A Review of my 2018 Vera Bradley Annual Outlet Sale Purchases

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I'll receive a small amount of compensation which I will then use to buy more Vera. 

Now that it's almost time to shop the 2019 Vera Bradley Annual Outlet Sale, it's time to start planning. Tickets are still available for the first three days of the sale on Ticketmaster. Vera Bradley only charges $5 for the tickets, but Ticketmaster added another $8 in ridiculous fees, so be prepared for that nonsense.

One thing I thought might be helpful for planning is to review the items I purchased at last year's sale. I try to plan and make lists before the sale, but once you're on the sales floor and the pressure of the crowds and time is on you, decision-making can be pretty frantic. So, now that I've had my items for nearly a year, how do I feel about my purchases?

As a reminder, here are the items I purchased at last year's sale.

Grand Tote 2.0 - I first bought one of these at the 2017 sale, and I loved it so much and used it so much that I bought another one at last year's sale. I've used them so much that I'll probably buy another this year. It's a great bag!

Carryall Crossbody - This bag is the perfect size for carrying all my stuff, and it has the right amount of pockets for my needs. I really love it, and I'm sad that it's retired. One negative about this style is that since I do wear it as a crossbody, it gets worn in one spot that rubs against me when I wear it. It's happened to both of the Carryall Crossbodies that I've bought. I'm still hoping to snag another one at this year's sale.

Lighten Up Grande Backpack - I've been meaning to get a backpack for day camp for a while, and this was finally the year I got one. I wanted a Lighten Up one because I needed something that could sit on the ground at our parks without getting too dirty like the cotton backpacks would. This one is a great size and easily holds all my daily stuff. They don't make this style anymore, but the Vera Bradley Lighten Up Grand Backpack is similar. 

Swimwear Wristlet - I picked this up at the Last Chance table because I was looking for something that would hold all my stickers in my teacher bag and not take up too much room. This works perfectly for that. Honestly, I'm not sure how you'd get a swimsuit in there unless you wear tiny suits or stuff one in there.

Mini Notebook with Pocket - I always buy at least one at the sale. They are perfect for carrying in my purse for shopping lists. I haven't used this one because I just started using the one I got at the 2016 sale. But that won't stop me from buying one at this year's sale.

Hair Accessories Kit - Honestly, I only bought this because it was one of the few things I found in the Playful Penguins pattern. It comes with some bobby pins, hair ties, and a headband. I haven't used anything in this yet, but I think it could be handy to carry hair things when I travel.

Cozy Convertible Mittens - My mom found these for me at the sale, and I almost didn't buy them. I'm glad I did, though, because I do like them. They are super cozy, and I like that they can convert from fingerless gloves to mittens. I carried them in my coat pocket all winter, but I didn't wear them much. (I avoid going outside in weather that requires gloves as much as possible.)

Flannel Pajama Pants - The one thing I hate about buying clothing at the sale is the fact that you can't really try it on. I guessed on the size, but it turned out just right. I love these pants. They are soft and comfy and super cute! 

Iconic In the Loop Keychain - I really like this keychain. It makes it easy to find my keys in my purse, and it's a perfect size to fit on your wrist if you have your hands full. I'll probably get another one this year. 

Overall, I'm pretty happy with my purchases last year. I think having a wishlist and doing some research helps me make good choices in the chaos of the sale. I've already started this year's list and will share it with you soon.

And don't forget to check back later for my annual tips post for the 2019 sale. I'll be making predictions about patterns we'll see at the sale.