Leandra Medine's Blog, page 105
July 9, 2019
The Final Repeller Drop Is Here, and It’s Giving Me Butterflies
often the lights, spritz some lavender on your throw pillows, and watch your linen curtains flutter in the wind. It’s about to be ME time. And by ME time, I mean YOU time. You get it right? Turn up the Lizzo as you bust out your diary (the one with the lock and key on it) and what’s that? A plate of pastel-colored macarons? Dang. You’re good at this.
Oh sorry, allow me to back up for a moment. This is the fourth and final Repeller drop and it is a celebration of growth, blossoming, becoming. Let’s take time to look back on where we all started—the journey we’ve been on and the moment we became who we wanted to be, a process that repeats itself over and over, never ending but always deserving celebration.
Remember when you were a caterpillar? Green (literally) and small, so close to the ground, unclear whether there was even anything above it — inching your way through the world going somewhere but unsure where exactly? The Caterpillar earring is here to celebrate those halcyon days of innocence and can also serve as a reminder that it is okay to be very hungry.
3 PHOTOS
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But what about the next phase? The one that often gets overlooked! The one where you took the time to sit with yourself, get to know who you are and what you want out of this big beautiful life. Isn’t it high time the cocoon get its due? Being in a cocoon can seem isolating, but when you’ve done the good work, you look back and recall those moments of solitude and you’re like, damn hanging out with myself is kind of better than with anyone else. Celebrate the process of wrapping yourself up in a chrysalis, but if you’re gonna do it IRL, use a blanket. Something big is coming! Maybe it’s your Saturn return. Idk, but the Cocoon earring is a chic as helllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll reminder to take some time for your bad self because all the flutters is…
POOF! The beautiful butterfly into which you’ve just blossomed! To others, it may have looked natural, effortless even—haven’t you always been this lovely? This self-assured? Haven’t you been flying high above the noise forever? But you know all you went through to get here and The Butterfly Earring knows it too. Like Mariah in the ’90s, you and the charm are unstoppable. The butterfly earring dangles from a single wing, hooked into your ear echoing your own voice as it constantly whispers the only assurance you need, “proud of u,” said yourself, when you most needed it.
Maybe you don’t know where you are on the journey, maybe you’ve been through it all, or know a pal going through it, maybe you just rly like butterflies, or caterpillars, or think the cocoon kind of looks like a golden shell and that’s reason enough to pounce. For any or all of these scenarios, you are covered. Cov-ered. Buy them separately, or indulge in our final gangs-all-here offering: The Becoming Bundle. It ties all three charms into a celebratory bow, or a reusable container to be more precise. Tbh, wherever you are in the cycle of self, there are always days you’ll be a caterpillar, or in a cocoon, or flapping because, you know, you contain multitudes, and so does the Becoming Bundle.
WOW. And just like that, all our Repeller babiez are out in the world. Be nice to them and they’ll love u forever. Also, show us your goods and how you’re styling them on the gram. Oh, and happy summer. You deserve it.
Art Direction/Production: Dasha Faires
Photography & Prop Styling:
Leila Fakouri
Photography Assistant: Ben Mistak
Prop Assistant: Steven Cablayan
Production Assistant: Maggie Hoyle
Stylist: Harling Ross
Market: Elizabeth Tamkin
Hair: Tomoaki Sato
Makeup:
Maggie Mondanile
Food Stylist:
Tyna Hoang
Model:
Bianca Valle
The post The Final Repeller Drop Is Here, and It’s Giving Me Butterflies appeared first on Man Repeller.
July 8, 2019
What Are Savory Smoothies and Why Did I Just Drink Two of Them?
As a northern California-bred, yoga-teaching, adaptogen-chugging, dyed-in-the-wool woo woo wellness acolyte, my ear is always to the proverbial ground, listening for new developments in the realm of edible stuff that might make me immortal. So when I started seeing this smoothie trend pop up on my social media feeds with words like “drinkable salad” and featuring ingredients like asparagus or pickle juice, I had to know more. Some cursory digging unturned savory smoothie recipes in the annals of trendy healthy blogs that I frequent, as well as more mainstream fitness sites. At which point I thought, Whoa. Did I miss something? Are we all drinking our salads now?
I soon learned that savory smoothies have been a thing for a while, and seem to be experiencing a resurgence as people get more serious about living without sugar and generally making things less fun in pursuit of Wellness. Scientifically speaking, it appears there are three primary reasons why one would choose to do this to themselves:
They are the smoothie-every-day-for-breakfast type and are now so accustomed to drinking their nutrients that chewing is simply out of the question.
They like the taste…
They want to eat as little sweet stuff as possible.
Now, I am not a perfect person. I have biases and prejudices and my first impression of this food trend was there is no way it’s A) real or B) palatable. Before I was exposed to actual recipes, here is a comprehensive list of savory “smoothies” I could come up with: mashed potato puree, tomato soup, and perhaps a guacamole-like blend of avocado that could theoretically be consumed through a straw. But then I wondered—are those not soup? What exactly is a smoothie? What are the contours of this category? Am I being fundamentally conservative in my insistence that smoothies are cold and pleasant and at least mildly sweet? Is this how I become my parents, by planting my feet firmly on one side of the ideological smoothie divide without ever experiencing the thing I have resolved to stand firmly against?
No, I decided, this is not who I am. This is not who WE ARE. Thus, I made the determination that I would open my heart to the savory smoothie before I drew any conclusions. Join me, for this is about more than just questionably healthy liquids. This is about courage, fortitude, and the search for truth.
The Method
In this very clinical trial, my methodology was as follows: I enlisted two experts to help select and taste test two savory smoothies. One of them, let’s call him Tuck, is a soup aficionado. Yes, he could wow you with a Manhattan clam chowder or a pea soup, but he was recruited specifically for his deft hand at fancy cold soups which apparently people enjoy. He can whip you up a creamy Vichyssoise or a Gazpacho and then argue passionately for why you ought to not pop it in the microwave. As savory smoothies dangerously straddle the line between beverage and a sad, frigid soup, I felt it prudent to have a soup expert on the team. The second expert I employed, let’s call him Blue, was added for two reasons: First, he was the only friend of mine besides Tuck that was willing to try my concoctions and second, he is a fundamentally open-minded chill dude who wears tiny running shorts and flip-flops everywhere and is not squeamish at all about imbibing weird texture/flavor combos.
In order to guide our investigation we had some questions:
How is a savory smoothie not just…cold soup?
Is it drinkable?
Could we make it better?
The Test
Here is a list of things that I did instead of start this experiment:
Cleaned my actual baseboards
Started biting my nails again
Emptied my cat box
Washed the dishes
Wrote this list
And then there was nothing else to do. The blender was clean, the baseboards were spotless, my nails were a disaster. It was time to make these smoothies. We selected two recipes from internet sources composed of ingredients that required the fewest possible trips to the grocery store. Up first…
Cabbage & Carrot Smoothie: A thing people actually make.
The primary ingredients in this smoothie are cabbage and carrots. There is also a tart apple and a pinch of ginger, but basically you’re putting carrots and cabbage in a blender with water and then drinking it cold. I used an excellent blender at high power for three straight minutes, and yet, when I poured everyone their servings and garnished with a piece of raw cabbage, it was still a rather textured liquid. It was the color of an unseasoned oatmeal, and it had a foreboding odor due to the ungodly quantity of cabbage.
First impressions:
Me: “Why is this so fibrous? I would rather just chew all these things. Just CHEW things, for the love of god!”
Blue: “Undrinkable”
Tuck: “We can fix this” (He’s a virgo…)
Tuck proceeded to strain the beverage. Although I originally held that this was cheating because then it turns the whole thing into a juice which is fundamentally less repulsive, we decided that it was the only option because none of us could tell you anything about the flavor of the drink until we dealt with the texture, which both my associates and I were gagging on like it was applesauce’s evil twin.
