When Hawai'i's first full-fledged Nordstrom store opens its doors at 9:30 a.m. Friday, expect a stampede for the shoes. Shoes are in Nordstrom's DNA, since it has roots as a Seattle shoe store that opened in 1901. Shoes also have been the mainstay of Nordstrom's presence in the Islands.

But the offerings are not limited to shoes. Far from it. With its miles of aisles, Nordstrom offers far more than a shopper can peruse in one day. Here's a guide to the retailer's offerings, from Betsey Johnson shoes for teens to beer for the man in need of respite.

A LIFESTYLE ORIENTATION

Nordstrom is organized largely according to lifestyles — that is, demographics. The BP department (formerly known as Brass Plum, it targets teens and young women) will show the latest music and fashion videos while youthful shoppers browse Roxy, Silver denim, Tokidoki, Volcom, Velvet Torch, Lush and Tildon, and its dressing room is dubbed The Girlfriend Room — with a flat-screen TV, couches and the latest fashion 'zines.

Since men are hunters, not gatherers, and therefore do not like to meander when shopping, all men's items, from neckties to shoes, are in one area. That area is equipped with several large TV screens tuned to the sports channels, and it happens to be right next door to the Market Café, where a guy can grab a beer.

The keiki department has coloring tables and an aquarium to keep little eyes and hands occupied.

Since women appreciate amenities, there's a fitting room in each department. There is even a bathroom in one of those fitting rooms.

COSMETICS, PLEASE

The cosmetics department is set up with an "open-sell" layout, similar to Sephora's, which means shoppers can grab what they want if they want to, or ask for help if they need it.

Both classics and cutting-edge brands will be offered. Among them: Dior, Laura Mercier, M.A.C., Trish McEvoy, Bare Escentuals, Nars and Yves Saint Laurent. Local brand Malie Kaua'i will add to the mix.

William Squire, a celebrity makeup artist who travels throughout the country for Chanel and will be here all next week, said Nordstrom Ala Moana will have a Chanel makeup studio, not just a Chanel counter. It features innovative details such as a "Mirroir Lumiere" — a mirror that uses lighting to simulate different environments, such as sunset, candlelight or daylight.

"This is only the third Chanel makeup studio in the United States," he said.

More than 100 fragrances, including exclusive brands Burberry Brit Sheer, Missoni Acqua, Laila and kama'aina Kate Growney's Saffron James, will be featured.

FASHION FORWARD

Nordstrom's clothing departments are carefully sectioned and edited. The hip via C department is where you'll find coveted emerging designers such as 3.1 Phillip Lim, Milly, Anlo Denim, Twenty8Twelve, Vince and Tory Burch. Mischen, with its sleek, edgy, urban aesthetic, is a line that's never been carried anywhere in Honolulu before.

For the well-heeled woman, the Collectors department presents some of the most prestigious European and American designers: Burberry Prorsum, Dries van Noten, Junya Watanabe, Marchesa and Lanvin, for example.

Studio 121 is considered Nordstrom's "bridge" department, housing clothing that falls in price range between Collectors and the more affordable lines. Local designer Anne Namba will have a collection here, along with Eileen Fisher, Citron, Ellen Tracy and Alberto Makali.

Trend-driven shoppers will head to Savvy, where the most cutting-edge designers will be stocked. Local company Fighting Eel will be found here, as will Karta, L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani, True Religion and Rory Becca. This merchandise will change frequently as hot new designers are discovered.

Women at both ends of the size spectrum, petite and plus, often complain about the lack of offerings in Honolulu. Nordstrom may enable them to add to their wardrobes. The Ala Moana store's petite department is the largest in any Nordstrom and carries sizes 0P to 14P. Anne Namba will have petite sizes here, as will Not Your Daughter's Jeans, Lafayette 148, Anne Klein New York and Nordstrom brands Caslon and Classiques Entier.

Encore is the plus-size department, with sizes 14W to 24W and 1X to 3X from Eileen Fisher, Misook, Citron, Spencer Alexis, Michael Kors and Nordstrom brands Caslon and Classiques Entier.

Although there are certainly more lingerie offerings in Honolulu than there were 10 years ago, women still complain that they can't find their size. Nordstrom will open with 5,000 bras in sizes 30AA to 42JJ. Fitters will be specially trained to work with women post-surgically for prosthetic fitting. Lingerie lines include Elle Macpherson, Hanky Panky, Chantelle, Wacoal, D&G and Free People.

ABOUT THOSE SHOES ...

Nordstrom's shoe department at Ala Moana dedicates 50 percent more floor space to shoes than the Ward Centre store did. The stock room is organized by color and heel height, making it easier for sales people to identify what the customer wants — and creating opportunities to cross-sell styles overlooked on the sales floor.

The store will have five shoe departments housing tens of thousands of pairs. Sizes include men's sizes 6 to 18 and widths that range narrow/medium/wide; women's sizes 4 to 12 in three widths, and children's sizes 1 infant through youth 7.

Among the names in designer footwear: Tory Burch, Manolo Blahnik, Miu Miu, Hogan, Casadei, Kate Spade, Versace and Taryn Rose. In career footwear will be Nordstrom's exclusive lines Biala and Linea Paolo as well as Mephisto, Merrell and Munro. BP shoes offers Betsey Johnson, Harajuku Lovers, Jessica Simpson and Puma.

Reach Paula Rath at paularath@aol.com.