A Scandi Girl Walks Into Nordstrom—7 Things She Buys and 7 She Skips

I don't know about you, but Scandi style is all I can think about right now. The stylish women in Europe's northern capitals Oslo, Stockholm, and Copenhagen seem to possess a certain effortlessly cool polish that the internet (and this editor) can't get enough of. Thanks to the popularity of influencers such as Matilda Djerf and Pernille Teisbaek, their particular brand of elevated minimalism is inspiring droves of outfit re-creations by us Americans.

As someone who studies Scandi style like it's my job (well, it sort of is), I thought it would be fun to put myself in their shoes for the day and imagine the types of things that would fill their carts on a shopping trip to American standby Nordstrom. Although the beloved retailer that's the topic of much of our conversations here doesn't have any doors in Europe at the moment, plenty of popular Scandi staples are casually sitting on its site as we speak.

Behold—the ultimate guide to shopping our favorite retailer like a true Scandi fashion person, from the items they'd be buying to what they'd politely skip. Keep scrolling for the guide, and check out our Nordstrom promo codes before you fill your shopping cart.

Buys: Performance Sneakers

Skips: Trendy Heels

Pop into a coffee shop in Copenhagen on any given Sunday morning and look down. I'd bet anything that you'd be peering at a sea of cool performance sneakers by the likes of Asics, Salomon, and Nike. They're a key part of the off-duty uniform, and with Nordstrom's massive sneaker section, I bet Scandi women would beeline for these pairs.

Buys: Duster Coats

Skips: Statement Puffers

Nobody does chic winter ensembles quite like this bunch. Since they live in a cold climate, their coat game is unmatched, and the common denominator tends to be classic coats in long duster lengths. Nordstrom has a diverse outerwear offering, but I think Scandi girls would overlook bright statement puffers for these timeless toppers.

Buys: Emerging Designers

Skips: High-Street Labels

The Space section of Nordstrom's site is dedicated to the coolest emerging designers of the moment and includes Scandinavian-based names like Saks Potts and Cecilie Bahnsen, which these shoppers would naturally be all over since they're already big fans of them.

Buys: Puddle Pants

Skips: Skinny Jeans

Part of the reason Scandi style feels so effortless is that it tends to include oversize staples and relaxed fits, especially puddle pants, a 2024 favorite. Nordstrom has plenty of jeans and trousers with extra-long hems, and Scandi girls are fans.

Buys: Everyday Bags

Skips: Statement Bags

I've noticed that this group likes to go for a bold clothing item rather than a bold accessory. If they're wearing a statement piece, it's almost always anchored by a classic bag that they can wear with plenty of other outfits. Versatility is a priority when shopping for handbags, so I think they'd rank everyday bags higher than statement styles.

Buys: Maxi Hemlines

Skips: Mini Hemlines

Their minimalist bend is the perfect match for the maxi-skirt trend that's taking over the fashion world right now. They'd fill up a Nordstrom cart with floor-grazing skirts in silk, denim, and leather and skip shorter mini-length styles.

Buys: Quirky Jewelry

Skips: Classic Jewelry

One trend Scandi women have been big fans of from day one is quirky jewelry. Offbeat beaded necklaces, baroque pearls, and bright colors are all featured prominently in Scandi street style. While Nordstrom carries classic jewelry staples, I think they'd skip those for any of the below pieces.

This story was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.