Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2023 – Popular items! Are they worth it? Items & graphics will be updated once 2023 inventory is released.
Fall fashion in July?! Sign me up!
As someone who works around fashion trends/marketing/online retail now, I personally love this sale! Not specifically for the shopping, but mainly just to see all the new products for fall.
While I am not willing to throw down thousands of dollars on this sale (no shame if you have the means and desire to do so), I do LOVE window shopping all of the new pieces.
Typically, whatever you see at the N-Sale will set the stage for other retailers come this fall. Best of all, all the dupes and look-alikes might even be cheaper.
You may be interested in:
- The Best Nordstrom Sale Inspired Outfits – Amazon Fashion Edition
- Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Inspired Finds – the best lookalikes!
Nordstrom anniversary sale most popular items:
These are the items that appear to have the most live views on Nordstrom’s website and app. They also just so happen to be the items that tend to sell out the fastest every year.
LOVE that Birkenstocks are a part of the sale this year. Just kind of wished they included a fall clog style. Or, at least a more autumnal color in the Birkenstock Big Buckle Arizona Sandals and Birkenstock Madrid Big Buckle Slide Sandals.
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2023 – Most Popular items! Are they worth it?
At first glance, I was a bit disappointed at this year’s sale items. After browsing a bit, it really stood out to me that this year has mostly classic, basic items. These are the products that are timeless, purposeful and will give customers their money’s worth.
Birkenstocks – yes!
Here is a little sneak peek of a pair of this year’s Birkenstock Madrid sandals. They are a classic pair of Birkenstock sandals, but with a more modern feminine feel. I love the shine, golden buckle and ecru color!
Sizing is a bit confusing, so I suggest ordering two sizes unless you know your exact Birkenstock size.
I am right in between a 6.5 and a 7 in most shoes. However, I wear a 7.5 in most narrow toe boots. I ordered the 7/7.5 based on reviews, but I really wish I also ordered the next size down to compare. The 7/7.5 felt a smidge too big.
I also really like the Arizona Birkenstocks! They are the same color, but with a double strap.
New Balance Neutral Sneakers – yes!
All of this year’s sneakers are sooo good! I love a nice neutral chunky sneaker for all seasons. They are so comfy and look cute with so many outfits.
This pair of New Balance sneakers caught my eye right away. They are the perfect level of chunky sneaker, but still polished looking with the creamy taupe suede details. They are gorgeous! …and comfy!
I went with size 7 in these, so I can wear socks. They fit perfectly!
Spanx Faux Leather Leggings – yes!
Shop Spanx Leggings:
Quality? I have owned one pair of these spanx faux leather leggings for four years now and they have held up so well! They are also super versatile. I can wear them with an oversized sweater and booties or with a cozy sweatshirt and sneakers.
Wear time? I wear my spanx faux leather leggings at least once a week every fall and winter. They are a great basic for easy fall/winter outfits!
Worth the sale price? Yes, yes and yes! Sure, I could have purchased cheaper faux leather leggings, but they most likely would not have lasted as long. More importantly, they would not have the same smoothening effect as Spanx. In that case, the Spanx Faux Leather Leggings are VERY worth it! Typically, this sale price is one of the lowest prices for Spanx for the entire year (they do go on sale every Black Friday too).
Dupes? Yes, however I don’t think anything comes close to the real Spanx leggings. Some look identical, but do not have the body smoothing effect. Likewise, the prices aren’t too far off from the Spanx sale price. You might as well just spend the extra $20 ish and get the real deal!
Spanx Faux Leather Legging Dupes:
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2023 Cardigans
Shop Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2023 Cardigans:
Quality? I purchased an over $40 camel colored TopShop cardigan from the N-Sale back in 2019. It held up okay, but the fabric lightly pilled within a few months. I also purchased one of the cheaper BP cardigans (cream color) in 2019, and it still looks new. I wear it more often too! For the most part, I feel the N-Sale cardigans are decent quality, but you don’t need to spend $40+.
Wear time? In Phoenix, the weather does not feel cool enough for cardigans until mid November. I don’t get much wear time in before I need an actual jacket (I’m freezing in 60 degree weather…) I kept the BP cardigan in my classroom for the freezing Summer A/C temps, but that was really it.
Worth the sale price? If you live in a climate that has seasons (I am jealous for one…) then these cardigans are definitely worth the sale price! On the other hand, I could have purchased something cheaper from Target and still lived my best pumpkin spiced life.
Dupes? I never found anything identical, but a plain cardigan can be easily replaced.
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Cardigan Dupes
Nordstrom Anniversary Tall Boots
Shop Nordstrom Tall Boots:
Quality? I purchased the a pair of black Steve Madden over the knee boots in 2018, Marc Fisher cognac boots in 2019 and light tan Sam Edelman boots in 2021. All are amazing quality and still look like new.
A look at N-Sale Boots from previous years:
Wear time? Sadly, I have only worn my Steve Madden black over the knee boots maybe five times? Agh! I know… For someone who doesn’t really go out (like ever), I don’t even know why I purchased them. My cognac Marc Fisher boots have a much lower “everyday” heel and I wear them a ton. At least twice a week late November-February. Lastly, the Sam Edelman tan boots are a more casual boto shade and got way more wear than any of my boots with a heel.
