Inside Nordstrom Rack

I have a well-dressed, chichi New York friend who recently confessed that she loves bargains so much, she often shops at T.J. Maxx. Though she has gotten teased for this, especially when she totes those T.J. Maxx shopping bags to Madison Avenue on the Upper East Side, she is a good representative of the bargain mania that has been sweeping the country. A Stylist blogger just admitted to being addicted to members-only discount sites like Gilt Group, and Bluefly has been going strong for years now.

So why not check out the goods before you lay down the cash? That’s essentially what Nordstrom Rack is – a Bluefly with shopping aisles. While the hardcore bargain hunters elbowing their way through this basement space may not exactly be Bergdorf blondes, and there may not be as many upscale designers, Nordstrom carries current season merch from labels like Michael Michael Kors, Trina Turk, Seven Jeans, Bruno Magli and more, with prices slashed to a half or quarter the original cost. Here’s a collection of stealth photos, name brands and pricing from inside the new 14th Street store.

The most impressive bags on a recent visit were by Rebecca Minkoff and Michael Kors, like this Michael Michael Kors grommet handbag marked down to $189 from $448.

There are a few beauty products and cosmetics, like this display of discounted Neutrogena sunblock.

Deeply discounted sunglasses take up a large part of the accessories section. Look for shades from labels like Betsy Johnson, Cole Haan, even Prada and Fendi, shown above.

If the clothes on the mannequins in the contemporary apparel section look familiar, that’s because you’ve probably seen them at much fancier stores. This cute sundress by Milly was discounted to $69.

An eye for cool indie labels pays off here. Shockingly, Nordstrom Rack carries a nice selection of young designers like Nanette Lepore, Tracy Reese and even Leifsdottir. This beautiful green wool jacket by Leifsdottir was $179 down from $488. Jeans are nicely organized by brand and then by size, so you can quickly scoop up your pick by Seven, Earnest Sewn, Paige, Rich and Skinny or William Rast.

Surprisingly, it’s in shoes that Nordstrom falls short for bargain shoppers. Though Nordstrom proper is known for its fabled shoe department, and Nordstrom Rack has an impressive range of sizes – from size 4 to size 13 and up – Nordstrom Rack’s shoes are fairly ho-hum. These colorful platform sandals by Bruno Magli were an exception to that rule. Skip the regular shoe aisles and look for the “Designer Shoes” aisle.

The line can get long, but don’t despair. There are over a dozen cashiers, and the line moves quickly.

Overall verdict? Though the Union Square Nordstrom Rack may not be a full-fledged department store, Nordstrom has provided a nice addition to the NYC bargain shopping scene. It’s a place to hit early and often.

And I probably shouldn’t mention this, but it’s open until 10pm for true bargain addicts.

Nordstrom Rack
corner of East 14th Street and 4th Avenue, Union Square South
New York, NY