The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is officially here! As a seasoned Nordstrom shopper and fashion editor who’s spent the last several years reporting on the sale, let me just say that it’s really good this time around. Last week, I popped into the NYC flagship store ahead of time to get a sneak preview at all the deals and try things on in-person, and in a sale-induced shopping frenzy, ended up hauling armfuls of items back to my dressing room.
I’m not much of an impulse buyer, so even during a huge sale like this I’d rather stock up on great wardrobe staples I know I’ll get the most wear out of, which is why I want to highlight six trend-forward fall staples I’m shopping now to wear from August onwards. After all, the smartest shoppers I know are always looking a season or two ahead and taking advantage of the summer sales to jumpstart their fall wardrobes, which is exactly what I did. Nordstrom put so many great fall-ready items in their big sale, and I pinpointed the trend pieces that will become the anchors to all my looks next season.
From funnel-neck jackets to suede boots, discover and shop the most important fall 2026 trends from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, see how I’m styling them, and shop my exact picks for each.
The Most Important Fall 2026 Trends From the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
- Funnel-Neck Outerwear: Barbour Suri Showerproof Jacket ($260)
- Dark-Wash Jeans: Reformation Cary Slouchy High Rise Wide Leg Jeans ($124)
- Suede Boots: Staud Western Wally Boots ($330)
- Striped Tees: Pistola Alba Cotton T-Shirt ($65)
- Cropped Pants: Vince Mid-Rise Crop Flare Pants ($265)
- Slouchy Bags: Madewell The Shopper Tote ($159)
1. Funnel-Neck Outerwear
Wearing: Rails Blake Jacket ($190); Reformation Cary High Rise Wide Leg Jeans ($124)
Funnel-neck outerwear is easily one of the most important fall trends to know. Designers just keep iterating on the high-neck silhouette which tells me that it has serious longevity. Much to my delight, the Nordstrom sale was filled with plenty of cool funnel-neck options, from leather bomber jackets to sporty windbreaker styles like the above Rails jacket. It features two toggle closures at the bottom that create a cool sporty shape and the camel color just reads so rich. It would look good with lace-trim shorts and sandals while it’s still warm out, but for fall, I already know it pairs well with denim (a huge plus).
My pick: Rails Blake Jacket
Wearing: Barbour Suri Showerproof Jacket ($260); Vince Mid Rise Crop Flare Pants ($265); Nordstrom Maddox Mesh Flats ($50)
I simply couldn’t land on just one funnel-neck situation, and this Barbour jacket was another piece that I immediately beelined to when I first stepped foot in the store. The cinched waist gives a chic silhouette and I loved how it comes with a double zipper so you have the option of leaving the bottom half open. I paired it crop-flare pants and ballet flats but could easily see this becoming the layer I throw on with my leggings and sneakers for early-morning Pilates classes and Central Park walks. Barbour is one of those brands that, to me, will always be worthy of the investment since they make such high-quality outerwear, so it’s always significant whenever they go on sale.
My pick: Barbour Suri Showerproof Jacket
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2. Dark-Wash Denim
Wearing: Rails Blake Jacket ($190); Reformation Cary High Rise Wide Leg Jeans ($124); Staud Western Wally Boots ($330)
Dark-wash denim was already at the very top of my personal shopping list of what to buy for fall 2026, so I was thrilled to see this chic pair in the Nordstrom sale. They’re the Reformation Cary High Rise Wide Leg Jeans and, coming from someone who’s extremely picky about denim, these fit like a dream. They’re a more relaxed take on a classic wide-leg jean and I liked how they were roomy throughout the leg and had a cool trouser-like feel. The dark rinse looks even better in person and is the kind of denim wash that looks and feels so polished.
My pick: Reformation Cary High Rise Wide Leg Jeans
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3. Suede Boots
Wearing: Avec Les Filles Faux Suede Bomber Jacket ($59); Nordstrom Leather A-Line Midi Skirt ($200); Staud Western Wally Boots ($330)
We have to talk suede boots because they’re probably the strongest category in the entire sale. I’ve been wanting to invest in a pair of the Staud Wallys for a few years now because I keep hearing my friends rave about how comfortable they are, so of course, I grabbed a pair straight away—and yes, they were as wearable as everyone says. My pick are this iteration that comes in a subtle western silhouette and a beautiful suede finish. It was the details like the elongated toe shape and perfect heel height that sold me on them, though. I liked the idea of showing more of the boot from underneath a skirt but would also wear them more as an ankle boot underneath a pair of wide jeans.
My pick: Staud Western Wally Boots
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4. Cropped Pants
Wearing: Barbour Suri Showerproof Jacket ($260); Pistola Alba Cotton T-Shirt ($65); Vince Mid Rise Crop Flare Pants ($265); Nordstrom Maddox Mesh Flats ($50)
Love it or hate it, cropped pants are coming back into style for the latter half of 2026, and if you’re at all hesitant about the shift, I’m happy to say I found the ideal pair to test-drive the silhouette with. They’re the Vince Mid Rise Crop Flare Pants and I’d even go so far as to say that they’d become the very foundation of your wardrobe (yes, they also come in black). Cut from a thick stretch fabric and finished with a polished front seam, they’re chic, sophisticated and above all, versatile. Wear them with ballet flats like I did here, kitten heels, or even flat sandals.
My pick: Vince Mid Rise Crop Flare Pants
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5. Striped Tees
Wearing: Pistola Alba Cotton T-Shirt ($65); Vince Mid Rise Crop Flare Pants ($265); Nordstrom Maddox Mesh Flats ($50)
While a classic white will never go out of style, we’ve been seeing striped tees dominate all year. And for fall 2026, in particular, it’s due to the rise in the sporty-preppy trend that we saw all over the runways. If you have yet to test the waters with one, my suggestion is to grab this Pistola tee while it’s on sale to add a trend-forward touch to your fall outfits. I loved the thick, sturdy weight to it and found the combination of tan, ivory, and brown to be so easy to style with fall neutrals, too—click in to see how good it looks with a pair of brown jeans on the model.
My pick: Pistola Alba Cotton T-Shirt
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6. Slouchy Bags
Wearing: Pistola Alba Cotton T-Shirt ($65); Reformation Cary High Rise Wide Leg Jeans ($124); Staud Western Wally Boots ($330); Madewell The Shopper Tote ($159)
Somebody call the early 2000s—slouchy bags are so back. With the reissue of Y2K icons from designers like Saint Laurent and Chlé, soft, slouchy totes are set to be one of the defining handbags of the year and the F/W 26 runways only confirm that. My pick is this Madewell tote in a gorgeous (and expensive-looking) shade of chocolate brown suede. It’s roomy but malleable—fashion people would push the straps down and carry it tucked under one arm as an oversized clutch.
My pick: Madewell The Shopper Tote
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