Corrine StokoeOne of our very MOST popular Nordstrom Anniversary Sale posts annually is the BEST JEANS guide, so it’s making another comeback! Nordstrom really knocked it out of the park this year with sooooo much good denim at the Anniversary Sale this year. I really did seriously try on EVERY.SINGLE.PAIR of Nordstrom anniversary sale jeans to help YOU get the very best jeans in the sale, depending on what you’re looking for and your budget!
Your best bet to shopping the 2025 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is online – so it’s a good thing you’re here! I did all the trying on for you so I could tell you how these jeans fit, and I focus on the jeans that I felt like were a 4.5/5 or 5/5! Ready? Let’s do this.
When can I shop the sale?
CATALOG: June 26, 2025
ICON early access: July 8th, 2025
Ambassador early access: July 9th, 2025
Influencer early access: July 10th, 2025
Open to the public: July 12th, 2025
Sale ends August 3rd!
*each level of access opens at midnight ET (so 9 p.m. PT the night before if you’re west coast!)
Table of Contents
- When can I shop the sale?
- How this guide works!
- Most on-trend jeans (RESTOCKED)
- Best wide leg jeans (RESTOCKED)
- Best for my petite friends (RESTOCKED)
- Best classic jean (RESTOCKED)
- Best jeans around $100 (NEW)
- Pricey jeans to pass on…
- Best barrel jeans (NEW)
- Best crop jeans (NEW)
- Most unique jeans
- Best dark denim (NEW)
- A former love…
- But what about the leopard jeans…?
- Very best overall
- When my predictions are wrong…
- Best brown jeans
- Best Nordstrom Anniversary Sale picks!
How this guide works!
There are so many different categories when it comes to jeans, so I included the best pick for EACH category. Whatever you’re looking for, the anniversary sale has it, and I took the time to try on every pair of jeans to figure out which ones are the most flattering, comfortable, best bang-for-your-buck, won’t give you camel toe, WILL make your booty look good and legs look long, and even finds depending on how much stretch you do (or don’t!) want.
I really employed Essentialism in crafting this guide, so I really focused on jeans that were 4.5 or 5-star (out of 5) and we spend very little time discussing anything where I went “ugh!” because of an uncomfortable, unflattering, camel toe inducing, low rising, not meant for a lady over 30 kind of fit!
My recommendations will most likely be helpful for a woman who’s had babies or needs jeans that flatter the lower-abdominal area.
I tried on each pair of Nordstrom anniversary sale jeans in my normal size and will tell you which are true to size (TTS), or if you need to go up or down a size.
I’m 5’10 and have had 5 c-sections, so I’m definitely not looking for anything low-rise, hip hugger or Britney Spears 1999-esque.
Alright, let’s get started so we can get you all your favorite Nordstrom anniversary sale jeans before they sell out in your size!!
Most on-trend jeans (RESTOCKED)
These are a definite 5/5 for me. This is the trend – they’re flattering from the side and structured enough but not in an uncomfortable way. They come cuffed but I can easily unfold the bottom and wear them with heels just fine even though I’m 5’10. They’re just very very comfortable and I’m super happy with these. Fits TTS!
Best wide leg jeans (RESTOCKED)
These are another one of those 4.5/5 star jeans for me. The fit is wonderful, the material is extremely cozy, they’re just a little bit too short for me for what I would want for winter. You can style them easy in the summer but in the winter, it’s just going to be a little bit harder. I like these, but I’d like them better for someone who is just a little bit shorter. They fit TTS!
Best for my petite friends (RESTOCKED)
These jeans really do fit like a glove and have a great fit to them. But for me, because I’m so tall (5’10), the length wasn’t perfect, which is why I gave them a 4.5/5. BUT my Nordstrom stylist, who is shorter, said these are her very favorite jeans. So if you’re shorter, these are it!! They run TTS.
Best classic jean (RESTOCKED)
I’m really excited about these too. They really dialed this fit to perfection. If you’re looking for a super classic, 80s-style jean with a straight leg that you can wear with anything—sneakers, heels, whatever—this is going to be a really great pair. Go DOWN a size in these – trust me!
