Untangling Nordstrom Rack - YouLookFab Forum

Thistle

Veteran

No idea as i have not yet been to the Rack, but I look forward to what others say!

11 years ago

abc

Veteran

I find the size of the stores to be way more manageable than a full-line Nordies (less physical ground to cover).

Do you have a list or some items in mind you're looking for, or are you just there to take advantage of whatever comes your way?

I'm assuming you want to browse and be an opportunistic shopper

I tend to be methodical in my Rack shopping. I cover the entire floor, skipping over areas that don't interest me (ie Juniors, lingerie if that's not what I'm looking for). I bundle things to try on and when I get a good armful I go try on, then pick back up where I left off.

I usually do shoes last for some reason.

Good luck and have fun!

11 years ago

Quietgirl

Veteran

abc, is it best to go in for something specific the first few times? It is the round racks with all things jumbled together that I find overwhelming.

11 years ago

Echo

Veteran

I agree with abc. I go through parts of the store methodically, avoiding areas I am not interested in. I keep in mind how many items are allowed in the dressing room and I usually go to try on when I have that many items. If I wait until I have more, it becomes a bigger chore. Like any shopping trip, it is easier if you have a goal in mind so that you can focus on specific things. Then again, I am not that impressed by our Rack (the only one in the state so far). I find Saks Off Fifth to be a much better store.

I always do shoes last, as a kind of reward!

11 years ago

Quietgirl

Veteran

Echo, the tip on 15 items is good! Do you try to look through every rounder of the items you are interested in?

11 years ago

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

When I shop at the Rack, I'm looking for something that was actually at a Nordstrom store or available at nordstrom.com. A lot of what's available at the Rack is made FOR the Rack (same with all outlets). In my experience, if it's not a designer rack or a clearance/sale rack, it's probably not actual Nordstrom merchandise.

There are a few sections that I skip entirely; juniors, and most of the main floor because it doesn't appear to actually be from Nordstrom. I skip the racks of NYDJ, stretchy tops, and stretchy maxi skirts; these racks seem to fill the store! In the dress section, I only check the clearance rack because the other racks of dresses are not what I'm interested in (not from Nordstrom). Same with coats.

As for how I check things...I usually head for the sale coat rack first, to look for leather jackets or other higher-end coats. I usually check shoes next; I'm typically a 10-11, so I look at the size 9-12 sections, starting with the designer brands. I also check the designer clothing racks (for ex, mine has Joie, Theory, Ted Baker, DVF, Kate Spade, Trina Turk, Eileen Fisher, etc.). Then I check the clearance racks, but only look for the higher-end labels. I look for color/pattern/texture when scouring the racks, and I check ALL sizes, including petites, because people put stuff back on the wrong rack all the time. If I'm looking for a dress or pants, I look at the bottom of the rack for longer items (vs. shorter shirts/tops).

I'm definitely a brand snob when it comes to shoes, and also a material snob. I don't buy faux leather shoes, and I don't buy brands like Steve Madden, Report, or other shoes that were inexpensive to begin with. I look to make sure a shoe is real leather before trying on, otherwise I put it back. I'm able to quickly skip over a ton of shoes that way. I also can't wear heels...so lots of skipping there! The shoe section alone takes me an hour or more every time.

Phew, this is a book! I LOVE this kind of hunting and it's pretty much the only way I like to shop now. But I think you have to really like it, otherwise it's a chore!

11 years ago

April

Veteran

My method at the Rack is only to spend time searching out things for which I have identified a need/want. If it's on some mental list, I'll hunt for it. Otherwise, I give a quick glance just in case there's something wonderful that I wasn't expecting.

For example, I'm not usually on the hunt for handbags, so I move quickly through this section, glancing at the offerings but not looking really hard. I just see if there's something so fabulous it shouldn't be ignored, while saving my time and energy for the things I know I need or things I really want in my wardrobe.

11 years ago

Greyscale

Veteran

(I wrote all this, then realized Pastrygirl said many of the same things, so I guess I'm echoing her:)

I love shopping at the Rack and I seem to do well there - many of my best WIWs here are Rack scores. But, my local Rack is a big city one that gets true designer items from the downtown Nordstrom, and when I go to the suburban ones nearby it's a different experience.

My technique to not get frustrated and overwhelmed:

1. I only look in the designer-ish section of the store. There are racks of Vince, Theory, Helmut Lang, etc. The Rack prices put those in range of my budget (barely) so I only shop in that area. And I make myself ignore the racks from designers that don't fit my style as well (anything feminine or boho) even though I'm sure there are treasures there if I look hard. Similarly, I usually only look in the designer shoe section. The other section has plenty of lovely choices too, but the choices will overwhelm me and I have very picky feet. I just do a quick skim for anything that is fabulous _and_ a huge bargain.

