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Published July 17, 2026 • Last updated July 17, 2026
Every year I get asked the same question when the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale rolls around: what are you actually buying? So this year I am just showing you. These are the seven pieces sitting in my cart right now, the ones I personally hit checkout on the moment the Sale goes live. In 2026 it opens to the public on July 18, with cardmembers shopping early.
This is not a giant list of everything in the Sale. It is my real, edited cart, the pieces I genuinely want for my own closet and routine. I have kept it honest: since the Sale has not opened yet, nothing has shipped, so I am sharing why each piece made my cart and I will circle back with try-on and first-impression thoughts once they arrive. If you want the full best-of, my 25 best things to buy in the Sale covers every category.
A quick note before we start. Anniversary Sale prices go live on July 18, so the live Sale price is not showing yet. I will update this post with each item's Sale price the day the deals drop.
My Nordstrom Anniversary Sale cart is the edited list of pieces I am personally buying this year, spanning denim, a shoulder bag, jewelry, shoes, and one beauty splurge, all from the Sale that runs once a year. It matters because a real, edited cart cuts through the overwhelm and shows what one person actually commits to. It is most useful for anyone who wants honest picks over an endless list, and a sense of what is genuinely worth it.
The seven pieces in my 2026 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale cart are the Levi’s Ribcage jeans, the Dolce Vita Mercer shoulder bag, the BaubleBar Ava cuff, the Jenny Bird Amalfi necklace, the Aldo Berylyn sandal, the Puma Speedcat sneaker, and the Dr. Dennis Gross FaceWare Pro LED mask. These are the pieces I personally committed to. The Sale opens to the public on July 18, 2026.
Quick Takeaways
- This is my real, edited cart, not a list of everything in the Sale.
- Seven pieces: Levi’s Ribcage jeans, Dolce Vita bag, two jewelry pieces, two pairs of shoes, one beauty device.
- My biggest splurge is the Dr. Dennis Gross FaceWare Pro LED mask ($455 value).
- Everything here is a closet or routine staple I will actually use, not a trend impulse.
- The Sale opens to the public July 18; cardmembers shop early.
- Honest note: nothing has shipped yet, so I will add try-on thoughts once these arrive.
What’s in This Guide
The three picks I am most excited about from my own cart.
The Fashion Pieces in My Cart
Most of my cart is wardrobe staples, the kind of pieces I reach for constantly and want to own in a quality version. These four are the fashion picks I committed to, and each one fills a real gap in my closet.
I have wanted the Ribcage jeans forever. The super-high waist and clean straight leg are the most flattering, timeless denim silhouette out there, and Levi’s quality means they will last for years. This is the piece I am most sure about in my whole cart, since good denim is always worth it. See all denim in the Sale →
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This is the neutral, everyday shoulder bag I have been missing. The slouchy leather shape works with everything and reads way more expensive than it is. I love a bag that goes from errands to dinner without a second thought, and this one checks that box for me. See all bags in the Sale →
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A comfortable slide sandal is my summer uniform, and I wear this style until it falls apart. The Berylyn is the easy, go-with-anything pair I will live in through the rest of summer and into early fall. It is the low-risk, high-wear piece every cart needs. See all sandals in the Sale →
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The Puma Speedcat is the sleek, low-profile sneaker that is everywhere right now, and I have been eyeing it for months. The ballet-suede version feels a little more elevated than a chunky trainer, and it will dress up jeans or a skirt. This is my one trend pick, but it is a trend I am fully in on. See all sneakers in the Sale →
Shop Now →These are the wardrobe basics I know I will wear on repeat. If you want more options in any of these, my denim and sneaker guides go wider.
My full Anniversary Sale shopping list — the finds actually worth your money, sorted by worth-it or skip, with the July 18 go-live reminder so nothing sells out on you.
Send me the cheat sheet →The Jewelry in My Cart
Jewelry is where I love a small, elevated upgrade, since the right pieces make every outfit feel finished. These two are the ones I added, and both are the kind of everyday jewelry I will actually wear daily.
A good cuff is the easiest way to make an outfit feel intentional, and the BaubleBar Ava is a clean, modern shape I can wear with everything. I love a piece that adds polish without any effort. This is the small upgrade that will earn a spot in my daily rotation. See all jewelry in the Sale →
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Jenny Bird is one of my favorite jewelry brands, because the pieces look high-end and hold up beautifully. This layered Amalfi chain gives you the stacked look in one piece, so there is no fussing with tangled layers. It is the elevated everyday necklace I reach for on repeat. See all jewelry in the Sale →
Shop Now →The Beauty Splurge in My Cart
I always let myself one real beauty splurge in the Sale, and this year it is an easy call. This is the single most expensive thing in my cart, and the one I have researched the most.
The Dr. Dennis Gross FaceWare Pro is the LED mask I have wanted for ages, and at a $455 value it is the deal that finally pushed me to commit. LED treatment is one of the few at-home devices with real science behind it, and this is the cult favorite. It is my big splurge, and the piece I am most curious to put to the test once it arrives. See all beauty deals in the Sale →
Shop Now →Why I Kept My Cart Small
It would be easy to add thirty things to my cart during a sale this big, but I have learned that a smaller, edited cart is what I never regret. I only buy pieces that fill a real gap, that I will reach for constantly, or that rarely go on sale, like the Dr. Dennis Gross device. Everything here passes that test. If you want to see how I think about building a considered wardrobe instead of impulse-buying, my 25 best things to buy post applies the same filter across the whole Sale.
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Fill a real gap. Each piece answers something my closet or routine was actually missing.
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Wear-on-repeat, not one-time. I skipped trend impulses in favor of pieces I will use constantly.
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Splurge where it is rare. The one big splurge is a device that almost never goes on sale.
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Quality over quantity. A few pieces I love beat a cart full of things I feel lukewarm about.
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No regret test. If I would not pay close to full price for it, it does not make the cart.
“A small, edited cart is the one I never regret. I buy the pieces I will actually reach for, and skip the rest.— Jasmine Del Toro, Layers of Beauty
The three picks I am most excited about from my own cart.
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, What's in My Cart: FAQ
When does the 2026 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale start?+
What did you buy in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale?+
Have you tried these pieces yet?+
Why don't I see the sale prices yet?+
What is your biggest splurge?+
What jeans did you buy?+
Why is your cart so small?+
Are these good picks for someone else too?+
Will these sell out?+
Where can I shop all your picks?+
TL;DR — This is my real Nordstrom Anniversary Sale cart, seven pieces that each fill a genuine gap in my closet or routine. The Levi’s Ribcage jeans and Dr. Dennis Gross LED mask are the ones I am most sure about, since good denim and a science-backed device are always worth it. Build your own edited cart before July 18 so you can check out before the best sizes sell out, and skip anything you would not pay close to full price for.
The Bottom Line on My 2026 Cart
A sale like this is not about buying the most. It is about buying the right few things, the pieces you will actually reach for long after the Sale ends.
That is exactly how I built this cart, and it is the whole idea behind Layers of Beauty. Fewer, better choices, made with confidence, always win.
So take what fits your life, leave the rest, and build a cart you feel good about. As of July 2026, these seven are what I am buying, and you can find all of them on my LTK shop. Want the full best-of across every category? My 25 best things to buy is the perfect next read, and I will update this post with reviews once my order arrives.