Best jeans around $100 (NEW)
These are probably a 4.5 out of 5. I really like the fit. They’re super flattering and keep my tummy flat in the front. It’s just the crop that makes me go hmm…I can’t wear quite as much with them, but they really do fit nicely!
Pricey jeans to pass on…
THIS is why I try on all of the jeans: I thought these were going to be great but the button was so awful. These were so hard to get on and get a 3/5 from me. Fit was TTS though.
Best barrel jeans (NEW)
If you wanna jump on the barrel jean trend, this is the way to do it! These have a phenomenal fit, are super cute, and one of the more affordable pairs of jeans in the sale. 4/5.
Best crop jeans (NEW)
I’m going to rate these 4/5. They are unbelievably comfortable and very flattering too. The only thing is that these are reeeally cropped, so they’d be a little hard to style and feel comfortable in a cold winter. But for summer, these are awesome!
Most unique jeans
These are cool, and that’s not a print, it’s actual stitching. And the fit is actually pretty good, but these are too much of a statement for me, especially with how expensive they are. I just can’t wear them twice a week, you know? 3/5. They fit TTS.
Best dark denim (NEW)
If you are not 5’10 like me, these are going to be the most perfect black denim jeans for you. They fit SO well. They have good stretch but not too much. They’re just a little short for me, but if you have a little bit shorter legs than me, the fit is just SO unreal!
A former love…
Just making a note that these cropped jeans are very cropped. There’s so much space between my foot, my ankle, and the top of the jean. Also, it has a moderately difficult button. For MANY past years they’ve been my very favorite brand in the entire NSale for jeans. They do fit well (TTS), but those other strikes against them make it a 4/5. And I won’t be buying.
But what about the leopard jeans…?
If you’re looking for a leopard pair, this pair does fit really well (and TTS) but honestly, I just kind of felt like I looked like an animal wearing them. A little too much for me, but maybe not for you!
Very best overall
These are hands down my favorite pair that I’ve tried on. The length is perfect, not too long, and they’re extremely comfortable, super cute, and flattering. This style is definitely the most in right now, and they have this tummy-flattening technology. So if you’ve had babies like me, these are by far the MOST flattering pair I’ve tried on today. And they’re one of the more affordable designer jeans too. Win, win, win, win, win!! Fit was true to size (TTS).
*Sold out at Nordstrom but we found them fully stocked and 66% OFF and only $59.97 here!!! Join our newsletter here for all NSale updates.
When my predictions are wrong…
Okay listen, I like these, but they’re not #1 like I predicted they would be when I looked over the entire catalog this year. But this is why I try on all of the jeans. They’re good and a safe bet, but there are definitely better jeans in the Nsale. Fit was TTS. (Almost sold out!)
Best brown jeans
Holy crap, these pants get a 5/5 from me. Actually a 6/5. They are SO soft and feel like butter. Seriously. These are so comfortable, fit really nicely (TTS!), and are the kind of pants I’m going to want to wear every day. My stylist saw my reaction and said, “just wait till you travel in those!” I normally don’t travel in jeans but with these?? Game on.
*Sold out but we will watch for restocks! Join our newsletter here for all NSale updates.
Best Nordstrom Anniversary Sale picks!
There are sooo many pages of things to scroll through during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and that’s why I did all the dirty work of trying on EVERY SINGLE PAIR OF JEANS so you don’t have to! I’m working hard with my team to bring you even MORE quick guides for the NSale so stick around and keep coming back in the next few days and all throughout the sale if this was helpful to you, for more bestie recs. Happy shopping!!
which DL1961 jean is darker? On line they look too similar to tell. I’d like to order the darker on on your recommendation. Thank you
The DL1961 Florence Instasculpt is the darker wash! 🙂
This is so helpful! Can you share how tall these girls are so I can get a better idea of how the jeans would fit me?
