Dire plus size offerings in store this year and limited store selections overall

Quick report based on my in store experience.

• Even in a very large store that has historically had great selection, the merch in the store wasn’t great. Tents were smaller and had a lot less selection.
• Plus sizes were almost nonexistent even if they looked like they might be in stock. If you are a specialty size, you might have to shop online only this year to find much or anything. If you’re on the cusp of pluses and straights you might have more luck.
• Sizes were picked over on day 1 of the regular cardholder sale.
• Coats seemed especially great this year.
• Shoe sizes larger than 9 also seemed quite sparse.

For my own fit issues: tried a couple jackets, leather and suede, that were beautifully made but too straight and long in the waist for me.
Honestly didn’t see much offered in sizes I can wear that were extra special. I restocked 2 great bras that I love, got a cute pair of yellow suede mules, a dark green Zella jacket, and a nice belted rain coat.

5 years ago

Cerinda

Veteran

Kari, you are so right!! All I found in plus was a single pair of washable everyday trousers. Had much better luck in the missy departments. In general, I thought the quality was shocking -- but I wasn't looking at coats and footwear at all, and they seem to be everybody's real score. However, for the first time ever, I found some exquisite investment pieces -- a blazer and wool trousers. Then the usual -- jeans, gym clothes, lingerie. And except for one wrap, I found the accessories underwhelming (that's a first!). Was in Portland's big store on the 10th, and still had to order most of what I wanted to see.

Janet

(website)

That’s such a bummer.

Cerinda, I found the accesssories quite lacking this year too — usually I find something of interest, but this year the colors were not to my liking and the prints seemed kind of boring. Even Ted Baker bored me.

Jaime

Active Member

Everyone I spoke with in my store thought that there was much less than past years-including SAs. The groupings all seemed to take up at least half as much as they used to.

Kathie

That’s disappointing. At the same time, I’m (somewhat) glad that it wasn’t just my local store that was picked over, so thanks for the report. Curious about your yellow mules and green jacket. You absolutely shine in green!

Kari

I’m glad I’m not the only one. Our SA, who I’ve worked with for years, was pretty shocked at how limited in store merch was. They did not get very much this year.

I’ll try to find links to what I got in a moment. (I can’t add finds.)

smittie

So sorry to hear this, Kari. The in-store experience is part of the fun of NAS.

Shoe report:

Yellow Caslon mules: soft, so comfortable, a good almost-nude. I didn’t want to take them off.
https://m.shop.nordstrom.com/s.....ck%20suede

My mom got these Pikolinos laceless oxfords - DARLING. Will be so cute with jeans.
https://m.shop.nordstrom.com/s.....%20leather

Mom also got these ECCOs in black metallic leather. I also love the Fig metallic. They are SO smart looking - an extra special semi sporty shoe that seems like they will be great to walk in.
https://m.shop.nordstrom.com/s.....%20leather

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rachylou

Last year, the online ‘pick up station’ formed the major part of the NAS space at my store... when retail disappears entirely, I don’t know where me and my dog are gonna go walking...

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

Huh. I was just thinking that the plus-size selections online were better than past years. And it's always nice to see the same item available in both regular and plus, of which there's a lot this year.

I have not been impressed with Nordstrom's commitment to its plus-sized customer in store, that's true. Not sure why but it's disappointing.

Coats/jackets:

Zella green live-in jacket. I run and walk in Zella activewear jackets ALL the time. And it’s my color.
https://m.shop.nordstrom.com/s.....0ponderosa

Halogen coated hooded rain jacket. Lightweight, and one of those closed-zipper systems so the fabric overlaps the zipper and protects it (plus, snaps on top of that.) And it looks good enough to not be restricted just to activewear. I’m excited about this one.
https://m.shop.nordstrom.com/s.....olor=black

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Yeah. To be honest, it makes me think twice about going in person next year. It was still special to be with my mom and our awesome sales associate, but the selection was pretty pathetic.

Thistle

I didn't take it to the store, but I have to say I was pretty disappointed by the online offerings this year. I feel like it's a much smaller, less spectacular sale than last year.

Not a single pair of jeans caught my eye, and I was looking for jeans for work now that we're allowed to wear them daily.

I was less than impressed with the shoe offerings as well, which really disappoints me as this is my big shoe splurge every year. I did pick up a few things to try, so we'll see when they get to me.

I was even more disappointed with the offerings for kids. I usually pick up the girls each a couple pairs of back-to-school shoes.

Well, I was trying to comb through the website to explore the myriad of products they didn’t have in stores, and it’s crashed.
So, to sum up: plus sizes seem to be more or less phased out of stores, especially in the sale. Stores hardly got any merchandise overall compared to prior years. And their website, as usual, goes down.

(If I was not on the cusp of being able to wear some XL items in certain brands, I would have left empty handed except for one pair of shoes and two bras that I’m replacing from last year.)

Badly done RE: the plus size customer group, Nordstrom.

DonnaF

I echo the same sentiments with respect to Petite sizes in store whether NAS or during regular times.

I’ll bet. Which is a huge shame. Feels like pluses and petites are being shifted to more and more online only. I was not shopping for petites, but I should note that I couldn’t even find a plus or petite section - not in the “tents”, not on racks. If they were there at all, they were buried.

annagybe

Kari, the Downtown Seattle has a decent plus size selection

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Lots of plus sizes downtown, and plus remixed with regular size merchandise too.

Thanks, Anna. Might be the only one that does, but good to know in case I find something that shows as in stock.

Susie

I’m sorry that the selection was so disappointing. But I love what you chose, Kari. That Zella jacket must look gorgeous on you.

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