I am strictly writing this to prevent others from making the same mistakes and experiencing the trauma I've had to deal with. As fabulous as BG and its reputation is, it is simply not a healthy environment to spend your time for a career. Although most of the employees are full-fledged adults, the environment is filled with high-school-level drama and cattiness. There is not a healthy work-life balance. I had to mentally prepare myself before every shift. The pay is okay, but not nearly enough to pay bills and survive while living in NYC. When I first started, I was filled with hope for a bright future in fashion with BG. Yet, when I discussed my true aspirations for advancement, I was told that "it would be too hard" and that I would have to go elsewhere and come back. Since then, I've felt ignored, tolerated, and humiliated as other colleagues have either gotten promoted or left altogether. Management is so overworked that they barely have enough time to engage with you, and when they do it is dismissive and negligent. Favoritism, elitism, classism, and to be honest: racism all rear their ugly heads in this place from clients to management. It reeks of institutional victimization, and gossip among senior leaders about assistants and subordinates is not uncommon. Not all of them are, but a huge percentage of the clientele are rude, dismissive, and entitled simply because they are "rich." You can boast about your inclusive values on a powerpoint presentation, but unless these values are actually practiced within the culture, it is all talk. You must play the game or look a certain way or come from a certain demographic in order to advance. If you don't, you are left to dry. It is a beautiful cage, and almost everyone who has left is happy to be free from the torment. I gave up on wanting to move up because of being essentially gatekept by management, being blocked or gossipped about every time I wanted to elevate. We all make mistakes, but I've personally felt downright bullied due to not fitting into the status quo. There were great moments here and there with clients and colleagues, but my advice specifically to young people of color looking to start out their career in fashion is to avoid this place at all costs for the sake of your sanity, personal courage, and confidence in yourself. No job is worth your mental health. People result to excessive drinking and/or smoking, damaging their bodies to cope. Some negative experiences are necessary to convince you of what you don't want and how NOT to be as a manager when the opportunity presents itself.
