Shopping the Nordstrom Sale: January 2026 Picks

With thousands of clothing items in the sale section at any given time, it's easy to get overwhelmed or end up adding things to your cart just because they're discounted. The trick is having a strategy before you start browsing.

When I'm shopping the clothing sale, I ask myself a few questions before anything makes it to my cart. Will this work with multiple outfits I already own? Is the quality good enough to last beyond this season? Does it fill a gap in my wardrobe or add to my capsule wardrobe, or is it just another version of something I already have? If it passes those tests, it's worth considering.

Here are a few pieces from the clothing sale I'm loving right now.

Shoes are one of those purchases where comfort and versatility matter just as much as style. The best shoe finds on sale are the ones you'll actually wear on repeat, not the ones that look great but hurt after an hour or only work with one specific outfit. I'm talking about sneakers to wear with dresses for that effortless cool-girl vibe, or shoes to wear with wide-leg pants that nail the proportions without swallowing your frame.

These are a few pairs from the Nordstrom shoe sale that I keep coming back to.

Accessories are where you can make the biggest impact without overhauling your entire wardrobe. A great bag, the right watch, or quality leather gloves can completely elevate even the simplest outfit. Plus, they double as unique gifts when the occasion calls for it. The key is finding pieces that feel special but still work with your everyday life.

Here's what got my attention in accessories.

The beauty section is where you can score luxury products that rarely go on sale anywhere else. If you've been curious about a high-end skincare line or wanting to try a new fragrance without the full-price commitment, this is your chance. Sets and collections are especially good deals since they give you more to work with.

There are some beauty finds I'm eyeing right now.

The home section might not be the first place you think to check, but it's where some of the best deals hide. High-quality linens, kitchen essentials from brands like Le Creuset, and cozy throws that actually last are all worth investing in when they're on sale.

Here are a few things from the home sale that stood out to me.

Here's the thing about Nordstrom's sale section: there are nearly 48,000 items in women's alone at any given time, which sounds amazing until you're 20 pages deep and questioning all your life choices.

The key to not losing your mind (or three hours of your day) is knowing how to filter and sort strategically so you're only seeing the good stuff. Here's exactly how I navigate the sale section to find pieces worth buying.

Get Specific With Categories

Don't try to browse "All Women" because you'll be scrolling forever. Use the category tabs at the top (Clothing, Shoes, Handbags & Wallets, Beauty, Designer, etc.) to narrow down what you're looking for. So if you're hunting for luxury finds specifically, the Designer tab is your shortcut. 

But it doesn’t stop there. Within each category, you'll find more subcategories to drill down even further. Click into Clothing, for example, and you'll see tabs for Coats, Dresses, Jeans & Denim, Pants & Leggings, and more. This is how you go from 28,000+ clothing items to a manageable selection that's actually relevant to what you need.

Master the Filter Menu

The "Filter" button is where the real magic happens. Start by narrowing down the basics like size (crucial for shoes and clothing), product type, and price range to immediately cut through the noise. 

Then here's where it gets good. The discount percentage filter lets you skip straight to the deepest markdowns. If you only want to see items that are 50% off or more, you can set that filter and avoid wasting time on barely-discounted pieces.

The brand filter is also worth using if you know what you're after. Searching specifically for Madewell jeans or Free People dresses is way more efficient than scrolling through hundreds of pages hoping to stumble across them. Trust me on this one.

And if you're looking for something really specific, other filters like color, material, style, sleeve length, or neckline can help you find exactly what you need without the endless scrolling.

Sort Strategically

The "Sort" dropdown is your best friend. "Featured" is the default, but I switch between a few depending on what I'm after. "Newest" shows you what just got marked down, "Percent Off" helps you find the deepest discounts first, and "Price: Low to High" is great when you're on a budget and want to see the most affordable options up front. I also love sorting by "Customer Rating" when I want to see proven favorites (aka items that other shoppers have loved enough to leave reviews, which tells you something).

Use Your Wishlist

Even if something isn't on sale yet (or isn't at the price you want), heart it anyway. You can check back on your saved items to see if anything has been marked down or dropped in price. It's way more efficient than trying to remember what you were eyeing or re-searching for it later.

When to Shop the Nordstrom Sale for the Best Deals

Timing really is everything when it comes to scoring the best Nordstrom sale finds. While the sale section is always active year-round, Nordstrom runs a few major sales throughout the year where more items get discounted, already discounted pieces are marked down further, and the deals get seriously good. These are the main ones to watch out for.

• The Anniversary Sale (July) is the biggest one, and what makes it special is that it includes brand-new arrivals alongside the usual sale fare. Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale typically runs from mid-July to early August, with Nordstrom cardmembers getting early access before the public sale opens. If you've been eyeing new-season pieces but waiting for a price drop, this is your moment.
• Half-Yearly Sales (May and December) are when end-of-season clearance gets real. We're talking up to 50% off on fashion, beauty, and home, with the deepest discounts landing on items that didn't sell earlier in the season. The December sale is perfect for winter coats and cold-weather essentials, while May is when spring and summer pieces finally hit rock bottom prices.
• Black Friday and Cyber Monday (November) bring the kind of discounts you'd expect from the biggest shopping weekend of the year. Discounts can go as high as 60% off on thousands of items, including brands like UGG, Reformation, and Topshop. It's prime time for stocking up on winter wardrobe staples and knocking out holiday gift shopping in one go.

