There is one morning a year I check the Nordstrom sale like it’s a personal appointment: the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, the one where fall shoes land at real prices before the season even starts. This year the shelves are genuinely good, and the sale ends Sunday, August 9th, so I’m not going to sit on it. Boots in popular colors go fast, and a few of the pairs I want are already on the way out.
I’ve spent five years buying for a department store floor, and the honest part nobody tells you is this: a good boot is a cost-per-wear play. You’re not buying a pair of shoes, you’re buying a hundred commutes. That’s the math I used when I went through the 2026 sale, and it’s the math below — organized by style, with the fit notes I’d want before I spend a cent. Sizing for reference: I’m 5’6″ and wear 8.5 to 9 in shoes.
Boots & Ankle Boots
The sale’s best value every year, no argument. Before you fall for a silhouette, three checks: the upper should be soft leather or a quality faux that can hold up over multiple seasons, the heel should be one you can actually walk in all day, and the style should work with every cut of jean you own, skinny to wide. Boots are investment pieces. They need to work hard in your wardrobe.
One note on waterproofing, since it comes up for every pair below: the Blondo options are genuinely waterproof, which I think matters more than most of us give it credit for. The rest aren’t, and I’d only buy them in a climate that stays dry.
Blondo Alida Waterproof Bootie
These were my favorite pair last year, and they’re on sale again. They go with everything from elevated casual to work to dressy, and they’re waterproof. The toe is a rounded square, which gives you polish without reading sharp. The heel is easy to walk in, and this year they’ve added taupe and a rich chocolate brown alongside last year’s black and tan.
Everyone asks me about these year-round, so grab them while they’re discounted. One habit from my buying days: I swap in my own insole for a bit more cushion. Do the same.
Blondo Nicolette Waterproof Bootie
The Alida’s slimmer sister — a more slender heel, 0.25″ higher. I notice the difference, but it’s a very pretty pair, and it’s waterproof too.
Blondo Marina Stretch Suede Waterproof Boot
The one my co-stylist bought this year. Sturdy block heel, a slim shaft that tucks under every style of pants. Also worth your own insole for extra cushion.
Vince Camuto Pointed Toe Boot
Soft upper, cushioned footbed, a pointed toe that polishes any outfit, and a low heel you can live in all day. The only catch: not waterproof like the Blondos. The taupe is running low in stock, but a dark brown snakeskin-textured pair is still available, and it’s beautiful.
Nine West Black Pointed Toe Block Heel Bootie
Underrated, in my opinion. It’s the Vince Camuto shape if you want it in black suede — soft upper, a little cushion in the footbed, and a sturdy low stacked heel. The pointed toe takes a fit from casual to work to a special occasion without changing anything else. Also not waterproof, so factor that in.
Nordstrom Banks Tall Boot
The best modern take on a tall boot in the sale. It creates a slim line on the leg, but you can slouch it a little if that’s more your thing. Available in tan, chocolate brown, and taupe, and I was genuinely torn between them. If your tall boots are showing their age, this is the one to look at.
Blondo Alexis Waterproof Knee High Boot
Rounded toe instead of pointed, so it reads more casual and tonal. The shaft sits a bit higher, covering the bottom of my kneecap. Same Blondo rule applies: bring your own insole. And yes, it’s waterproof.
Sneakers
A good sneaker is one of the most-worn things in your closet, which makes it exactly the kind of pair to buy on sale. I look for two things: comfort for all-day wear, and a sleek, put-together profile that works with jeans and a blazer or a dress, not just athleisure. A low vamp keeps the line clean, and that’s what you want for versatility.
Dolce Vita Merit Perforated Sneaker
I wasn’t planning to buy a lifestyle sneaker this year, and then I saw these in store and couldn’t walk away. Perforated texture is all over this season, the upper feels great, and the footbed is cushioned. This is the pair that proved the sale can change my plans.
Adidas Gazelle
I didn’t try these on in this color, but I have worn another colorway of the same silhouette — cushioned, comfortable, and they go with everything. A safe pick.
Flats
For days when you want polished without a heel. Three that work for me.
Steve Madden Lela Perforated Mary Jane Flat
Really cushioned footbed, soft upper, and several colors. I like that the tan reads clean rather than red — it’s the kind of neutral that goes with your whole closet.
Dolce Vita Mycah Woven Flat
The woven detail is all over this season, and it’s the kind of texture that gives an outfit interest without you trying. Available in several colorways.
Nine West Pointed Toe Flat
The most underrated shoe in the entire sale. It goes with everything, and the pointed toe adds polish without being sharp — the toe box isn’t elongated, so if you love pointed toes but hate them feeling pointy, this is the version. Comfortable, sturdy, a little cushion in the footbed. If you buy one pair of flats from the sale, make it this one.
How to Shop the Sale for Shoes
Order two sizes if you’re unsure. Shoe sizing varies by brand and style, and Nordstrom offers free return shipping, so ordering your usual size plus a half size up is completely risk-free. It beats missing out because you waited.
Lean on the waterproof pairs. I like owning shoes I don’t have to change out of when the weather turns, because it means the outfit survives the forecast.
Buy the versatile pair, save the trendy one for later. This is the sale to invest in shoes you’ll wear for multiple seasons, not the most fashion-forward silhouette that will feel dated by next August. If your classics are already covered, then have fun with a statement pair at a pre-season price.
Style Math: a boot you wear roughly a hundred times across two seasons, bought at sale price, works out to a few dollars per wear. A boot you buy full price and wear three times does not. That’s the whole game.
FAQ
When does the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale end?
Sunday, August 9th. Boots and ankle boots sell out first, so if you’re after a specific pair, shop early in your access window.
Which pairs in this list are waterproof?
The Blondo Alida, Nicolette, Marina, and Alexis are waterproof. The Vince Camuto and Nine West boots and the flats are not.
What size should I order if I’m between sizes?
Order your usual size and a half size up. Sizing varies by brand and style, and Nordstrom offers free return shipping, so it’s a low-risk move.
A note from Lena: I used to buy the trend first and ask questions later. Five years of department store buying fixed that. The sale is where the good pairs get cheap — spend on the boots, and the rest will wait for you.