24 September 2007

"I think I'll just order it online, thanks..."


Super cute, right?

That's what I thought, too, when I slipped into this 'Cappella' empire-waisted blouse in rich navy silk with delicate pleated mesh detailing, textured sweetheart neckline and keyhole back.

But the question at hand, the question that really mattered as I did my usual twirl-and-tilt at every angle in every mirror available to me was not whether this Nanette Lepore top was super cute but rather was it super cute enough to cancel Friday's grocery delivery, not buy that new pair of running shoes I desperately needed and to force myself to do the whole brownbag lunch thing for the next two weeks using only the non-perishables my Mother sent me in this month's care package so as to finance its hefty $215 price-tag?

As I weighed the pros (blouse = mine) and the cons (body = malnourished), did some additional posing and took some additional photos, my "I think I'll get it!" moment was suddenly interrupted by the extraordinarily rude salesgirl who not only had the audacity to stick her head through the sliver of unavoidable openness in the lime green curtain with nary a knock on the adjacent wall but who did so solely to determine if I "was done yet" so she could let another person who had "more than one item" use the dressing room I was oh-so-inconveniently occupying.

Once I made it clear to both Ms. More Than One Item and ______, the woman "helping" me, I'd be staying a few more minutes until I'd made a final decision, the latter proceeded to give me a very audible huff followed by a not so subtle don't-worry-she'll-be-gone-soon facial expression to the former.

I dig the industrial chic design they've created at Cusp, I've come to accept and even prefer the fact they've chosen to organize their wares by style and not designer, but frankly, because of the above-and-beyond poor service I've encountered on not one but five separate occasions, I made the decision on Saturday never to step foot in there again, free cookies or no free cookies. I'm not saying I have anything against Cusp the company - hardly - but I am saying the atmosphere in the Georgetown installation created by the overt, you're-no-one-unless-you're-someone attitudes held by the their salespeople is so pervasive and such a should-I-or-shouldn't-I-get-it? buzzkill that I'm better off just going straight from Zara to Barney's Co-op in the future. And since there's not a single item in Cusp's inventory I can't find on Bop, Active Endeavors, Pink Mascara or Saks' sites - and in some cases, for quite a bit less cash - I have no qualms about crossing Cusp off my Georgetown retail rotation.

Because frankly, I'd sooner head to Smith Point on a Saturday night than fork over a single dollar of my precious clothing budget toward the sales quotas on which the brats over at 3030 M St. seem to be so singularly focused.

More Nanette Lepore super-cuteness:

30 comments:

Unknown said...

top is super cute. i hate the cusp. i am a co-op girl. what jeans do you have on? love the color.

Johanna said...

Marsha-

The jeans are a $299 pair of Rock & Republics the nice sales lady gave me when I asked her if I could try the top on with a pair of jeans. After I was done, I sneaked upstairs to see if she had given me the most expensive jeans in the store, and just as I had suspected, she had - by a good $45.

So over Cusp.

best,
J

Anonymous said...

I've had nothing but bad experiences in the Georgetown store. Same kind of treatment you've described here PLUS the clientele is really bitchy and self-entitled. I much prefer the one in Tyson's Corner.

Anonymous said...

I can't even fathom paying $215 for a top, much less one I couldn't wear to work, but I have to admit, it is quite pretty on you.

Don't these sales people at high end stores understand that part of their job is to sell the experience? Whenever I'm looking to buy something nice for an event, I usually go to Saks, and the people there are incredible. Very professional and personable.

Anonymous said...

The only time the Cusp peeps have paid a lick of attention to me was when our mutual friend was giving them some free publicity. And EVEN THEN, they were quite begrudging in giving me the day's gift bag and cupcake - something to which all "party" goers are entitled, if their blog is to be believed - which peeved me off in the extreme, as I'd made a purchase. I'm sorry, but in my book, a purchasing customer on free gift bag & cupcake party day = a customer sweetly and happily offered a gift bag and cupcake of her choice.

Cuspies are rude-y attitude-ys, no doubt.

