Nordstrom could not have picked a more appropriate setting for its 125th anniversary party at Paris Fashion Week: in addition to being conveniently central, Lafayette’s restaurant is named after the 17th-century French general who was a hero of the American War of Independence, and a central figure of the French Revolution.
The event, hosted by Pete Nordstrom, co-chief executive officer of the U.S. department store chain, and vice president and fashion director Rickie De Sole, drew designers including Chitose Abe, Peter Dundas and Albert Kriemler, as well as the CEOs of Christian Louboutin, Givenchy, Burberry, Thom Browne, Carolina Herrera and Miu Miu, among others.
As Champagne and martini glasses clinked, Pete Nordstrom paused to reflect on his three decades of attending the Paris shows. One memorable moment was his first meeting with one of Saturday’s party guests: Sidney Toledano, special adviser to LVMH chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault. Toledano was CEO of Christian Dior Couture at the time.
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“At that point, we didn’t have a lot to talk about in terms of the size of business. We had a pretty good shoe business,” Nordstrom recalled. “It required, I think, a level of curiosity — and meeting with Sidney represents that — listening to what our plans and hopes and ambitions were. And he got it right away, and that felt like a good tipping point for us.”
Since then, the retailer has “painstakingly” grown its designer business in collaboration with its brand partners, said the executive, who was bullish for the future despite ongoing market challenges, including tariffs and geopolitical tensions.
“There’s a really great moment in time for us right now, given all that’s happening in the U.S. market, and our relative position of strength and the unique proposition we offer for brand partners — that we do something a little bit different than others,” he said.
“We have a pretty good track record at this point, and again, the curiosity is there, so it feels to me like it’s never been a better time to be Nordstrom and to take this now to another level,” he added.
De Sole has been working with brands on a series of special anniversary events that will unfurl throughout the year.
“A good example, I would say, is Christian Louboutin, who’s been an incredible partner of ours. He’s going to come to Seattle in May and do an event at the Seattle Art Museum, and we have two exclusive capsule collections that will be appearing in stores in tandem with the event,” she said.
Nordstrom is expanding its VIC activities with all of its brands. Recently, De Sole hosted a gathering in Nashville with Carolina Herrera creative director Wes Gordon. “Wes brought his mother. We went to the honky tonk after dinner with our clients,” she said.
Dundas, who has traded the runway for private client appointments, is preparing to launch a special project with the retailer in April.
“Nordstrom has always been so loyal to our brand. We love Rickie as well. She makes it really special, and I’m so glad that they have her and that we have her as well,” he said.
Dundas said trusted partners are especially valuable in a rapidly changing retail landscape. “Creating stories, not just for clients, but for us as well, matters so much,” he added. “It is a particular moment, but I think that we have to stand together and support each other in these changing times.”