2. I focus on the odds and ends of true designer things, all jumbled on a few racks and sorted by size. This is where I've found awesome things like a Helmut Lang tux jacket for $50 or a Rick Owens turtleneck for $25. Oh, and like Pastrygirl, I look in *all* the size sections here.

3. I don't even let myself near the clearance, juniors, or lingerie. Even though I'm sure there are some good things there. It'll sap all my energy. (One exception is when they advertise their big clearance, and a lot of great things move to huge new clearance racks.)

4. I only let myself try something on if it's something I would definitely buy if it looked perfect. And it rarely looks perfect on, even so. I am very very picky about what I buy. Or I buy things, ask my boyfriend for an opinion, and return them if they aren't awesome.

5. And, the one I don't do as well on: I try not to let an amazing deal sway my choice. The Rag & Bone knee-high Newbury boots showed up once for something like $100 instead of $600, and looked amazing, but the heels are still too high for me. I was soooo tempted.

6. I'm trying to figure out when they shift merchandise from Nordstrom to the Rack. Sometimes I show up and I'm blown away (there was one time I found so many amazing shoes - nothing I wanted luckily or I'd be broke).

And now I REALLY want to go to the Rack. Maybe after work today.

11 years ago

Quietgirl

Veteran

Pastry girl...if I don't know How to do it, then yes, it WILL be a chore. I did start with Vince, Kate Spade and Milly. I found an amazing Milly jacket that was $400 under retail and looked great. It was SO dressy that I thought it just wouldn't fit my lifestyle so it didn't find a home with me.

April, you are right, I do get bogged down in handbags! There is a technique!

Greyscale.....thanks for the listing of your finds and pointing out about the subrban stores. Great points!

You all are experts! Great advice!

11 years ago

Echo

Veteran

I look through every rounder of items I am interested in, the ones that are in my size. If I find an item that is gorgeous and that I want but that isn't in my size (things often get mixed up), I will go through the other size rounders looking only for that specific item to see if someone put my size in the wrong spot (it really works, BTW, as I have found a number of things this way that I otherwise never would have seen).

And I agree about really keeping it strictly to the items and/or brands you are interested in. If you are open to everything, you could spend all day in a decent sized Rack store. That isn't always bad, but it usually isn't what people want!

11 years ago

AviaMariah

Veteran

I usually look at the shoes and handbags. At that point I take a look across the store, become very overwhelmed and leave. So I'm following this thread with interest. What I've surmised from reading what you all have posted so far is you have to spend the time to look through racks which is usually something I don't have the time or patience to do.

11 years ago

Mellllls

Veteran

Are you looking for something in particular?

11 years ago

Anonymous

I shop the Rack a lot like pastrygirl and Greyscale. I sometimes make quick trips in to look for a specific type of undergarment, jeans cut, or shoe style. I do my best not to wander aimlessly about. It's fun until all the sudden I realize that I've hit a wall and I just want to be home already with my feet up!

I was looking through my clothes the other day, and I realized that most of my jeans are from the Rack. It's a more affordable way to buy premium denim, and there is a smaller selection of jeans to try on at any one time than a full size Nordstrom--which is great if you get overwhelmed easily like me.

11 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Hehe. I have made you a map, showing the general layout of the (suburban) Racks (near me at least). The designer racks line the outer perimeter of the women's section. Deeper discount things are on long racks at the back of women's. Shoes are behind that.

I go: designer racks, sale racks, shoes, and accessories in that order.

I think it's a good idea to review what's on your want list before you set out - gaps you're trying to fill, trends you want to try, etc. Primes the brain.

Anyways, when I get there, like Greyscale, I focus on the designer racks and shoes. I do a quick breeze through of the sale racks and accessories.

Men and children are on their own!

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11 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I've never had that much success at Nordstrom Rack, excepting shoes. With clothes, I'm not particularly drawn to designer labels and often they don't go up to my size, so maybe that's why. I agree that the choice of middle/lower end stuff isn't any better, at least in my local stores, than TJ Maxx or Marshall's, and the price is often higher. With shoes, I've had good luck, and I find searching that section pretty straight forward - go to your size, scan the racks for anything that grabs you, check the brand/price and try it on, and if it works you are done.

I remember that several years ago, probably a decade or more at this point, the Rck used to be more of the actual odds and ends from Nordstrom stores, as did Saks Off Fifth. These days it's not that different than an off price store. Also, regular Nordstrom stores didn't seem to have as much clearance stuff back in the day, only a couple times a year, whereas now there's almost always a rack or two of sale items from the last season in each department.

11 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

Pastrygirl has some good tips. If I'm just browsing, I look first at shoes, then jackets and sometimes bags. I usually review in my mind my shoe HEWIs before starting and then walk down the size section (and a size up and down) scanning by color and shape -- they are usually highly jumbled and many aren't marked down that much but occasionally I've found gems.

