Oh, the NSale. You know, the Nordstrom sale that puts serious markdowns on NEW fall merchandise. Soon you will see blog posts and your Instagram feed will be filled with what you should buy, and photos of girls wrapped in scarves and sweaters even though it’s 100 freaking degrees and still July! You will probably be sick of it long before it’s over but nonetheless compelled to buy, so here are a few tips for shopping this sale.
Tips for Shopping the Nsale
1. Know when you can shop.
2. Make a list.
Check your closet and see what fall items you have, need to replace, or need to fill in gaps in your fall/winter wardrobe. A list will also be helpful in following tip #6. Check out the catalog here. Now that previews are available online you can make a wish list for quicker shopping.
3. Shop early.
Get a Nordstrom card so you can shop early access. Most of the hot items will be sold out by the time public access rolls around. Note that this year there is only on day between levels so that should help with sell outs. Hopefully.
4. Shop often.
Things sometimes get restocked, so keep a watch on your wish list if something has sold out. You may also come across something you missed the first go around. Also take care of your must haves as soon as you put them in your cart. You can go back and browse more later.
5. Shop online and order multiple sizes.
It’s frustrating to get something, have it not fit and then have it sold out before you can make an exchange. Shipping and returns are free, so why not?
Fit tip: Did you know that in some cases you can float between regular and petite sizes? For example a 10 regular is roughly the same as a 12 petite. So the 8 regular should be the same as a 10 petite. Of course all brands are different. Don’t ever be afraid to try a range of sizes. It’s just a number. Also, you might wear regular pants and petite tops because of a shorter torso or smaller shoulders or you might wear regular tops and petite pants because of shorter legs. I shop and wear both petite and regular sizes.
6. Don’t go hog wild.
Stick to your budget. This is something you will rarely see in posts on shopping the Nsale, but don’t go hog wild. I shamefully admit I still have a top in my closet from last year that didn’t get worn. That leads to another related point about not going hog wild. Shop for YOUR fall, not fantasy fall. It will still be hot until November or so here, hence why I never wore that top. I will not need tons of new sweaters and scarves. And I’m not dressing up in sweaters and scarves in this heat to take photographs and write blog posts so you will click my links and buy something.
When I can actually wear it, it will probably be sold out. Or something better will come along. Case in point – I bought a cardigan one year that was very popular during the sale. A few weeks later, I found one at Old Navy that was just as good and cheaper. The Nordstrom cardigan got returned. So keep in mind, this is not the only store that will sell fall merchandise and not the only time to buy it. Some of the things I bought also did not sell out and were on sale later too. SO….. stick to that list from tip #1 and if you really need new boots, or can wear them to get a decent cost per wear over time, go for it. Have fun with this sale, but don’t go hog wild.
7. Take advantage of the app!
Get restock notifications through the Nordstrom App. Know when things are restocked and shop on the go with the app.
8. Shop online and use the Contactless Curbside Pickup option.
This is the best way to avoid crowds AND get the things you want quickly. Also, consider paying for express shipping if you aren’t doing a pick up for must have items. Sometimes orders get cancelled, but paying for expedited shipping helps with this issue.
Have a great weekend!
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