An Open Letter to Nasty Gal: Give Us Back Our Money

Nasty Gal has been one of my number one go-tos for a fashion fix for YEARS — where else was I gonna find Courtney Love-designed babydolls or summer-ready leather Vans on a whim?

With the original #GirlBoss Sophia Amuroso at the helm, I could rest easy knowing that the brand’s picks would always be on-trend.

But Amoruso stepped down as the company’s CEO back in 2015 and, late last year, we got word that our beloved Nasty brand was quickly going under, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Trust me when I say, no one was more bummed than I was. At least a quarter of my wardrobe bears the brand’s label! There was SOME light at the end of the tunnel, however: The site boasted a killer 70-percent-off sale as part of its last hurrah before it was to be taken over by new management on February 28. Nasty Gal was acquired by UK retailer BooHoo for a cool $20 million, giving Nasty Gals (myself included) everywhere hope that their favorite fashion fix could still be a reality.

My hopes were quickly dashed, however, once I received my first order under new management. Having ordered the Hazel Choker Tee for what seemed like a steal at $36, I was pretty excited to get my goods. That is, until a week later, when my package arrived containing… a completely different dress than the one I ordered.

While the style of the Kayla Graphic Shirt dress (also $36) I received was kinda similar to the one I had actually ordered, I wasn’t digging the wild cutout at the shoulder that appeared like it would make wearing a bra next to impossible. I could easily discern how the mix-up had occurred, as the tag on the dress in the bag I clutched bore the name of the original item I had wanted — the Hazel Choker Tee — but the item was most definitely not what I had expected.

After a quick check online, I saw that my beloved Hazel dress was going fast: In fact, there was only one left in stock of my size on the site, sparking my sense of urgency. I figured I’d better call right away to get an exchange under way, so I went to contact the company. Except… there was no one to contact. Under the “customer care” section of the site was the usual lineup of categories, including shipping info, returns, size guide, T+C’s, and about cookies, but a “Contact Us” section was nowhere to be found.

The best I could find was a “US Hassle-Free Returns” section (which still stands), reading, “Simply return your items to the following address within 28 days of the date on your dispatch note. Please note that returns will be made at your own cost.”

Upon second glance, I happened to spy a “Contact Us” button at the bottom of my shipment email, but clicking it proved futile — it simply spun and spun. Being the resourceful, determined gal that I am, I refused to give up, taking to Google. A quick search of “Nasty Gal contact” yielded several methods of communication — a live chat (which was still “pending” for an agent long after I had given up and returned to my computer more than three hours later), a phone number of 855-627-8942 (which informed me that the Nasty Gal customer service line no longer existed), and an email, which, after typing out my formal complaint, refused to actually let me hit the “send” button (or if it did go through, there was no confirmation message or indication that it had worked).

Time to take to social media. A Tweet to @NastyGal went unanswered, but I did happen to spy the following message on the company’s Twitter bio: “Need help? @NastyGalHelp has your back.” Score!

I typed out my dilemma — for the fourth time now, between the chat, email, regular Twitter, and help Twitter — and after receiving a generic “Hey gal, we’ll get back to you,” the company eventually answered (with some urging) with this: “We’re so bummed to hear this. Unfortunately we are unable to provide replacements for incorrect items at the moment. Please return the item for a full refund — keep hold of the postage receipt in case of any issues and if there’s a charge we’ll refund the amount as the item is incorrect. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.”

Welp, that solved the problem of the return, but I still wanted the dress I had ordered — badly. I explained that while I was happy to re-order the original item, I wanted to be sure that I wouldn’t receive an incorrect item again, as the tag of the dress I received had clearly been marked wrong in the warehouse. I received the following response: “We’ve contacted the warehouse to get this checked, however the order may be dispatched prior to the issue being investigated. You should receive the correct item, but if we mess up again, reach out and we’ll get the issue sorted. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.”

Okay, fine — the national nightmare was over (for now). Albeit for a few HOURS lost (over a $36 dress, no less), my shopping saga was donezo, and I could finally get on with my day, right? Wrong. So wrong.

