The Description is the long product description on a Bloomingdale's product page. It is required on every listing, written once per style group, and capped at 10240 characters, although a Bloomingdale's description is usually a short paragraph. For women's ready-to-wear, Bloomingdale's builds much of the on-site copy from the attribute fields (fit, neckline, sleeve, closure and so on), so the description is the place for what those attributes do not already say: the design idea, the occasion, the details a shopper cannot read off a spec.
A "vegan" claim without a fiber, "100% down", or a stray "our" that makes the brand sound like Bloomingdale's are each reason enough for a reviewer to send the listing back.
The rules
| Rule | Value |
|---|---|
| Required | Yes |
| Level | Parent (one description per style group) |
| Maximum length | 10240 characters |
| Formatting | Plain text: no HTML, special characters or emojis |
| Never mention | Price, cost, inventory or stock |
| Never vary by | Color, size or wash. One description covers every variant |
| Fabric content | Leave it out; it has its own Product Material field |
| Voice | "Our" and "we" mean Bloomingdale's. Write "Rag & Bone's signature stretch denim", never "our signature stretch denim" |
Start from your source description when you have one that meets these rules. Otherwise write one from the other product attributes.
Regulated language
These rules come from FTC labeling requirements and Bloomingdale's own policy, and they apply wherever the claim appears.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Faux fur | Disclose the fiber: "Faux fur: polyester". Real fur is not accepted |
| Faux leather | Name the material: "Faux leather: polyurethane" |
| Vegan | Only when the source substantiates it, and still with the fiber ("Vegan leather, 100% PVC"). Never call a whole garment vegan if it has wool embroidery, mother-of-pearl or bone buttons |
| Down | 75% or more down clusters: "Down" (or "Duck Down", "Goose Down"). 50 to 74%: "Down and Feathers" with the percentage. 5 to 49%: "Feathers and Down". Under 5%: "Feathers". Never "100% Down", "All Down" or "Pure Down". "Down alternative", never "synthetic down" |
| Cotton | "Cotton-rich" cannot stand alone; list fabrics highest to lowest. "Egyptian cotton" needs vendor substantiation |
| Bamboo | "[fiber] from bamboo", such as "rayon from bamboo", never "bamboo" alone |
| Certifications | OEKO-TEX or GOTS claims include the certification number |
| Recycled content | State the percentage by weight: "Cotton/polyester (30% recycled)" |
| Green claims | "Eco-friendly" and similar must be tied to a specific, substantiated attribute or left out |
| Made in the USA | Only when the product is entirely made in the US of US components and the source substantiates it; otherwise "Made in USA of imported materials" when accurate |
| Metals and stones | "Gold" and "silver" only for real gold and silver; otherwise "gold-tone" and "silver-tone". Certified diamonds are "Certified Diamond". Pearls are "cultured" or "cultivated" with their size in millimeters; imitation pearls say "Imitation Pearl" |
| Velcro | Only for registered Velcro; otherwise "stay-put" or "hook-and-loop" |
| Vintage | Never "vintage"; use "vintage-like" or "retro" |
| Beauty and comfort claims | Use "helps to": "Helps smooth wrinkles" |
| Names | Nothing may be named "Aspen" |
Category-specific requirements
| Category | What the description must include |
|---|---|
| Pre-Owned Women's Handbags | "Pre-Owned" + Brand in title case, the model name and model information, the material, the year, approximate year or decade ("circa 1990s"), and the condition. Example: "Pre-Owned Hermes Birkin in Box Leather, circa 1990s. Condition: Excellent". Factory-original components, box and dust bag go in the Functional Details and Design Details attributes |
| Pre-Owned Jewelry | "Pre-Owned" + Brand in title case, the model or collection name, the material (18K or 14K and Gold, White Gold or Rose Gold, never "Yellow Gold"), the year or decade ("circa 2000s"), and the condition. Example: "Pre-Owned Cartier Love Bracelet in 18K Gold, circa 2000s. Condition: Pristine". Factory-original components, box and papers go in the Closure attribute |
| Pre-Owned Men's Watches | "Pre-Owned" + Brand in title case, the model name and reference number, the material, the year or decade ("circa 1968"), and the condition of the case, bezel and bracelet. Also the movement type ("Rolex Calibre 727 Automatic Movement, Base Valjoux 72, 17 Jewels") and the case size (round faces "40mm"; square, rectangular or irregular "Xmm x Xmm"). Example: "Pre-Owned Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6262 Men's Watch in Stainless Steel, circa 1968. Condition: Excellent". Bracelet length, box and papers, last service, clasp type, dial color and markers go in the Closure, Dial, Sub-Dial and Water Resistance attributes |
