Love the Luxury Experience of Nordstroms New York

Going retail shopping in New York City anytime soon? There are so many new luxury retail stores in town right now that an edit is in order. In our series “J+J Shop,” our intrepid correspondents Julie Chang Murphy and Jillian Tangen are doing the legwork so that you don’t have to. Recently, they took a trip to the new Nordstrom’s women’s store in Midtown. Here’s their report; the headline is that there’s lots to love about the luxury experience of Nordstrom’s women’s New York.

J+J Shop Nordstrom’s Women’s Store in New York

They say that when one door closes another door opens.  As we begin to say goodbye to Barney’s, one of NYC’s most esteemed shopping institutions, we say hello to the Seattle transplant, Nordstrom’s, which has opened a new women’s flagship in New York.

The just-opened retail destination at 57th and Broadway is the brand’s first Manhattan women’s location. It’s set just across the street from its men’s outpost, which opened last year. 

The sprawling space covers seven floors and 320,000 square feet, containing everything from shoes to handbags to clothes to even more shoes. 

We had the pleasure of dropping by less than a week after it opened to take a peek. And let’s just say neither one of us left empty-handed.

there’s lots to love about the luxury experience of nordstrom’s new york

Upon entry, the first floor of Nordstrom’s women’s store in New York feels bustling. And also very traditional, with a tightly packed floor of products. 

However, as we moved through the floors we were pleasantly surprised to find that the store is able to strike a balance between the nostalgia of an old-fashioned department store with the innovation and excitement of pop-ups and cocktail bars to keep things refreshing and lively.

1. wide range of brands.

The store carries a wide range of brands, with everything from classics like Chanel to newer direct-to-consumer companies like Everlane. 

In between you will find the likes of Steve Madden, Madewell and TopShop, as well as upscale/indie brands Veronica Beard, Isabel Marant and Nanushka.  All have their places pleasantly intertwined among familiar designer names like Dries Van Noten, Givenchy and Fendi. 

So don’t be surprised to find a Balmain Wool Jacket next to a Ganni Print Dress on the third floor. 

The set-up makes the store a great spot to do some multi-generational shopping.  So if you are lucky enough to have a mother-in-law looking to spoil you or have a daughter celebrating their first job with money to burn, a trip here will ensure that everyone can find something that suits their taste and their price point.

2. excellent customer service 2.0.

Shopping has become mostly an independent and isolating experience. We scroll through products and stores on our smartphones and read the ratings and comments from people who may or may not be real before we buy. 

Nordstrom tries to replicate some of this for people who prefer online shopping with their Express Services, where you can shop online and pick up in store.  The store has even gone so far as to open two other locations in New York called Nordstrom Local where you can pickup items purchased online alongside free consultations with stylists.

That being said, the store’s calling card has always been their customer service.  While walking around, we couldn’t help but notice the salespeople were a diverse cross-section of NYC. There were arty, eclectic fashion types, young college age students in basic jeans and v-neck sweaters and even kindly and matronly ladies who look like they’ve worked in the bra department for 40 years.  All were eager to help with a friendly and casual vibe.

3. pop-ups, exclusivity + personalization.

Even though Nordstrom is a behemoth of a true brick and mortar store, the new store is able to harness the energy and exclusiveness of pop-ups. There’s currently a Burberry pop-up, an exclusive collab with Christian Louboutin that culminates in an in-person meet and greet, an Everlane Pop-in, a Nordstrom +Nike shop and lots of exclusive limited edition lines from brands made just for the store (think special colors, cuts and finishes you won’t find anywhere else).  While browsing the jeans a salesperson directed us to a selection of Rag & Bone jeans created just for the store, not available on the web. 

On top of that you the store also offers a variety of stations where you can personalize your purchases.  In the children’s section we saw a large station where you could embroider a pair of Converse All-Stars or a Fjällräven backpack.  The hope is that customers will stay curious and coming back to the store at a time when that is increasingly more difficult.

4. food + drink.

Has all this shopping left you famished?  Fortunately you won’t need to worry about finding sustenance at Nordstrom’s. Choose from seven food and beverage purveyors, including the elegant eatery Wolf for fare like tuna crudo and steak tartare. Or for something a little sweeter, Oh Mochi for its gluten-free donuts. 

On the main shoe floor you will even find a Shoe Bar where you can relax and unwind before you make your final cuts.  In addition to a wide choice of options, we also couldn’t help but notice how the dining spots flowed seamlessly into the store, with wide-open views into the dining spaces and out onto the floors.  So while New Yorkers are always rushing around, complaining they have no time, the dining and drinking options at this store beg us to slow down.

the J+J verdict on shopping the new Nordstrom’s women’s store in New York

Julie’s takeaway

The Nordstrom’s women’s New York flagship has enough fashion-forward brands to be visually interesting. And moving through the store elicited many rousing moments of discovery.

At the same time, I needed some basics that I had to replenish of things I already had. It’s nice to do that in a bright, bustling environment and not my couch.

I’m a talker so I enjoyed chatting with the cheerful and helpful salespeople who helped me decide on purchasing two Natori t-shirt bras, a Harry Potter x Mini Boden dress for my daughter, and a pair of Frame cropped, wide leg jeans that I had been meaning to try on for the longest time.

What Julie’s coveting:

A Mr. and Mrs. Italy White Parka with a massive, enveloping fur trimmed hood that is perfect for introspective, anti-social winters.

Jillian’s takeaway: 

I didn’t grow up near a Nordstrom’s, so I was really excited about them opening up in New York, since the brand seems to have a sort of cult-like following. 

I loved the juxtaposition of high and low brands. And I was really excited to see the Everlane pop-up, because they had a blazer I had been hesitant about purchasing online and this gave me a chance to try it on before purchasing.  On top of that, they seem to carry almost all of my favorite hard to find Scandinavian brands like Rodebjar, Stand Studio and Stine Goya.  So for me, that was a big hit.

What Jillian’s coveting:

I’m really torn on choosing just one.  I completely fell in love with a holiday party ready, lush olive green Veronica Beard Velvet Dickey Jacket as well as a Fendi Peekaboo Satchel with a logo strap.  You can never have too many bags, in my opinion.

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Crediting her training as a cultural anthropologist at Wellesley College, Julie has immersed herself in various industries in the last 15 years including fashion design, event planning, fitness and even investigating police misconduct. Julie lives in NYC where she loves trying every ramen and dumpling restaurant with her husband and three children. She finds joy in bold prints, biographies of fierce women. Also kickboxing and spending way too long finding the perfect polish color to express her mood.

Jillian Tangen is the Head of Research at Dandelion Chandelier. Formerly, she was a Senior Research Analyst at McKinsey & Co and Analyst at Shearman & Sterling. She is an avid fan of Nordic design, having owned an independent lifestyle store and sales agency focused on emerging Scandinavian design. Jillian lives in NYC and is married with three young children. She loves cross country skiing, the New York Rangers, reading, travel and discovering new brands.

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