Leandra Medine's Blog, page 20
June 1, 2020
Where We Go From Here: A Message for the MR Community
To the MR community:
I want to explicitly state on our site that Man Repeller will not remain silent in the face of police brutality and white supremacy. I have a lot of listening and learning and growing to do before I will truly know how to thoroughly make a sustained impact in the fight to eradicate systemic racism, but that won’t stop my effort. I know that the learning will be uncomfortable at times, but that won’t make it any less urgent.
I started Man Repeller out of a desire to connect through style—to feel less alone and more understood. The mission of MR has been to foster that feeling of connection for our community, but to make this irrevocably true, we must do more. In this moment, we are recommitting to those values—to thinking deeply about how we live our lives and thus use our platform to reflect the tenor of the time we’re in.
Last week, we took to our most immediate forms of communication on social media to help magnify the urgent need to join together to condemn the murder of George Floyd (and so many others) and to say that Black lives matter.
This week, we’re prepared to take a more steady, sustained approach to covering and exploring these complex issues in the ways we’re best equipped to do. Today, you’ll read a piece by Celeste Little that gives an intimate look at what it’s like when a new mother’s anxieties shift from Covid-19 to another kind of American disease. In the coming days, we’ll be publishing a story that explores how bad-faith legislation aimed at banning abortion during the pandemic has disproportionately impacted low-income women. I also talked with Aurora James of Brother Vellies for the next installment of our Founders Discuss series and we’ll be amplifying the businesses of other black entrepreneurs in the MR community who you can support.
Internally, we’re creating a plan that will hold us accountable to each other and our community. We will be turning this plan into formal guidelines that we will release to the public and start putting into action next week. This will include prioritizing and committing to:
Providing meaningful support to a diverse mix of creative talent at the early stages of their careers
Featuring underrepresented voices more consistently on our editorial and commerce platforms and supporting them with our budgets
Establishing recurring days of service in which the team can make a positive impact on our local community
Empowering more POC-owned businesses in the industry with advertising space and networking opportunities
This work will be ongoing. Fostering an environment in which everyone—employees and readers alike—feel comfortable speaking their mind directly, respectfully, and constructively is my most important work as a founder.
And as for me personally, I’ve been reading a lot. I’ve ordered this book, started this one, and am finding a semblance of resolve in the most actionable and straightforward directives that are being posted on social media. I’m listening to learn—not to fix or to win. I’m feeling ashamed, but also acutely aware of how much more learning I have to do. I’ve been thinking about how I’m raising my kids, what it means to use my privilege responsibly, but mostly, I am trying to figure out how to harness these feelings of ignorance and humility to become part of the solution—and, equally important, to never lose sight of that mission.
What are you doing, thinking, saying, reading, right now?
Photo via Getty Images.
The post Where We Go From Here: A Message for the MR Community appeared first on Man Repeller.
May 30, 2020
A Running List of Fashion Brands Making Donations, Offering Discounts, Trying to Find Their Way
At the intersection of a conflict that finds us wondering how to responsibly support the brands—both big and small—that have often supported us through the philosophical mechanisms of empowerment, expression, community, inspiration, and so forth, resides a gigantic question mark that seems only to get bigger as the weeks proceed, the quarantine persists, and the pandemic grows more catastrophic. The schools of thought tethered to this conflict are many ranging from those that encourage conscious consumption from the small businesses you like (if you can) to those that reinforce the risk at which we put the various hands that must touch the product in order to get it from brand to you.
I don’t know what the correct response is, but I do know that I care to support, sustain (even celebrate) the labels that have been there for me when I’ve needed them. This doesn’t have to mean commerce, as Harling aptly pointed out in an e-mail conversation we recently published, “Small things add up. Engagement/community/awareness is a form of value, even if it’s not as tangible as money in the bank. It still matters, especially because it can have a cumulative effect.” It also does not supersede the urgency with which we can all donate something.
And thus, a good thing, I think, that we can do right now is to make you aware of which brands are doing what to support who (be it an organization or themselves) and how. Below you’ll find a list of designers, which we will be updating in real time, with links to their sites and brief summaries of their efforts. Do with this information whatever you want and above all else, stay safe.
—Leandra
Oh! Before you scroll on: We’re going to be updating this story regularly as more brands do more good things. This post was last updated on Friday 5/29.
Brands contributing to relief efforts
May 29:
Erdem – Donating 100% of net profits from the limited-edition face masks to the National Emergencies Trust Coronavirus Appeal.