The email I had previously sent apparently DID go through, and a customer service rep had gotten back to me with a totally different answer. “Unfortunately, we are still unable to view any previous Nasty Gal orders/accounts,” she wrote. “It seems that the management changeover is taking a bit longer than expected and we’re still trying to fine-tune some details. Don’t worry though, we are looking into this.”

Not wanting to waste the rep’s time (ha!) I explained that it had actually been taken care of; I was sending the dress back per instruction and had already ordered a new one. The rep then responded with a message that completely baffled me. “I am sorry for any inconvenience caused. Unfortunately, we would not be accepting any returns from orders placed before 28/02/2017. I understand how disappointing this is but it is due to the management changeover. Let us know if you have any other issues.”

Confused, I AGAIN attempted to explain that the item I received had been incorrect, and that I was merely sending it back for a refund, as I hadn’t purchased it to begin with. In response, I received this: “I apologize for any confusion but I was regarding to the original order (the incorrect item that you received). If you purchased this before 28/02/2017 we will not be able to accept this as a return. Apologies for the inconvenience caused. If you have any other queries please get in touch.”

What!? Now I was thoroughly confused, and frankly, a little PO-ed. If I sent the dress back, was I getting my money back per the Twitter rep or not? Double checking the date of my original order and finding it to have been March 4 (phew!), I figured I was in the clear, and let the rep know that my order had actually been placed AFTER the date she kept referring to, so my refund should be accepted. At this point, I fully expected her to give me the go-ahead to send the item back as previously directed. Instead, I more or less received the same message as above, informing me that Nasty Gal would not be taking returns for orders placed before 2/28 with the added line, “As you have already sent yours back, I have sent an enquiry to see what is happening with that. Please allow a few days for the relevant department to get back to me. As soon as they do, I will email you with an update.”

Was this girl reading my emails at all, or was I being sent form letters? I once more informed her that my order had been placed after the date of February 28, and that I hadn’t sent the dress back yet for fear at this point of not actually being refunded my money.

In response, I received an even MORE confusing message. “Thanks for getting in touch. I’m really sorry but we’re unable to confirm your query atm. NG has recently changed management and we’re still going through a massive changeover. Because of this, we’re still trying to fine-tune a few details. This means that we currently are unable to offer a resolve for your query so I have passed it on to the relevant department. I will be back in touch in a few days when I receive correspondence. We are really sorry for any inconvenience caused.” (That was on March 11. I’ve still yet to receive any “additional response.”)

Frustrated (and confused!) beyond belief, I took to the company’s

with a few expletives in mind, but I was absolutely SHOCKED at what I saw. Not only were others describing similar scenarios to my own, I also saw COUNTLESS additional complaints of orders not being delivered at

all

, returns not being processed after months on end, accounts with leftover credits having been closed without warning, tales of the 70-percent-off code not being applied to orders (a rather big deal, considering some of the site’s original prices were upwards of $1,000), and claims of theft and fraud. Basically, the works.

In fact, Nasty Gal’s own first post was an overarching response to the absolute flood of complaints they had been receiving, and one of their remarks looked kinda… familiar.

I could not believe my eyes. Was this a sick joke? It quickly became clear that I had stumbled upon something much bigger than myself and my $36 dress, and now I was enraged. I had already decided that between all the mixed messages I’d received I would rather just eat my purchase than deal with the hassle this was turning out to be. I didn’t want to risk potentially being given the run-around AGAIN over a refund of less than $50 (not to mention waste the money on shipping should things not pan out). Yet, I couldn’t help but think about what would have happened if I had placed my order prior to February 28, and spent a boatload in the process. How would I even begin to combat this and recoup my funds in a timely manner? Obviously, there were PLENTY of others that were dealing with these issues on a much larger scale, having spent far greater amounts than I in the good faith that they were getting some quality goods, and the thought made me both furious and positively sick.

The comments over on Instagram weren’t any better. “We are all sick of you, ‘Hey Gal-ing’ asking for our ‘deets’ and telling us to message you because you keep telling us all the same: You can’t access our accounts or track our orders, and you won’t take responsibility for lost orders, double charges, or the other plethora of issues customers have had before the changeover.”

