Nordstrom’s Latest Catalog is Hit-Or-Miss

It’s TGIF time, which means it’s time for another installation of Catalog Police, my weekly review of mail-order catalogs.

This week, I’m looking at Nordstrom’s Spring 2015 lookbook, which I must admit — I do not normally receive. (Probably because the only time I ever go to Nordstrom is when I’m visiting Miami or Chicago. Seriously, why isn’t there an NYC location?)

Nordstrom is a fascinating retailer. It straddles both affordable AND aspirational clothing — a product mix that can be difficult to execute without turning off one group of customers. But Nordstrom has carved out an identity amid the flurry of department stores, thanks to smart collaborations, social media savvy and a helluva shoe department. (So good.)

But alas — retail isn’t just a science — it’s an art. And does Nordstrom’s retailing genius translate to its buyers’ visions? Let’s take a look.

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The outfit is passable — although the $456 price tag is outrageous. But those truncated rain boots (!!!!) are an atrocious styling choice (too much like the required footwear on a fishing vessel or an ER.) Someone should melt that rubber back down to make something more adorable, like a duckie for the bath.

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Cute outfit — and it should be, since it’s an exact copy of Chloe’s latest collection. #TOTALknockoff #youarentfoolingANYONE #cutetho

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Let’s set aside that this palm pose is something I did circa my senior prom. (Pretty sure that was my pose too, blech.) Innocuous enough, but those pants are a toxic combination of camo fatigue, Hawaiian shirt and MC Hammer pajamas. Vote this look off the island already. (BTW, is Survivor even on the air anymore?

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I see Birkenstocks are still around. Boy, I just love it when a tired trend resurfaces! It’s like a recurring canker sore — it may disappear for years at time, but it’s always lurking beneath the surface!

However! Not everything was so terrible. Here is one outfit I actually liked:

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This is precisely the kind of outfit I like — it’s trend-less, timeless and I already own everything I need to recreate it this weekend.

So, what did you think of my verdict? Share your dissents and commentary!