Nordstrom Suit Department: What has happened to their salesmen?

[MrDaniels]

I was just daring the Black Friday madness at my local Nordstrom and it seems they have really loosened up the dress code for their male salesmen. It used to be almost inevitable that they were better-dressed than 98% of their customers, and it was actually more common than not to see them in MTM or bespoke (frequently three-piece) suits and all the trimmings. The last few times I have been in, some of the men selling suits aren't even wearing ties or jackets. I could understand some dressing down in some of the areas that have casual and trendy clothing, but in the suit department? It's a sad state of affairs when Men's Wearhouse has a stricter standard for their male employee's attire than Nordstrom...what is happening to this world?

 

[TOstyle]

I mean it's Nordstroms. I don't know what that means to you, but it doesn't mean much to me...I wouldn't have expected anything else?

Also, that might have been extra staff hired on to manage the crush of Black Friday. If they had regular staff, they probably are at least typically suited.

 

[TOstyle]

And that said, I don't think the sky is falling if it isn't the case. It's still just a department store.

 

[MrDaniels]

No, they were not temps...Nordstrom is way too strict about who they allow on their sales floor. And the salesmen have worked there for years.


With all due respect, Nordstrom is not "just a department store." They generally have better selection and service then many high-end, independent men's clothiers.

 

[MrDaniels]

This is something I have noted on several recent visits. Not just on Black Friday.

 

[Andy57]

It's a sad state of affairs when Men's Wearhouse has a stricter standard for their male employee's attire than Nordstrom...what is happening to this world?

I've noticed the same thing at my local Nordstrom. Signs o' the times, I guess.

 

[MrDaniels]

I guess soon bankers and attorneys will show up for work in khakis and polos...

 

[KaiserBill]

I guess soon bankers and attorneys will show up for work in khakis and polos...

Where I'm from that would actually be a step up.

 

[Mute]

Can't say I recall ever seeing the salesmen in Nordstrom wearing what are obviously MTM or bespoke suits. Many were well dressed, in suits and ties - better than the general public - but not quite at the level you've described.

 

[MrDaniels]

All the ones I have gone to in The Pacific Northwest and Midwest they (were) really dressed to the nines. They get a really generous store discount and then some of the vendors give them a deal on top of that, so they will wear their garments on the sales floor.

 

[manchambo]

I can't stand Nordstrom suit salespeople generally. It's absolutely impossible to browse there. They won't accept looking around. Before I knew anything much about suits I had them foist off some true crap on me. Now that I do, the few times I've seriously shopped there, I've explained what I'm looking for, and they continue to bring me crap I wouldn't consider buying, and they obviously don't understand why it's crap.

 

[JubeiSpiegel]

Things must vary from region to region, because the Nordstrom in Orlando closed down some months ago (as did Saks). Most men SAs dressed in suits, but not necessarily showing their sartorial splendor. Neimans is the only place were SAs dress noticeably better here, sometimes not that much. The only style to be learned here is through the internet...

 

[MrDaniels]

The age of the grand department store is truly dying....especially with Macy's taking over so many great regional stores like Dayton's, Marshall Field and Rich's.

 

[JubeiSpiegel]

Indeed, I have noticed that high end boutiques are doing quite well in comparison. While Nordstrom and Saks have closed down here, they have been replaced with an abundance of boutiques from the likes of Gucci, Burberry, Prada, Chanel, LV, etc.

I guess the high end brands have learned how to push out the middle man, offer some higher perceived glamor to the customer, all the while taking a bigger piece of the pie...

 

[comrade]



All the ones I have gone to in The Pacific Northwest and Midwest they (were) really dressed to the nines. They get a really generous store discount and then some of the vendors give them a deal on top of that, so they will wear their garments on the sales floor.

Yeah right. At my Nordstroms- Palo Alto CA, and one
of the wealtiest areas in the US, the most generous store
discount would not result in the sales staff looking like they
were wearing bespoke. There is nothing that the store carries
that looks remotely bespoke or even high end OTR.