View this post on Instagram

Turn up the heat. Slides are here, link in bio.

A post shared by Nasty Gal (@nastygal) on

Though the company’s only recommended course of action seemed to be filing a complaint with customers’ banks, I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau on behalf of all of my fellow (former) “Nasty Gals,” requesting that the organization do a thorough investigation into the company’s new practices as desired resolution. I am also penning this piece in the hopes of saving others the headache (and lack of rightful funds!) that not only I, but other ladies underwent, all over a shared mutual love of edgy oversized t-shirt dresses, chokers, and the like.

And, should those options fail, there’s also the Federal Trade Commission, where you can file a complaint under the site’s “Internet services, online shopping, or computers” section on the lefthand side.

Looks like it’s time to get “Nasty,” ladies.

Have you experienced issues with the new Nasty Gal? Tell us over @BritandCo.

(Photos via Nasty Gal + Getty)

The new year is coming, so it's time to start making your 2024 vision board! If you're like us, it's likely you're thinking about developing healthy habits and workout goals that you'll actually want to commit to — no judgement. Since we're all in the same boat, we've got just the thing to motivate you — new workout leggings!

From high-waisted to seamless designs, these leggings are going to help you achieve your health goals and then some. Read on to discover the most innovative, edgy, and eye-catching ones we’ve found!

High-Waist Workout Leggings

Fabletics Cold Weather High-Waisted Pocket Leggings

The most impressive detail of this simple, cold-weather design from Kate Hudson’s Fabletics line comes with a cute pocket detail on the side. This means you get to work out without losing sight of your phone.

Nike Zenvy (M) Gentle-Support High-Waisted Leggings

After getting the okay from your OBGYN to work out, head over to Nike to pick up these cute gentle-support workout leggings. The soft fabric will conform to your body and growing baby bump!

Nike Universa Medium-Support High-Waisted Leggings

These squat-proof workout leggings are guaranteed to provide the support you're looking for. Plus, you get to look cute.

Forever21 Active High-Rise Zippered Leggings

These $20 millennial pink workout pants are every bit as cute and trendy as any $100 counterpart. Plus, they have some serious performance elements — like moisture-wicking-fabric — to boot.

Reebok Classics High-Rise Leggings

These premium workout leggings are designed to offer you a flared leg and elastic waist to ensure you're comfortable while going on your morning run.

Athleta Ultra High Rise Elation Tight

These magenta body-hugging leggings should give you a boost of energy when you're working out.

Bootcut & Flared Leggings

Alo Yoga Super Shine Low-Rise Bootcut Legging

High-rise workout leggings aren't for everyone, so we suggest wearing this low-rise bootcut version.

Athleta Salutation Stash Flare Pant

Our Content Editor agrees that flare pants definitely count as workout leggings.

Free People Let's Bounce Pants in Jam Jewel

Free yourself from feeling restricted by a seamless design with these four-way stretch pants. You'll be able to enjoy medium-impact workouts without feeling icky.

Colorful & Patterned Leggings

Lululemon Fast and Free High-Rise Tight 25" Pockets Leggings

You can’t go wrong with a printed pair of leggings, and that’s just what this Lululemon style serves up. This option comes complete with all the amenities you want, including five hidden waistband pockets, and moisture-wicking fabric.

Sweaty Betty Power Workout Leggings

Beloved by the likes of Reese Witherspoon and Jessica Alba, this brand boasts “ultra-lightweight Italian fabric” and plenty of style. Our pick? This black gradient dot print.

Halara Seamless Flow High Waisted Butt Lifting Leggings

Looking for a pair of seamless workout leggings that make your butt look good? We think you've met your match.

adidas by Stella McCartney True Pace Running Leggings

Stella McCartney and Adidas teamed up to bring you the best performance running leggings on the market. Okay, we're being biased. But, they're still a great option for our girls who love to run.

