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The Evil Fashion Boss
By admins | April 14, 2009
image via mentalswitch.com
There are a lot of bosses out there and it seems to us that many of them are atrocious. Okay, maybe that’s an extreme statement, but really, how many of you hate your boss? The number one reason that employees in the US quit their jobs, in any industry, is dissatisfaction with their superior. Fashion is notorious for its villainous bosses; from greedy garmentos to diva designers, we’ve got them all. While intense, aggressive, and even evil bosses can be found in any industry, we sure seem to have a plethora of them (and the New York attitude doesn’t help). So why does every fashionista we know seem to have at least one bad boss story that evokes extreme visceral reactions even years after the fact? Well, we have many theories, but have not come to a consensus here. Basically, we seem to have two general trains of thought.
The first theory is that fashion is a creative and very personal field. Many people that work in this industry are highly creative, and artists of some kind; perhaps, we are more sensitive and emotional people in the first place. Since the industry is also made up of many type-A business people for whom earnings are the sole reason they get up in the morning, the resulting interaction between the two can be tenuous at best. Fashion is one of the few industries in which you are actually creating something whereby any critique or criticism can feel like a personal attack, additionally fashion is extremely subjective. This explains the never-ending battle between buyers, salespeople, designers, and production managers regarding what’s good, what’s bad, what’s hot, what’s not, what’s too forward and what’s saleable; and why it often ends in an inner office scream fest. Tensions often run high when every party believes their knowledge, their sense of style, and their taste level is the only one that matters. Add to that, millions of dollars on the line and tempers will undoubtedly flare.
The second theory is that fashion is a superficial industry that continuously attracts world class nut-jobs and arrogant a-holes. Okay, so this is not so much a theory as the simple fact that every fashion company seems to employ at least one crazy diabolical boss whose reason for getting up in the morning is to bring misery to her employees. These vile bosses often believe they are queen of the world and will not hesitate to rip your heart out if you dare challenge them. In one day’s research, we have heard horror stories that make Miranda Priestly; ala the Devil Wears Prada, look like Glenda the Good Witch. There is really no excuse for the abhorrent behavior listed below; however it may make you feel better about your own boss, so we’d thought we’d share a few stories.
- Upon receiving a box of samples that one boss decided were not to her taste, she vehemently began throwing samples at her design team (scratching one assistant with a zipper to the face) then proceeded to dump the entire contents of the shipping box onto the floor for the designers to clean up and refold.
- One sales VP, upon viewing the newest line, demanded to know if the designer ever went to fashion school and followed that up with “the problem is somebody your size should be designing mumus not skinny jeans.”
- A crazy production manager who constantly screamed at her staff in Mandarin, despite the fact that only a third of them understood her, often demanded that her staff work until 9:00pm at night with no dinner break because “you Americans are too lazy.”
- This design director took gleeful pleasure in often reducing her team to tears with jabs at their weight, attractiveness, clothing choices, marital status, salaries, and when all else failed their racial and ethnic backgrounds. All of which she would deny to HR and consequently fire the tattle-telling staff member.
- One psychotic boss, in the midst of one of her typical rants and rages, turned upon her newest assistant and slapped the poor girl across the face. And yes, she was the only one on this list fired but not for several weeks.
Those are just five of the many examples that we could give, and truthfully we cannot come to understand how so many of these wack-jobs come to work in the fashion industry. For those not in the industry wondering why people continue to work in such a tough business with difficult work environments, all we can say is doing something you love and have a passion for it is a rare thing in this world. If you are lucky enough to get paid to do what you love and get up everyday for a career rather than a job, you can’t let one witch stop you. We’d love to hear your theories on the profusion of evil bosses in fashion. As we had so much fun reminiscing on workplace disasters for this post, we will be putting together a boss horror story article coming soon. So we would love to hear all your boss horror stories and of course keep you (and them) anonymous. Just use the “Contact Us” button at the bottom of our site and share the drama with us.
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Topics: fashion industry, jobs, rant | 40 Comments » 
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April 15th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Wow, you tell it like it is. Scary, I too have seen one sample thrown at somebodys face. Worst I saw a cup of HOT coffee thrown in conference room, not at anybody though. Why is everybody so crazy? Don’t know, but thank you!
April 15th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Crazy! Can’t believe the slap story, that poor assistant!
April 15th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I love to hear the stories but I would hate to have to deal with these crazy people
April 15th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
I would have to double up on the crazy bosses. I had a boss who continued to think everything that was sent to her was wrong and ugly. I thought, these are the people you love and idolize. she continue to freak out, bitch moan and was paranoid. One day asked me if I was going to quit then I needed to wait until she was back from vaca. I handed her my key and signed the paper work. the funny thing was I never wanted to quit. I just though this lady is nuts and thinks the planets revolve around her. I have a better job now.
April 16th, 2009 at 9:53 am
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April 16th, 2009 at 10:59 am
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April 16th, 2009 at 11:50 am
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April 16th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
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April 16th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Wow…I may have dodged a bullet by not working in the industry.
April 16th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Oooh, I love this article.
I had a non Fashion business boss who was just as bad though. The only way I can ever describe her is point people in the direction of The Devil Wears Prada!
She threw a phone at someone once, not me thankfully!
April 16th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
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April 16th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
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April 16th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
from my experience, all industries have evil bosses! lol
April 16th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
then again, maybe it’s not funny….