Staud – For every set of three masks sold, Staud will be donating a set of three masks to the Downtown Women’s Center in Los Angeles.
The Company Store – For every post shared on Instagram following the brand’s guidelines, The Company Store will donate $10 to Ronald McDonald House New York.
Repossi – Donating all proceeds from their exclusive new Berbere Chromatic ring to CARE.
Brooks Brothers – Using three of their factories in the U.S. to make personal protective equipment for first responders.
DKNY – Donating net proceeds from sale of The Essential Tee to NYC COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund.
Greats – Donating $15 from every order to City Harvest, with new customers getting 20% off with code ‘NEWSNEAKS20.’
Olivela – Donating 20% of purchases to Save the Children, while offering 20% off first orders with code ‘MEMORIAL20.’
Otherland – Donating 10% to the Food Bank for NYC, while offering 10% off with code ‘SUNSHINE’
Everlane – Donating all profits from 100% Human collection to Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fund.
Parachute – Every time a customer buys a pack of five face masks, Parachute will donate five face masks to those in need through Baby2Baby and The Bowery Mission.
New Balance – Has committed $2 million in non-profit grants in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to support local, regional and global communities.
Dyson – Producing ventilators called the CoVent, with 5,000 devices to be donated to help in the international effort to save COVID-19 patients.
Away – Donating more than 12,000 pieces of personal protective equipment to hospital workers in New York City; donating 100% of net proceeds from the sale of each Partner Mini to GlobalGivings’ Coronavirus Relief Fund; and providing additional funding to New York’s God’s Love We Deliver.
Uncommon Goods – Donating 100% of net profits from the Rainbow Face Coverings to NYC Health + Hospitals.
Paula’s Choice – Donating $50,000 to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for World Health Organization.
May 15:
Pyer Moss – Pyer Moss has set aside $10,000 to get supplies for medical workers while also converting their NYC office into a donation center to store the supplies. Using local factories, Pyer Moss is creating 1,000 mask covers to send directly to front line workers. With the help of Jen Rubio, Pyer Moss has also donated $100,000 to help small creative businesses.
Totokaelo – 15% of proceeds from the Totokaelo Logo Hoodie will be donated directly to Mary’s Place. Plus up to 40% off sale.
TOMS – TOMS will be donating one-third of net profits to their Global Giving Fund in support of long standing giving partners Americares, Crisis Text Line, International Medical Corps, Partners in Health, and WaterAid.
Tombolo – During the month of May, 100% of the sales from the Save the Children x Tombolo shirt will go to support Save the Children’s COVID-19 relief fund.
May 8:
OOKIOH – Donating 10% of net proceeds to the Garment Worker COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund and also part of the Brands x Better initiative.
Sonia Boyajian – Donating 15% of every sale to My Friend’s Place.
16Arlington – Donating 100% of the proceeds from their ‘FORTE’ T-shirt to the NHS and Protezione Civile Italiana.
Uniqlo – Donating 20,000 units of AIRism innerwear to Montefiore Health System and NYC Health + Hospitals to celebrate National Hospital Week.
May 1:
Cuyana – For every gift purchased from Mother’s Day Gift Guide through the end of May, the brand is donating 10% of all proceeds to Every Mother Counts. Additionally, Cuyana is donating 100% of proceeds for every Mini Travel Case purchased.
Lapima – 30% of proceeds on sunglasses in their Mother’s Day curation will be donated to NGO Gerando Falcões.
CAMP Collection – For every purchase, CAMP has been donating to people on the frontlines and to essential businesses.
Crown Affair – 10% of all sales will be donated to No Kid Hungry.
Michael Stars – Donated $10,000 from One-Size Tee purchases to One Fair Wage’s Service Workers Emergency Fund and have committed to donate another $10,000 to various organizations. Also producing non-medical masks for healthcare workers to LA Protects and other health clinics. Half of the ~1,000 masks produced a week will be donated to the healthcare workers and half will be sold on the website.
Nili Lotan – Launched Nili Lotan Giving Back which features pieces from previous seasons, discounted at up to 60% off. At the end of the month, they will donate 10% revenue to a charitable organization, changing monthly. The first will be NYU Langone Hospital.
April 24:
Rowing Blazers – Donating 10% of proceeds from all online orders to Direct Relief and offering 10% off with code ‘BRANDSXBETTER’ through May. They are also launching face masks, made from leftover scraps of blazers, suiting, and shirt fabric. A handful of masks will be directly donated to workers at NYC’s Food Bank, and the rest are available on the site now, either to purchase or donate.
