Selling Sexy

I listened to this on Audible and really loved it. It’s a look at the iconic American mall brand from the beginning, when it was just a tiny brand. We meet Les Wexner and watch him build the brand (and also watch it fall). We meet an intriguing cast of (often very controversial) characters and see the brand grow from a tiny chain of boutiques to a full blown retail phenomenon, with more than $8 billion in annual sales. This was very nostalgic for me at times, I remember being in high school and saving up my money to buy an angels bra. I also remember reading about the Angels’ workout routines, and wishing I could look like them. It brought up a lot of feelings at times! I love a good “rise and fall” business story and this is that. It’s really fascinating to see how the brand was built, and equally fascinating (and upsetting) to see what went wrong. The impossible beauty standards. The fat (and trans) phobia. The fashion shows. The sueprmodels. And of course all of the Jeffrey Epstein bits, and Wexner’s complicated relationship with him. I loved this book so much– learning a lot and also just enjoying the ride. Highly recommend.