Tips & Tricks for Shopping at Nordstrom Rack

How to Shop at Nordstrom Rack

Whether you’re a shopping connoisseur, or a “necessities only” shopper, you can always agree on one thing; there is nothing better than finding a great deal! My favorite place to hunt for a bargain is Nordstrom Rack. While the Rack is an awesome place to find a hidden treasure, it can also be a little overwhelming. There are racks and racks of clothing stuffed so tightly together, that even the most seasoned shopper can be intimidated! After many (many, many many) shopping trips to the Rack, and a year spent as a Nordstrom employee, I have learned many valuable shopping tips! Keep reading for my top 5 tips to shopping at Nordstrom Rack!

Tip #1: For the highest quality items, look for brands and pieces that sold in Nordstrom first. There are many items at The Rack that came directly from Nordstrom, and there are  also items that were made for the Rack itself. There is nothing wrong with items that were made for the Rack, or brands that are exclusively carried at the Rack, however these items are not going to be as high of quality as something that was originally made for Nordstrom. “Researching” on the Nordstrom website is the best way to do this! It may take some time to get down, but it is key in making sure you are getting the best bang for your buck.

Tip #2: Shop the clearance/“clear the rack” sales. These sales can be the most intimidating part of shopping at the Rack, but they are also where you will find the best deals! These racks stuffed with clothing are where you will find the most items that were made for Nordstrom. My favorite brand to look for during the “clear the rack” sales is Free People merchandise! If you haven’t noticed, a lot of Free People clothing ends up at the Rack, making it easy to get a great deal on a high quality piece of clothing.

Tip #3: Look for pieces that have been altered. The best deals I’ve found during the clear the rack sales were on items that were sold at Nordstrom, were altered, and then returned. Now you technically are not supposed to return altered clothing to Nordstrom, but it does happen, and rack shoppers benefit from it! These pieces are sent to the rack at a huge discount, and can be a great buy! My sister, who used to compete in pageants, found a beautiful Mac Duggal dress at the Rack. It had been altered, and was reduced to $80, from it’s original price of $698!!! Yes, you read that right. Words of caution, if you find something that has been altered, make sure it is still in perfect condition before purchasing it. You also NEED to try it on to ensure that it will still fit you correctly, as the alteration could have changed it from the size on the tag.

Tip #4: Follow items from Nordstrom to the Rack. If there is an item at Nordstrom that you really love, but don’t want to pay full price for, keep an eye on it! There is a chance that it will eventually end up at the Rack, especially if it is already on sale. I would find this product on Nordstrom’s website, and save it to a wish list. That way, you can easily come back to the item, and check to see if it’s gone on sale. Check on your item(s) every week or so. After they have been on sale at Nordstrom for a while, they will most likely be headed to the Rack! Beware, if it is a very popular item, it will sell out before it has the chance to get to the Rack.

Tip #5: Check out the makeup. If you’re a big fan of high end makeup, the Rack actually sells quite a bit for a discounted price. I have been buying my Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion there for years now! Many of these items are either in older packaging (Like the UD primer potion), or are gift sets that did not sell at their full price.

The beautiful Mac Duggal gown my sister found at Nordstrom Rack. Photo by Depoe Barksdale Studios

I fell in love with this fun, Blair Waldorf style, Charles Henry dress when I saw it in Nordstrom. I hoped to get it on sale, so I kept an eye on it until it finally went to the rack! These strappy, block heels are Kenneth Cole Reaction. I found them at Nordstrom Rack as well.

This Halogen skirt was one of the best deals I’ve found at Nordstrom Rack. It had been altered, so it was marked down to $11 or $12!

Two of my favorite Free People tops I’ve found at Nordstrom Rack. They  are lightweight, flowy, and perfect for summer!

In case you were not aware, Nordstrom Rack also has a website!

Happy Shopping!