Post-Straining:
Me: “This is what I imagine a mother bird vomits into her baby bird’s mouth.”
Blue: “Undrinkable”
Tuck: “It tastes like nothing and also bad”
Consensus: This was too dense and flavorless to be a soup nor was it really a smoothie. It was just spiritually wrong. We came to the consensus that it was more like some kind of unseasoned kraut. 0/10. Abomination.
Up next…
Asparagus Avocado Smoothie: Another thing people actually make.
This recipe is also exactly what it sounds like. The base liquid is green tea, and there’s a dash of salt, some citrus, and an avocado. So we were hopeful. I followed the recipe closely and again ran the blender for a long time. Right away, this one looked better than the cabbage smoothie, but would it be worth the weird smelling pee?
First impressions:
Me: “This is better. Smoother. Tastes like grass. Still not great.”
Tuck: “Agreed.”
Blue: “I kinda like it.”
After thinking about possible improvements, the council decided that adding more spices to the drink, such as cayenne pepper, and maybe more citrus and sea salt, would significantly improve its drinkability rating. But would that put it squarely in the soup category? After deep consideration, the council came to the conclusion that this distinction comes down to attitude and intention. Do you see this thing you’re drinking as a smoothie or a soup? Would you prefer a spoon or a straw? Would you garnish with croutons or hemp seeds? How much chewing are you really willing to do? It is about the symbolism—the narrative that you attach to the liquid, not the liquid itself.
3/10. Would be a fine thing to bring to a potluck where all the guests recently had their jaws wired shut.
Turns out, the difference between smoothies and soups is mostly in your head. The one thing that I will go to my grave fighting for is that we must draw the line at chunks. It is called a smoothie and it must be fundamentally smooth. Also, perhaps just chew your cabbage yourself.
At the end of the night, I waved goodbye to my council of experts and sat down ponderously at my computer like Carrie Bradshaw, gazed out my window, and asked myself some overwhelmingly earnest rhetorical questions about what we can learn from our foray into the smoothie wilderness….
Overall, this was an exercise in tolerance, in community building, and in expanding what I thought was possible for myself. Sure, I may still believe that the savory smoothie is at best gastronomically on par with baby food, but I do think babies are great people! They have generally fine taste in things I like, such as outfits and naps. So there you have it, the final word on savory smoothies. Good luck.
Photos by .
The post What Are Savory Smoothies and Why Did I Just Drink Two of Them? appeared first on Man Repeller.
I Copied This Street Style Outfit Because We Have the Same Haircut
Welcome to Street Style Copycat, a column dedicated to recreating and reimagining outfits that catch our eye(s) and make us consider our own clothes in a new light.
To paraphrase and cite your sources are necessary skills worth honing, both in writing and in getting dressed. This practice takes shape in various forms on Man Repeller: Recently, inspired by a chic man clad in linen pajamas on the corner of Broome Street, I replicated versions of his outfit in three acts. (I may have also dedicated some time to riffing on a very low profile male celebrity’s understated aesthetic this month.) Juliana Salazar recreated five looks captured during fashion week last February, including a dickie-d arrangement conceived by Leandra, and Harling tested six street style looks from winter 2018 to see if she could pull them off—does the Donna Tartt homage, borrowed from Coco Baudelle, render you short of breath, too? Last summer, Harling yielded to the 90s Brad Pitt formula and let it wash over her, to the trumpeting horns of much fanfare; this June, Haley lifted the contours of this outfit straight from Tibi founder Amy Smilovic and made it her own. Lest we forget, Amelia dissected the street style outfit that went viral last July—and Leandra surmised that the neckline of that racerfront top has launched a thousand tasteful cutaway tanks. [https://shopredone.com/collections/ta...]
There is something practical about taking cues from street style photos, since they are shown on “real people” in motion (rather than on models, fitted with styling clips where the camera can’t see them), accomplishing basic logistical tasks, getting from point A to point B without a snag. These outfits differ from those on an ecom model or in a magazine’s celebrity feature in the way they demonstrate real-world application—we talk about looks we’ll “steal” once we see previously intimidating elements problem-solved on someone else’s canvas.
And, sure, street style isn’t always duplicable outside of New York’s unordinary and colorful code of conduct, but sometimes these photos reveal a germ of an idea that might unify an outfit previously shelved and deemed not pull-off-able.
This photo from our Pitti Uomo street style slideshow sidled up to Man Repeller dot com just in time: I’d been searching for the best way to wear this rugby-adjacent terrycloth long sleeve from Tombolo Company. My exemplar sports one gold hoop, but I swapped that out with a Repeller White Tiger as a mischievous wink to the jungle cat motif (a natural progression from the ubiquitous leopard print midi skirt). In an effort to echo this outfit, I rediscovered this pair of olive pants that had enjoyed a lengthy sabbatical in my dresser drawer—they are an odd combination of spring/summer weight and fall/winter palette, so I relished the opportunity to take them for an inaugural June spin. The braided belt, modest tote bag, and jaunty hat cinched it all together, and the world will never know whether I took to the streets barefoot that day. It just dawned on me that I probably gravitated toward this photo because my hair is the same length as the person pictured. Hm. I hope my smile is half as infectious as the Tombolo leopard’s.Tombolo shirt, Nikki Chasin hat, You Must Create pants, Polo Ralph Lauren belt, The Mayflower Society bag, Repeller Tiger Single Hoop 'n' Charm, Warby Parker sunglassesBelow are a series of outfits I’d like to mimic this summer, listed here to hold me accountable or to serve as a jumping off point on a drab day, for when the going gets tough and the sweaters get sweaty. Chief among them: Zoe Kazan’s apron look in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs; every Going Out Outfit Chloë Sevigny wears in The Last Days of Disco (though most notably the sequin tube top number); a tie dye T-shirt and jeans á la Garth in Wayne’s World for an August ferry ride; Gillian Jacobs’ combo platter of a Batsheva dress paired with stark white clogs; a homespun approximation of the NBA’s fifth draft pick Darius Garland’s Jerry Lorenzo suit; the Midtown Uniform; Jeff Bridges (age 21) in character on senior skip day in The Last Picture Show; and an ensemble an ounce as suave as this recommendation via the haberdashery Drake’s. How about you?
Photos by Matthew Sperzel and via the author.
The post I Copied This Street Style Outfit Because We Have the Same Haircut appeared first on Man Repeller.
Man Repeller’s Mail Guy Is So Cool We Can’t Even Think of a Headline
have often said that I am at my most creative when forced to work within a set of boundaries. This, however, is not at all true when it comes to dressing myself. Give me a dress code and I will come up with the most boring, by-the-book outfit I can find. As such, I’ve always admired people who can put a signature spin on a prescribed outfit: servers who manage to add flare to the required striped shirts and black pants, hip teens who make their high-school uniforms unique, and Man Repeller’s mail carrier, Aubrey Dowridge.
Aubrey is hard to miss. From the handlebar mustache he occasionally sports to his choice in glasses, he not only looks cooler than the average postman, he looks cooler than most men, generally. Since he started working for the USPS in 2004, Aubrey has found ways to make his uniform his own.
“The only thing we can get away with wearing that’s not technically the uniform are T-shirts,” he says. “And that’s only sometimes, because we are supposed to always be in uniform. So my options are limited to trousers, polo tees, or the oversized button shirts, and then the cardigans and jackets for the guys.”
So how did he get from point A to a very fashionable point B? “I started thinking about how I could change the look without violating any rules,” he explains. “I started by cropping the pants as well as narrowing the legs a bit. This inspiration came from Thom Browne as well as Christian Boyd—this really cool brotha who worked on my route at the time. A little ankle is sexy, so why not show ‘em?”
