In 1901, Swedish immigrant John W. Nordstrom partnered with Carl Wallin to open their very first shoe store in downtown Seattle. This was the start of what would become the retail legend of Nordstrom, Inc. Today Nordstrom offers everything from inexpensive fad–fashion to the most sought after premier designer labels and “has grown from one downtown Seattle shoe store into a nationwide fashion specialty chain with renowned services and a selection of the finest apparel, shoes and accessories for the entire family.”

In all my years of shopping internationally, I have yet to come across a retail store that offers better customer care. The company takes it’s mission statement of “offering the best possible service, selection, quality and value” to an extreme. Their car valet employees changed my flat tire, their concierge located my lost cell phone, their restaurants offer consistently high quality food and their sales assistants alert you of upcoming sales. Every purchase is always returnable and each store employee is hand picked for their cheerful, helpful and knowledgeable demeanor.

I would like to thank Nordstrom for making me feel like royalty whenever I enter their store. I am greeted by name and will happily spend my fashion dollars because I know that I get “that something extra” in return. I am proud to say that I am a Nordies girl.

For Seattleites, the downtown Nordstrom flagship store is not only a shopping haven, but a way of life. With the main buying office right above it, the store is sure to receive the best merchandise and the closest managerial retail attention.

The hottest accessory look for Spring reminds me of ice cubes and frosted ice. It’s called Lucite and it’s a clear plastic or resin material that’s on everything from jewelry, handbags, watches, and shoes, to the arms of sunglasses. Its transparent quality allows it to function like a versatile neutral. Lucite is playful, pristine and futuristic and best paired with white, black or brights. Add Lucite to your work outfit as a hip way to relax the corporate look.

Other materials (e.g. acrylics and PVC) can have a similar effect and are also part of the Lucite trend. If you sport a transparent bag this season, be sure that’s its contents are worth the exposure!

Lucite accessories from Nine West and watch with an acrylic band from ToyWatch.

It’s natural to want to embrace the hippie look if you’re a bohemian ‘60’s and ‘70’s child at heart. Breezy empire cut tops, craftsy embroideries and motifs, crocheted anything, straggly denim bellbottoms, earthy leather accessories, caftans, flowing patchwork maxi dresses, long tiered skirts, batik prints, headbands and beaded necklaces. This boho trend is everywhere; but this time in direct contrast with the sleek and sci-fi futuristic styles alongside it.

Hippy chic is a fun look if it suits your persona and body type, but it’s a hard style to pull off well. It’s impossible to wear empire-cut tops with bust seams and back ties if you’re well endowed (because the seam sits on your bosom instead of underneath it). And it’s difficult not to look pregnant in a gathered baby doll silhouette. I personally prefer the hippy look when it’s matched with an element of tailoring and polish. Below are guidelines on how to achieve this:

• Sport a few pieces at a time instead of everything at once. Match hippy tops with a clean-cut pair of jeans or a printed maxi dress with a structured white cotton twill jacket.
• Select boho tops in luxurious fabrics instead of faded crinkle natural fibers. This will give you a crisper and more pulled together look.
• Add a modern element like sleek silver accessories or lucite jewelry.
• Maintain a certain level of polish by painting your toenails, wearing a scent and styling your hair.

Hippie styles become chic when they are coordinated with a degree of sophistication. This was easy for boho goddess Sienna Miller to sport once she combined her shabby tatters with designer pieces and accessories.

Hippie inspired styles from Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus and a complementary carry-all bag from Macy’s.

All body types can look fab in the right dress. It’s a question of knowing which style is best for you. With Spring’s dress explosion and mid-season sales upon us, it’s an excellent time to buy frocks. Pretty pear body types look wonderful in A-line or what I call “fit-and-flare” dresses (fitted at the top and flared at the bottom). The key is to define the waist and torso and add a bit of volume at the bottom.

Emphasize the upper body:

• Look for necklines with detail that draws attention to your shoulders, face, neck and décolletage. V-necks, halter necks, square necks, shirt necks, sweetheart necks and strapless styles can work wonders. 
• Look for bodices with details such as pleating, ruching, embellishments, embroideries and horizontal trim designs that draw the eye upwards.
• Empire cuts with straight seams (a high-waisted seam that sits directly below the bust line) are good because they accentuate your bosom, emphasize the smallest part of your body and give you the room that you need to smooth over your hip and thigh area. Empire cuts with gathered seams might make you look and feel pregnant.
• Printed wrap dresses with A-line skirt constructions tend to create a visual balance between your upper and lower body. Ones that are in heavy matte jerseys will have enough drape to smooth over your curves flawlessly while their belting detail helps define your waist.

Smoothing over the hips, thighs and bottom area:

• Look for styles that create volume on the bottom in order to deemphasize the hip area (everything A-line). The volume can either be soft and flowing, or structured and architectural. Shirtwaister dresses and strapless styles are good choices.
• Look for vertical seaming through panel and princess lines.
• Keep the length at the knee and add “a leg-lengthening and slimming heel” (even if it’s  just a kitten heel, because height slims down curves). Sometimes, shoes with ankle straps can cut short the longer line that you are trying to create, which makes sling-backs, peep-toe pumps and long boots better options.

Steer clear of sheath styles with pencil skirt bottoms and bias-cuts. They’ll cling to your body and spotlight the areas that you wish to camouflage.

Have fun experimenting. You might be pleasantly surprised because there is nothing quite as pretty and feminine as the perfect dress. Here are some ideal A-line dress silhouettes for pear shaped body types (Nordstrom and Dillards).

Halter and knot detail, ruched and embellished strapless bodice, vertical panel detailing.

 Straight empire cut, empire cut with vertical seaming, pleated wrap bodice.