That’s ‘Miss Boss,’ if you’re nasty

Sophia Amoruso launched her Nasty Gal vintage clothing eBay store out of an East Bay apartment, but the former Folsom resident’s love for all things fashion started in downtown Sac, where she scoured thrift stores as a teen. These days, the online shop, now based in Los Angeles, is a multimillion dollar retailer of both vintage and new clothes. Amoruso tells all in #GirlBoss (Portfolio Hardcover, $26.50), a breezy blend of memoir and entrepreneurial how-to that hits bookstores on May 6. Amoruso saved a few business tips for SN&R. Because most schools probably don’t want to teach exactly how a five-finger discount just might forge a path to industry domination.

What’s a 'girl boss’?

It’s someone who takes charge of her life and is going to take risks and who wants to do great things.

Where did the term come from?

In the same way that 'Nasty Gal’ is a musical reference, it’s kind of a movie reference. There’s a film called Girl Boss Guerilla from the '70s that's part of this genre—Japanese pinky violence—[that depicts] female revenge and women being generally badass. … It's a nod to a genre that I think is awesome.

Speaking of Nasty Gal—what kind of reactions does that name get?

Some people react in a negative way, but usually it’s from people who are too conservative to get into what we do anyway. It’s like one of Betty Davis’ famous lyrics: If you don’t like me, I don’t care. As a business, that’s not completely true—we do want customers to love us, but we’re certainly not for everyone.

Where in Sacramento did you live?

I was born in San Diego, and we then moved to Gold River and then to Folsom.

What do you remember about growing up here? Be honest.

As a child, there were a lot of random bus rides to the baby sitter; a lot of after-school programs; hot summers and time by the river and Folsom Lake, splashing around.

Fashion memories?

It’s funny, there was this thing—it was really before the word “hipster” came about. I was hanging out in downtown Sac … I hung out at Capitol Garage before it [moved], and I remember a lot of guys wearing really tight pants. There was a lot of good music, and where there’s good music, there’s often good style. The music scene was my influence.

Where did you shop?

Almost all my shopping was done at thrift stores. We had to leave Folsom to shop. Now there are a bunch in Folsom—now you can find everything from a Whole Foods to a thrift store.

You write candidly about shoplifting—what made you stop?

I learned the hard way, through trial and error, that hard work and honesty pays off. I was never an inherently dishonest person, but I didn’t [want to] work for anyone else. It was boring. I thought I could get by in other ways … and I did a lot of stupid stuff. It was shortly after I left Sac that I found that being legit and working hard and finding something you enjoy doing is [better].

Not to get you in trouble, but where did you shoplift?

Well, the [Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op] always had all this vegan ice cream that they put out back [behind the store], and my friends and I would scavenge it. There was a little shoplifting at REI. There wasn’t a ton I needed, though, beyond food—I think I stole a little wine. I dined and dashed at a Red Robin once, and the [server] came chasing after me—I thought he’d busted me, but it was just because I’d left behind my boxed leftovers. I felt like an awful person. I don’t relate to that person anymore, but at the same time, I’m glad she’s somewhere in my past, that she’s part of who I am.

I got anxious reading about when you hitchhiked from the 16th Street freeway on-ramp. How old were you?

I was 17. I hitchhiked from Sac to Olympia [Wash.] and then San Francisco and the East Bay where I started Nasty Gal.

How did that come about?

I started tooling around [with Nasty Gal] in San Francisco. … I then moved to the East Bay and started selling. Going into business for myself—I had never before seen the rewards that earning your keep can have. I didn’t know it would be so important for me. I was so rudderless working for other people; I wasn’t making good choices.

Advice for others?

Know your strengths: You can always develop strengths—no one is good at everything. It’s important that people surround themselves with people who augment their talents. It’s OK not to be good everything, and if everyone can talk about it, we can accomplish things faster. That’s where humility comes in. Know yourself, know your limits.