I also asked Flannery, as an expert in all things Meredith Palmer, who she thinks Meredith’s favorite Dunder Mifflin boss was during her time at the company, and we talked about the show’s knack for callbacks and the hilarious way Meredith’s son Jake came back into the picture in Season 9. And while she knew the talents of her fellow castmates, it was when showrunner Greg Daniels called her in to see some cuts of full episodes that she realized this show could be really special.ĭuring the course of our brief interview, Flannery talked about the show’s evolution and whether Meredith’s expanded character arcs came from her or the series’ writers. When I spoke with Flannery recently to promote the arrival of The Office on the streaming service Peacock, she talked about the series’ “slow and steady” rise to popularity, and how she still felt a bit unsteady even after they wrapped filming on the first season. I'm thinking something along the lines of ''The Social Network' meets 'Boogie Nights'.And a part of that evolution was the expansion of characters arcs, including Kate Flannery’s office drunk Meredith Palmer. It's easy to picture this memoir taken to a whole new level if a great director were to adapt it for film. I think she's at her best when she's most candid and introspective, unafraid of exposing herself and the psychology behind the company's carefree, party vibe that seduced so many working inside, and which so easily slipped into inappropriate conduct. She's quick to place herself on the other side of "them", the perverse people working around her, which I find somewhat opportunistic. And while she does engage in self-criticism, it often feels superficial, merely ticking the box of political correctness. However, she, herself, participated in some of the bacchanalian behavior that she accuses. I also understand why she'd bring her audience's attention to CEO Dov Charney, who comes across as a predatory boss and was ultimately fired due to allegations of sexual harassment. For example, there's a chilling episode in which one of her co-workers, a guy that she hires and goes to bed with, later molests her and may try to rape her. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a gorgeous stranger beckons with a mysterious job offer. She's right to draw boundaries and denounce some of the worst offenses. Kate Flannery is down on her luck, out of work and nearly out of money, drinking alone at a bar in Los Angeles. Had American Apparel's ascent continued, it is likely that she would have stayed put, as she did for years. She knew what was going on in the company, but never left. Also, to some extent, I feel like Flannery is both trying to bake the cake and eat it. There's a refreshing informality about it, but some of the writing sounds like high school chatter. To begin with, I wasn't won over by the prose. There's a great story here, but I feel like the author doesn't fully capitalize on it. In her book, she exposes the toxic culture that permeated the company founded by CEO Dov Charney. Kate Flannery worked as part of the hiring team at American Apparel, once a thriving and hip clothing brand with a widespread presence across the United States and the rest of the world. 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.Ī Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt & Company. The line between sexual liberation and exploitation quickly grows hazy, leading Kate to question the company’s ethics and wrestle with her own. 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. Having a job at American Apparel also means being a part of the advertising campaigns themselves, stripping down in the name of feminism. Kate throws herself into the work, determined to climb the corporate fashion ladder. 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. 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. Lauren Conrad is living her Cinderella story in the “Hills” on millions of television sets across the country. Thompson meets Gloria Steinem-about a recent college graduate and what happens when her feminist ideals meet the real world.Īt the turn of the new millennium, LA is the place to be. Strip Tees is a fever dream of a memoir-Hunter S. “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
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