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You will find yourself asking just how many red flags can a self proclaimed feminist miss, but the conclusion I‘ve landed on is that Flannery has heartbreakingly illustrated just how easily patriarchal thinking can swoop right back in when you come out of your academic bubble and are faced with the practicalities of needing a job. This book made me feel like I needed a shower.

I picked this book up from the library a few hours ago and I inhaled it. Cover to cover. It‘s my perfect read. I could read a thousand more books exactly like this. The author‘s voice, the tea, the early aughts! It‘s giving me a millennial high.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A memoir of working for iconic bare-bones retailer American Apparel. Sexualized feminism. Influence. Power. And Dov. Flannery was desperate for a job when she was gratefully discovered, then quickly put in charge of talent recruitment. A lot of odd practices ensued. She stayed much longer than she should have. Culty vibes!

Squeaked one last book in for August.

Remember when American Apparel was all the rage in the early 2000s? Cool clothes. Sexy ads.

This is the story of a young woman who started working there as a retail associate and then moved up the ranks to a recruiting manager.

She begins to realize that things aren't as they should be but is too gullible and naive to make the necessary changes.

It got frustrating and boring after a while.

I remember the American Apparel stores and the controversy regarding the owner, so gladly picked this one up from Edelweiss+. I found it amazing how quickly a smart woman fell for the crap this business was spouting and how little she was paid. She accurately described the staff at one point as the owner Dov Charney's harem. It was disappointing she stayed so long after seeing the light, but that was her reality. A thought provoking read. 4/5

A fascinating look at the cult of personality that was American Apparel. Flannery was hired after college to work at one of their LA stores. Like many employees, she modeled for them without compensation. But her true talent was in recruiting others to work there too. She didn‘t sleep with the founder, but plenty of other female employees, including teens she brought in, did. Quite an interesting reckoning.

I totally requested this #ARC based solely on the title and cover, so I was thrilled when I realized how great the writing and story was as well. Kate Flannery was one of the original American Apparel girls who rose to “cult status” in the early 2000‘s. This is her first hand account of the chaos and debauchery that went on at this iconic clothing brand. Everyone was clamoring to wear the American Apparel label, which featured no logo 👇🏼