It will probably come as no surprise that Aubrey has developed a bit of a cult following around the office—to the extent that it started to feel wrong not to feature him on the site. So last week, I asked him to kindly break down how he put together a few of his choice looks and share the thought process behind creating a wholly memorable and individual style identity out of a uniform. He was an absolute joy to talk to and also wanted to make sure to credit the USPS uniforms themselves: “I’ve been told by customers that we have the best-looking uniforms of the couriers and I agree. They’re incredibly versatile.”
Read on and take notes!
Start at the Top
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Trust Me, Try It: This App Has Saved Me Money Against My Will
Everyone has their little obsessions. For some people in the Man Repeller office, it’s niche pop-culture podcasts. For others, it’s boutique fitness classes. For me, it’s trying obscure money-saving hacks I find on the internet. For the amount of effort I’ve put into this hobby, one might assume this intro is leading in the direction of a humblebrag about putting a down payment on a house, but alas my obsession is less about hoarding savings than it is about turning my spending into a game.
Here are just a few of the money-saving tricks I’ve tried:
Saving every $5 bill I come across inside a small leather pouch. In a cash-only economy, this trick would have been epic. Sadly, in 2019 when almost everyone pays by card, this hack barely functions. The emotional tax of going to ATMs and dealing with change was never worth the money saved.
Planning and living no-spend days. During this challenge, I would wake up and declare to my boyfriend, “It’s a ZERO-DOLLAR CHALLENGE day!” like a game-show host a couple of times a week. The name of the game was, as suggested, a whole day without spending. I’d make coffee and breakfast at home, pack lunch, cook dinner, and walk to and from work. (Zero! Dollar! Challlllllllenge!) As fun as it was cosplaying as Steve Harvey every morning, this challenge required packing lunch which… no thank you.
Estimating my weekend spending every Friday. I came across this neat trick on The Billfold, where Nicole Dieker would post a weekly open thread, estimating how much money she was going to spend that weekend. The idea of this hack, at least for me, was to recognize how easy it is to spend your weekly food/entertainment/shopping budget in a single weekend.
I’ve also used the envelope system, You Need A Budget, Acorns, and even experimented with taking surveys for money once.
The funniest and potentially most puzzling thing about this focus is that despite my dedication, saving still doesn’t come easily to me. I know all the tricks, but when it comes to keeping them in action for the long haul, I lose interest very quickly. So while many of these money hacks were fun or eye-opening, none of them truly stuck as a habit until I found Digit, which is why I’m here right now to say: Trust me, try it.
OK, what’s the deal?
You may not believe it, but the most effective money-saving hack is an app that…costs me money to use. I first heard about Digit from a coworker who swore by it. When she bought a house last year I texted and half-jokingly, half-genuinely asked, “Is this all thanks to Digit?” At that time the app was free to use, but they’ve since started charging $2.99 per month. However, over the last year and a half it’s helped me save thousands of dollars without even noticing, so it feels totally worth it.
And how does it work?
After downloading Digit, you connect it to your bank account. Every business day, Digit will withdraw money from your bank account and put it into your Digit account. You can set a maximum withdrawal limit—at the moment I don’t let Digit take more than $15 from my account each day—or you can let it have free rein. The app monitors your spending, so it knows when you’re likely to have a large withdrawal, like for your monthly rent, and will save little to nothing on those days.
The app also allows you to set different “savings goals.” Right now, I have my standard Digit “rainy day” account, plus separate savings goals for two destination weddings I’m invited to next year. When you start a new goal, you have the option of setting a goal amount and date. For example, when my boyfriend’s 30th was coming up, I set the goal date to a week before his birthday and set the goal amount for how much I wanted to spend on a gift. By the time the date rolled around, Digit had the money ready for me to withdraw.
Who’s it for?
If you’re someone who regularly spends all the money in your checking account but wish you didn’t, Digit might help you. Although I force myself to transfer some money to a savings account as soon as I get paid, Digit helps me skim a small amount off the top of my checking account each day. I never notice that the couple of dollars are gone, so when I check the app I’m always pleasantly surprised. It’s incredibly easy to withdraw money from Digit too, which is a nice safety net.
Above all, it helps me feel like I’m doing something financially responsible, while also quite literally doing nothing. In that way, it’s practically perfect, and I recommend it to anyone I know who wants to save a little extra cash.
Is there an app or obscure money-saving trick that you swear by? Have you tried any of the same ones I have? If so, let’s talk!
Photos by Madeline Montoya and .
The post Trust Me, Try It: This App Has Saved Me Money Against My Will appeared first on Man Repeller.
July 5, 2019
Your July Horoscope Is Here and Knows JUST What You Need
It is important to remind ourselves of how miraculous it is to be in a body during times like this, when the summer climate has reduced my body to an actual puddle of sweat sliming its way across town dressed exclusively in mumus and collapsing into chairs upon arrival to air conditioned buildings like an Auntie who was forced to take the stairs because the elevator went out. This is apparently what my ancestors worked for. The moral of the story? Nothing makes sense and it is too hot to believe in anything except spiked seltzers. Which, by the way, I have been chugging since I typed “hello.” I invite you mix yourself something bubbly too and settle in as we examine what Cancer season has in store for us all.
As always, these horoscopes are based on the knowledge of my main girl Susan Miller, the Lil Wayne to my Drake when it comes to star wisdom. They will be accompanied by cocktail recommendations based on the stars (you’re free to make them virgin as long as they’re still liquid-nitrogen cold). Because yes, we are here for astrology-based guidance, but we are also here to distract ourselves from the ravages of sweat stains and the wretched human condition that is public transportation in the summer. So raise your glasses and get to scrolling.
Cancer
Oh my gush, Cancer!!! It is your birthday season and all the creatures of the celestial seas are rejoicing. Out there in the astrology ocean there are so many xylophone melodies and seaweed-based party decorations! And if you’re like, Sarah, chill with the under-the-sea themed birthday visions, I totally get it, but what YOU need to understand is that mystical sea creature narratives are the actual perfect metaphor for this month. There are a whole gaggle of eclipses in July (well, there are two, but they are whoppers) and you are one of the signs most touched by the energetic WAVES that are brewing. Perhaps it would help if you thought of yourself as, say, a red-haired mermaid longing for something more in life, or maybe Halle Bailey, also a mermaid, also longing for something more in life.
The first eclipse in the beginning of the month should lead to some big new opportunities swimming across your path, especially in the world of your romantic relationships. Like—say you recently met a love interest who has legs and not a tail and you’ve really been struggling to see how it could work out. The first eclipse in July is the time to be on the lookout for practical steps forward (such as contacting a sea witch about getting legs so you can take steps). By the end of the month, the lunar eclipse will call you to make a decision (such as whether or not it is worth it to wear bras not made out of shells and never see your magic merfamily again) but luckily, Suze says that you will have the clarity you need to be sure you’re making the right choice.
Happy birthday, I love you, forks are designed to stab land-food and put it in your mouth.
Signature Summer Cocktail for Cancer
Obviously something rum-based with so many tiny drink umbrellas and skewered sections of fruit that it is basically like a fruit salad. I’m thinking a Rum Runner.
Leo
Hello sunchild, you beacon of light, you show-stealer, you spiritual equivalent of a bomb-ass highlighter, happy July! Lean in real close child, because I have a secret to tell you. Well, I don’t have a secret actually, but I am here to tell you that someone probably does, and their spot is about to get hot because these eclipses are taking no prisoners. According to Suze’s calculations (doesn’t she seem like the abacus type to you?), the solar eclipse in the beginning of the month is going to affect you more than the lunar one at the end of July. This is because your sign is ruled by the sun, the queen of can’t-keep-her-mouth shut, and she’s getting her eclipse on in your twelfth house of secrets. So expect the stars to blow the roof off something in your life that has been kept just out of your line of vision.
