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Title details for Strip Tees by Kate Flannery - Available

Strip Tees

A Memoir of Millennial Los Angeles

by Kate Flannery
Kate Flannery
Audiobook
2 of 2 copies available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
2 of 2 copies available

This program is read by the author.
"Compelling and brave, Kate's story is a must read for all young women learning how to navigate adulthood and identity." —Lili Reinhart, New York Times bestselling author

Strip Tees is a fever dream of a memoir—Hunter S. Thompson meets Gloria Steinem—about a recent college graduate and what happens when her feminist ideals meet the real world.
At the turn of the new millennium, LA is the place to be. "Hipster" is a new word on the scene. Lauren Conrad is living her Cinderella story in the "Hills" on millions of television sets across the country. Paris Hilton tells us "That's hot" from behind the biggest sunglasses imaginable, while beautiful teenagers fight and fall in love on The O.C.
Into this most glittering of supposed utopias, Kate Flannery arrives with a Seven Sisters diploma in hand and a new job at an upstart clothing company called American Apparel. Kate throws herself into the work, determined to climb the corporate fashion ladder. Having a job at American Apparel also means being a part of the advertising campaigns themselves, stripping down in the name of feminism.
She slowly begins to lose herself in a landscape of rowdy sex-positivity, racy photo shoots, and a cultlike devotion to the unorthodox CEO and founder of the brand. The line between sexual liberation and exploitation quickly grows hazy, leading Kate to question the company's ethics and wrestle with her own.
Strip Tees captures a moment in our recent past that's already sepia-toned in nostalgia, and also paints a timeless portrait of a young woman who must choose between what business demands and self-respect requires.
A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt & Company.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    July 18, 2023

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781250899781
      • File size: 208941 KB
      • Duration: 07:15:17

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      May 22, 2023
      Flannery’s bold debut memoir chronicles her experiences working for clothing company American Apparel in the aughts. Eager to break into the fashion industry after graduating from Bryn Mawr, Flannery had only been in L.A. a few months when she was approached with an offer to join the budding company as a retail employee and occasional model. Enamored by the concept of “ethical capitalism” peddled by CEO Dov Charney, and the prospect of working in an ostensibly feminist environment, Flannery eagerly accepted. It wasn’t long before she, in turn, recruited a young, fresh-faced “Classic Girl” to model and work retail and Charney—who often dated these women while they were on company payroll—sent Flannery to New York to scout more. Despite scandalous rumors about her boss, Flannery remained resolute that she “wouldn’t have to be a Dov girl to climb the ladder.” As she continued to bring new women into the fold, however, Charney’s predatory behavior permeated the cultish company, and she opted to leave. Flannery succeeds in illustrating the fashion industry’s blurred lines in the decade prior to #MeToo, and the tough choices women faced between professional success and personal safety. This is an authentic portrait of the battle to remain true to oneself.

    • Library Journal

      June 10, 2024

      Freshly out of college, Flannery headed to California to pursue her dream--a career in fashion. She thinks she's hit the jackpot when she lands a job at a cool new company that seems to reimagine the industry, from ethical production to eye-catching advertisements. Instead, she ends up with a front-row seat to the rise and fall of the controversial clothing company American Apparel. This candid memoir follows Flannery's journey from a cultlike recruitment at a bar through multiple red-flag moments in the workplace. The author narrates her own book, adopting a tone akin to a friend telling a wild story, casually dropping shocking details about the company's founder and practices while being distracted by the shiny opportunities American Apparel offered her. Listeners will be captivated by Flannery's story, which becomes increasingly dread-filled and intense as the book progresses. Even so, some may be disappointed when the drama fizzles without much of a punch. VERDICT Flannery relives the nostalgia of early aughts Los Angeles with her revealing memoir. This disturbing look at the inner workings of American Apparel intrigues, though listeners shouldn't expect a tidy conclusion.--Laura Hammond

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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