Wednesday 7 May 2014

Book Review: #Girlboss By Sophia Amoruso

Just released two days back on May 6, the day I just got a first look at the cover. The cover of this novel has the author, Sophia Amorusi on it, the founder and chief executive officer of Nasty Gal, who is seen standing defiantly against a pale pink background, hands on hips, in a severe black dress that plunges below her rib cage.

The novel is #GIRLBOSS is deeply personal, yet universal. The novel is all stuffed with brazen wake-up calls 'You are not a special snowflake'), astuteness and candid annotations ('Failure is Your Invention'), and a profusion of behind-the scenes stories from Nasty Gal's meteoric rise, #GIRLBOSS captures a lot of space. The novel reveals the proven fact that in order to be successful, it is not necessary that the rank of your college need to be the best  or you passed out from a popular high school, rather success is about trusting your instincts and following your gut, knowing which rules to follow and which to break. Sounds pretty compelling! 


The author, Sophia Amoruso is an iconoclast within the society (and world of CEOs in general) along with her mix of insubordination and smart business sense, which made her organization shine out in the realm of the e-commerce.

The hashtag mentioned in the title suggests an appalling marketing scheme (“Millennial-speak? Perfect, you’re promoted!”), but among the profusion of leadership books which has facets like paunchy old men in power suits, #Girlboss strikes at shining out.

The book reveals the story of Sophia Amoruso, covering both her professional as well as personal life from where she lands up to the current position in her life. The author in this book has declared what to do and what to do when in the professional environment.

The organization of Sophia had earned the revenue of around $100 million in the year 2013, a ton of money considering that no one older than 35 or male seems to have heard of it. Amoruso’s only 30 years old, and her personal story is a big part of the brand.

The book reveals about the author’s personal life taking her point that she never went to college and indulged in a few unskilled jobs before starting Nasty Gal as a vintage clothing EBay (EBAY) store in 2006. Further, she took the name from an album by huff singer Betty Davis, whom she called as the “patron saint of badass women.” By 2010, Amoruso gave up vintage and took her business to what it is today, a trendy shopping site aimed at women who like to show a little (a lot of) skin.

The aim of penning down #Girlboss is to empower those slightly seditious twentysomethings paying $100 for Nasty Gal crop tops and sheer-paneled attires. In the words of Amoruso, #Girlboss as “someone who’s in charge of her own life. She gets what she wants because she works for it.” She has also mentioned that the book “will not teach you how to get rich quick, break into the fashion industry, or start a business. It is not a feminist manifesto nor a memoir.” Instead, it will instruct you how to “project yourself into an awesome life where you can do whatever you want.”

Amoruso’s sexy attire fits with the aesthetic of Nasty Gal, a popular online merchant selling clothes, shoes, and accessories to a crowd of young women who call themselves, unironically, as nasty gals.

Sophia, in the book has also given some advice which should be considered  as during interviews, don’t dress “like you’re headed to a nightclub instead of a job interview,” i.e., don’t wear anything from Nasty Gal, as well as interstitial first-person chapters by other #Girlbosses, such as the Man Repeller fashion blogger Leandra Medine and Refinery29 Editor-in-Chief Christene Barberich.

Amoruso is like any other modern girl who is chatty, confident  and confessional, which makes it clear why young women admire her. This is a delightful treat for the modern day women as it will take you into the life of a successful company, whose boss is pretty and has a Porsche and nice clothes. She relates to every modest woman out there, admitting to constantly feeling overwhelmed and uncertain in business situations. She writes “I felt like a fraud for a long time”. “As if there was no way in hell I was qualified.”

The author leaves a message for the girls to work hard and make your dreams come true. Don’t let men tread heavily all over you. Mothers out there, it is a must-buy for your growing 21st century daughters. So, just grab #Girlboss for your daughter and then try to keep her away from Nasty Gal. Available at lelobooks, one of the best online store in India. 

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