But fret not, there is no reason to believe that this is going to be a bad secret, like your roommate has been using your toothbrush to clean the sink or something else that is totally unreasonable to worry about (according to my therapist). There could be a surprise party brewing to celebrate your one year of bangs-sobriety! Or perhaps a surprise party organized to celebrate your excellent new bangs! The universe is full of mysteries! Okay, but also I haven’t mentioned that we will be in Mercury retrograde all month. This means that communication could get a little weird—you shouldn’t sign any contracts or they might not pan out exactly as you planned, and if you get surprised with, like, car trouble, just take a deep breath and chalk it up to naughty Mercury.
Signature Summer Cocktail for Leo
Jungle juice. I think this recipe sounds effective, but get loose and improvise. Dude. It is summer and secrets and surprises are in the air. Why not go full throttle and just play a little hangover roulette?
Virgo
Virgo! Oh it is so good to see you again you ol’ rapscallion! I hope that you have been filing your nails and combing your eyebrows because you are going to have all kinds of company this month. The solar eclipse in the beginning of July illuminates your eleventh house of friendship. Eclipses are known to shake things up, and after conferring with Suze, this shakeup seems to be exactly what you need in your social life. And if you are looking at me all askance (which I hope you are because you are so cute when you’re skeptical) while “No New Friends” plays in your head, I want you to consider that these new friends could bring not only joy and a touch of whimsy to your organized life, but also some interesting opportunities in business or travel.
Now, if there is travel on your horizon, I am obligated to warn you that Mercury is getting his retrograde on and things could be a little sticky. If you’re not attentive you could leave your sunglasses in that absurd lil seatback pocket on the airplanes that you are inexplicably told to “stow your belongings” in although they are so tiny that only the smallest, most easily lost belongings can fit in there. The moral of the story? Keep your new friends close, and your sunglasses closer.
In other news, the lunar eclipse on the 16th will light your fifth house of true love. There are indications here that some decisive action will be necessary in this arena. I can’t wait to hear how it pans out and I demand updates in the comments section, although I also accept postcards and messages conveyed via those sky banners that are like billboards attached to the backs of planes.
Signature Summer Cocktail for Virgo
You should run out right this instant and pick up some cola and red wine and mix yourself up a Kalimotxo, an iconic Basque drink. This libation is a surprising but delightful meeting of two delicious and different bevvies. (Like you and your new friends. See? Metaphors!)
Libra
Libra! You milkshake after dinner, you human fainting couch, you stargazer lily! What’s good my dear star-kin? No seriously, let’s list all the good things that are good right now. Megan Thee Stallion, guacamole, maximalist monochrome matching home decor, these recent whimsical looks curated by Harling, etc. You know what else is just objectively good? The effect that the solar eclipse c. early July will have on your career. The stars, according to Suze (which is what I would name her daytime call-in talk show if she had one), are pointing to a new career opportunity that has major financial potential, as well as the potential for lots of attention and praise. I know you love this because, let’s be honest, Libras would literally take baths in compliments if such a thing were possible. (I think that if compliments were a liquid they would be grenadine, right?)
Okay but here is the catch—I don’t know if you overheard what I was saying to Virgo up there, but Mercury is retrograding all this month starting on the 7th. This means that even though this new career opportunity might fall into your lap, be cautious about making things official until next month. If you can’t wait, that’s fine, just stay open to changes later on. Phew, I get so tired doling out retrograde warnings. I always feel like a wizened bridge troll hopping out from behind a boulder at everyone who attempts to pass and being like, “Nooooo!!! Ye must not travel while the spinning orb of the gods dances backwards lest chaos befall you!!” That being said, um, ye should probably not travel.
Overall, this month full of eclipses and retrogrades will not be a walk in the park, but on the other side of July you will be a wiser, stronger, more spiritually thicc version of yourself and I literally can’t wait to meet you there.
Signature Summer Cocktail for Libra
Oh, queen of any gender, do I have the friggin drink for you! It’s called the Summer Fling and it is rosé, lemonade, champagne, etc. This is what you need to take the edge off a difficult week, or just to match a good pink-toned going-out look.
Scorpio
Hello scorpling darling, may I just say that your exoskeleton is positively radiant these days? I sat beneath a giant quartz crystal pyramid and contemplated the messages that the stars have for you during this tumultuous month of eclipses and retrogrades and I have realized that the general vibe that you should be emanating this month is ease. Both the eclipses—a solar eclipse in the beginning of the month and a lunar eclipse towards the end of the month—will be very dynamic for you. Suze n’ the stars predict that you may very well get bitten by the travel bug under the influence of both these eclipses. And we’re not talking the “oh, let’s check out that cute antique store an hour away” kind of bug. No, we’re talking about bed bugs-level spiritual infestation with the urge to get out of town.
Now, scorpling, I’m very sorry that I had to pick the metaphor of infestation, and also I am equally sorry that I evoked the dreaded bed bug plague, but honestly there are no cute infestations, I looked. (and btw, friend, google image searching “cute infestations” is not an activity I would recommend.) Luckily for you, the new moon eclipse is in the water sign Cancer, which is super complementary to your energies. This suggests that you will be intrigued by whatever spontaneous travel plans show up on your agenda. By the lunar eclipse at the end of the month, you will barely have had time to unpack before you’re presented with another travel opportunity, this time maybe closer to home. In order to keep your head (or your cephlothorax, as it were), you must remain at ease and open to the possibilities this month, because a lot is coming at you. Thank you so much for stopping by, hit me in the comments with your choice of the most vacation-ready shade of toenail polish.
Signature Summer Cocktail for Scorpio
I have selected a pineapple peach vodka slush as your go-to drink for July. This drink is the (eurocentric) flavor simulacrum of the word “exotic” which will complement your travel-filled month. Plus it is a slush, because the slush is the ultimate form of summer drink and I love you.
Sagittarius
Imagine yourself walking into an imposing office with a massive desk made of dark wood that looks so impossibly heavy and substantial you are sure that it will outlive human society as we know it. Behind the desk is a large oxblood leather chair containing a shadowy figure who is gazing out the massive office windows. Upon your entrance, the chair spins slowly around to face you, and sitting in that expensive-looking chair…is you! Only you look older, wealthier. You have massive shoulder pads, a large pinky ring, and a stern expression. Old wealthy you says, “I am glad you learned to time travel so you could speak to future you, which is me. Sit down child, it is time to discuss your finances, because one day all this will be yours.”
Oh my gush, do you have the chills? No? Just cold from the air conditioning? Fine. Well, not only was that the opening scene of my screenplay for a psychological time-travel thriller I’m calling, “Sagittarius in July,” but also it is basically what the stars are serving this month. Both of these naughty eclipses will be shaking things up in the financial houses of your chart. With the solar eclipse in the beginning of July, you will be spelunking into your contemplative depths to think long and hard about money—your relationship to the money you have right now, and how to make more of it. Suze sees that there might be some kind of financial windfall, maybe having to do with your family. So call Aunt Melynda and tell her how hot she looks on Facebook in all those new pics from her Boca Raton girls’ trip.
Be warned though: By the end of the month, the lunar eclipse might bring up some unexpected bills, so gird your loins and your money belt, just in case. Oh! And Mercury is in retrograde all this month so if that money is coming with documents you need to sign, try to push it off until August. Overall you’re looking great this month, Sag, and I hope you treat yourself to the finest caviars and spa days because you deserve it.
Signature Summer Cocktail for Sagittarius
Okay Daddy Morebucks, July’s Sag cocktail is the Easy Money Martini. Now, the ingredients, which are basically just chocolate liqueur and vodka, may not sound immediately enticing in the heat of the summer, but just think about how cool you’ll sound requesting it from the actual bartender. You can pour it into a plant if you don’t like it.