Seamless Leggings

Buff Bunny BBL Seamless Leggings

These workout leggings will give you an illusion of having a BBL — if that's your thing — thanks to the under glute contour.

Victoria's Secret Seamless Workout Tight

Amp yourself up with Victoria's Secret seamless workout tights, which are sure to set you apart from the rest of the gym crowd.

Gymshark Sweat Seamless Leggings

You don't just need another pair of cute workout leggings. You need something that's going to perform well while being sweat-resistant.

Outdoor Voices SoftRib Stirrup Leggings

These leggings are for the girlies who can't get enough of stirrup pants.

OQQ 2 Piece Yoga Leggings

Affordable? Check. Cute? Check. Performing? Check — these OQQ leggings are form fitting, breathable, and practical.

Which pair of workout leggings look the most appealing to you? Let us know and don't forget to add them to your cart!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated.

Lead image via Free People

Trader Joe’s has all the best festive flavors for St. Patrick’s Day, and their shelves are undeniably stocked up with seasonal gems you won’t want to miss. From Irish-inspired cheeses to sweet treats with a lucky twist, there’s no shortage of fun (and delicious!) ways to celebrate this year. If you're looking to add some festive energy to your grocery haul, these TJ’s finds are the perfect way to get into the spirit.

Scroll on for 13 epic Trader Joe's finds you need to add to your cart for St. Patty's Day!

Trader Joe's

Kerrygold Irish Cheddar With Chili Peppers

Whether you use this spicy grass-fed cheddar for a charcuterie board, on top of steaming-hot baked potatoes, or for bite-sized grilled cheeses, your St. Patty's party will be so glad you grabbed it.

Trader Joe's

Corned Beef Brisket

Corned beef is a St. Patty's classic. This brisket comes pre-seasoned with plenty of mustard, coriander, bay leaf, red chili pepper, and dill seed for a unique, yet super familiar flavor profile.

Trader Joe's

Pie Crusts

These readymade pie crusts can be easily transformed for on-theme Shepherd's Pies and desserts alike.

Trader Joe's

Beer Bread Mix

Soda bread is another can't-miss traditional St. Patrick's Day snack, and this bread mix (where all you have to do is add beer and butter) makes enjoying the snack extremely easy. You could even top it with a medley of other ingredients to enhance a certain flavor profile.

Trader Joe's

Breaded Mozzarella Cheese Sticks

Any holiday party involving beer (AKA St. Patrick's Day) calls for some fried food. Skip the drive-thru and prep these cheesy sticks right at home for just $5!

Trader Joe's

Beef Rib Eye Steak

If grillin' is on the docket for your St. Patty's Day plans, opt for one of TJ's fancy steak cuts like this nice $15 rib eye to feed a crowd!

Trader Joe's

Soft Pretzel Twists

These soft pretzel twists are just as tasty as the bites you'd get at the stadium – salt and all!

Trader Joe's

Garlic Gondolas

These "very garlicky" bread boats can host a wide array of fillings like stews, soups, and salads. Just cut 'em up for a finger food that's definitely worthy of your St. Patrick's celebration!

Trader Joe's

Dark Chocolate Covered Caramels

When it comes to the sweet stuff, you simply can't go wrong with these dark chocolate-covered caramel bites.

Trader Joe's

Brownie Truffle Baking Mix

This brownie mix includes notes of fudgy chocolate that's sure to cure any sweet tooth. You could totally serve small bites of this using toothpicks for your party – easy!

Trader Joe's

Apple Blossoms

These apple-filled snacks are like mini apple pies: individual pastries filled with sweet, cooked apples and topped with a tasty bit of cinnamon crumble! They bake very quickly in the oven so you don't have to wait long for your St. Patty's dessert.

Trader Joe's

Yellow Mini Sheet Cake

Trader Joe's sheet cakes are perfect for sharing. Luckily, this new flavor is gluten-free, so everyone can get a taste of its moist crumb and decadent chocolate frosting.

Trader Joe's

Chocolate Hazelnut Ground Coffee

Got Irish coffee on the menu? Step it up using this chocolate-hazelnut coffee that'll enhance every single flavor note.