KES NYC – For every mask purchased by a customer, KES is meeting that with a 1+1 match in mask donations. The masks are available for purchase online. The first 500 of these masks were donated to Montefiore Medical Center in New York and the next 20,000 cotton and silk masks will be donated to medical centers and organizations providing aid to homeless New Yorkers.
Prabal Gurung – Donating 3M manufactured N95 respirator masks to New York hospitals and frontline medical workers in partnership with The COVID Foundation. Plus, the option to donate on their site here.
Polkadot England – A portion of all sales will be donated to the CDC’s Emergency Response Fund.
PatBO – 10% of all online sales will benefit Feeding America for the month of May.
La Perla – Donating 10% of proceeds to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. 10,000 masks have been donated to the brand’s hometown, Bologna, and 10,000 masks have been donated to the Porto City Hall Field Hospital.
April 17:
Parachute – Every time a customer buys a pack of five face masks, Parachute will donate five face masks to those in need.
Boll & Branch – Customers who use the code ‘GOODNESS’ will get 10% off anything from the bath collection, and Boll & Branch will donate an additional 10% towards the production of mattresses for pop-up hospitals around the country.
Clare V. – Making and distributing non-medical masks made from deadstock fabric to those in need by taking suggestions from customers of organizations in their local communities that are in need. Also offering free shipping and delivery for all orders.
Parade – Donating $1 to Feeding America for every photo tagged in underwear (Parade or not) that Parade is tagged in for the #ParadeTogether initiative, using the hashtag and tagging Parade.
Catbird – $10 of the purchase price of our Mother of Pearl Love Token is given to Direct Relief and $10 from the purchase price of the The Light You Shed Token is given to the Women’s Prison Association.
Veronica Beard – 80% off select styles with a portion of proceeds from each sale going back to the Veronica Beard Gives Back partner, Good+Foundation.
Henning – $50 per Hudson Jacket sold will be donated to the Food Bank for New York City.
April 10:
LoveShackFancy – Donating 300 masks to frontline workers.
La Ligne – Beginning this week and lasting for the duration of quarantine, La Ligne will offer 15% off sitewide and will donate 15% of total sales to a different charity each week, including Baby2Baby, World Central Kitchen, and Roar NY.
Reformation – Partnered with the City of Los Angeles and Mayor Eric Garcetti on LA Protects to make five million non-medical masks, to ensure medical-grade masks can be available to healthcare workers. Plus, Reformation is selling mask packs on their website for personal use, small businesses, or donation.
Edie Parker – 15% of sales will be donated to Feeding America, Citymeals on Wheels, and No Kid Hungry.
Lingua Franca – $100 donated to the Food Bank for New York City for every sweater purchased.
Cult Gaia – Offering 10% of sales to No Kid Hungry, plus 20% off almost everything with code GIVEBACK.
Collina Strada – Making masks for Masks4Medicine, a group of New York City doctors who started an Instagram account to ask people to donate unused masks or to sew fabric masks. Collina Strada offers a fabric mask with every purchase from the website.
Roxanne Assoulin – For every Remind Yourself bracelet sold, 10% of proceeds will be donated to the COVID-19 Direct Relief Fund.
Greats – Until April 30, Greats is donating $15 to City Harvest with every order, plus get 25% off site-wide with code ‘COLLECTIVE25.’
Fleur du Mal – Launched the Fleur Gives Back campaign to benefit COVID-19 health care workers. 10% of proceeds from online sales will go to NYC Health + Hospitals.
Alexander Wang – 20% of proceeds from the Alexander Wang Vault pop-up online archive shop will be donated to the United Nations Foundation’s COVID-19 response fund in support of the World Health Organization.
Patou – Introduced #PatouGether, launching an organic sweatshirt and T-shirt with 100% of the proceeds donated to the WHO’s Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
April 3:
Rosie Assoulin – Take 20% off all full-priced items on site using code ‘WELOVEYOU!’ Send your order confirmation and they will donate 15% of net sales to your choice of charity.
Tibi – An online sample sale at up to 50% off. The Tibi warehouse has also set aside 1,000 pieces for you to nominate a worker to which you’d like to send an outfit by tagging @tibi on Instagram or completing the form here.
RIXO – Donating 10% of profits from rixo.co.uk to Age UK; RIXO launched a ‘Stay at Home’ T-shirt, of which 50% profits will go to NHS Charities COVID-19 Urgent Appeal.
