Because what I needed was MORE DRESSES: A review of Nordstrom Rack
By Lesley | September 15, 2011
When the opportunity arose to review Nordstrom Rack, I was a little dubious. To be honest, I didn’t actually know that they carried plus sizes. Turns out they do, and starting September 15, they’ll be carrying more of them in the store where they already exist, and adding plus sizes to 15 additional stores. Yay! See, I’ve gotten accustomed to all my favorite discount stores (who shall remain nameless) limiting or removing their plus size selection, as so many have done in recent years, so rather than get my hopes up, I tend to presume that I won’t find anything to fit me, and sometimes I get to be pleasantly surprised.
There’s little to recommend my local Nordstrom Rack as a destination insofar as decor is concerned; the space is purely practical. On arrival, I spent several minutes wandering the big open floor in confoundment, wondering, oh no, maybe they DON’T have plus sizes in this joint. Or maybe they do but there will be three things and I’ll hate them all.
I needn’t have worried. Once I located the plus racks — which are integrated within the store, and not hidden in a back corner as is typically the case — I spent half an hour picking out cardigans from the racks of separates before I even found the dresses.
Longtime readers know that I don’t wear pants, and indeed I don’t even wear skirts — dresses and sweaters are my uniform of choice, all year round. Plus size dresses that are both high quality and pretty to look at are a rare resource indeed, rare enough that I usually rely on internet purchases to satisfy both requirements.
So I was pretty shocked when Nordstrom Rack had literal armloads of dresses in my size. (I may even have done a little dance of victory. Maybe.) I tried on ten different dresses, at least. I actually couldn’t tell you the last time I was in a store that even had ten different dresses that were both in a size that might fit me AND that I liked as well. It was glorious. They even had great music playing. (These are things I notice when I’m shopping. I have a much better time if I’m singing along — quietly — to “Inbetween Days,” I’m just saying.)
While I was greedily savaging the racks of dresses, I overheard an older woman and a younger woman — probably a mom and daughter — walking by. The older woman said, “Do you want to look at dresses?” and the younger replied, “No, summer’s almost over anyway.” LIKE DRESSES ARE ONLY FOR SUMMER. As if.
I left an hour and a half later (much to the chagrin of my husband, whom I had left waiting in the car while I ran in “for a few minutes”) with two dresses, three cardigans, a scarf, and a pair of shoes (which I’m going to have to return because they don’t fit — that’s what I get for being lazy and not trying them on in the store).
On to the stuff I bought!
Outfit the first:
The dress is by Donna Ricco, one of my favorite dress-makin’ brands, in a gorgeous blue-violet watercolor print. It has POCKETS. Who doesn’t love a dress with pockets? Cardigan is by Sejour. The scarf is Fossil. I do dig my pattern-mixing.
Outfit the second:
I did not have my photographer on hand for this one, and my tripod is broken, still. Again, with the Donna Ricco dress, this time in an abstract floral in pinks, purples, blues, and white. Folks, I was so happy to find these dresses not at full price, if they’d had ten of them I probably would have bought them all. The cardigan is by Sejour. Belt is my own, as try though I might, I couldn’t find any plus-size belts in my local store.
Overall I had a really fantastic experience at Nordstrom Rack, much better than I expected as a jaded and bitter plus-size dress-wearin’ lady.
As part of this review, I get to give away a $100 gift card. EXCITING, right? So! To enter, comment below and tell me what you’re looking forward to for fall. (It doesn’t have to be fashion-related, either — “apple cider donuts” is a perfectly good answer.)
On to the fine print:
Sweepstakes will run from 9/15-10/31. Visit the Promotions & Prizes section. Here are the Official Rules.
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry
methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment
on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on
this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about
an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.
You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be
selected.
489 Comments
sy on October 24, 2011 at 6:46 pm.
I’m looking forward to wearing coats and the leafs changing colors. Thanks for the giveaway!
songyueyu at gamil
sy on October 24, 2011 at 6:46 pm.
tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/syytta/status/128603144476295169
songyueyu at gmail
Madi on October 25, 2011 at 9:12 am.
Looking forward to long socks and pumpkiny baked goods!
Joyce Harrell on October 25, 2011 at 9:18 am.
I am looking forward to the cool days and nights and having a fire in our fire pit.
Claire on October 25, 2011 at 12:39 pm.
Spending time w/my fam. 🙂
Kristin b on October 25, 2011 at 9:32 pm.
Hot cider, jack o lanterns, sweaters, and warm blankets!!
Elysia Bronson on October 26, 2011 at 3:33 am.
A colorful fall day can bring an array of change into your daily life. When fall comes, it brings both good and bad changes to daily routines.