Subscribe to our newsletter to discover more epic Trader Joe's finds!

Choosing bleached vs. unbleached flour for the recipe at hand can mean the difference between an okay-tasting treat and a can't-wait-to-stuff-this-in-my-mouth experience. Once you have the proper staple, you can make fluffy cakes, chewy pizza crusts, unforgettable breads, and lighter-than-air biscuits. The biggest differences between each type of flour? Protein content, texture, and the type of wheat used. To find out which is best for which foods, scroll through our primer on all the different flours you need to know.

The Best Bleached Vs Unbleached Flour

King Arthur Flour All-Purpose Unbleached Flour

Chances are the flour most of us have in our cupboards right now is all-purpose. This type of flour has a fairly high protein content, meaning you can use it to make bread and pasta, but it's not so protein-rich that you can't also use it to bake cakes and cookies. A note about bleached vs. unbleached: Unbleached flour turns white naturally as it ages, while bleached flour is synthetically aged with chemicals. Unbleached flour can produce slightly coarser baked goods, but the difference between the two is very slight.

Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Baking Flour

Pre-mixed flour blends are a godsend for those who are new to gluten-free baking. Look for a box or bag that says "1 to 1," which means that every cup of the gluten-free flour is equal to a cup of all-purpose wheat flour. BRM adds xanthan gum to its mix, which basically replaces the gluten in regular flour, so your GF baked goods stick together and don't crumble like sand.

King Arthur Flour Unbleached Bread Flour

Bread flour can make all the difference if your homemade loaves never seem to come out quite right. It's higher in gluten and protein, which gives more structure to the rise and bake of your bread. To use whole wheat flour when making bread, you should cut it with 25-50 percent bread flour so you still get the texture you're looking for.

Swans Down Enriched Bleached Cake Flour

Cake flour is milled extra-fine, so you get the softest, fluffiest cakes possible. It's made with soft winter wheat, which has less protein than other types of wheat and doesn't develop as much gluten. Cake flour is also a preferred choice if you want to make fluffy pancakes.

Bob's Red Mill 100% Stone Ground Whole Wheat Flour

Baking with whole wheat flour isn't difficult, but there are a few things that make it different from refined flour. It's coarser and denser, which can inhibit the production of gluten (resulting in gummy, flat bread loaves). Its heaviness means cakes and other baked goods may have trouble rising. To combat this when making bread, use a blend of whole wheat and bread flour, or add a tablespoon or two of vital wheat gluten and an extra tablespoon of water to your dough to increase the protein content of the mixture and get a more traditional rise. For cakes, use equal parts whole wheat and cake flour.

Gold Medal Wondra Quick Mixing Flour

Wondra is a blend of wheat flour and malted barley flour that mixes into gravies, sauces, and stews without leaving lumps like regular flour does. Beyond that, it also yields the flakiest pie crusts. It can make dredging fish and chicken easier than ever too.

White Lily Self Rising Flour

For the lightest, fluffiest biscuits of your life, pick up White Lily self-rising flour. It's made from soft wheat that's finely milled and pre-mixed with rising agents.

Antimo Caputo Chef's "00" Flour

"00" flour is an Italian bread flour that's milled to be extra-fine. It has about the same protein content as all-purpose flour, but because of its texture, it produces superior pizza crust and bread. If you're a die-hard Neapolitan pizza fan, it's worth keeping some on hand.

Caputo Semolina Flour

Semolina flour is what you want to use for making pasta. Created from the ground endosperm of durum wheat, it usually has a slightly sweet flavor, golden color, and coarser texture than regular wheat flour. Look for Italian semolina flour, which tends to be milled more finely than its American counterparts, making for smoother dough and pasta.

Now want to try out your new knowledge of bleached vs unbleached flour? Follow us on @BritAndCo on Pinterest for delicious recipes.

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

(Photos via retailers)

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco have made headlines again, but now Hailey Bieber— and all the alleged drama with her — is back in the picture. We were under the impression she was excited for the couple's engagement, but one fan claims she's back at her shady behavior...and it's making people look at her sideways all over again. Here's what allegedly happened, plus what Hailey had to say about it all!