Of course! Jaquie (long dark brown hair) is 5’5, Auna (short dark brown hair) is 5’1, and Jenn (light brown hair) is 5’8. Hope that helps! 🙂 -Kourtney
The Rag & Bone raw hem skinnies are listed both in 4 stars & 2 stars with different reviews but it’s the same link. Can you clarify the difference in jeans?
Oh I’m sorry about that, I can totally see how that would’ve been confusing! Auna who is petite rated them a 2, and we concluded after that MOST petite girls don’t love Rag & Bone. However, Jaquie who is 5’5″ LOVED these and rated them a 5, and I always feel like Rag & Bone fit amazing on me at 5’10”! Hope that helps 🙂
Thank you for this, but did you not try on the AG slim ex-boyfriend jean? did it not make the cut?
Oh no, I did and I really liked them! Not sure how we missed including them in this post, I’ll see if I can dig up those pics and add them in 🙂 But those are a big YES for me!!!
Are the black wit and wisdoms jeans with slimming panels TTS?
Good question! All of the wit & wisdom jeans you should size down 2 sizes!!
I loved that you tried on so many jeans and this post is helpful but I really loved how last year you had other people of different sizes ( especially diff heights) try on the jeans and give their opinions.
Hey Jenna, thanks for your feedback. I know, last year it was fun to be able to show different heights and body types. It was a tremendous amount of extra work though outfitting several different people, which was necessary since I was almost 9 mo pregnant and couldn’t fit into 90% of the clothes! This year, with the things going on in our family (Neil’s brother’s pre-murder-trial hearing etc. and having to travel and plan for that right in the middle of the Anniversary Sale opening week) I knew I wasn’t going to be up for extra work on top of whatever we needed to do to get our content ready for the blog. I hope you can understand and that what I did provide was of value to you! 🙂
Oh my goodness. I am so sorrry and I feel terrible, Corrine! I definitely wasn’t trying to be critical. I thought this was a great post and I appreciate the energy and work you put into this sale (and your blog in general). I just thought last year’s was helpful and fun in a different way. I never even considered how it would be more work. I actually told my husband that I can’t believe how much time you must have spent trying on so much stuff! And, now that you’ve mentioned it, I completely see how it would be so much harder to have more people involved. You did a great job with this and it was valuable to me–and probably tons of other people too. Also, I’m very sorry about your loss and I’m sending lots of love your family’s way.
Oh no please don’t feel terrible!! I just wanted to give an honest and transparent answer so that it didn’t seem like I was blowing off whatever would be most helpful to people. I really do appreciate your kindness and understanding, and even the fact that you’re here as a reader in the first place!!! Can’t tell you how grateful we are for you 🙂
Your jeans guide has been so helpful! I prefer a higher waist jean, so I took a chance on the Wit & Wisdom high-rise jeggings. Per your recommendation, I ordered two sizes down. You were right on the money! The smaller size fits perfectly. They are very flattering and comfortable. I can’t wait to wear them. Thanks again!
Were there any wide leg jeans that you liked? I see that these are all skinnies. Aren’t wide legs a thing again?
I love these!! And what a task you took on!
You look great, especially right after having Harry! I know the #10 pair (Madewell) made your top ten, but weren’t your favorite, but I have to say from the pics they stand out as the most ultra flattering on you!
Thanks for the great recommendations; this is so helpful for next week’s shopping!
Thank you for all the time and effort you put into this Nordstrom favorite Jean hunt! I love all your honest-talk of how things fit! Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is definitely a highlight of the year for me and your hunting down all these best jeans saves me a ton of time! Thanks a bunch! ❤️
I don’t see the brands of jeans in your post. Just the pic and your description, but I don’t see what brand they are. Am I missing something l?
Hi Jill! If you click any of the pink underlined words, it will take you to the correct jeans! 🙂 -Kourtney
Thank you!! Is there anyway you could also link the coral button down you wore in the first photo?! I love the color?
Hi Holly!! Here is the link to Corrine’s top! 🙂 -Kourtney