Capricorn
Oh you sweet cuddly sea-goat, welcome to the summer, or as we call summer around my apartment, Ol Man Sum-Sum. Cap, I have such high hopes for you. I hope that you have found the bougiest aluminum-free deodorant on the market with a rare and botanical scent at your local TJ Maxx for 70% off its retail price. I hope that you find the summer trousers of your dreams. I also hope that you are ready for all the intimate happenings that the stars have in store for you this month.
The new moon solar eclipse in early July will have you focused on your closest human partners. This could be your lover or, as we call those around my apartment, your lil romance buddy. It could also be your business partner or your closest collaborator. This eclipse is cropping up in your seventh house, where trés serious commitments such as marriage and joint pet ownership contracts reside. The lunar eclipse at the end of the month will be all about you getting real intimate with your own desires. Eclipses are known to really shake things up, to rock the boat, to crack some eggs, to do all those things various English idioms do to imply unexpected events that shift your perception. (Here are some new idioms along these lines that I submit for your consideration— to wiggle the toes, to drop some sushi in the soy sauce dish, to put some salt in the sugar bowl—please give feedback in the comments section, thank you.) Since both of these eclipses will have you considering if you feel fulfilled, it is important to be gentle with yourself and try not to react to the upheaval so much as respond. Yes, I am ominously suggesting that the stars are forecasting breakups and shake-ups this month, but they may not take the form you expect, and they surely will help you grow into your truest self.
Signature Summer Cocktail for Capricorn
My mother always said, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Then, put some gin in it. No, she didn’t say that. But my children will one day say that about their mother because it is now one of my life mottos. This month may have some lemons for you Cap, but so many delicious things REQUIRE that lemony zing to really make everything come together. Like this cocktail, Cucumber Gin Lemonade. Without the lemons, you would just be drinking cucumbers and gin like a friggin alien. See? Everything is gonna be just fine.
Aquarius
Oh you dear sweet Aquarius, lil angel of the avant garde, pusher of boundaries, reacher for the stars, I hope that in June you found a signature perfume, got a free upgrade to first class at the airport, and got yourself some of those nice hangers made of wood. I wish this for you both because you deserve every good thing this world has to offer and because, according to the stars, the immediate future has some changes a-brewing on the home-front and I want you to be ready.
The solar eclipse on the new moon will ask you to consider your daily routine. How are you spending your time? If you were to do a pie chart of the things you gave your attention to every day, what would the biggest slices be? Perhaps your biggest slices include hours spent online shopping for wigs in order to disguise yourself so completely that your neighbors think that there are multiple people living in your apartment! Or, perhaps you spend your time trying to teach your cat to untie shoelaces because his little dexterous paws seem to be made for that task and since he’s not paying rent he better contribute at least some menial chores. Whatever your time pie slice might represent, the eclipse is pushing you to consider whether or not these activities align with your highest intentions.
Also important: Suze, has predicted that if there is anyone who has been doing some dirty dealings behind your back, expect that shit to come to light around the 16th. But my sweet human creature whom I love the way I love stranger-babies that I see on public transportation wearing just socks and no shoes because of course they don’t need shoes, I am sure that you will handle all this change with grace, dignity, and panache.
Signature Summer Cocktail for Aquarius
So it turns out that there is a cocktail named after pretty much everything, how exciting is that! When channelling the theme of your astrologically defined libation, I really found that grace is the word you need to swallow and then digest and let it be transformed by your organs and blood and stuff into full embodiment! So try this one, it’s called Awaiting Grace and it sounds rather adventurous.
Pisces
Wow, I am so excited that we are getting a chance to chat, Pisces! I feel like we haven’t seen each other in so long and you probably have updates re: house plants and hot takes on the wrap dress, but we must save those for the comments section because I have big romance news for you. This first solar eclipse in the beginning of the month will be in your fifth house of love. With the eclipse in watery Cancer, the celestial energy is creating incredibly favorable conditions for you to thrive.
For you, this month of watery confluence is like when cynobacteria popped into existence 3.9 billion years ago and became the first living organisms on Earth! How so, you ask? Well, these v important early life forms were only able to exist because of the improbably perfect aqueous conditions. With your watery sun sign and the eclipse in Cancer, conditions are just right for your love life to experience a (algal) bloom that could really breathe new life into you (that’s what cynobacteria did that was so important—inhaled carbon dioxide and exhaled oxygen making the planet’s atmosphere hospitable to other life forms!). Wow I love talking about early life forms and bacterial generosity, but we must return to your astrological messages, Pisces, because I have more to tell you.
The second eclipse in Capricorn could bring to light some secrets or betrayals in the friendship arena. But, luckily for you, the Capricorn energies complement your own and this revelation will rather quickly work itself out in your favor. Last thing, don’t buy electronics, like an A.I. Bratz doll that tells you to loosen up and put on some eyeshadow, for instance, because Mercury is retrograding and likes to be mischievous with tech. That was so fun! I will super miss you so please come back with updates re: your love life in August and also hmu for more bacteria talk.
Signature Summer Cocktail for Pisces
Channelling all astrological and thematic information from your reading this month, I have decided that you should probably be doing jello shots. And I know you’re probably like, Hey! Libra got champagne! To which I’m like, life’s not fair buckaroo and you’ve got an eclipse in your fifth house so, like, you’re gonna be fine. Chew your jello shot and count your blessings.
Aries
Fire child, July is going to be quite a month for you. Let’s do your reading in the form of a sandwich—good stuff is the bread and challenging stuff is the filling. The big news this month are the two eclipses and Mercury retrograde. During the solar eclipse in the beginning of the month, you could see some major changes in your living situation or your home life. This could mean a renovation or an all-out relocation. And if you’re like, Oh no! I don’t have nearly enough hatboxes to safely move my collection of diadems and fascinators— don’t worry! Suze says that Uranus in your second house of earned income is shining some light on this eclipse so it is very likely that the necessary hatbox purchase will be at a much better price than you imagined.
That was the fluffy brioche of your sandwich. Now for the unhappy meat, say, a bologna? Or perhaps a very dry slab of turkey? Unexpected costs could crop up this month, especially related to artistic endeavors. Also, according to Suze, around mid-month you may be asked to take on some burdensome responsibility that you really don’t want to do but feel obligated to do. Watch out for that emotionally needy friend with the geriatric pet iguana, because you could very well end up footing the bill and doing the emotional heavy lifting for end-of-life iguana care if you’re not careful.
Okay last thing: Mercury is in retrograde this month so it might be extra difficult to lovingly communicate to the iguana friend that you think her lizard is a prehistoric monster sent into the future to be gross and disturbing and you don’t want to touch it. That wasn’t so bad right? Just some retrograde and hypothetical almost-dead iguanas to dodge!
Here’s the bottom brioche: July only lasts one month. Also, cocktails exist. See below.
Signature Summer Cocktail for Aries
The stars and I recommend a strong drink with a punny name to lift your spirits through July. Rosemary, Baby is a delightful lemony bevvie with the classy herbal addition of rosemary. An elegant drink for entertaining, or to round out the flavor of an unhappy meat sandwich.
Taurus
You precious mammal with beautiful hands, how are you? I wish that we had planned this chat earlier because I think that you could have launched your career as a motivational speaker for all other signs due to all the work you’ve been doing this summer cultivating your most authentic self. We could have done goodie bags, I could have baked, there would have definitely been a theme, it would have been so good. But alas, here we are, and I must resign myself to personally applauding you for all the phenomenal internal innovation you’ve been doing since Uranus (the planet of unpredictable genius and creativity) entered Taurus in March. I am clapping in my house and my cat hates it because I think he envies the percussive potential of my furless palms, but you’re welcome.
In July, all this work is going to be bolstered and pushed forward by the two eclipses, both of which are happening in the parts of your chart that have to do with writing, lecturing, and basically just communicating your brilliance to the world. According to Suze, the solar eclipse in the beginning of the month is likely to open up the possibility for new opportunities, especially in the realm of communication, so be on the lookout for that kind of thing. Once you land your new gig, or really begin creating in earnest, Mercury retrograde has some challenging flies in your ointment. During a retrograde such as this, you will be prone to making little slip-ups. So make sure that you slow down and double check your details!
By the time that the lunar eclipse rolls around at the end of the month, you may feel a bit overwhelmed. But, in the infinite wisdom of the stars, you have favorable aspects for travel from July 16th onward, especially abroad. Why not take a wee galavant and refresh your mind? Suze and I think that would be great for you. Just mind the normal retrograde stuff, don’t lose your headphones or your passport and don’t buy any robots.
Signature Summer Cocktail for Taurus
In the spirit of celebration, and to make up for your big launch party as a motivational speaker that I botched, I offer you the Citrus Celebration, a cocktail that is probably exactly what you think it is. There is champagne, and vodka, and my apologies for being negligent.
Gemini
Greetings airbaby, are you feeling the summertime nap vibes? I know that many people think of the colder seasons as nap seasons, but I go outside for like five minutes in July and then need to go home and take a cold shower then dry off in my sheets as I drift into a wee siesta. If you are also feeling these sleepy sensations, it may also be due in part to all the Mercury activity going on this month, taking your usual verve right out of you. All the signs feel these retrogrades, but Mercury is your ruling planet and so you are prone to feel a retrograde more than most. This means there are some hurdles coming your way, but with a little planning the worst of it will slide right off you like water droplets on a mallard. Ah, yes, that should be your inspirational animal this month, Gem, a mallard! Mallards are “dabbling ducks” which is the cutest phrase I have said all day. This means that to get food, they tip their little bodies face first into the water while their butts stick up above the surface, warming hearts everywhere. This is the strategy you should employ to get you through the retrograde. When you see new opportunities roiling below the surface this month, don’t dunk yaself all the way in, keep your butt above water and dabble for a while. Suze says July is all about watching and waiting for you, so be patient.
Around the lunar eclipse things could get a bit complicated in the matters of family and other people’s money, so be gentle with yourself and set firm boundaries to keep the stress at bay. Luckily, Saturn and Neptune are brunching in your fifth house of awards and honors, so even with the trying bits of July, it looks like your reputation and your career will be protected from any turbulence.
Signature Summer Cocktail for Gemini
The astrologically correct cocktail for you this month, Gemini, is the Fluffy Duck, for obvious reasons. Yes, it sounds delish, but also I hope that this drink will remind you to be easy and to keep dabbling your way through this retrograde.
Illustration by Audrey H. Weber.
The post Your July Horoscope Is Here and Knows JUST What You Need appeared first on Man Repeller.
Should I Care What My Boyfriend “Likes” on Instagram?
The below story was originally published in July 2017, but when it came up in a recent editorial meeting, we couldn’t stop talking about it (for a second time). Usually, double-tapping a photo feels fairly low stakes, but if this story is any indication, it can say quite a lot. Read on and weigh in if you feel stirred by this debate, too.
If you’ve ever found yourself deep on your ex’s Instagram post-breakup, you know that the app can make it difficult to move on. Lurking on social media is a classic form of self-sabotage for the heartbroken, but I’ve found it especially challenging to navigate when I’m in a relationship.
Have you ever scrolled through your Discover feed and realized that Instagram’s algorithm has surfaced a photo of a mysterious girl for you because the person you’re dating liked it? I have. Multiple times, with one particular guy. Each time, my life would descend into chaos. I’d take screenshots, text my friends, call my mom and, of course, try to figure out who in the world that girl even was.
We were a few months into our relationship the first time it happened; he was working across the country at the time. After seeing his likes on booty pic after booty pic, I started wondering what in the world was going on 2,000 miles away. (And, more pressingly, was there something wrong with my butt?) When I finally worked up the nerve to mention it, I did so over text and received a really apologetic and understanding response. I thought the issue was settled.
Fast forward one year. We’re still together, I’m scrolling through Instagram and there it is again: a trail of likes on unfamiliar women’s photos. Seriously? I felt an all-too-familiar wave of nausea. I again resorted to sending him a text asking what was up with all the liking. The answer I got wasn’t as receptive as the last; he said something along the lines of, “Am I not allowed to think my friends look good?” That he actually knew them somehow irked me more. He eventually toned down the defensiveness and told me it didn’t mean anything, and that’s what I tried to focus on.
I’m not going to pretend it didn’t matter to me. With hindsight, it’s clear how much it did. I remember feeling completely crushed and unappreciated. Even today, I’m still unsure whether my reaction was warranted. I’m still not confident of whose perspective, mine or his, was more in need of adjusting. On one hand, I’m on Instagram mindlessly liking pictures all day. Maybe he was, too. On the other, his actions felt like a betrayal of trust the way my liking photos of shoes never would. I recall a friend comparing his liking to checking out a girl on the street — weren’t they both harmless? I understood her point; even in the thick of love, a living, breathing human can still notice a person is attractive. And yet, this felt more hurtful than an on-the-street glance.
All relationships are different, but when I found myself years-deep in a random woman’s Instagram at 4 a.m., I realized that mine was nothing if I didn’t trust my boyfriend. Eventually our relationship ended. I’d hesitate to cite the Instagram liking as an actual reason — there were a few things wrong — but I know now that, for me, it’s important to create boundaries for what I choose to take in and disclose. Instagram may be the framework through which we choose to see and share information, but how we interact with it is our prerogative. Nowadays, the only photos I click on in my Discover feed are those of well-dressed chihuahuas, and I don’t scroll through my followers’ activities.
On Instagram, we have the power to present ourselves in the way we want, whether that’s true to who we really are or not. My ex-boyfriend claimed his behavior was not flirtatious, yet he still felt compelled to double-tap — to send the tiniest beam of communication. Perhaps I was being naive, or perhaps there is a larger social narrative at play here, where men are so accustomed to evaluating women that they practically don’t even notice themselves doing it.
Have you experienced this? What do you think about it? I’m eager to hear more perspectives.
Feature photo via @emrata.
The post Should I Care What My Boyfriend “Likes” on Instagram? appeared first on Man Repeller.
July 4, 2019
You Know That Hairstyle You’d NEVER Wear? We Tested 5
The below story originally ran in July 2017, but it’s high time we revisit it because Harling’s transformation must never be forgotten, nor should the bravery of those of us who underwent slick-backs. Scroll for five makeovers, plenty of hair gel, and even more feelings.
As much as I complain about my hair and harbor a low-burning resentment toward men for whom short hair is the norm, I rely on it quite a lot. My unruly, tangled mop is the emotional equivalent of a down comforter on a hot night. It might be a little uncomfortable, but somehow it’s the preferred alternative to sleeping with no covers at all (which, as I’ve mentioned, leaves my ankles vulnerable to ghost grabs). My hair makes me and my face feel safe. As such, I’m fairly particular about how I will and won’t wear it. I will wear natural waves; I won’t wear it stick-straight. I will wear a messy topknot; I won’t wear a tight bun. I have loads of unwritten rules vis-a-vis what I think I can pull off both in terms of how I look and what purpose my hair serves.
Most women I know with enough hair to be styled have these little terms of engagement. Whether it’s how we part it, style it, or get it cut, there exists, in a dark and dusty corner of our minds, a bulleted list of that which is simply off-limits. And because we’re not five years old or red carpet movie stars with “people,” said list is seldom defied. Why would it be?
