Nordstrom is a department store giant that has locations throughout the US and Canada. Out of all of the stores I will be reviewing, Nordstrom is the one I have the most authority to speak of. Nordstrom has been my second home since I was born and this past year I joined their team as a Nordstrom Fashion Ambassador. My expertise revolves around the BP and Topshop area, which features the trendy clothes for young adults.
Store Layout: 7/10
For new shoppers, navigating Nordstrom might be a little difficult at first, but it’s pretty easy to catch on. At the Oakbrook mall location, BP and Topshop are on the third floor next to each other. Topshop is a well known brand that has a permanent section in Nordstrom and also has brick and mortar locations of its own. This section has a bold vibe and is geared towards women in their late teens or early twenties. The BP department features several brands but is mainly comprised of Nordstrom’s BP line. The audience in this section is slightly younger than Topshop’s. At the front of the BP floor is the Brandy Melville section, which is an incredibly popular California-style company that does not have any standalone stores in the Midwest. That is one of the most popular sections. To the right of the Brandy section is athleisure- think Champion, Ivy Park, and Adidas. Further into the floor are the top seasonal pieces. Jeans are on a circle table to the right of the desk. In the far back corner is the “going out” section of BP- lots of sparkles and little material. Directly across the aisle from BP is Topshop. I prefer the organization of Topshop over that of BP. Topshop has the most popular new pieces right in the front of the section by the walkways. There is a table of jeans in the middle of the floor organized by style. The large wall parallel to the BP section features classic looks and seasonal must-haves. Skirts and tops to match are on the opposite side along with a few coat options. Accessories are near the desk.
Customer Service: 10/10
Nordstrom is like a second home to me, and the employees are like family. There are dozens of people who I have known since I was 2 and still come and hug me whenever I stop by. Their customer service is truly unmatched in my opinion. In my time as a fashion ambassador I have learned just how important customer service is to the Nordstrom business model. The company has always placed emphasis on catering to their customers in any way possible. The definition of any way has evolved over the years, from personal shoppers to online personal stylists to stylists who will actually come to your house with clothes for you to try. They truly embody the “customer is always right” mentality and I have never had a negative experience with a single employee of Nordstrom. Their free shipping, free returns, and order online pickup in store option doesn’t hurt either.
Quality of Clothing: 8/10
The Topshop section is the most high quality clothing for young adults. BP has some high quality items but some of the BP line is a little cheap looking. The Brandy Melville section in BP is the lowest quality clothing out of the young adults section. All of their clothes are one size fits all, which is a huge turnoff for some people. Some of the clothing can look pretty cheap but it comes at a low price point, so many people don’t mind.
Price: 7/10
Topshop is the most expensive junior section, but that’s because the clothes are much higher quality. The majority of Topshop’s sweaters are around $65-70. Some of their summer tops are less expensive at $20-30. BP is a little less expensive but it depends on the brand you are buying. The BP line itself usually runs a little cheaper, but some of the other lines like Astr or Champion are as expensive as Topshop. The Brandy Melville section is definitely the least expensive, with most tops and sweaters falling at $16-30.
Basic-ness: 7/10
As Nordstrom is one of the closest high end department stores, it attracts a lot of business. It is not uncommon for me to buy something from Nordstrom and see people wearing it the following day. The Brandy Melville section is definitely the most basic and the rotation of pieces in the display is veryyyyy rare. I would steer clear of that section completely if you want to be totally original, but if you don’t mind being basic their stuff is super cute and very affordable.
Favorite Nordstrom Outfits:
This is one of my favorite outfits from Nordstrom. The sweater is Brandy Melville, which is only available online directly from Brandy, (Nordstrom carries it in store but not online). They do not carry this specific sweater anymore, but the Leslie Top ($18) is a close match. My jeans are from the BP department and are no longer carried in this style, but the Levi’s 721 Ripped High Waist jeans ($88 on sale from $98) are a great substitute.
I wore this outfit to my last fashion ambassadors meeting. The top is a classic black scoop neck ($25) from Nordstrom. The pants are the Hiatus Stripe Wide Leg Velour Crop Pants ($25.20 from $42) found in the BP section. My boots are from the BP shoe line and are no longer carried, but these Nine West knee high boots ($138.95) from Nordstrom are similar.
Favorite Nordstrom Pieces:
Topshop Jumbo Corduroy Jacket ($95)
Styled by GMS 