Brooklyn Decker's breezy style

This outfit is almost a year old, and yet it's so fresh that it looks like the picture could have been snapped yesterday.  Is this not the perfect summery look?


I love the contrast between the toughness of the vest and the sweet 50s style of the dress. And it's perfectly accessorized.





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Things That Pinterest Me

Here's this week's installment of:

(Pinterest logo courtesy of Pinterest, of course)

Since it's unofficially summer, here are some things I think would be just perfect for the season ... 

I love the color and pattern on this skirt ... 

Source: modcloth.com via NYC on Pinterest

This beaded clutch is gorgeous ... 

Source: express.com via NYC on Pinterest

These sunglasses are so completely fabulous ... 

Source: urbanoutfitters.com via NYC on Pinterest

I love the peplum on this blouse ... and the back is really pretty, too ...  

Source: anthropologie.com via NYC on Pinterest

Are these not just the cutest little wedges?

Source: maraisusa.com via NYC on Pinterest

Dorothy Perkins sucks

I've done a couple of blog posts about Dorothy Perkins so far, but you won't see me writing any more of them.  


Why? 


Because they are completely incapable of filling orders and practicing good customer service.


Aside from sharing a sale that they were having recently, I had also blogged about a really cute dress that I was in love with and had ordered from their site. I placed the order on April 29th and later received an email from the company on May 1st saying that my order had been "despatched" ... which I can only assume meant shipped. Those quirky Brits.


I tried tracking the order on their website several days later, and that's when my suspicion that this is a less-than-stellar company first crept into my mind. You can't really track your orders, because they don't have the capability to track outside of the UK. Honestly I am not even sure that's really acceptable to me ... in this day & age you should be able to track a package to your door; it's just that simple.  It said I should receive my order on or around May 14th though, so I gave them the benefit of the doubt and practiced some patience.


May 14th came and went with no sign of my dress. On May 17th, after giving them a few more days' benefit of the doubt, I went to their website to try and track it again.  With the order status still saying that I should've received my order on or around the 14th, I decided to send them an email. I filled out the 'Contact Us' form on their website, explained my issue, and asked that someone please get back to me with when I could expect to receive my order. 


Radio silence. 


The next day I dug around on the internet to find a phone number for the company ... which was almost impossible because they don't even list any toll-free phone numbers for their Customer Service department.  Want to take a wild guess as to why? And when I finally found a number and called them, they said that 1) not only was my order "probably lost," but that 2) they would not even be able to try and resend the item to me, because they don't have the capability to ship an item out without having received payment for that item. WTF? Then I was told that it would take up to 10 business days to process my refund.


I am sorry, but that was the most bullshit excuse I have ever heard in my life. If you've got good customer service, and something happens that is not the customer's fault, then you do whatever you've gotta do to fix it. Plain and simple.


I then went to their Facebook page and left a comment on the afternoon of May 18th, again explaining the issues that I was having.  FINALLY someone at least wrote me back via another comment ... although they didn't have any real answers for me. 

"Hello Alison, apologies for the recent problem with your order. Our customer service hours are 9-5 Monday - Friday, we will however ensure a member of our customer service team calls you on Monday to resolve your problem x"

Okay whatever ... I'll wait until Monday then.  And I did. Notice the language they used, too ... "resolve your problem."  We'll see. And Monday came and went, with no one from Dorothy Perkins calling me. The next day, I sent them another message on Facebook asking why no one called me.  


They didn't respond to my message via Facebook, but I did receive an email from their Customer Service team a little while later. Notice that they didn't actually call me, too. How fabulously passive-aggressive of you.

"I am writing in response to your recent message on Facebook. I was concerned to hear that you have not received the order. I can confirm that this has been passed to the refund department. They will process the refund for you shortly. Once it has been processed please note that it can take 7 working days for the refund to show in your account. I can only apologise for this matter. If you have any other queries, please do not hesitate to contact us."

 I asked them again why no one would even make an attempt to resend the item to me ... it still just didn't make any sense to me. Also -- which is it? 10 days for a refund or 7? And I got the same bullshit answer I received via phone.

"Unfortunately, as the order is presumed lost in transit we need to process a refund for the garment. We do not have the facilities to dispatch an order for the customer. unless we have taken payments for that order. I can only apologise for the inconvenience that this may have caused. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any other queries that you may have."

That basically means nothing to me. I'd rather get no explanation at all than get a bullshit one.  I wrote them back one more time to express my dissatisfaction, and got no response. What gets me is that their parent company (Arcadia Group) is a major company that also owns TopShop & Topman, etc. so they are an established fashion retailer.  Which means that you shouldn't have dozens of people (in addition to yours truly) posting comments on your Facebook page about how they haven't received their orders. I guess when you're thinking about ordering something from a company for the first time, give their Facebook page a read first to see if there are oodles of complaints. I wish I had.