Last week, I asked Leandra, Amelia, Harling and Jasmin about their unwritten hair rules, and then brought in celebrity hair stylist Danielle Priano to break them (and mine, too). Because what if we’re all wrong? What if the very styles we avoid would make us feel like a million bucks? Priano has worked with Ashley Graham, Selena Gomez, Karlie Kloss, Chrissy Teigen, Victoria’s Secret Angels and other similar nobodies. If anyone could prove our rules wrong, it’d be her. Take a scroll, see how it went and then let us know what you think.
Haley (me)
I never wear my hair in a super-tight low bun — without a single hair out of place — a la Ashley Olsen.
Why don’t I ever wear my hair like this?
There is nothing wrong with my ears. I know this intellectually. But the feeling I have when my hair is pulled off of my face and tightly behind them is akin to being without a shirt. It makes me feel very exposed. I have it in my head that I don’t have the bone structure to be so “face first.” I prefer to hide a little, as if I’m halfway-backed into a bush of my own hair’s making.
How did it feel to get it done? Did I like it?
I’ve always imagined that, upon becoming A-list famous, I’d trust celebrity beauty squads with my life. Because what do I know? So I felt okay giving my hair over to Danielle. That said, I have so much hair (and uneven bangs), I wasn’t sure she’d be able to make it look slick. She wasn’t either! But then she totally killed it. I felt…OKAY. I like the hairstyle generally, but I’m still not sure I like it on me.
Would I wear it this way again?
To be honest, probably not. No fault of Danielle’s — she’s a pro — but everything about me suddenly felt out of balance. I never realized there was an element of balancing my baggy clothes with big hair until I didn’t have it. This experiment made me more confident in the unkempt hairstyle I’ve chosen as my go-to after 27 years of life. Unexpected upside: When I put on my black framed glasses everyone started calling me Jenna Lyons.
Leandra
Leandra told me she’d never wear her hair in a tight, part-less ponytail, a la Kim Kardashian.
Why don’t you ever wear your hair like this?
I always fear it will make my nose look huge or make me look like my dad in the early ’90s (he used to slick back his hair and we look a lot alike). It sounds weird, but when my hair is slicked back, I’m just too much FACE. I like having an insane head of hair, I suppose, to hide behind.
How did it feel to get it done? Did you like it?
At first, it felt like I was back in high school (the scent of hair burning on an iron is my brand of teenage nostalgia), then it felt like a massage (when Danielle was brushing my hair back), then it was pretty painful (the tightening of the ponytail) and then it was wet (she gelled me all UP). Mixed emotions through and through. But that’s physical. When all was said and done, I felt pretty confident and secure in my knowing what does and does not work for me, with a sleek, slicked-back pony standing firmly on the side of Does Not Work.
Would you wear it this way again?
I am going to stick to frizzy waves for now, but I’ll never say never because I also thought I’d probably never wear my hair curly again and now I do that all time.
Amelia
Amelia told me she’d never wear her hair slicked back and down her back, a la Gigi Hadid at the 2015 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue party.
Why don’t you ever wear your hair like this?
Celebrities do so many weird things that I don’t question, mostly because I’m not their mom and maybe they know something I don’t. But the one thing I question more than I do my own existence is the slicked-back-wet-hair thing. Who started this? And how? I get the point of literally every hair style in the world (especially mullets, including beehives) except for this one. It should also be said that wet hair in public is in my top tier of pet peeves. If I were attending a red carpet, this would be the one style I’d never agree to.
How did it feel to get it done? Did you like it?
Danielle straightened my hair before slicking it back, which was so weird because I haven’t straightened my hair since 2009. That was a thrill. After, I was completely surprised at how I looked. It felt sort of Ralph Lauren?!?
Would you wear it this way again?
I would not wear my hair this way again because it took a lot of steps to make it look on-purpose-wet-and-slicked-back rather than “I just combed my hair after hot yoga.” But this is why there are professionals and amateurs, and it’s nice to know where you sit on the totem pole. However, this was really fun. I forgot how much a different hairstyle can transform or transport you. It was like a wig that I grew myself!
Harling
Harling told me she’d never wear her curls huge and brushed out, like those of the models in the Marc by Marc Jacobs Fall 2013 runway show.
Why don’t you ever wear your hair like this?
Within the curly-hair community at large (stylists, curly-haired people, etc.), brushing out your hair when it’s dry is considered THE GREATEST OF SINS. There’s a good reason for this: Curly hair is often drier and more brittle than other hair types because the hair cuticle is facing in different directions. Combing or brushing it when it’s dry is a recipe for breakage and split ends. Plus, brushing destroys the natural curl pattern and causes excess frizz.
How did it feel to get it done? Did you like it?
I was soooo nervous. I actually emailed Haley upwards of three times trying to back out. I’m so glad I didn’t succeed, though. Danielle is a true expert, so she didn’t just take a brush to my hair and hack away, which is what I was “afraid” of (and something I have done in the past and immediately regretted). Instead, she created more body by curling it and spraying it with texturizing product, and then gently teasing it with a brush. I ended up loving it. I felt like model in Marc by Marc Jacobs Fall/Winter 2013!
Would you wear it this way again?
I don’t think my fear was unwarranted, because it could have gone badly if the stylist wasn’t so talented. I would absolutely wear it again if Danielle was involved, though, or anyone else who knows how to make me look like I stuck a fork in a toaster in a chic way!
Jasmin
Jasmin told me she’d never wear her hair in a tight, high bun, as Jennifer Lopez wore hers at the 2013 Grammys.
Why don’t you ever wear your hair like this?
A few reasons. My hair is quite long and I usually always wear it down. Without it I feel very exposed. I also have a lot of hair and lots of baby hairs, so I don’t even know where to begin to get it all neatly slicked back. A loose ponytail when my hair needs a wash is as much of an “updo” as I do.
How did it feel to get it done? Did you like it?
It hurt! Apparently my scalp has a low pain threshold and Danielle really pulled it tight! She thought I was such a wimp. At first I was really shocked when it finished; I thought it looked cool and sleek but also very dramatic. Perhaps if I was dressed up or had on big earrings it would have felt more intentional.
Would you wear it that way again?
I would! But I’d probably prefer it to look less neat. Now I want to try a high, more relaxed bun.
What do you think? What are your unwritten hair rules?
Photos by Louisiana Mei Gelpi.
The post You Know That Hairstyle You’d NEVER Wear? We Tested 5 appeared first on Man Repeller.
The 39 Best July 4th Sales (Including Rly Good Swimsuits)
One of the big upsides of having a job that requires combing through the interwebs for hours a day is developing an almost Encyclopedic awareness of all the best stuff available to buy: swimwear! Sandals! Nail polish! Rattan chairs! (Yes, rattan chairs. I’m not exaggerating when I say my knowledge is extensive). But the even bigger upside is that I can use it for the greater good, which–in the case of impending July 4th sales–is to shout it from the rooftops of Man Repeller dot com so we can mutually take advantage. Scroll down for a guide to shopping the crème de la crème, the cherry on top, the golden pinnacle, the unicorn tears of what they have to offer.
Clothing
Jeans
I divide clothing into two categories when shopping sales in the summer: stuff I can buy and enjoy now, and stuff I should buy because it’s discounted now even though I probably won’t wear until the fall. Jeans fall somewhere in between. While you can absolutely style jeans for summer, they are also my ultimate “buy now, wear later” item. I love this perfect distressed everyday pair, this tie-dye effect style, and this bright summer yellow pair–all from 3×1, whose jeans are starting at $79. I also recommend these for their rise, available on The Outnet which is having an additional 40% off sale. These floral Simon Miller ones have been on my list for months and are so highly discounted I basically don’t have an excuse not to buy, right?