When fall hits we go in a state of denial over this new colder, and harsher weather. It adds to our wardrobes, while we still might dare to go outside in shorts, the accompanying tank-tops are now an under layer of the newly installed sweaters. Then the weather plays another trick right after you’ve conquered the cold, it laughs and decides to change from wind to rain. The leaves dances and gleam while you run to the nearest coffee shop to get off of the now wet stage and into a dryer audience. While the yellows, purples,and reds float on by dreams, of summer float away with the colored gleaming leaves. The change in weather allows for more time to be spent in coffee shops rather then outdoors,as it is to cold and wet to play outside. When its to cold to go out side students enjoy classes more because inside is warm and cozy, allowing for art classes to look out the window and be inspired rather then sad.
At least thats what I think of fall and makes me inspired and excited as the leaves that dance in the wind.
Deanna G. on October 26, 2011 at 6:30 am.
I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving! 🙂
Deanna G. on October 26, 2011 at 6:31 am.
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/#!/calidreamin87/status/129143022540693504
Crystal on October 26, 2011 at 3:02 pm.
I’m really looking forward to cooler weather! I love sweaters and scarves!
Terri on October 26, 2011 at 4:10 pm.
Don’t think we have a Nordstroms (or Rack) nearby – would love to try it online shopping, though!
Melanie on October 26, 2011 at 5:08 pm.
I love Halloween and cool weather! A great time to wear jackets!
Katrine on October 26, 2011 at 11:04 pm.
Love the variety — could use some clothes that are not 5 years old!
Sally on October 27, 2011 at 11:47 pm.
I would love a pair of boots and a winter coat.
duck-billed placelot on October 28, 2011 at 8:47 am.
fall is most definitely here – we had our first snow yesterday, which is what i was looking forward to!
Dee on October 28, 2011 at 8:58 pm.
I cannot wait to slip into an old, fuzzy sweater and drink hot chocolate.
Sarah L on October 29, 2011 at 1:47 am.
I’d like to find a great pair of slacks for the cooler weather.
Thanks for the contest.
Sarah L on October 29, 2011 at 1:48 am.
blogged: http://slehan.blogspot.com/2011/10/win-100-nordstrom-rack-gc-from-blogher.html
Judith on October 29, 2011 at 4:27 am.
I live love love Pumpkin Pie.
Judith on October 29, 2011 at 4:29 am.
http://twitter.com/#!/sodahoney/status/130199308749385728
Rachael on October 29, 2011 at 9:18 pm.
I’m looking forward to the cooler weather and changing leaves.
karen M on October 30, 2011 at 12:15 am.
cool nights around the camp fire, all things apple-related and the cooler weather and also looking forward to my favorite shows season premiere’s.
Debra F on October 30, 2011 at 11:09 am.
I’m really looking forward to apple picking with the kids.
Debra F on October 30, 2011 at 11:09 am.
tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/fairydancer35/status/130662543214657536
Danielle on October 30, 2011 at 3:42 pm.
I took forward to apple cider doughnut too but I just love hot apple cider!! I also love apple picking and taking my family to the haunted corn maze!
Cori Westphal on October 30, 2011 at 4:17 pm.
I’m looking forward to using my fireplace! There’s nothing more cozy than curling up by a fire, watching a good scary Halloween movie on TV! 🙂
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Cori Westphal on October 30, 2011 at 4:23 pm.
Tweet: http://twitter.com/coriwestphal/statuses/130741688548335616
coriwestphal at msn dot com
ewhatley on October 30, 2011 at 8:31 pm.
I always look forward to more beach time in the fall since rainy season is over.
Annalisa Kraft on October 30, 2011 at 10:12 pm.
I look forward tyo Halloween dressing up and giving away candy.
Erica Best on October 30, 2011 at 11:00 pm.
i love apple cider and donuts
Erica Best on October 30, 2011 at 11:01 pm.
http://twitter.com/#!/purplelover04/status/130841630994477059
Alex K. on October 31, 2011 at 5:06 am.
Oh! I’ve never heard about Nordstrom Rack AND that they sell cute plus sizes, this is just amazing. Thank you for the post!
I can’t wait for it to get cold enough in Vegas to start layering tons of clothes together. That! And I can’t wait for some pumpkin pie.
Katie on October 31, 2011 at 11:55 am.
Pumpkin coffee!! 🙂
Thanks!
katierox4you@yahoo.com
Katie on October 31, 2011 at 11:56 am.
I tweeted!
http://twitter.com/#!/katierox4you/status/131036792328683521
katierox4you@yahoo.com
Mari on October 31, 2011 at 4:12 pm.
I look forward to the Halloween costumes and the cooler weather.
Donna B. on October 31, 2011 at 6:55 pm.
Mmmmmm apple cider donuts 🙂
I’m actually looking forward to our local Renaissance Festival!!
Kandi Smith on October 31, 2011 at 7:07 pm.
I’m looking forward to the cooler Fall temperatures, the beautiful Fall foliage, and all the cold weather fares such as chili, stews, etc.