Tanya Taylor – Creating 5,000 non-medical grade masks for distribution to NYC hospitals. 100% of site donations will go directly to the creation and distribution of more masks. Website archive sale with styles up to 60% off and with every purchase made, they will produce and donate 5 more masks.
Viva Aviva – 20% of all online sales will be donated to Food Bank NYC.
SVNR – Donating 50% of web sales to Meals on Wheels to provide food for the elderly.
Khaite – Stay at Home Sale, save 40% on select styles. Khaite is also donating $10,000 to the nonprofit organization
Staud – 10% of all proceeds from Hand-Painted Pet Portrait Bags will be donated to Muddy Paws Rescue.
Brinker & Eliza – Donating 10% of the profits from all purchases to the Domestic Workers Coronavirus Care Fund plus receive 15% off site-wide until 4/30 with the code ‘OneLove.’
The Nue Co. – Donating 30% of all proceeds (inclusive of their 600% increase in immunity-boosting products) to Hospitality in Action in the UK and direct donations to small businesses in NYC on a rotating basis.
Pamela Love – The designer is making jewelry from home out of polymer and selling them with 100% of the proceeds going No Kid Hungry.
Donni – Donating 15% of all proceeds to LA Food Bank, which distributes food and other essential items to children, seniors and families in need.
AGL – Donating 30% of online sales to support the medical staff in the region of Marche where the company has its headquarters and factory.
Sleeper – For the entire month of April, the brand’s blue merchandise will be 40% off, and 20% of those sales will be donated to civic organization Happy Today.
Koio – 35% off merchandise sample sale. A percentage of sales will go to the Red Cross and Food Bank NYC (details here).
Linda Farrow – 10% of online sales from a curation on their site will go to the COVID-19 Urgent Appeal through April.
Lele Sadoughi – Donating 5% of proceeds to Meals on Wheels.
Everybody.World – Bundles added to Factory Flea from which 25% of each sale will go to Rainy Day Fund to cover the lost wages of factory workers who can’t work from home.
Universal Standard – Offering a free piece from the Foundation collection to every doctor, nurse, and medical worker who wants one, while supplies last.
Fivestory – Take 15% off first full-priced order, 15% of all proceeds will support the WHO’s Covid-19 relief efforts.
Coco Shop – 20% of proceeds to Feeding America plus 10% off your first order
Loup – 15% of proceeds to Meals on Wheels
Still Here – Donating 20% percent of sales to local NYC food bank Sephardic Food Fund.
Wol Hide – Shibori dyed tee proceeds are being donated to the Philadelphia food bank Philabundance.
Brands offering discounts
May 29:
Shopbop – Up to 40% off hundreds of new sale styles.
MATCHESFASHION – New items added to sale.
SSENSE – Increasing their sale discount from 50% off to 60% on Monday June 1.
Need Supply – Spring Sale with up to 50% off.
Kirna Zabete – New Season Markdowns up to 60% off.
Tibi – Up to 50% off Resort 2020 collection plus their new Friday Finds section featuring items up to 80% off updated every Friday.
Topshop – Up to 60% off all summer dresses.
Stuart Weitzman – 30% off sandals with code ‘NUDIST30’ until June 1 and up to 50% off Summer Sale until June 27.
ALDO – 50% off original price on select styles until June 26.
Macy’s – 30% off for the Macy’s Friends and Family Sale plus 15% off beauty with code FRIEND from June 10-21.
Saks Fifth Avenue – Up to 70% off Father’s Day Gifts from May 27 until June 21.
Verishop – Up to 50% off on designer women’s fashion until May 31. Celebrating first birthday on June 1 with three weeks of sitewide sales.
ABC Carpet & Home – Post-Memorial Day Sale offering 20% off site-wide and free shipping until June 14.
See All 10
May 15:
The OUTNET – Up to 70% off.
Reformation – 30% off site-wide.
Urban Outfitters – 40% off summer essentials with code ‘WARMUP.’
Anthropologie – Extra 25% off sale items.
Alice & Olivia – Online sample sale with up items up to 80% off until 5/25.
Kate Spade – 30% off when you spend $150+ with promo code ‘NEWYOU.’
Adidas – Get 30% off accessories with promo code ‘BASICS.’
Lululemon – Up to 50% off women’s items.
SSENSE – Up to 50% off.
Need Supply – Up to 40% off.
James Perse – Up to 75% off.