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Swimwear
I rarely buy swimwear in the off-season even though that’s the smartest time to purchase it, so when it happens to go on sale during the summer, I jump at the opportunity. I love this belted polka dot one piece, this high rise $65.99 tie-dye bikini (which is my favorite kind of style), and this one which would be great for tan lines. This one with removable straps comes in extended sizes, too.
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Dresses
Dresses are great for sticky days when all you want to wear is a tent, and as a bonus they’re a one-and-done styling item. I love this literal picnic blanket gingham one or this smocked eyelet one and this highly discounted Batsheva one from Need Supply (btw they’re having markdowns up to 50% off!). Oh, and this red slip is $9.99, just FYI.
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Shoes
Get your footwear fix with summer commuter shoes and great summer sandals to pair with everything from dresses to summer pants. I love these satin slides by MIISTA, these green LABUCQ heeled sandals that Amalie has and I am reminded I want every time she wears them (use code SHOES4ME at checkout), and these solid all-white sneakers that would be great with any of the aforementioned dresses. Harling recently styled a story using these by Far green sandals and just look at that cool architectural heel! Ruby Redstone wore these perfect mary janes in this story and I cannot get them out of my head. I wrote about how I wear these M.Gemi driving shoes to commute the Williamsburg Bridge often, and they are on sale, too. Lastly, this buy-now-wear-later investment boot that’s 50% off? Rhetorical question the answer is yes.
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Bags
Along with commuter shoes, I’m often asked what bags I use to commute with. I love this $36.99 shopper and always keep a Baggu foldable one–also on sale–for backup. For your summer parties, might I suggest this one or this one that Harling has? Specifically to tote around a bottle of rosé. I love this Ganni one, this Les Petits Joueurs pouch or this 50% off Rejina Pyo knot handle one to tote around your essentials. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen!
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Home
Man Repeller is OOO this week but I didn’t plan a vacation! So hell, I’m going to use my free time refresh my home. I’m buying new sheets (my dog got sick on mine), as well as this iced coffee maker and these pretty fruit glasses. I’ll probably sit home all day in this comfy cotton robe because it’s my ideal robe length. I also read this Real Simple piece that mentions temporary wallpaper and may go ahead and do a wall in this or one from this cool brand. And to close the loop on my lofty rattan chair promises, how good is this one from the Urban Outfitters home sale?
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Beauty
‘Tis the season of sweat-induced breakouts and piles of sunscreen! I love this cleanser to wash the city steam off my face. It’s been great for my hormonal acne. This Team MR-favorite sunscreen shields me from getting burnt on my commute. I’m also planning to get this hand salve because, for whatever reason, they’re so dry in the summer. Birchbox is offering 15% off orders over $35 and my cart currently contains my favorite lip moisturizer (it enhances your ~natural~ lip color), my favorite Amika shampoo (smells incredible and keeps it feeling fresh for days), and this nail polish to bring with me to salons or maybe save some money and use myself at home.
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Feel free to scope out more gems yourself with this full list of 4th of July Deals (but tell me what you’re getting in the comments!):
3×1 – Jeans starting at $79
Need Supply – Up to 50% off
SSENSE – Up to 70% off select styles
The Outnet – Extra 40% off
ModCloth – Additional 40% off sale
Tory Sport – Up to 70% off with code EXTRA30
Rebecca Taylor – Extra 30% off sale with code July30
LABUCQ – 20% off including already discounted items with code SHOES4ME
Nisolo – Extra 20% off sale section with code TRAVEL20
Dr. Scholl’s – 20% off and free shipping with code SPARKS20. Some styles excluded
Loeffler Randall – 60% off Spring
M.Gemi – Up to 65% off
Anthropologie – Extra 30% off sale
Whistles – Extra 20% off sale
Good American – 25% off sale
Onia – 25% off select styles
Kate Spade – 60% off sale
Urban Outfitters – Extra 30% off sale
BaubleBar – Select styles all under $20
Baggu – 60% off select styles
Neiman Marcus – Up to 75% off
Bergdorf Goodman – Up to 75% off
H&M – Additional 20% off items already marked ‘sale’
BackBeatRags – 40% off sale items with code SUMMERTIME19, 25% off site-wide from 7/5-7/7 with code REDWHITEBLUE
Decade – 40% off all linen styles with code LINENLOVE40
Kurt Lyle – 15% off site-wide (including additional discount on sale) with code FIREWORKS15
LF Markey – 20% off
LIANA – 40% off any red, white and blue styles with code JULY4TH
Loup – 25% off site-wide with code SUN19
RHODE – Select RE19 and SS19 30% off
DONNI – 40% off site-wide excluding new arrivals with code fireworks40
AllModern – Up to 60% off + free shipping and returns
Brooklinen – 20% off final sale & Twill Collection
Overstock – Extra 20% off almost everything
Brooklyn Bedding – 25% off site wide
Chasing Paper – 20% off site-wide with the code HAPPY4TH
Birchbox – 15% off orders $35+ with code AMERICA15
Target – site-wide sale
La Roche-Posay – 20% off + free My UV Patch with orders $50 with code JULY19
Feature photo by Edith Young.
The post The 39 Best July 4th Sales (Including Rly Good Swimsuits) appeared first on Man Repeller.
July 3, 2019
Is This Weird: I’ve Never Peed in the Ocean
Welcome to Is This Weird? A column dedicated to confessions that don’t necessarily keep us up at night, but demand an audience all the same.
Once upon a time, there was a girl. She grew up on a lake so large she forgot to care that it wasn’t an ocean. She moved from city to town, river to lake to sound, until she found an island to call home. Every summer since, she has rested her weary New York bones by taking a thundering train to a crowded bus, patting across the hot beach sand to let the waves lap at her calves, and making a promise to herself: This year, I’m gonna pee in this thing.
Along with being terrifying, the ocean is vast, majestic, rising, and apparently, full of pee. But not mine, for I have not peed in the ocean, which, according to most of my friends, makes me the weird one.
In my head, I understand I understand that peeing in the ocean is nbd: The ocean is large and constantly churning; it is highly unlikely I’ll ever catch anything from another person’s pee. Plus, fish live in the ocean and fish are just generally disgusting, so what’s a little bodily fluids between beach strangers? But I don’t know, man. I just can’t, in my heart it feels so wrong. It was my one summer goal last year because I hate feeling left out and also wanted to see what the fuss was about, but every time I tried, it felt like an anxiety dream. Like somehow everyone would know when I did it. Crabs would bubble up around me, the water would turn bright blue like it supposedly does in public pools. Word would spread up and down Riis beach that I had defouled the Atlantic and was to be relegated to land for the rest of my existence.
“Why is this so hard for me??!!!” I recently yelled at my friends upon returning to our blanket after yet another failed attempt at keeping up with the Jones’s bladders. I have always known that I’m a deeply fearful person—afraid of standing out in the wrong ways or “inconveniencing” anybody (which I’m truly working on as it’s important to advocate for myself, especially as a black woman)—and that this is just an on-the-nose expression of that. And then there’s the less writerly explanation which is that I don’t even like peeing in a public bathroom if someone else sees me go in, so isn’t the ocean just like that times a million?
But I want to be a beach person. The care-free, no-holds-barred, pees-loudly-and-proudly-wherever-she-wants kind of beach person. The kind that’s always holding a volleyball and says, “Look at the crest on those waves,” and sounds profound. And I think this is the summer. It has to be. I’m more hydrated than ever before, meaning it won’t be long before I find myself in a dire situation where I will just have to close my eyes, believe in myself, and let go. So if you see me on the beach this summer, water lapping at my calves, give me a nod of encouragement and maybe stand a bit away for a while.
Is This Weird? Identity by Madeline Montoya.
The post Is This Weird: I’ve Never Peed in the Ocean appeared first on Man Repeller.
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