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The original was posted on /r/hobbydrama by /u/thevintagebonita on 2025-04-17 21:31:24+00:00.
TL;DR: Okay so imagine if Mean Girls and The Devil Wears Prada had a baby in a leopard print wig and stilettos... and then that baby grew up and torched her own company from the inside out. Pinup Girl Clothing looked like the ultimate girlboss dream. Body positive, inclusive, empowering. The dresses were cute, the vibes were fierce, and the fans were ride or die. But behind all that retro glam? Whew. Chaos. Ghosted designers, unpaid invoices, lawsuit after lawsuit, and a founder who seriously called herself the Supreme Overlord—out loud. In writing.
This is the story of a small indie fashion brand that built a cult following and then face-planted into drama so hard it left a wig-shaped crater. Buckle up.
The Rise of PUG
Back in the early 2000s, Pinup Girl Clothing came out swinging. Founded by Laura Byrnes, in some sort of weird 'I designed clothes for strippers' story, the brand carved out a space for every retro-loving babe who wanted to channel old Hollywood glam without starving themselves into a bias-cut coffin. The clothes were cute, the size range was refreshing, and the branding? Chef’s kiss.
It was giving we do vintage, but make it hot. And for women who had never seen themselves reflected in fashion before—especially in a space dominated by skinny white girls—this was huge.
If you were into burlesque, rockabilly, retro photography, or just liked your wardrobe with a side of winged eyeliner and sass, you knew PUG. It wasn’t quite mainstream, but it didn’t need to be. It had a cult following that lived and died by new releases. The vibe was aspirational but still felt like a club you could join. The photography was high-glam, the models looked like real people, and the messaging felt like it was about us. Finally.
But the thing about putting women on pedestals is, sometimes the foundation’s made of cardboard and vibes. And under the surface? Shit was already starting to buckle.
The Cracks Begin to Show
By 2017, the sparkle started to fade. Outwardly, it was still giving dream girl energy. Behind the scenes? Full meltdown in heels.
Lawsuits piled up:
- Listrak Inc. v. Pin Up Girl Clothing (case #: 19GDCV00011)
- National Commercial Recovery Inc. v. PUG
- Factory beefs over unpaid bills
Employees were being let go left and right. Departments vanished overnight. One poor soul, who I am currently interviewing, later said she was literally the only employee left for most of 2018 and 2019. One person. Running a whole brand. While the company pretended to still be this bustling, glamorous fashion house? Girl.
And if that wasn’t chaotic enough, Laura Byrnes started referring to herself internally as the "Supreme Overlord."
Yes. That’s real. She gave herself a villain name like this was a Marvel audition. You cannot make this up.
Culture Wars and Collapse
So the brand wasn’t just messing up finances—they were also fumbling everything when it came to culture.
One of the worst flops? A collection called "Opium Dreams" that looked like it was ripped from a 1940s propaganda reel. Stereotypical Asian motifs, zero cultural awareness, and just straight-up orientalist nonsense. And right after that? A Chinese New Year-themed drop that landed with the grace of a lead cheongsam.
When people (rightfully) asked, “Hey… maybe don’t do this?” Laura Byrnes doubled down and said it was okay because—wait for it—one of her employees was Korean. Not Chinese. Korean. Because in her world, cultural appropriation gets a free pass if you can name-drop one Asian person on payroll.
The internet was not having it. A boycott kicked off. An online petition started circulating. People were like, “Hey girl, we wanted dresses, not casual racism.” Customers and fans who had supported PUG for years started calling it what it was: performative empowerment with a whole lot of red flags.
The cracks in the brand's image? Now full-on fault lines. Check out her racist bullshit in links here:
black models like slaves at auction
By this point, the empowerment branding had fully imploded. And people weren’t just shook—they were done.
The Micheline Pitt Lawsuit
Really it was 2017–2018 when the glossy glam of PUG started to peel. Micheline Pitt—former VP, Creative Director, and one of the brand’s most recognizable faces—had a very public falling out with Laura Byrnes. And no, this wasn’t just some petty internet beef. This was about copyright infringement and the unauthorized use of Micheline’s designs and images after she peaced out.
It was loud. It was messy. And it was the first time the public got a real look at just how deep the drama ran inside this so-called empowerment brand. Things were settled out of court. But of course… that wasn’t the end.
Flash forward to 2021, and Laura Byrnes was back in court again—this time for violating a non-disparagement clause from the earlier legal settlement. Because apparently, she couldn’t resist running her mouth in a private Facebook group literally created to drag Micheline Pitt. Like… girl.
When Micheline found out? She took it straight back to court.
Laura’s defense? She tried to claim she was the victim. The court was like, “Cool story, where’s your proof?” Meanwhile, Micheline rolled in with 37 exhibits documenting harassment.
So Laura pivoted to a free speech argument, saying her First Amendment rights were being trampled. The judge hit her with a quick reality check: that’s not how contracts work.
In fact, the judge straight up said there was a clear pattern of harassment and abuse. He granted Micheline the restraining order. And the public record now shows Laura Byrnes as the aggressor. It was a whole mess—and one that made a lot of people in the community go, “Wait… what the hell is going on behind the scenes over there?”
“The owner of the company stated to several people that it was worth breaking their non-disparagement clause because they believed that they were standing up to a bully.”
Meanwhile, Micheline went on to build her own successful brand. And the girlies took notes.
"They said it was about women supporting women. But it was never that. It was about control."
Hope Johnstun's Story
Textile artist and creative director Hope Johnstun was contracted in 2020 to bring new life into the brand. I have her entire story documented here. She did that and more. Her original prints and dress designs made up over 25% of PUG's bestsellers for three consecutive years between 2020-2023. She managed influencer campaigns, coordinated international photo shoots, and helped keep the creative side of the business afloat.
In return? She was never fully paid.
As of June 2023, she was still owed $25,000. She was ghosted during payroll cycles. The company used her designs even after she was let go. They allegedly altered her original artwork and kept selling it without compensation.
Hope tried to resolve the matter privately. She followed contract protocol, sought arbitration, and even switched attorneys due to mounting stress. Nothing moved. Eventually, she went public.
The Community Exodus
By 2021, the shine was gone. Influencers began cutting ties. Affiliates stopped being paid so why should they continue to support the brand? People who once championed the brand now avoided it entirely and they were jumping ship. If they dare speak out about any issues, Laura Byrnes would have them removed and blocked from all social media.
Customers noticed.
- Orders were delayed.
- Customer service stopped responding.
- [Were they going ...
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