Plants heal. Waters heal. And if you haven’t heard, rocks heal. Especially tumbled gemstones and spiky crystals in pretty colors and Instagram-worthy formations.

Back in the day of pharaohs, it’s said that Egyptians would crane their heads into amethyst geodes to ward off headaches and evil spirits. Today, in a busy high-tech age dedicated to en-masse multitasking, we wear them for their earthy, natural beauty—and don’t mind if mystical healing properties work their wooey magic on the side. Baubles to boost our confidence? Yes, please. Earrings to attract a doting paramour? Needed them 10 Tinder dates ago. Bracelets to clear the negative clutter from our heads? We thought we were the only ones!

ROCK ON

The 72nd Annual Tony Awards® are already in the works and, for the fourth year in a row, Nordstrom is the official Red Carpet sponsor—which means we’ll be bringing you one-of-a-kind live coverage of the star-studded procession on June 10 via Facebook. (Go ahead and enter it in your Reminders app now.)

While the nominations and presenter are still a secret (announcements will be made May 1), we know a rockin’ Tony party starts with plenty of prep. That’s why we’re re-sharing our most crowd-pleasing dip and sip recipes this side of Broadway. So write out your menu, whip up your guest list and keep an eye out for more hot Tony updates. (And if you happen to hit Broadway for a show, take a moment to tour our brand-new Men’s Store NYC, located on the corner of Broadway and West 57th Street. It’s our first full-line men’s store—right in Midtown Manhattan.)

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Fashion is more fun with British designer Anya Hindmarch around. Her runway shows are legendary for their theatrical, inexplicable settings: human conveyor belts, enormous domino mazes, true model homes, barren geometric spaces. She is outspoken, down-to-earth, and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire on account of her many contributions to fashion. She has a reputation for crafting curiously covetable accessories. (Her “I’m Not a Plastic Bag” tote took on a life of its own in the aughts.) She frequently stages crazy window displays in her stores, which can become guerrilla art installations in public spaces—like her Chubby Hearts over London series this London Fashion Week. And her quirky bag charms can be found on many street-style stars’ totes.

Now you can step into her unique process by creating your own bag through her Build a Bag collection. The online experience lets you select the leather color, bag strap and accessories to construct a custom creation and be an innovative bag designer in your own right—maybe even earning a medal, or at least treating yourself to a bag charm.

We spoke with the iconoclastic Hindmarch about her career, the Build a Bag program (including her own zany, luxurious purse) and why humor is so important to fashion.

READ THE INTERVIEW

Photo by Crystal Nicodemus

Nearly as unavoidable at Fashion Week as an Ibiza tan or Gucci glasses are Chloé’s latest bracelet bags. These pretty purses do double duty as golden bangles and soft leather cases for your essentials. So it’s no wonder that the style stars seem to have christened them fall’s itty-bitty It bags.

The Pixie is a compact satchel, round or saddle shaped. Toss it over your shoulder, wear it on your wrist or clutch its horseshoe handle like the good-luck charm that it is. The Nile has a hoop handle and dangly, delicate charms that lend even more boho elegance to the petite pouch. And in selected cities, you can shop Chloé’s roving pop-up installation exclusively at Nordstrom. Guaranteed there’s a style (studded, patterned) and color (saffron, pearl) that will seduce you.

HOW TO POP IN THE POP-UP

Tucked into the Gramercy Park Hotel lobby, amid Richard Prince, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Damien Hirst artworks, furniture designed by artist Julian Schnabel and luscious silk velvet derived from an oenologist’s palette, is the Rose Bar. On a recent evening this summer, the bar’s sensual atmosphere was further amplified by a fashion show and cocktail hour hosted by the label Cinq à Sept. As models meandered among champagne-sipping partiers, Cinq à Sept founder Jane Siskin spoke about her fall collection and dispensed some truly great style advice.

HER ADVICE AND PARTY PICS

Hosted inside a renovated 1927 ice warehouse in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood, Season/Shift juxtaposed fashion’s forefronts in three immersive environments: the modern, romantic and avant-garde. Twenty-one models appeared in 63 looks from designers such as Calvin Klein, Chloe, Dolce & Gabbana, Dries Van Noten, Fendi, Givenchy, Marques Almeida, Monse, Roksanda, Shrimps, Simone Rocha, Stella McCartney and Valentino.

SEE THE PARTY PICS

By now, we’re all pretty familiar with the one-for-one giveback retail model. Shoppers purchase a certain brand of shoes or glasses for themselves, and then the company donates a like product to a person in need. It’s a great charitable strategy, one that can help guide consumers through overwhelming shopping choices and toward items that can have social impact beyond style.

STATE Bags not only embraces this model with its backpacks, but takes it a step further. Scot Tatelman and his wife, Jacqueline, began the company after witnessing New York City children carrying their school supplies in trash bags. For every STATE backpack purchased, one backpack is donated to an American child in a situation of need. These donations take place in person during school rallies (called bag drops) put on by the company. “We like to think we’re kind of amplifying that one-for-one model in the way we donate the bags,” says Scot Tatelman. “We don’t just show up to schools or homeless shelters or nonprofit organizations and just hand out backpacks, but we put on real high-energy motivational events for the kids that we serve.”

Just in time for your music festival and vacation wardrobe needs, Nordstrom is hosting an exclusive pop-up shop featuring See by Chloé’s spring/summer collection. Unveiling at our Aventura (Florida), Michigan Avenue (Chicago) and Downtown Seattle locations, these boutiques-within-stores showcase the romantic shapes and cascading fabrics of the season, as well as several Nordstrom-exclusive designs (including a floral bell-sleeve dress, a darling denim romper, an embroidered dress and a striped jersey top).

You can shop the collection online, but if you’re in the vicinity of any of these stores, you’ll definitely want to visit, especially if you’re in the Chicago area. This Thursday, March 23, from 5pm to 7pm, the store will be throwing a See by Chloé Pop-Up Launch Party. Stop by to shop amid a scene featuring a DJ, a mixologist station with signature cocktails, passed appetizers and sweets, Minx nail artists, and a See by Chloé pouch with purchase, as well as Always Judging’s blogger Courtney Trop, who will be styling shoppers. Whew!

WHERE EVERYONE IN L.A. HANGS OUT AND WHAT TO WEAR THERE: READ MORE

Each summer, Designer Preview offers a sneak peek of the season to come as we send the best looks from top and emerging designers down a beautiful runway on the Seattle waterfront. But let’s be clear here: This is not one of those torturous look-but-don’t-touch situations.

Wine and girlfriends go so well with shopping; guests at a recent Designer Preview enjoying it all.
(Boyfriends are equally compatible; the show features men’s fashion as well!)

After the show—this year’s is July 28, tickets are available via our partner, Seattle Art Museum (until they sell out, that is!)—we transform the pre-show party room into one of the most amazing pop-up shops and that’s when the fun really starts.

What’s more: the group shopping continues in our downtown Seattle flagship on Friday, July 29, with a trunk show-like happening, where you can pore over the best current and coming-season trends one by one with your favorite salesfolks and best friends.

Let’s review the important details.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BEST SHOPPING EVENT OF THE SEASON