I’m a Picky Shopper, But These 50 Nordstrom Sale Finds Have My Stamp of Approval

best basics from nordstrom's early black friday sale shown in a collage of two women standing on the sidewalk, one on the left is wearing a brown suede trench coat over a white t-shirt and jeans, one on the right is wearing a black blazer dress with a black shoulder bag and a black headband and sunglasses

Hear that sound? In the distance, a Mariah Carey song is playing, which only means one thing: the holiday season is approaching. For some, there's no shortage of things to be excited about this time of year—from the prospect of traveling to new places to being able to host loved ones in our homes. But for fashion people, the most thrilling thing about this small window of time is, well, the Black Friday sales, if we're being honest. Sure, being excited about sales may seem a little superficial on the surface, but that's only if you're not an intentional shopper. If you're a picky shopper, you don't see sale season solely as an opportunity to score deals on gifts for everyone on your list—e.g., your girlfriend, boyfriend, mother, sister, etc—but for yourself too. However, the savviest shoppers know that the best way to capitalize off-sale season isn't by buying into every single trend but by investing in a few staples.

There's no better time to begin to access what foundational pieces your wardrobe (or beauty arsenal) is missing so you can shop them while they're marked down. Of course, knowing what to buy is the first part of the challenge; the second half is knowing where to score the best deals. While many noteworthy markdowns are happening during this period, there's one particular event that the fashion set can't stop talking about: Nordstrom's Black Friday Sale. Every year, without fail, you can't scroll through social media without hearing about this sale (for a good reason). They offer a chic curation of rising labels and designer brands in the womenswear and beauty categories that are unmatched. As if that weren't enough, ahead of Cyber Week, Nordstrom launched an Early Black Friday Sale this year, offering up to 60% off.

It's the perfect chance to stock up on some seriously stylish staples before the official start of the holiday season. But if you're the type of shopper who struggles to choose what to buy during a massive sale, keep scrolling. As a highly picky shopper, I've decided to share my skills by curating a list of the 50 best fashion and beauty finds from Nordstrom's Early Black Friday Sale that make great long-term investments. Whether you need a few new basics or are searching for a gift idea, these finds will pass any potential criteria you have with flying colors.

Best Apparel Basics

a photo of a woman walking down the sidewalk wearing a dark brown turtleneck with a black bowler bag and black jeans and black pointed ankle boots

(Image credit: @nlmarilyn)

Best Outerwear on Sale

a photo of a woman standing on the sidewalk wearing gold earrings with a long tan coat with an oversized matching scarf styled with a suede bucket bag and black pointed kitten heels

(Image credit: @sobalera)

Best Shoes on Sale

a photo of a woman walking on the sidewalk wearing a dark brown suede trench coat over a white t-shirt with jeans and pointed brown heels

(Image credit: @slipintostyle)

Best Accessories on Sale

a photo of a woman on the sidewalk wearing a black stretchy headband, black sunglasses, a black turtleneck, a black blazer dress, black tights, and a silver watch

(Image credit: @lovisabarkman)

Best Beauty Basics on Sale

a photo of a woman sitting outside at a table wearing brown sunglasses with a brown scarf over the head with a gray coat looking into a small compact mirror while putting on lipstick

(Image credit: @_livmadeline)
Jasmine Fox-Suliaman
Editor

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman is a fashion editor living in New York City. What began as a hobby (blogging on Tumblr) transformed into a career dedicated to storytelling through various forms of digital media. She started her career at the print publication 303 Magazine, where she wrote stories, helped produce photo shoots, and planned Denver Fashion Week. After moving to Los Angeles, she worked as MyDomaine's social media editor until she was promoted to work across all of Clique's publications (MyDomaine, Byrdie, and Who What Wear) as the community manager. Over the past few years, Jasmine has worked on Who What Wear's editorial team, using her extensive background to champion rising BIPOC designers, weigh in on viral trends, and profile stars such as Janet Mock and Victoria Monét. She is especially interested in exploring how art, fashion, and pop culture intersect online and IRL.