Anonymous said...

cusp..is just an experiment..i KNOW that corporate would want to hear from you..youd be VERRRYYY happily $urpriSed (read- gift card- but you didnt hear it from me)at what a nice handwritten letter to Neiman Marcus corp. might land you...

xoxo

Anonymous said...

Top IS super cute, but there's something around the bust area that doesn't seem quite right - although it could just be the glare off of shiny fabric. But LOVE the back.

If the salesfolk are going to be rude to you, I can only imagine how they would treat a JC Penney-clad girl, such as myself.

Anonymous said...

I don't think the bust is flattering enough to you, especially given what you've got.

Anonymous said...

I second Saks for their customer service. The difference between the two is that there (Saks) you get people whose profession is service, while at Cusp, you probably have a bunch of part-time Georgetown University students who are only working there for the discount and the opportunity to be a snobby bitch to strangers.

Anonymous said...

I think you may be indebted to the rude shop assistant.

$200+ for a top that neither looks flattering to your figure, and at its worst looks, in part, like the casual draping of mosquito netting around your neck would have been a travesty.

She may have saved you from yourself; although, I am surprised that you need saving from such an unflattering look!!! All that running to then masquerade as if overwieght, or several months pregnant. I simply don't get it.

Unknown said...

Isn't one of the themes of this blog is how to get something just as good for a reasonable price? You can't be getting an overpriced top.

Is that your hair from the back? It is short.

Anonymous said...

Girl, you need to focus more intently on the upcoming MCM, and stay the hell out of some of these stores. Some of these near-purchases look disgusting, and simply don't work for you!

Johanna said...

anonymous 7:26-

Disgusting? Really?

good advice on the MCM front - I need a verbal kick in the pants every once in a while.

Dave-

Yep, that's me from behind! I love it!

Anonymous said...

The top is NOT $200 attractive on you. Save your $$$. Unfortunately I do agree that it makes you looky preggo in the stomach.

Anonymous said...

Sweet Nancy Kerrigan!

Jo, there are so many pics of you in so many chic items...you have great sense of style and obviously put a lot of care into your look.

As a big fan, I cannot stand idly by while you drop your hard-earned cash on that top! There is something cuter out there.

Anonymous said...

pretty nails! what color?

Johanna said...

Anonymous 9:06-

Midnight in Moscow by OPI! It's totes my fave for Fall!

best,
J

Anonymous said...

I've had better luck with service at the Tyson's Cusp than at G'Town. Though I always love the Friendship Heights Co-op store best!

Anonymous said...

OMG, where has all the hair gone? That cut is so (in fact, too) savage). From behind, at least, you could be mistaken for a Thai rent boy!! Now, there's a look to embrace ;-)

christine said...

I didn't know your hair was so short...it is freakin' fierce. love it! I don't remember how I found your blog last week, but as a fellow runner and poli-sci graduate, I love what you write.

Anonymous said...

I'm always astonished by the poor service women deal with when buying clothing. Men wouldn't tolerate the kind of attitude I've seen saleswomen throw out for a New York second; and in fact, we never do have to tolerate it. Or at least I never have.

It's a mystery to me why so many saleswomen are so disagreeable though.

N-Y-i-E

Anonymous said...

those salespeople know you aren't going to buy anything. they know you're just there to waste their time playing pretty pretty princess dressing up in the clothes and looking at yourself in the mirror. they know the type, they've seen it all before. if someone came into where you work to waste your time, you'd be bitchy too.

Johanna said...

Anonymous 10:04-

Not sure if you read the post, but I was about to buy the top until the saleswoman stuck her head into my dressing room.

And I don't go into stores to play "pretty princess" as you stated - I simply share on this blog the shopping process, be it a successful one or an unsuccessful one.

I assume you're the same person who made this same point in my Saks piece?

Maybe if you hate my behavior so much, you should just stop reading, because frankly, I'm always going to be a girl who tries on a lot more items than I'm gonna buy.

Just the way it is.

kisses,
J

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