Since we covered my best buys from the Anniversary Sale this morning, let’s fire up those wishlists. From workwear to sweaters to home goods, and yes, this year, there are kids clothes in the mix (but that’s another post), here are the items that I’m shopping.
I can’t shop the sale until Friday, and it’s not open to the public until next Monday. So I’m adding the pieces I want, in the sizes I need to my wishlist, and we will see what is left when the dust settles. But I’ve often found that sold out pieces come back into stock due to returns, often before the sale ends. So don’t think that because you don’t have the card or shop exclusively at Nordstrom that you cannot shop this sale.
Here are my best picks for those of you who can shop the sale early.
Workwear Picks // Let’s start with the office attire.
Blazers. This year, the item at the tippy top of my wishlist is the Halogen blazer on the left. I’m told the tailoring is perfect, the material is weighty, and the look is as sharp as broken glass. All for under-$100. I’ll also be picking up this Nic + Zoe tweed blazer that wears more like a thick sweater. And if you need a black blazer, this Open Edit “corset” blazer with hook-and-eye clasps will give you that perfectly tailored look.
Other blazers that made my wish list. I am definitely picking up this belted Good American blazer in a soft navy. If you work in a casual space, this plaid blazer will look amazing with jeans. And the Boss suit this year comes in a gorgeous pine green.
Shoes for Work. I actually thought the shoe selection was one of the better parts of the sale. These Marc Fisher heels are perfect for work and come in tons of colors. I love the slightly blunted toe. These tan pumps from 27 Edit and these loafers from Cole Haan also caught my eye.
For something more unique, I adore these buckle front slingbacks. I definitely added these Marc Fisher tall boots with a perfectly sleek look and these Kurt Geiger ankle boots to the mix. Or if you want a big name shoe for an Anniversary price, these Bruno Magli flats and these Stuart Weitzman heels are worth a look.
Dresses for Work. My number one, must have dress for this year is this wrap-front Frame dress in Navy. The drape is sublime. And the color is the perfect shade of blue for winter or summer.
For under-$150, I love this Tahari knot front dress that will look great with or without a jacket. This cap-sleeve dress from Vince Camuto is also a total classic. This plaid a-line dress from Eliza J would look amazing with black tights and boots.
Plus-size? This slash-neck Maggy London dress caught my eye. And the color of this burgundy bateau-neck dress is perfect for fall.
Blouses and Tops. This Signature pleat top gives a sculptural moment to any work look. It would also look chic on its own, making it the perfect top to wear to a work conference event where you want to remove your jacket and still look dressed up. This short sleeved top and long sleeve top are also bringing drape back in a good way. And this sleeveless cowlneck will look incredible under any blazer.
I like to keep my Anniversary blouse purchases under-$150. This is a time to save on pieces that I would buy anyway. So I added this Good American pleat front body suit to my cart (great with a pencil skirt or a high waist pant). I also picked up this tie-waist top that will look as good with jeans as it does with trousers. And if I can snag the Hugo Boss suit mentioned above, I’ll pick up the matching top and have an all-one-color moment.
Other Separates. These All Saints trousers with an elastic waist may seem weird at first glance. But under a top that doesn’t need to be tucked, they are the perfect thing for days when you’re body doesn’t feel its best. A similar style were my go-to first-day-of-cycle pants. And this Tahari ASL pants suit caught my eye for those days when you want to pretend you’re a cast member on Suits.
Other Fashion Picks // Obviously the Anniversary Sale is a good time to build your fall wardrobe. From boots to sweaters to coats, this a good place to pick up a few foundational pieces. Here are the best ones I saved for my own cart.
Sweaters. This Nic + Zoe cardigan with a speckled blue yarn is just so fun. It would look incredible with black or navy, and the ruffle detail is pretty without being too much. This pointelle Halogen sweater is on trend now, and looks great in October. And this Wayf sweater with a wrap front is perfect with jeans or layered over a sheath dress.
This sweater dress from French Connection in deep teal caught my eye. I also love this v-neck midi dress in a wide rib, but I would add a wide brown belt to break up the look and give your waist an assist.
Oh, and my favorite must-have, stock up, by all the colors Ottoman Sweater is FIFTY-PERCENT-OFF for the sale. I bought a black, a cream, and replaced my mink.
Jeans. I need jeans. It’s time to retire my pre-pregnancy size, because even after the baby weight came off, it was sitting in a different place. ????♀️ These girlfriend jeans are affordable and good for summer or fall. I also bought these “night owl” slim-straight AG jeans to replace my beloved black Farrahs. Plus-size? Get your black jean fix here.
Outerwear. Most of my outerwear picks went into this morning’s post, but I actually asked a friend to buy this Blanc Noir jacket for me in case it sells out. I love the outdoorsy details. It’s going to look perfect with leggings and sneakers this fall.
This classic camel coat and this belted Bernardo coat both caught my eye for work. Need color in your wardrobe? This cobalt Cole Haan coat is sublime. And leather goods are having a moment at this sale — this peak neck jacket from Nordstrom and this hooded jacket are both under-$250.
Casual Pieces. This Je T’aime t-shirt will be mine. 33% off feels like the time to finally buy those Spanx “Air Essentials” lounging separates all the influencers rave about. And this Frank & Eileen striped shirt is fab.
Other Dresses. The sale is not as dress-rich as it has been in past years, which made me a little sad, but there were some fun options. This Reiss Livvy dress in cobalt can be styled for work with a blazer or dressed up for a formal event (don’t believe me? I wore my white one to a black tie fundraiser). I also love this floral Madewell dress (that could be useful if you’re in early pregnancy) and this navy dress gives the perfect summer-to-fall transition.
Athleisure. Loungewear is the siren song of early motherhood. You put on a pair of buttery joggers, you feel good for the first time in weeks (good bye tight leggings), and then, you wake up and your child is 10. But who cares? I need comfort. These Zella joggers are the ones you want. Also, don’t sleep on this Alo Racerback tank or this Natori dynamic sports bra.
Casual Shoes. Need waterproof shoes and boots for wet weather? Aquatalia and Blondo both have a lot of picks in the sale. And if you haven’t found your perfect sneaker yet, these Nike waffles in a classic, sale-exclusive color way might be them.
Beauty Exclusives // The beauty portion of the sale is always a great reason to shop the Anniversary Sale. This year, I also had my friend pick up the double supply of Osea Anti Aging Body Balm, because I love it, and it’s too expensive to pay full-price. I also finally caved to the pressure of every influencer over 33 and bought the Augustinus Bader Rich Cream Duo.
On the must-have list, these Caviar Sticks are my ride-or-die. The Bobbi Brown palette is a perfectly neutral collection of pinks and chocolates. And these Dior Rouge sample lipsticks are amazing.
For hair tools, this Dyson Airwrap in their new red color is surprisingly still available. For skincare tools, this light therapy device can help treat acne and revive skin and the NuFace device helps serums penetrate more deeply and treats wrinkles with consistent use. And these Sigma brushes are a smoking deal, they’re fabulous brushes.
I’ll follow-up with a special kids edition tomorrow morning, and when the sale opens to the public, I’ll do my “best of what is left” post. If you have something you loved this year, drop it in the comments.
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“…and then, you wake up and your child is ten.”
Lol and so true! Except mine is 13 🙂
I just wanted to thank you for curating such a thoughtful and helpful list that is realistic for a real working woman and doesn’t look exactly the same as every other influencer’s out there. You’re still adding value all these years later and I for one am so appreciative!
Every time I’ve tried to preview the sale so far, the website crashes or doesn’t work in some way. For the past 2 days, I can’t add anything to my wish list. It just adds to my distaste for the sale these days. Which is sad, because it use to be fun and a great way to try some new items.