HAY – 15% off select chairs.
Del Toro – Sample sale with up to 65% off select styles.
Innika Choo – Flash sale on site.
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May 8:
Shopbop – Up to 40% off.
Pixie Market – Take 20% off everything with code ‘SPRING20.’
Nordstrom – Up to 50% off through 5/11, 6 a.m. PT.
Moda Operandi – 30% off best-sellers with code ‘BEST30’ at checkout.
Dermstore – 20% discount on clean makeup from Jane Iredale with code ‘JANE0520.’ Ends 5/12.
The Container Store – Up to 30% off Select Closet Collections.
Adidas – 30% off select Adidas Originals shoes with code ‘STYLE.’
Carbon38 – Up to 75% off select styles.
Levi’s – 70% off closeout styles. Ends 5/11.
Realisation – 25% off sale with code ‘FLOWERPOWER.’
Modcloth – Extra 30% off sale items.
Ray-Ban – 20% off everything.
ThredUP – Up to 50% off your first order with code ‘NEW.’
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May 1:
The RealReal – Up to 80% off.
Verishop – Ongoing sales throughout May including a Mother’s Day sale with 15% off Items with code ‘LOVEMOM15’ and 25% off women’s full priced items from 5/7-5/10 with code ‘MAY25.’
OhSevenDays – 15% off site-wide with code ‘OHSTAYHOME.’
Luisaviaroma – 25% off SS20 womenswear with code ‘JOY25’ until May 4.
MATCHESFASHION – 15% off new customers first orders with code ‘NEW15.’
Stuart Weitzman – 30% off with code ‘EXTRA30’ until May 6.
Brooklinen – 20% off site-wide.
Frame – Sample sale up to 80% off.
J.Crew – Up to 60% off.
West Elm – Up to 60% off.
Intermix – Up to 50% off sale.
Mansur Gavriel – 20% off select styles.
Monogram – Buy a sweatshirt and get a free solid tee with code ‘BREEZY’ at checkout.
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April 24:
Sephora – Robust sale section on site.
Madewell – Extra 50% off sale with code ‘BIGTIME.’
April 17:
Wolf & Badger – Up to 50% off.
Goop – 20% off select styles in THE STAY HOME SALE.
Totokaelo – 30% off site-wide.
April 10:
Emily Dawn Long – 10% discount on all online orders using code ‘THANKYOU10.’
Veda – New items added to sale section, plus get an additional 25% off with code ‘FRIENDOFVEDA.’
Sies Marjan – Up to 40% off archive sale.
3.1 Phillip Lim – Up to 75% off archive sale.
Opening Ceremony – Up to 50% off select styles.
April 3:
Susan Alexandra – 20% site-wide applied at checkout plus complimentary domestic shipping.
Lisa Says Gah – New loungewear added to sale section on site.
Batsheva – Free shipping on US orders and a robust sale section.
Pretties – Loungewear and intimates selection curated on site.
Terry T – Free express shipping on all orders within Australia with the code ‘STAYHOME’ at checkout.
Ciao Lucia – 20% off the site with code ‘STAYHOME20.’
Brother Vellies – Orders placed will ship in 3-5 business days. Complimentary ground shipping is available for orders over $100 within the US.
Knickey Underwear – Free Shipping on US Orders over $60.
Parade – Save 20% on select styles.
Kule – Free shipping and returns.
Rachel Comey – Up to 60% off sample sale.
Rebecca Minkoff – Up to 40% off.
Big brand donations of note
May 8:
Nike – Nike will partner with nonprofit Good360 in the United States and local organizations across Europe to donate more than 140,000 pieces of footwear (including 30,000 pairs of Nike Air Zoom Pulse), apparel and equipment globally, totaling more than $5.5 million in value, to health-care workers in the hardest-hit global cities. – Nike
April 17:
Louis Vuitton – Will re-purpose American workshops to produce non-surgical cloth face masks to aid in the battle against Covid-19 within the United States with the goal to create hundreds of thousands of masks. – Louis Vuitton
April 10:
The Tiffany & Co. Foundation – $1 million commitment to COVID-19-related causes, allocating $750,000 to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization, powered by the UN Foundation, and $250,000 to The New York Community Trust’s NYC COVID-19 Response & Impact Fund. Tiffany & Co. will also match employee donations to any qualified nonprofit organization supporting COVID-19 relief, dollar for dollar. – The Tiffany & Co. Foundation
Mayhoola – The parent company of Balmain, