Top Notch #GirlBoss, Sophia Amoruso: Taking Over The World, $1Million At A Time

Photo: blondeontheinside.com

“Started from the bottom now we’re here”, the infamous words rapped by Drake. But these specific lyrics ring truth to the fashionable life of Nasty Gal founder, Sophia Amoruso. Starting out with just an eBay Vintage shop and dead end jobs, including checking ID’s at The Academy of Art University, Sophia turned her company into a $100 million establishment and the top online retailer by beginning with a stolen book. Yep, that’s right, “The first thing I ever sold was stolen”, she states in her book, #Girlboss, and it is oh so true.

Nasty Gal, named after funk singer Betty Davis's 1975 album, is living proof that not everyone needs a degree or prior business experience. Using the book “eBay For Dummies”, and having fortitude, motivation and confidence is what made Sophia one of the industries most successful insiders. And maybe hitchhiking to Southern California, job-hopping, dumpster diving and having every social media necessary to gain supporters might have helped along the way also.

Photo: architecturaldigest.com

In 2008, Sophia was kicked off of eBay, being what could be the best thing for her career, she got the push she needed to begin hey first Nasty Gal website. Having no experience in graphic or website design, Sophia was able to put together her site and also take the photos and model the clothes; the clothes in which most had been purchased from craigslist and goodwill.

Vintage is her entity, her muse. Sophia created a business empire, something she never knew would happen, no plan, no light at the end of the tunnel and although she had haters, such as women flagging her on eBay or reporting her for not ‘following the rules’, she still managed to come out on top. If that is not a #Girlboss, then what really is, picking up her book explains it all.

According to Sophia Amoruso, a #Girlboss is a hardworking, dedicated soul, who takes control, leads their own path and is the boss of their own life. A #girlboss isn’t necessarily the boss of others but takes accountability of their own life, is comfortable taking risks and realizes that if something goes wrong you need to learn from it. Out of the 260 employees that Nasty Gal retains, Sophia proposes that they are all #girlbosses and dudebosses. She has a frivolity way of making life at the office fun, yet serious. According to Sophia, Girlboss is a new word for feminism.

Photo: galleryhip.com

Nasty Gal’s revenue increased drastically from $223,000 in 2008, soon after leaving eBay, to $23 Million by 2011. With all the devotees she kept as followers from her eBay business, Sophia already had her entourage to keep her business going and aid in market the brand. Being name “The Cinderella Of Tech”, in 2013 by The New York Times and also named in the “30 Under 30” list by Inc. Magazine for being one of the fastest growing online retailers in the country.

In January, Sophia stepped down as CEO of Nasty Gal, handing off the job to Sheree Waterson, whom hired in 2014, functioned as an executive at clothing companies Lululemon, Speedo North America, and Levi Strauss & Co before coming to Nasty Gal. Sophia states that she made this decision on her own and she will still be very hands on with the daily operations of the company as executive chairman overseeing the creative and brand marketing.

Nasty Gal, as a company, is more about style than it is fashion, Sophia shares that the company is modern yet disco and rock and roll, trendy yet classic. Staple garment of the company include the motorcycle jacket and vintage high-wasted jeans. Not only selling Nasty Gal brand but the company also sells designer today. Their customers are considered educated and what “an awesome life”. A Nasty Gal customer is stylish and doesn’t take herself too seriously; poking fun, no need to be snobby.

Photo: The New York Times

Sophia Amoruso has proved herself in the fashion industry with absolutely no background in anything including a degree, business plan, photography, styling, modeling; yet she opened herself up to these opportunities and did it with or without the experience. Sophia stomped on and created a multi-million dollar business that puts her in the face of fashion. Attending front row at fashion week, and wearing designer shoes she used to think were a waste of money, “Money looks better in the bank than on your feet”, Amoruso quotes. If you want to be a #GirlBoss, Sophia is the fashion insider to follow. 

Signed Opinionated Fashionista- #GirlBoss

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