| Pre-Owned Women's Watches | The same elements as men's watches, with the case size for round faces written like "25mm". Example: "Pre-Owned Cartier Tank Francaise 2384 Women's Watch in Stainless Steel, circa 2005. Condition: Very Good" |
| Baby Gear (car seats, strollers, carriers) | The height and weight requirements, the safety warnings, and for car seats whether it is forward or rear facing |
| Baby (0-24 months) Shoes | Define the size range, listing only the ranges offered: "Baby = 0-12 months, Toddler = 12 months-4 years" |
| Kids Shoes | Define the size range, listing only the ranges offered: "Toddler = 12 months-4 years, Little Kid = 4-8 years, Big Kid = 8-12 years" |
| Women's Shoes (boots and booties) | Give the shaft height in inches. The Boot Height attribute must match it: Ankle 3-8 inches, Mid 8-11 inches, Tall 11-15.5 inches, Over the Knee 15.5 inches and up |
Condition values for every pre-owned category: Fair (significant wear, scratches, distressing), Good (minor scratches or distressing), Very Good (light to normal wear, a few minor marks), Excellent (slight wear, near perfect), Pristine (mint, no wear or defects).
Every pre-owned listing also carries this legal warning in the description, with your seller name and the brand filled in: "Bloomingdale's and [Seller Name] are not authorized dealers or repair centers nor affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by [Brand Name] and none of the [Seller Name] products are sold, distributed and/or certified by [Brand Name]".
Examples
| Description | Verdict |
|---|---|
| "A midi dress cut on the bias so it skims rather than clings, finished with Eliza J's covered buttons down the back and a self-tie sash." | Good: design detail, brand in the possessive, nothing about color or fabric content |
| "Pre-Owned Hermes Birkin 35 in Box Leather with Gold-Tone Hardware, circa 1990s. Condition: Very Good, light wear to the corners." followed by the legal warning | Good: every required element for a pre-owned handbag |
| "This navy dress is made of 100% silk and is a steal at this price." | Weak: a color, the fabric content, and a price reference |
| "Our signature stretch denim hugs in all the right places." | Weak: "our" reads as Bloomingdale's |
| "Vegan leather ankle boots with a sleek profile." | Weak: no fiber named for the vegan claim, and no shaft height in inches for a boot |
Common mistakes
- Pasting the Shopify description with its HTML, emojis and size-run notes intact.
- Writing "our" and "we" for the brand.
- Mentioning a colorway, wash or size, which locks the description to one variant.
- Repeating the fiber content the Product Material field already carries.
- Forgetting the legal warning on pre-owned listings, or leaving "[Seller Name]" as a placeholder.
How Osello fills this field
The Description is a parent-level field, so Osello writes one description per style group and every colorway and size shares it. Osello copies your source description when one exists and passes Bloomingdale's rules; otherwise the AI writes a description from the other product attributes, keeping fabric content, price and variant-specific detail out and applying the regulated-language substitutions above. HTML tags are stripped from the stored value because this field does not accept them. Category instructions (pre-owned elements, the legal warning, kids' size ranges, boot shaft heights) are applied based on the listing's Bloomingdale's category, so choosing the right category matters here. You can add brand-specific wording rules through custom instructions, and how Osello AI fills listing fields explains the process.
The rest of Bloomingdale's requirements are in the Bloomingdale's field directory.
Frequently asked questions
Can the description differ between colorways?
No. Bloomingdale's requires one description per style group, so it cannot mention a specific color, size or wash. Anything variant-specific belongs in the variant-level fields.
Is HTML allowed in the Bloomingdale's description?
No. The description is plain text with no HTML, special characters or emojis. Osello strips tags from anything you paste in.
Should the description list the fabric content?
No. Bloomingdale's has a separate Product Material field for the composition, and the description should not repeat it.
How do I refer to the brand in the description?
By name, in the possessive when needed: "Eliza J's signature ruffle". "Our" and "we" on Bloomingdale's pages mean Bloomingdale's, not your brand.
What does a pre-owned listing need in the description?
"Pre-Owned" with the brand in title case, the model or collection, the material, the year or decade, and the condition on the Fair to Pristine scale, plus the legal warning about the seller's relationship to the brand. Watches also need the movement type and case size.