Never thought of the pink thing, but knew that wearing navy and red was not the way to put people at ease -- and these are 2 of my favorite colors and I looked washed out and icky in pink.
In the past, I had a meeting with a co-worker (not supervisor) who told me that I came across b*tchy and all-knowing, and I reviewed my actions in my past 3 positions and determined what may have caused that impression. I do work hard to learn all I can about my position as soon as I can (upon entering a new position) and then am constantly trying to expand my knowledge. This means that I do tend to end up the resident expert in things that relate to my job, and therefore am a know-it-all in those issues. Because I don't suffer fools lightly, and can't put up with a lot of hemming and hawing, I was seen by co-workers as b*tchy. All my supervisors saw me for what I was, a go-getter and someone who got things done and done right, so I've been promoted quickly even with this stigma. But what I've done to counter it is simply to tell folks that I'm an outspoken type of person and that if at any time they have an issue with what I say or do, to please tell me so that I can address it and change appropriately. This has put my co-workers at ease in my last 2 positions and stopped them from thinking of me as b*tchy and all-knowing. Now they see me as a good resource for them to use (from the all-knowing) and simply ignore me or laugh at me if I get too outspoken in certain arenas, and address it with me. I've only really had to change my actions a couple of times in 2+ years of doing this, so something I do must be right, even when I'm seen as b*tchy.
By grabbing the bull by the horn and letting them know that this has been other's impressions of me at previous positions, they feel less threatened and more willing to say anything and I don't have to worry about walking on eggshells with them.
In your situation, I would probably corner bossie once more and tell him/her that you need more specifics if you are to change anything -- and that you want to change. Document this conversation, so you have something in your posession in case this does come back in a performance report later on.
CountriGal
Peer Moderator 
