And there’s not a more archetypal department store than Nordstrom. My visions of myself as a Grown Up involved grey Nordstrom bags, a brownstone on Jane Street (never said I was being realistic), and a fleet of Chanel boy bags to choose from before hailing a cab to a Very Important Meeting.
In fact, I placed a very premeditated order on the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale of 2014 before loading the minivan and heading to New York for college. I needed a sensible cardigan and black heels before becoming a city girl. And that’s exactly what I ordered, at a steep discount, and wore into the ground.
That’s what I love about this sale: it’s deeply practical. I keep a running list of items I need—exciting and otherwise—and this year, I was very pleased at how many of them I could scoop up on sale from Nordstrom.
Let’s get into the details + then exactly what I ordered.
When does it start?
Depends! Sign up for a Nordstrom card and join The Nordy Club, Nordstrom’s loyalty program, to earn points, enjoy exclusive perks and gain access to store events and restaurant activations.
Otherwise, as early as July 8 before the sale opens to everyone on July 12. Early Access for Icon Members starts on July 8, Ambassador Members on July 9, and Influencer Members on July 10.
What kind of brands can I expect?
The legendary merchandising team at Nordstrom partners with key brands to new styles at incredible pre-season savings. I’m particularly excited about selects from Magnetic Me, Sperry, Rothy’s, and Tom Ford—all brands I’ve shopped and loved in the past.
What makes the sale special?
This sale is storewide. And you can forget broken sizing and weird colorways, especially if you shop early. Everything on sale is newly arrived merchandise, unlike the Old Navy clearance rack I used to have to stock with returns and mistagged items. And if you’re willing to shop fall in the heat of the summer, you’ll opt into incredible savings.
St. John Collection Eyelash Tweed Jacket
I borrowed a stunning St. John jacket for my Into The Gloss Top Shelf and haven’t quite been able to get it out of my head since. It’s a whole outfit in one piece. I was delighted to see the brand included in the sale, especially since these jackets are expensive on the resale market. Size up!
Hunter Kids' First Classic Rain Boot
Shopping for my baby due this fall is mostly me reading Reddit reviews and texting the coolest moms I know. But there are certain items, like baby Hunter boots, that sort of defy all logic. They’re a need!
CYBEX Callisto G 360 All-in-One Car Seat
Another baby win! Car seats are expensive and I was thrilled to see the one we were already planning on purchasing included in the sale.
The ROZ shampoo has changed my mind on spending money on shampoo. I’ve deeply obsessed and travel with a bottle—out of character for me. Now that I’m in a new apartment with a bigger shower set up, sizing up just made sense. This is the chicer version of the Costco jumbo bottles.
Another bathroom upgrade is just what this nesting gal needed. Le Labo hand soap also makes a wonderful hostess gift, so I bought a couple to keep on hand. I like having hostess gifts for non-drinkers, too. And I think I can speak for the entire alcohol-free community when I saw Le Labo makes an appropriate alternative for a bottle of booze.
Nuface Trinity+ Complete Microcurrent & Red Light Facial Toning Device Set
I’ve been using my Nuface for almost five years at this point and I’m a firm believer. On the fence? Shopping the sale is the perfect time to try. I used this religiously before my wedding and pair it with this gel which is a fraction of the cost of the one they sell.
New apartment = finally upgrading to a King size bed. Is now a good time to remind you me and my husband are over six feet? I don’t need anything fancy from my insert, so this high quality option from Nordstrom checked all my boxes.
Westman Atelier The Lip Edition Set
Westman Atelier is expensive. And it’s unmatched. So shopping it on sale is the best of both worlds! I love these products for their wearability, which is my number one requirement for the summer.
Pom Pom at Home Big Hampton Accent Pillow
Another boring purchase I’d much rather get on sale: a pillow insert! Starting with this makes shopping on Etsy or eBay for special covers way simpler than trying to work the other way around.
Le Specs Velodrome Cat Eye Sunglasses
I can clearly recall considering a pair of Le Specs sunglasses when I placed my inaugural Nordstrom Anniversary Sale order 11 years ago. They’re a great price point and way to try out a shape you might be on the fence about.
Lizzie Fortunato Pond Amazonite Pendant Necklace
I’ve linked to Lizzie Fortunato tons in the past because I think it’s one of the best places to get personality-driven jewelry that’s still affordable. I’ll wear this pendant with a plain white t shirt and sporty shorts.
John Hardy JH Essentials Pearl Lariat Necklace, 1.8mm
On the more formal end, there’s this timeless John Hardy necklace I’ll pair with all my wedding season hits for years to come.
Nordstrom Rib Cashmere Travel Wrap
Nordstrom cashmere is a real if you know, you know moment. I love this cashmere wrap for long flights and extending the life of jackets as winter sets in. This is also a homerun gift, if you’re already thinking ahead to the holidays.
Tom Ford Penny 55mm Polarized Geometric Sunglasses
I’ve had a thing for Tom Ford sunglasses since I worked at a boutique in West Des Moines, Iowa. They’re such statement makers. I know this is my shape, so deciding to splurge a little here makes sense to me, especially since they’re on sale.
Frank & Eileen Monterey Stripe Cotton Funnel Neck Sweater
Think of this as your J.Crew Rollneck sweater with a sprawling garden in Amagansett. Or at least that’s how I feel in this sweater, which I already owned in a solid colorway. Having a striped options makes layered all the more fun.
Nordstrom Sleeveless Cashmere Sweater
I have a similar sweater vest that I paid about 4x for from a brand you know, so I’m elated to see this on sale. Wear this over a tshirt or a dress! Think of it as a modern sweater vest.
Pistola Lana High Waist Wide Leg Jeans
Hello, 33” inseam! I also love that the raw hem makes it easy to tailor to your ideal length, too. This wash is super versatile and Pistola is the jean brand I hear my friends rave about the most.
This is a very work-approved take on a puff shirt that won’t leave you wondering when your next shift at the dairy farm starts. I’d wear this under the sweater vest above with a high ponytail. Outfit: made.
AllSaints Stevie Cotton T-Shirt
I’m very picky about my t-shirts, naturally, but particularly about my tight white t-shirts. I love that this one isn’t see through and that the sleeves aren’t skin tight. The details make the basic!
Thank you for reading Long Live. It means so much to me. You can preorder my romance novel, Exit Lane, on Bookshop or Amazon. You can shop my favs here, follow along on Instagram + Tiktok, and shop my Notion template. You can book my Office Hours to talk shop here. Get matched at EV Salon. And if you want to partner on a future Long Live, email evan@communite.co x
This is a disappointing post, given your substack’s focus on sustainability and secondhand. You don’t need to buy things at a sale every year.
I’m halfway through this post and have already added 5 things to my cart. SUCH a good round-up!!!