How Nordstrom Rack Saved Me from my Grandma Sweater Obsession

A few weeks ago, I was having green tea and fresh fruit wine and nachos with two of the Reno Moms. We were talking about legislative session and shopping, well more about shopping to be honest. During our discussion, I was told all about this great new, it-will-change-your life website. Clothes, shoes, everything you could imagine. How could I go wrong?

That weekend. I started my online shopping. The result, I ordered two items that would qualify me to be a very chic, 80-year-old grandmother. I had lost what little style I had! My need for a fashion intervention is only one of many reasons I find the opening of Nordstrom Rack in Reno to be a godsend.

A few days ago, I was lucky enough to tag along with two of my most fashionable friends during one of the preview nights at the store. Before we even set foot in the store, I was told that we needed a plan; our objectives, shoes, purses, accessories and then clothes. I had no idea how serious this trip was until that moment. The pressure was on, the savings were real.

We walked in the doors and before I could even take in the size of the new store or snag one of those little bottles of champagne with a straw in it, one of my shopping companions muttered “Shoes, shoes, shoes” under her breath and disappeared into the crowd. The other quickly peeled of to the left and waded into the purses.

Now Nordstrom was built on its shoe department and this Rack location reflects that, with a full 1/3 of the store dedicated to shoes. Women’s, Men’s, Children’s, thousands and thousands of pairs from the latest in designer styles to traditional flats are all there. The purse section also does not disappoint. They definitely are stocking major names along with some huge discounts.

It felt like half of Reno was shopping, lines for the fitting rooms snaked through the men’s department and across the aisle into the women’s sportswear. Understandable, the mix of trendy pieces and timeless looks was well represented. My friends quickly found me three new pieces that can easily transition from spring all the way into fall and look less grandma.  A detour into the men’s racks gave me a few additions to my husband’s closet as well.

A few hours later, as we were sitting at the new M3, reviewing our shopping over glasses of wine and a few selections from the new restaurant’s extensive menu of comfort food, my shoe savvy friend Chrisie had this to say about the Rack.

“I’m big on high-low fashion. I splurge on the big things, often investment pieces. I wanted to see if the Rack shipped in anything special for the opening, like Saks Off Fifth did. In the sale bin, there was a Burburry envelope bag and a Louboutin clutch, both on clearance. The sunnies section has The Burbs as well as Valentino. There were a couple of Rachael Zoe fashion jewelry pieces I came across as my friend Katie was contemplating a large fringe necklace that was divine. I love this place already. Next time, I’ll be on the hunt for more racerback black tank tops and James Perse wearables. I will dig deeper into the Trina Turk section, and definitely go crazy in the clearance rounds.”

Do yourself a favor, add Nordstrom Rack to your shopping list. I know it will help me from making octogenarian selections again in the future, I can only imagine what it will do for you.

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