Cruella de Vil: More Than Just a Fur Frenzy — Business Bark & Bites from a Fashion Maverick

Deborah Goldfarb
4 min readOct 26, 2023

We’re smack in the middle of Halloween planning, and I’m pondering whether to take a bold fashion move, embracing the contrasting hues of Cruella de Vil. But it’s not just about the outfit — it got me reflecting on the iconic Cruella’s life journey. What business nuggets can we dig up from her black-and-white story?

Unleashing the Origins of a Fashion Maverick

Our modern-day Cruella, originally known as Estella Miller, wasn’t born into privilege or villainy. Her childhood, marked by a tempestuous nature, was abruptly scarred by tragedy when she witnessed her mother’s death, believed to be caused by provoked Dalmatians. Seeking refuge in London, young Estella found companionship with Horace and Jasper and even took steps to blend in, dying her iconic hair. Her entry into the fashion world was no less dramatic, her talent catching the eye of the famed Baroness von Hellman, only to realize their pasts were entwined in a tale of betrayal and secrets. Adopting the alter ego ‘Cruella’, Estella started her vengeful journey against the Baroness, culminating in a flamboyant takeover of the Baroness’s fashion empire.

Fetching Business Insights from Cruella’s Journey

  1. Resilience in the Face of Adversity: Estella’s early life…

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Deborah Goldfarb
Deborah Goldfarb

Written by Deborah Goldfarb

Debbie Goldfarb is the founder of Biz Made EZ and is a well-respected marketing and branding consultant working with both small and large businesses.