What I Bought At The 2025 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and Why

There’s a lot of noise during this sale, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or talked into buying things just because they’re marked down. But instead of rounding up every “top pick,” I’m sharing what I actually tried, loved, and brought home.

These are pieces that reflect where I am right now. My taste has evolved, my weight has shifted, and I’m looking for fewer pieces in black with a more grown-up, quietly elevated aesthetic.

Many of these are investment pieces. They may not all be right for you, and that’s okay. I have another round of try-ons coming soon, which are more budget-friendly and may be more in line with what many of you may be looking for.

For now, here’s what made the cut for me and why.

This Vince Smocked Top is made from a 54% cotton, 45% nylon, 1% spandex blend that is lightweight but substantial. I’m used to this type of smocked fabric being as clingy as Saran Wrap…but this is not, and drapes on the body beautifully. The all-over texture actually minimizes lumps and bumps. I paired the top with this matching pull-on midi skirt that, again, does not cling.

These are both in a sophisticated graphite shade, which will go with so many other colors in my wardrobe. I plan to wear it now with sandals or casual sneakers and with tights and boots in the fall. I expect to belt it and will definitely layer a warm sweater or vest for colder weather. I think it will look good dressed up or down, and the pieces can be easily worn separately. The pricing on these pieces is so good that I couldn’t leave them at the store.

Here is the same scoop-neck top paired with these Vince high-waist crop cigarette pants in the same graphite color. They have a front seam which elongates the look of your leg and a 29″ inseam which is obviously not cropped on me…in fact, I folded the hem under once.

As I’ve mentioned in other posts…I’m tired of everything being cropped, but I love the ease of being able to snag full-length pants without having to find petites or have everything hemmed. There is a method to my madness 🤣. These pants fit beautifully, but they do seem to run small, so I bought a size 10. The fabric is a nice, thick cotton/nylon blend with 10% elastane, so they have plenty of stretch for comfort and won’t bag out.

Another cropped score for my short legs 😁. These Vince crop leggings have a 26.5″ inseam, which is a perfect length for me. They feature a hidden, side-zip closure, ensuring the tummy area remains smooth. The fabric is a thick (ponte-style) fabric with 10% elastane, which feels fabulous on. These run small, so I bought an L because skinny leggings are never my preference.

The Veronica Beard cardigan seemed to be flying off the racks. It’s a chunky, 100% cotton stripe with silver buttons, which works well for now and will continue to do so well into fall. The cropped length makes it a great proportion with wider pants or skirts as well. I didn’t bring this cardigan home, but it’s in my cart as I consider what else I need for fall.

The colors are a bit off in this photo because these pants are a deep blue…as are my Mephisto Wedge sandals. Here are the same Vince leggings, this time in Coastal Blue, which I also purchased. I’m styling them with this Vince short-sleeve sweater, which is 90% wool and 10% cashmere. To be honest, it’s much softer than I expected from wool, so it’s a very nice quality. This sweater comes in 4 great fall colors.

On the right is the Vince wool and cashmere cardigan in heather gray. I’m wearing a large, which feels a bit sloppy, so I would probably opt for the medium. I think it runs true to size. As with the short-sleeved sweater, the fabric is super soft and lofty. It comes in 2 other colors.

These Rag & Bone Harlow straight jeans are not part of the Nsale, but I brought them home anyway. They’re described as mid-rise, but they have an 11″ rise and hit right at my waist…so go figure. They are part of the Nsale in this nice, darker wash, which I prefer for fall anyway. I had to order them because they were already sold out of my size at the Bellevue store… How does that happen so quickly?

I’m wearing them with this Vince Block stick cardigan, in soft white. It’s a cotton blend that feels cozy and chunky, but not heavy. I’m seeing a lot of this open, crochet-type weaves in sweater jackets these days, and this is a particularly nice one. I have the sleeves turned up a few inches, but the body is nicely cropped. It also comes in black. I didn’t buy it at the time, but it’s in my cart, so I may order it because it’s one of my favorite shades of soft white, and it’ll double as a light jacket.

This Vince long cabled cardigan is available in off white, a rust shade, and charcoal. Both Nordstroms I shopped at only stocked it in the white…and I want the charcoal. It’s very soft, cozy, and oversized. I’m showing the small size, which I’d buy. The XS fit well, but it didn’t have the slouchy, oversized fit that it was intended to have. I love the intricate stitchwork, cozy softness, and v-neckline.

This Reiss wool blend double-breasted coat is stunning! The double-faced wool is unbelievably soft (it feels like cashmere) and drapey. I’m wearing a Black 4 on the left, which is way too snug, and a Camel in 6 on the right, which fits perfectly. I’ve been trying to avoid adding more black to my wardrobe, and the camel isn’t the best for my coloring, so I decided to order it in this stunning blue…which neither store stocked. It’s double-breasted but only has buttons at the waist, which keeps the look sleek.

Have you shopped the Nsale, and what are you looking for?