April 16th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Hahah I love that picture you posted! Those stories are just awful though, I can’t believe one boss actually slapped someone! That’s terrifying!
April 17th, 2009 at 12:04 am
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April 17th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
I work on 7th ave and I’ve got quite a few stories myself… Definitely have come across my fair share of bosses from hell. LOVE the blog!
April 19th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
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April 19th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Wow – great article.
One interesting point – I noticed a lot of ‘hers and not a lot of ‘hims’…. just saying!
My boss is a completely paranoid as well. Worst thing is I work for myself.
April 22nd, 2009 at 1:07 am
Wow…harsh. I’m so glad I’m going to be my own boss…and when I am, I vow not to be like these bitches!
xox, mavi
April 30th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
ahh yes…nothing changes (why I started my own business) enjoying your blog…
April 30th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
crazy bosses…I had one that used to constantly ask who was skinnier, her or I, it should have been obvious as I was 25, and she 55. My other boss sent me to the free clinic when a fit mirror fell and shattered my foot at the office, and then fired me when I came back with a cast! Can you say BITCHES???
May 4th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
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August 25th, 2009 at 1:25 am
Are any of you in here a boss…just wondering? Have not hear any comments on crazy employees.
August 26th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Bobby- Yes, actually we all are, either over a full team or an assistant. However as most people, from electricians to doctors and designers we have all worked for somebody else too. We do have other posts about employees, problems with interns, HR dilemmas etc if you’re interested.
September 15th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Wow, crazy stories but so true! My last boss would definitely fit into this category. She reduced my fellow co-workers and I to tears weekly and even told our buyer to get an abortion when she became pregnant. Her explanation… it would be better for the buyer’s career if she and her husband never had children!
September 26th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
I left a job as a graphic designer after I merely mentioned to my boss that I was feeling micro-managed by my “mentor” senior designer. I told her I know how to do my job and she called in my partner into our private meeting after I had been crying for feeling lke it was a waste for me to move cross country if only to feel like I didn’t know what I was doing. As soon as my partner sat down she totally twisted my words and my partner let me have it screaming and telling me I was a ungrateful bitch! My boss just smiled. I quit the next day. This boss also used to have everyone babysit her kid and would drop him off on a friday night and be out patying all night and pick up her kid late the next day.
February 12th, 2010 at 10:31 am
oh boy i got one for you i worked as a bartender loved the job and people i worked 29.5 hours not having a clue how to do any thing ,or find any thing only know how to make drinks she yelled at me when i asked her how to do some thing or show me ex are you blind made fun of my clothing and hair cut how i spoke ,and never trainned me properfly when asked some thing she would just walk away from me cursing and stamping her feet and them say i was not reiable after telling her 3 days notice i had to take my kid to the doctor that i was not reiable even though i would show up 15 mins early and work it and not get paid for it when iow orked with her she would not spilt the tips and pocket my share and hers but made sure ovewr and over again we would have to split tips with other workers she would only put when down when customers where in side the building and she would always say she has ocd disorder to get out of it i was only thier for 4 days and fired me because i had to take my son that has autism to a doctor fired me the day i found out my son had so tell me if she ,s not a wack job it did not just happen to me but to also other workers what i dont understand is she is a manger thier hmmmmmmmmmmmmm makes you wonder
February 12th, 2010 at 10:42 am
yes i was a boss but i made sure never to put any of my workers down or make them fell like the where walking on pins and needles i was a night swift manger for a coffe shop and never treated any one like how i was treated in my life i felt thier because i was pregant and took some time off and beside iud like to bar tend boy what a welcome back in to the work feild that was i hope this bitch gets canned making it in life point ive report her to hrc and now going to report her to hows over her head 10 people she did this to should be more than enough
August 6th, 2010 at 10:42 am
The problem with this industry – at least in denim – is that the bosses of these ventures are all schooled in the same slick, greasy, sleazy way. They are all incredibly charismatic – incredible sales people. If they can make a buck selling guns to children, they’d do it. They are unprincipled, selfish, egomaniacal, narcissists! You never see who they are at first. They are chameleons, able to change faces and any moments notice. WHen they need something, they beg with fierce false humility, and when they don’t need something, they just as quickly toss you and anyone aside with no regard. The heads of Forever 21, True Religion, J Brand, Current/Elliot, BlueCult – they’re all cut from the same cloth – all feeding and sucking the creative passion from anything they can glean their hands on. And so long as we designers, operators allow them to treat us this way, then shame on us! They will continue to pass these traits on to their gene pool.
November 4th, 2010 at 12:53 am
Moral of the long, drawn out, repeated story. You meet a bitch, whether male of female you know what your dealing with. Feel bad for a moment, even cry if you need to that we aren’t all “good-hearted” and caring. Then, you pick up that hanger that she threw at you and you tell her, I’ll pick this up and put this back but next time, don’t throw things if you respect me. OR You tell her, in the same tone she told you, You pick it up! Or just ignore it completely…. or…. Walk out. Doing what you love is one thing. Allowing another grown woman or man to beat your ass in the process of “chasing your dream” is another and it’s training you to be something, you know what I mean. So don’t take the humiliation! If enough of you change then guess what, things change. And if we got over our training that there is only one way and it has to come from some fancy place and manage to meet up and run companies the way we see fit then our problems are solved. Or we can continue doing what 90% of women do, call up their friends and complain, then do it again. Sigh….
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