• First, you need an international airport; we have Nashville International.
• Next is a tourist destination; we have several: Music Row, The Grand Ole Opry and The Ryman to name just a few.
• Of course, you must have at least one professional sports team, and we have the best in our Tennessee Titans, Nashville Predators and Nashville Sounds.
• Finally, you have to have a Nordstrom for shopping.

The arrival of the first Nordstrom in Nashville has elevated our shopping credo and will bring shoppers to The Mall at Green Hills from cities near and far, Brentwood included. No expense was spared for this store as it has announced it will have Chanel and Gucci boutiques carrying their full lines of accessories, handbags and apparel.

The store is hosting a sold-out opening gala tonight benefitting the YWCA of Nashville, Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee. It opens to the public on Friday morning.

The new store features five shoe departments to browse in, a large lingerie department with sizes ranging from AA to KKK; a year round swimwear department, and a plus-size department with incredible brands.

The mall lost a favorite restaurant when Davis Kidd Booksellers closed, and with it Bronte Bistro. The new Nordstrom is the second of the Seattle-based chain's stores to feature its Sixth & Pine restaurant. Coined as "a hip diner with the heart of a deli," the full-service sit-down restaurant will feature daily specials, appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches and entrees along with beer and wine.

In addition, an "ebar" (Espresso Bar) serving grab-and-go snacks, smoothies, pastries and a full line of espresso coffee drinks will be positioned near the store's mall entrance.

The Nashville store will also employ the chain's newest technology. Associates will have hand-held mobile devices, allowing them to look up items, search for merchandise availability and do credit card transactions on the spot.

Fifteen iPads will be placed throughout the store so shoppers can surf the web, show associates merchandise they like at other stores and have access to the online Nordstrom look book.

A few of the brands Nordstrom will feature when it opens Friday will be Lanvin, Alice & Olivia, Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Roberto Cavalli, Yves Saint Laurent, Elizabeth and James, Jo Malone and Jason Wu.

Mila Grigg is owner of MODA Image Consulting and writes the "Looking Your Best" column that appears in Brentwood Home Page's Lifestyle Section.