Scroll to find out if Hailey Bieber actually threw shade at Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco...

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Vanity Fair

Hailey Bieber can't seem to catch a break in the news. Though we reported she liked Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco's engagement post last year, there was a suggestion she may have other thoughts about them. It's no secret she and Selena allegedly aren't the best of friends, but we never would've suspected she'd do what one person claims she did.

According to TikTok creator @courtneypresto, Hailey liked a video where she admits to being "a little shady to Selena Gomez." She also shared a couple of interesting pictures of her and Benny's Interview Magazine feature with one of them showing Benny smiling while the singer's two feet are on his cheeks.

But Hailey apparently thinks the creator's claim is "fake news" because her rep told Page Six, "This never happened." To make things slightly worse, the rep also threw @courtneypresto under the bus. "This entire story has been fabricated by a content creator looking to capitalize off of an old, tired narrative." You can't see us, but this statement made us choke on our lattes.

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Vanity Fair

Buzzfeed reports the model also shared a personal statement on Instagram, but it's unclear who she was referring to. The message started off with, "pastors and preachers really love to put words together with the same letter and act like it's HITTING so crazy..." before she signed off with "...sh-- drives me bananas."

As for Selena & Benny? They're in their own paradise and the singer's recent post dedicated to the producer proves it. She shared a sweet Instagram carousel that captured intimate moments of their love to celebrate his birthday. "I’m not sure what I did to deserve you but damn am I glad you were born.. happy birthday baby ♥️."

Maybe Hailey Bieber liked the original shady TikTok by accident? Whatever the case, we hope the girls aren't fighting again!

Follow us on Facebook for more celebrity updates!

Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively just premiered their new movie Another Simple Favor at the 2025 SXSW Festival (you can stream it on Prime Video May 1), and aside from buzz about the movie itself, the internet is going wild for one simple reason. Anna Kendrick got a little sassy when asked what it was like to reunite with Blake for the film, and while the drama surrounding Blake's It Ends With Us legal battle didn't delay the movie, social media users can't stop talking about Anna's reaction.

Here's what Anna Kendrick said about working with Blake Lively on Another Simple Favor.

Anna Kendrick's comments about Blake Lively just went viral.

@entertainmenttonight Anna Kendrick arrives to the premiere of 'Another Simple Favor' at SXSW. #annakendrick#blakelively#anothersimplefavor♬ original sound - Entertainment Tonight

While greeting fans at the movie premiere, Anna was asked what it meant to be working with Blake again, to which Anna doesn't even stop. She just responds, "Oh, you know."

"'Oh you know' are the exact words I say when someone asks me how I am and I am barely hanging on," one TikTok user jokes in the comments, while another speculates, "I think she hates the hate Blake is getting and how the media is out to get click bait from her about it."

@varietymagazine How is the release of "Another Simple Favor" being affected by everything going on in the world? Anna Kendrick: "Why, what happened? I did ayahuasca and the last year of my life is just gone." #SXSW♬ original sound - Variety

The actress was also asked about "everything going on" (undoubtedly alluding to the It Ends With Us drama), to which Anna responded, "Why, what happened? I did ayahuasca and the last year of my life is just gone."

Anna is known for her sense of humor, and TikTok users commented saying this "was a phenomenal answer" and that she's "effortlessly funny."

Anna opened up about reuniting with Blake for the sequel, telling People in October 2024 that getting cast members from the first A Simple Favor back together again was "a little bit like riding a bike."

"She lives on the East Coast, I live on the West Coast, so we don't get to see each other often," she says. "But it was lovely, and I think that those characters have such weird chemistry that it's so fun to just get the gang back together."

And when someone tweeted that Blake Lively was "terrified to walk the carpet" and Anna Kendrick was "pissed and never wants to work with her again," director Paul Feig retweeted with a simple, "Um … you’re wrong." And I'll take his word for it.

Check out why Blake Lively's Another Simple Favor Trailer Is All About “Revenge”