Shopping for clothing nowadays, for those who like to do it, is like a giant playground for consumers.
There are endless brands to choose from, by style, trend, fabric, or even ethical standards. No matter how specific your taste is, there’s likely a brand out there that caters to it.
But with so many choices, expectations don’t always match reality, especially when labels are sold through third-party retailers. That’s what happened to one Nashville woman who ordered a House of CB dress through Nordstrom and didn’t get the experience she expected.
Expectations vs. Reality in the Online Fashion World
TikToker Megan (@themeganmarg) shared a carousel post showing how her “$300+ engagement dress” from House of CB arrived when she ordered it from the Nordstrom website.
In the first image, the dress is tightly folded and packed inside a clear plastic bag, no box, no tissue, no branded wrapping. The next image shows the dress as it appears on a model on the House of CB website.
“Literally had to order from Nordstrom because they didn’t have my size on the website,” she writes in the caption, adding, “but wth.”
Viewers Were Not Sympathetic
Her post got over 571,700 views and a flood of comments, but instead of sympathy, most people told her she was overreacting.
“Did you think they were going to courier it to your house in a garment bag? Lol,” one person asks. Megan replies, “Girl bye, I just wanted the box I could use to store the dress after. That’s not a big ask.”
Another viewer comments, “We have bigger problems right now babe,” to which she responds, “Ok I get that but why are we defending a multi-million dollar brand?”
Others chimed in with similar remarks.
“I’ve ordered $500 dresses from Nordstrom in similar packaging… literally what did you want?” a third says.
“I fear House of CB isn’t a luxury brand, this is just what packaging is!” says another. Megan pushes back, saying that when bought directly from the brand, “they do ship it nicer, in a box.”
She Responds to Commenters
In a follow-up TikTok video, Megan clarifies her frustration. “It was literally just in a plastic mailer,” she says while showing the package. “Not even a box or anything like that.”
She explains that she had already placed an order directly with House of CB, but it never shipped. “So I basically ordered the Nordstrom one for backup, and honestly, the least I expected was for it to come in some sort of garment bag,” she says.
Megan says it’s not about the material item but the experience. “This dress was over $300 with taxes. I’ve ordered things for $30 that were packaged better,” she says. She then opens the discussion wider, asking, “Who’s to blame? Is it Nordstrom? Is it House of CB? Or is it on the consumer?”
Her take is that both companies benefit when shoppers lower their expectations. “This is exactly what big multimillion-dollar corporations want us to do,” she says. “They want us to argue with each other about having unreasonable expectations while they save money and skip on packaging.”
She points out that Nordstrom’s reputation adds to the frustration. “Nordstrom is considered a luxury department store. It’s not the same level as Macy’s or Dillard’s, we know that by the brands they carry,” she says.
To her, it’s not unreasonable to want more. “I don’t think asking for a little bit of better packaging is a crazy ask,” she adds. “The more we let them get away with this type of stuff, the more the quality of service will decline.”
Does House of CB Actually Ship Its Products in Signature Packaging?
House of CB, a British women’s apparel brand founded by Conna Walker, started as a small business when Walker was just 17. The company now generates roughly £200 million ($265 million) annually.
It’s known for creating curve-hugging, ultra-feminine garments that range from about $150 to $400—a price point that lands somewhere between high-end fast fashion and accessible luxury.
And yes, on its official product listings, House of CB advertises what it calls its “signature packaging.”
The brand describes it as “beautifully designed packaging perfect for gifting or keeping as a personal keepsake.” Many shoppers, and even the brand’s own TikTok page, have showcased the unboxing experience as part of the appeal.
YouTuber HopeScope even shows the difference between ordering directly from the brand and through Nordstrom. The Nordstrom order came in a bag, while the others arrived in boxes tied with a pink ribbon.
What likely happened here is logistics. Either Nordstrom received the dress in bulk and repackaged it to save space, or both brands opted for the cheapest possible shipping method.
The Mary Sue has reached out to both House of CB and Nordstrom via email for comment. We’ve also contacted Megan via email for more information.
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