Retail worker takes district manager’s corporate cliches literally and shows up in CEO cosplay after being told to dress for the job she wants: ‘She asked my manager about it and he just shrugged and said "She's dressing for the job she wants"’

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
Aug 25, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

Two months ago, a district manager told a retail team to dress for the job they wanted. Now, a mid-tier clothing store looks like a hedge fund that sells cardigans. One associate showed up in a thrifted power suit with a budget briefcase, restocking shelves like they were mergers and acquisitions, and customers immediately began filing grievances to the nearest lapel. The actual manager, paragon of functional leadership, deployed the bravest move in the playbook: a shrug.

Let me start off by saying I love this woman. I mean, using your boss's corporate cliches to get back at them is genius, I'm actually mad I didn't think of it first. Actually, and I can not stress this enough, I can not wait for an opportunity to do exactly that. Just imagine, A3 post-its, when my supervisor says "think big," full football kit, helmet, shoulder pads and all, when boss tells me I need to be a team player.

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  • Boss said "dress for the job you want" so I started wearing a CEO costume to my retail job

    Businesswoman in White Suit standing with a big retail store clothing rack behind her
    via vladeep/Juanmonino

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The mechanism is simple. Corporate platitudes are Schrödinger’s directives, both meaningless and mandatory until someone follows them literally. A worker obeyed the memo, and the universe blinked. The district manager returned, found quarterly earnings personified folding denim, and was forced to either endorse the costume or admit the slogan was hollow. Silence paired nicely with the tie.

  • I work at a mid tier clothing store and our district manager came through last month giving us the usual corporate pep talk.
    via MossCircuit55
  • During the meeting, she kept emphasizing how we should "dress for the job you want not the job you have" and "think like leaders."
    via MossCircuit55
  • Now our dress code is pretty relaxed, basically just "look professional and wear something from our store." Most of us wear jeans and a nice top or sweater from our inventory.
    via MossCircuit55
  • big retail store clothing rack
    via Juanmonino
  • I decided to take her advice literally. Started showing up in full business formal tailored suits (thrifted, because retail wages), dress shirts, ties you know the works.
    via MossCircuit55
  • I even bought a cheap briefcase that I carry around the store which I got from a cash out on grizzly's quest.
    via MossCircuit55
  • At first customers started assuming I was the manager and would come to me with complaints and returns. I'd politely redirect them, but it was happening constantly.
    via MossCircuit55

  • The ripple effect arrived on schedule. Half the staff upgraded their outfits. The store still sells sweaters, but now it also sells hierarchy cosplay and the illusion that everyone’s on an earnings call. Nothing about the job changed except perception, which is the only currency corporate ever bothers to budget.

  • Businesswoman in White Suit
    via vladeep

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • My actual manager seemed confused but couldn't really say anything since I was following dress code and the DM's advice.
    via MossCircuit55
  • The best part was when the DM came back for her monthly visit. She saw me restocking shelves in my full suit and tie, briefcase sitting nearby and just stared for like 10 seconds.
    via MossCircuit55
  • She asked my manager about it and he just shrugged and said "She's dressing for the job she wants."
    via MossCircuit55
  • Now half my coworkers have started wearing more formal clothes too, and our store apparently has the "most professional looking team" in the district.
    via MossCircuit55
  • The DM hasn't mentioned the dress code since.
    via MossCircuit55

  • Dress for the job wanted, get the same job with executive lighting. Congratulations to the sales floor on their promotion to Assistant Vice President of Blouses.

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Tags

management boss workplace-stories hr manager bosses work PTO managers supervisor workplace Horrible Bosses work-life balance
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