So here we are on May 27th, and I still have not received my refund. Sure it hasn't been 10 business days yet, but can you blame me for being less than patient with these people? If I conducted business like this at my job, I'd be fired. I am now disputing the charge via Paypal, to see if that speeds things along at all.


I can only warn you now ... DO NOT order anything from Dorothy Perkins. It's just not worth it. Their online ordering and customer service is a complete joke.

Weekend Wants

Here are some things I'd love for this weekend ... a.k.a. my Weekend Wants.


1) To relax ... We've got absolutely nothing planned this weekend. And to be honest, that's just how I like it.  


I love it when there's this mass exodus from the city on a holiday weekend, and you can get into restaurants with no wait, find a better spot in the park, or browse your favorite stores without having to dodge crowds.


2) To do some shopping ... What would a holiday weekend be without the sales? Personally I am in the market for a short sleeve denim chambray shirt, like this one -- 





(Image courtesy of J. Crew)


Too bad it's sold out :(


3) To get some fresh air ... I think I might like to head to one of my favorite parks in the city, and it's right in our neighborhood ... 

Source: blog.nyhistory.org via NYC on Pinterest

4) To brush up on my socials ... Every once in awhile I like to take a look at some of the folks who've followed me recently on Twitter and Pinterest, check out their blogs, and follow them back :)


5) To do some cooking ... Or some anti-cooking. Perhaps some antipasto? 

Source: thehungryhousewife.com via NYC on Pinterest

What are your plans for the long weekend?

Extra 30 percent off at J. Crew Factory this weekend

Through Monday, J. Crew Factory items where the prices are marked in red are an extra 30% off (online only) with code LOVEIT at checkout.


I recently bought this dress and I cannot wait for a super summer-y day to wear it! The picture scarcely does it justice.





(Image courtesy of J. Crew)

50 percent off swim at Ann Taylor

For a limited time, Ann Taylor's swim collection is 50% off (online only) ... no code needed.

Source: anntaylor.com via NYC on Pinterest

Because you know you would still raid her closet today ...

Shaved ice

How much fun would this electric ice shaver be for the summer?  And it's only $20 at JCPenney ...





(Image courtesy of JCPenney)

Thrifted skirt

I bought this paisley skirt for $3 at the Salvation Army in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. back in March, and I've been waiting for it to come back from the tailor so I could wear it. The alterations (hemming it and moving some buttons over) actually cost more than the skirt itself :)








I really love the colors -- my camera really isn't doing it justice in the first pic -- and the blue buttons all the way down the side.





(All images courtesy of NYC Recessionista)


Now I just need to devise a better system for taking better pics of my outfits and doing it more often ... 

Memorial Day sale roundup

I know I've done some posts already about some Memorial Day sales here and there, but here are some more for y'all!

• Through Monday, Banana Republic is taking 30% off your entire purchase with code BRSUMMER at checkout. 

• Bath & Body Works is taking up to 50% off select items. 

• Gap is taking up to 40% off select styles -- both in stores and online -- through Monday.

• Kendra Scott is having a nice sale on their gorgeous jewels, with discounts of up to 50% off, prices as marked.

• Lands' End Canvas is taking 30% off everything through Tuesday with code SALUTE at checkout.

• Macy's has lots o' shoes on sale, with discounts of up to 50% off.

• NY and Company has buy one, get one 75% off (with mix and match) both in stores and online.

• Old Navy is having a big summer sale through June 6th, with tees and tanks starting at just $4 through Monday, among other things.

• Stella & Dot is having a big weekend sale, with discounts of up to 50% their bling. 

• Terrain is taking 30% off a whole host of their beautiful home and gardening goods through Monday, both in stores and online.

• Urban Outfitters is having a 'happy 3-day freaking weekend' sale haha ... enough said.

Enjoy!

Extra 20 percent off at Madewell

Through Monday at Madewell (both in stores and online) take an extra 20% off all sale items with code WEEKENDER at checkout.  Free shipping for online orders, too. 

J. Crew And The Man Who Dressed America

I am definitely going to watch this special on J. Crew tonight on CNBC ... thanks to Refinery29 for letting us know and for the sneak preview!





(Video still courtesy of Refinery29 and CNBC)

Extra 20 percent off at Famous Footwear

Through Monday at Famous Footwear, take an extra 20% off your purchase with a coupon (click here to print it for in-store purchases) or code MEMORIAL12 at checkout. 


How fun are these?





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'Words To Live By' Wednesdays

Here's this week's edition of 'Words To Live By' Wednesdays.

Source: southernpiphi.tumblr.com via NYC on Pinterest

Gatsby

SWOON.