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Jay Heinrichs's avatar

This catalog seems to aim at the most nostalgic generation in American history, judging by under-35 consumers buying record amounts of "legacy" candy, streaming shows of yester-decades, and voting in unusual percentages for elderly political candidates. I'm even seeing unusual numbers of paper magazine startups by Gen-Zs--many of whom are buying charmingly ugly Early Modern furniture. Why not harken back to the 80s, minus the hair and shoulder pads?

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Carol Kino's avatar

Nice. I bet it never occurred to the art director that anyone actually used this equipment, especially the phone. Nobody talks on phones anymore.

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Nancy Friedman's avatar

Except to wait on hold for a customer-service agent.

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W. Michael Johnson's avatar

My brain refuses to engage. Office? Office work? Office fashion? It's like being nostalgic for the Bataan Death March.

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Nancy Friedman's avatar

The Young Folks think it's cute and sexy.

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Quiara Vasquez's avatar

Oh, I love this -- so up my alley aesthetically. And as it happens I am a bit fan of the Commodore on account of making art with https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PETSCII -- didn't realize it was a backronym!

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Nancy Friedman's avatar

Love the PETSCII art!

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Dan Freiberg's avatar

I think high-fashion advertising is meant to appear "creative." Meaning exclusive, cryptic, out-of-reach, enigmatic, and high-priced.

If I don't get the connection between the models' clothing and outdated business accessories, it must be me: out-of-touch, uncreative, fashion blind. Not in the Nordstrom desirable demographic. That would be me—not one of you cool people.

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Nancy Friedman's avatar

But Dan, this is _Nordstrom_, not Prada or Tom Ford. Nordstrom is your friendly, accessible retailer up there in Seattle. Where everything's returnable forever. They're about pleasing customers, not making a capital-S Statement.

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Carol Kino's avatar

In NYC it's more Tom Ford-y--they opened here as the anchor for the unholy mall in Hudson Yards (although I think that branch has now closed) and i think they're also seen as kind of savvy for taking the business private again. Its not really fuzzy or friendly and not a lot of shoes ... but this catalog doesn't fit that aesthetic either! I wonder how effective it is at ... you know ... direct mail marketing.

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Nancy Friedman's avatar

The NAS catalog isn't a true piece of direct-mail marketing — it's a drive-them-to-the-website vehicle. You get the catalog, go to the website, and place items on your wishlist until your specified gate (Influencer, Ambassador, Icon) opens. Then you can move stuff to your cart. There's also in-person shopping on your special day; as I recall (it's been a few years), the NAS merch was cordoned off until you proved your status.

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Shawna's avatar

Weird!

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