If I have something specific in mind in terms of clothes I go to the clearance racks first, look in my size section, and scan by color, I don't look at colors outside of what my goal is which makes it easy to quickly scan the rack. If I have more time and want to search harder, I'll do the same scan by color but in the size up and down. If I'm looking for a specific length top (say a tunic) I scan looking under the racks for the lowest hanging items.

I'm not a label snob, and I like a few of the items from the trendy labels the Rack carries like Topshop (when it's marked down) but I check the markdown, materials and the original prices to get an idea of the quality of a piece and I have mental prices for all types of items in mind based on CPW.

So I will buy a non-leather fashion shoe if it fits all other criteria including comfort, but not for over 20$ for example. I will check the jumbled racks specific to certain labels like these, but I almost never bother with the racks of organized multiples which aren't marked down. (I'll always snoop at the designer stuff just because occasionally the clearance items are on the same rack, but haven't had as much luck there yet with finding things in my price range).

ETA: Unlike Laura, my local Nordstrom appears to have almost no sale and clearance racks the couple of times I've wandered through (I don't count under 30% off) so I avoid it.

11 years ago

chadya

Veteran

I think one can do better for designer (MK, spade that kind of thing) at the Deptment store like Bloomies and L&T with a sale and POS discount rather than the Rack. So I skip that section. Bags the same
My daughter has found inexpensive basics for work there
I find myself looking more than buying

11 years ago

Quietgirl

Veteran

Good point Echo, I just assume my size is gone!

Melllls...to upgrade my look is the only criteria. That leaves things open.

Clearlyclaire... Yes it is all about avoiding that wall. Good point about the jeans. What brands did you find?

Fun map RachyLou! Good points too!.

Thanks for your perspective, Laura, will keep in mind!

Thanks Rabbit, that helps with my "issues" with rounders . . .go by color!

Chanda, thanks for your comments!

11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I hear you! We don't have a Rack where I live (in Canada) but when I joined YLF I found any kind of discount store (or, to be honest, any large store at all) quite overstimulating and draining.

In my three years here I have become a much happier shopper. Largely because I've learned some of the tricks that Pastrygirl and greyscale mention. Also, I have a much clearer idea of my needs.

And although I don't have a Rack where I live, I've been in a few of them -- most recently in Boston with Angie. And I can tell you how she navigated it. First, it was our first stop of the day! (Not as busy, and we were not as tired.) Once we got there, we went straight to the handbags on the main floor. Then we went upstairs and straight to the designer racks. People then began hiving off -- many to shoes, some to denim, etc. -- depending on their needs. But the place to look is the higher end stuff.

11 years ago

Desmo April

(website)

Veteran

I'm a plus size, I have at most four racks in the entire store in my size. I hit that and then a quick run through shoes and I'm done. I'd LOVE to have more choices.

11 years ago

Nora

Active Member

On the subject of trying stuff on, I gather everything I want to try on first, even if it's twice or three times what they'll allow in the dressing room. They hold your pile at the entrance to the DR area, and I just swap out item for item the things I know I don't want -- a few at a time. As long as there's something I can leave my fitting room in, I don't have to climb in and out of my clothes multiple times and I don't have to brave the line again. Strategize what you take in first so you don't have to put your clothes on to go out and swap items. Once I leave the fitting room, I'm done -- as in I will not go back in. I find multiple trips to the fitting room tiring and annoying, especially in the winter or if i'm wearing something hard to get in and out of.

11 years ago

Anonymous

I usually follow the same pattern every time I go to the Rack. First shoes, then petites, maybe a quick glance at bags or a display of something that catches my eye, then I'm worn out. So these are really helpful tips! I'm not sure I've ever made it to the designer stuff for more than a cursory look when I'm already too tired to try anything on, for one thing.

11 years ago

elpgal

Veteran

I shop with a cart and dump all manner of interesting things there. I then retreat to the mirrors in the quieter mens' section, assess and discard. I make my way to the dressing rooms with my reduced load, park my cart outside and try the allowed maximum. I try all the bottoms at the same time (less stripping), keep whatever is acceptable and then return for the next set. I grab multiple sizes when I pick out clothes, so I don't have to go running back and forth.

11 years ago

Quietgirl

Veteran

Thanks Suz for sharing Angie's technique.

Nora: Efficiency=Love. I think I am a "only once in the dressing room" kind of gal too! This is helpful.

Yes Aubergine, these are indeed very helpful tips!

elpgal: Totally different strategy but wow, yours is worth a try as well!

11 years ago

MRL

Veteran

I generally use the Rack for jeans shopping only. I have not had good luck just looking around to see what I can find. My friend seems to find narrow shoes there, but that hasn't happened for me.

11 years ago

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