New store manager told me I’m “too young and attractive” for customers — now older associates are nitpicking my outfits. Advice?
I’m 26F, newly married, degree‑holder, and recently went back to retail after corporate didn’t work out. I finally landed an operations manager role at a women’s clothing store with an older customer base. I was excited — good pay, stable hours, and I thought I’d finally found a store that wasn’t chaotic. I’ve been here two weeks. My store manager (“P”) has been here one month. The store is extremely understaffed because the previous ops manager quit after corporate refused to promote her when the old store manager retired.
I’ve been doing everything: shipment, ladders, shelves, floor sets, trash, customer service. The older associates don’t want to do anything except ring customers up, sit down, and use their discount. Meanwhile, customers constantly compliment me — my outfits, my ring, my personality — and we’ve hit sales goals multiple days in a row.
My outfits have all been modest and brand‑adjacent: pink blazer (P told me to wear pink for Breast Cancer Awareness), jeans, flats, accessories; an orange jumpsuit (the brand literally sells bright colors); a blue/white maxi dress; a white sweater dress with pantyhose and boots; hair always in a slick bun. Nothing revealing, nothing inappropriate.
Yesterday P looked me up and down and said, “I love your fashion, but the older ladies might nitpick. You’re young and attractive — some customers might feel insecure.” Then she whispered with an older associate (“B”) for 20 minutes. Three hours later B nitpicked my outfit exactly the way P predicted. P then pulled me aside and said, “Nobody likes B, just ignore her,” even though she opened the door for the insecurity in the first place.
I’m not insecure — I know I’m not the problem. But this was weird, unprofessional, and honestly disappointing. Should I stay for stability or start planning a clean exit?