And if you're looking to save even more beyond timing your shopping around these major events, it's worth checking for Nordstrom promo codes before you check out. They don't come around often, but when they do, they can stack on top of sale prices.

What's Worth Buying on Sale at Nordstrom

Not everything on sale is worth your money, even at a discount. But if you come across deals in these categories, they're absolutely worth adding to cart. Here's what I always look for.

• Designer bags and shoes. A designer bag or pair of luxury shoes at full price can feel impossible to justify, but finding discount designer pieces? Suddenly, that math starts working in your favor, especially when you're buying something that'll outlast everything else in your closet.
• Luxury beauty and skincare. High-end beauty brands rarely go on sale anywhere, so if you spot them discounted, consider it a sign from the universe. This is your chance to stock up on products you already love or finally try that expensive serum you've been curious about.
• Quality outerwear. A well-made wool coat or leather jacket is one of those purchases that lasts forever if you take care of it. Finding one on sale means you get all that longevity without the full-price commitment, which makes the investment way easier to justify.
• Designer denim. Premium brands like AG, Paige, and Rag & Bone fit and wear differently than fast-fashion jeans. The quality difference is real, and finding them on sale makes them way more accessible.
• High-quality home and bedding. Good linens and cozy throws last longer and feel better than cheaper alternatives. Catching them on sale means you can upgrade without the sticker shock. If you care about thread count and want pieces that actually hold up, these deals are worth jumping on.

What to Skip at the Nordstrom Sale

Just because something is on sale doesn't mean it deserves a spot in your cart. Here's what I've learned to walk away from, even when the discount looks tempting.

If it's screaming "viral TikTok trend," it's probably not worth it even at half off. Trendy pieces that'll feel dated in a month will get worn twice before you're over them, and you'll wish you'd spent that money on something with more staying power. Same goes for items with bad reviews. I don't care how good the deal is—if multiple people are saying it runs weird, the quality is poor, or it's not worth it, believe them. A cheap price doesn't fix a poorly made product.

Don't buy the wrong size hoping alterations will save it either. Alterations can do a lot, but they can't fix major fit issues. If you're buying something two sizes too big or too small thinking you'll make it work, you probably won't, and then it'll just sit in your closet making you feel guilty. And if it's a basic tee or leggings that are essentially the same quality as what you'd find at Target or H&M, the Nordstrom sale price probably isn't that special. Save your budget for the stuff that's actually elevated.

But here's the big one. If you wouldn't want it at full price, you probably don't actually want it on sale either. Don't let a discount trick you into buying something you don't love. Sale or not, it should still be something you're genuinely excited to wear.

Nordstrom Sale vs. Nordstrom Rack: What’s the Difference?

If you've ever been confused about the difference between shopping Nordstrom's sale section and shopping at Nordstrom Rack, you're not alone. They sound similar, but they're actually pretty different shopping experiences.

Nordstrom's sale section is exactly what it sounds like—regular Nordstrom merchandise that's been marked down. Everything in the sale section started out on Nordstrom's main floor (or website) at full price and got discounted because it's end-of-season, overstock, or just didn't sell as quickly as expected. The quality is the same as what you'd find at full price, just marked down. You also get Nordstrom's famously generous return policy, free alterations on eligible items, and the same customer service you'd expect from the mainline store.

Nordstrom Rack, on the other hand, is Nordstrom's off-price retail chain. While you'll find some merchandise from Nordstrom stores that got sent to the Rack for clearance, a lot of what's there is actually made specifically for Nordstrom Rack. These are often lower-quality versions of brands you'd recognize, and they’re produced at a lower price point specifically for the outlet market. The return policy is more restrictive (14 days with tags attached), there are no free alterations, and the inventory is more hit-or-miss.

So, which should you shop? If you're looking for guaranteed quality and the flexibility of Nordstrom's return policy, stick with Nordstrom's sale section. If you're bargain hunting and don't mind sifting through racks to find gems, Nordstrom Rack can have great deals (especially if you can stack a Nordstrom Rack coupon on top). Just know what you're getting into with each.

The Bottom Line on Shopping the Nordstrom Sale Section

I've shown you what I'm loving from the Nordstrom sale section right now, but the real win is knowing how to find your own gems without losing your mind in the process. The Nordstrom sale section is genuinely one of the best places to score quality pieces at prices that don't make you wince—you just need to know how to work it.

Use the filters like your life depends on it, skip the stuff that's only tempting because it's cheap, and remember that the sale section isn't going anywhere. New stuff gets added all the time, so there's zero reason to panic-buy something you're not obsessed with. And if you can time your shopping around one of the big three sales? Chef's kiss.

At the end of the day, a good deal is only good if you're actually going to wear it. So be picky, use what you've learned here, and go find something that makes you excited to get dressed. You've got this.