What to Expect From the 2016 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Each year in July, Nordstrom hosts an anniversary sale with considerable markdowns on designer brands.

This year, the sale begins July 22, with early access on July 14, and we have all the details you should know before the deals drop, including a peek at some of the most eagerly awaited sale prices.

What is it?

Sales at Nordstrom are infrequent, which makes the anniversary sale all the more notable. If you tend to have champagne taste on a beer budget, this is the ultimate opportunity to get luxury labels at more affordable prices.

Nordstrom’s anniversary sale began in the 1960s, when it acquired Best Apparel, a retailer that had been holding anniversary sales since the 1940s, company spokesman Dan Evans said. The tradition has continued to the present day. Evans says it’s the store’s only annual promotional event during which brand new, on-trend merchandise is brought in and discounted for a two-week period.

The sale brings discounts on apparel, handbags, shoes and more. This year, brands highlighted in the sale will include coveted names such as Alexander Wang — spoiler alert: Alexander Wang booties will be $240 off — Alex and Ani, AllSaints, Rag & Bone, Marc Jacobs, Current/Elliott, Madewell, Illesteva, Cupcakes and Cashmere, Alice + Olivia, Mara Hoffman, The Honest Company, Peek, Burberry and more.

When is it?

Nordstrom cardholders will have the advantage when shopping the sale inventory. Nordstrom will grant early access to the anniversary sale to its cardholders from July 14-21, both in-store and online. Other shoppers can only view merchandise at this time.

For everyone else, the sale will begin July 22 — online at 12:01 a.m. PDT and in stores throughout the United States and Canada. Products will go back to full price Aug. 8.

If you’re afraid you’ll forget to mark your calendar, you can sign up for Nordstrom email updates.

» MORE: Nordstrom anniversary sale guide

What else do you need to know?

How else can you get ready? Make your shopping list now and be prepared to grab what you can before sizes and colors run out. Here’s a look at some of the deals shoppers can expect. For a full selection, see the department store’s online catalog:

• Alexander Wang Kenzie booties for $484.90 (originally $725).
• Rag & Bone wide brim fedora for $129.90 (originally $195).
• Marchesa chandelier earrings for $79.90 (originally $150).
• Frame Le High straight jeans for $163.90 (originally $245).

Go online for the most convenient shopping experience. All year long, Nordstrom offers free shipping and free returns for online orders with no minimum purchase amount required.

» MORE: Nordstrom store guide

We know you’re eager to start shopping, so come back to NerdWallet for full coverage of the best deals when the sale kicks off.

Courtney Jespersen is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: courtney@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @courtneynerd.