Worth the sale price? If you know you will wear a higher heeled boot, then yes! This year’s taupe knee high boots are shy of $150 and gorgeous! That seems to be as affordable as the sale offers for OTK boots this year.
Dupes? There are dupes all over the place! Most have pretty good reviews too.
Nordstrom Boots Dupes (some identical brands, but cheaper!)
Nordstrom Anniversary Western Boots
Shop Nordstrom Western Boots:
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2023 Booties
Shop Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2023 Booties:
Quality? I purchase at least one pair of booties every year and love them! They seem to hold their appearance well and are always very comfortable when worn.
A look at N-Sale Booties from previous years:
Wear time? Booties are a staple item for fall, winter and early spring. With that being said, I try and stick to classic colors: black leather, light tan suede and a cognac brown.
Worth the sale price? If you are someone that gets a ton of wear out of heeled booties, then I would say yes! These brands are renowned for their shoe quality. They are super comfortable and easy to walk in.
Dupes? There are definitely dupes, but they may not be as comfortable as these brands. The best alternative is to shop Nordstrom Rack or DSW for previous season booties. Same brands and great quality, but just a little different appearance. (ppssst… no one is going to know you are wearing last season’s booties)
Nordstrom Booties Dupes (some identical brands, but cheaper!)
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Mules & Loafers
Shop N-Sale Mules:
Quality? I purchase at least one pair of mules/loafers every year and usually end up returning them due to the fit. I have somewhat wide feet and the Anniversary Sale mules always tend to run narrow.
I also find the quality to be lacking in comparison to what these brands are known for. For instance, I have these pair of Steve Madden mules (exact same color, just different chain and not part of the nsale). They just feel better on my feet! It’s almost as if the Anniversary Sale shoes are made a little cheaper, so they can sell to the masses… hmmm…
Wear time? They always have stunning reviews and people seem to love the mules and loafers every year. I wear my mules a ton during the fall, winter and spring.
Worth the sale price? Honestly, no. I think the price is all in the brand name and trendy appearance of these shoes. Give it a month or two and Target, Amazon and Walmart will have nearly identical mules. Likewise, you can find the same brands selling similar shoes for cheaper prices on amazon, nordstrom rack, zappos and dsw.
Dupes? There are always N-Sale shoe dupes! Remember the year of the Snakeskin Loafer? They were everywhere after the N-Sale. Target will have all the dupes within a few weeks!
N-sale Mules Dupes
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty, Hair & Skin
Shop N-Sale Beauty & Haircare:
Quality? I have loved every beauty item I have purchased from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! I have purchased mini perfume sets, skincare sets, and shampoo sets
Wear time? I purchased this Jo Malone mini perfume set a few years ago and loved it! I also purchased a ginormous bottle of this Philosophy face wash (Nordstrom no longer has it) thinking I was scoring a deal. I used it twice a day and still ended up tossing it out after it’s expiration date. I used maybe 3/4 of the bottle. Just be careful with jumbo sized beauty products!
Worth the sale price? If you have been dying to try a product or you already purchase these products, then I would say the beauty items are definitely a good deal! Be wise with supersized items and expiration dates though.
Dupes? There may be similar products from cheaper brands, but if it is a product/brand that you purchase religiously, the sale can’t be beat!
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2023 Handbags
Designer Bag N-Sale Finds:
Quality? I purchased a few Tory Burch bags between 2019 & 2020. All are amazing quality! This year, Tory Burch is not participating in the sale. However, there are some gorgeous Rebecca Minkoff and COACH bags included!
A look at both bags I ordered from previous years:
Wear time? OMG the Tory Burch brown leather crossbody bag of 2019 has easily been one of my most used N-Sale item to date! It has held up beautifully over the few years I’ve had it. The structure has softened up a bit, but there are no scuff marks or any signs of wear and tear. There is a little bit of wear visible on the leather tag that pulls the zipper, but otherwise the purse looks the same.
Worth the sale price? I would purchase these bags over and over again. They are always high quality and classic looking. I really love this bag from the current anniversary sale! The brown color is gorgeous year around and the gold hardware makes it feel designer.
Dupes? There are similar purses for sure! The quality will obviously not beat a designer leather bag, but you will get the look for less! Since I don’t own many purses, I wanted a quality everyday bag.
Designer Bag Dupes
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Sweaters
Shop Neutral Nordstrom Sale Sweaters:
Quality? I try at least one sweater a year and am usually disappointed in the quality. They are often too thin or too boxy for even the sale price. T
The worst sweater purchase was an electric blue chenille sweater by Woven Hearts during the 2018 NSale. I wanted it so badly, so I kept it. It ended up being terrible! The woven chenille unravelled easily and the sweater became super stretched out and boxy after every wear.
On the other hand, I purchased this turtleneck sweater in 2021 and absolutely loved it! I still get tons of wear out of it.
Wear time? I tend to purchase fun colors that are pretty individually, but hard to style. This year I am sticking to basic capsule clothing items, neutral colors and quality brands.
Worth the sale price? I think if you stick to a quality brand, legging friendly sweater in a neutral color you will definitely get your money’s worth! Otherwise, you can may find the same brands for less at Nordstrom Rack
Dupes? Amazon and Target are your besties when it comes to more affordable sweaters. I will say, most of these sweaters are just $10-$15 less than the Nordstrom sale prices. With that in mind, it is worth just paying a little extra for an Nsale sweater.
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Sweater Dupes
Activewear (Zella Leggings)
Shop Zella Activewear:
Quality? I have purchased the Zella Live in leggings (twice) over the last few years. The Zella Live in leggings are some of my favs and they last! I also purchased the Zella Amazing Cozy Wrap Jacket and three pairs of the Zella Live In Joggers during the N-sale last year. I pretty much lived in the ‘live in’ line by Zella and would purchase it all over again and again.
Wear time? If you are a casual gal, I cannot recommend the Zella Live in leggings and Zella Live In Joggers enough! They are way cheaper than lululemon and spanx, yet you still get a smoothening effect and quality material that won’t lose shape. I wouldn’t go as far to say they are a dupe for lululemon (some of the review state this), but they are great in their own way. I wore mine to work with oversized sweaters, to the gym and lounging around home.
Worth the sale price? Considering I am dressed in something made by Zella 99% of the time, I’d say Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Activewear is always a successful purchase!
Dupes? There are SO many great pairs of affordable leggings. These Amazon leggings are amazing! They feel like a mixture between Zella live in leggings and Lululemon Aligns. I also really love Abercrombie’s new activewear line! However, their sale prices are too similar to the sale price of the Zellas. It doesn’t feel much like a bargain at that point.
N-sale activewear dupes
Barefoot Dreams – Worth it?
Shop N-sale Barefoot Dreams:
Quality? 100% honesty, I think Barefoot Dreams is overrated and a bit overpriced.
When I got my first “cozy chic” Barefoot Dreams blanket, it felt like heaven! After a year of use, it definitely felt less heavenly. Maybe it was just this specific blanket? Two years later it became a crunchy blanket. Still cozy and guests still love it! However, it did not hold up well in my opinion. I followed the wash instructions and everything!
I also own the “In the Wild” leopard print Barefoot Dreams Blanket. This blanket held up beautifully over a year of tons of use. However, two years in and now this blanket is beginning to feel a bit crunchy too. Not as crunchy as the cozy chic blanket, but enough to notice.
Wear time? Maybe I am wrong, but I feel that I shouldn’t have to limit the use of a blanket in order to preserve it’s quality. That is what upsets me the most with Barefoot dreams. The whole idea behind the price is to ensure a high quality, long lasting material, right? If I had to choose, the “In the Wild” blanket has held up much better, but even the sale price is expensive.
Worth the sale price? No. There are plenty of soft blankets, cardigans and robes out there. This is definitely one of those purchases that you make simply because you really want a taste of the Barefoot Dreams life. Been there, done that… may do it again someday and regret it again ha!
Dupes? Yes! There have been some nearly identical dupes this past year. The prices are still somewhat hefty, but not nearly as crazy as Barefoot Dreams. I have this Amazon blanket and it literally feels identical. The only slight difference is that the barefoot dreams blanket is a smidge thicker.
Barefoot Dreams Dupes
Under $30 Throw Blanket
Shop the N-Sale blanket (more colors available):
Quality? This is THE throw blanket of the sale! I purchased the “Olive Honey” color (in photo above) back in 2018 and it still feels as soft as when I bought it. It was Bailey the Beagle’s favorite blanket! It still looks new even after raising two crazy beagle puppies and has been washed countless times.
Wear time? Our Bliss Plush Throw Blanket is turning 4 years old this year and continues to stay on our sofa. It gets daily use and is easily our dogs’ favorite cozy blanket. Definitely one of my favorite N-Sale purchases! We purchased two more last year. Olive green for the nursery and beige for around the house. They are all still buttery soft after many washes.
Worth the sale price? Yes! In fact, I purchase a few every year to stash away just in case I need a last minute gift. They even had an oversized version last year. Hoping they bring it back again!
Dupes? There are affordable soft blankets everywhere, but this sale price may just match them all. I have spent more on target throws and regretted it after a few months of use (they all seem to pill and get crunchy after a few months).
N-sale Shopping Reminders – major fomo?!
Will you get your money’s worth? – The #1 question I ask myself before any big purchase is: Will I wear this often and actually get my money’s worth?
Sale doesn’t always mean cheap – Sometimes I get so caught up in the idea that these items are “on sale”, that I ignore the prices all together.
No FOMO – You are not missing out on anything! Content Creators will be talking about and wearing the sale items for the next month or two, because it’s their job to advertise (no different than a store associate or an ad on TV). Remember that! Come August and September, they will be sporting totally different fall essentials (probably cheaper too…)
This post contains affiliate product links through LIKEtoKNOW.it All opinions are 100% my own 🙂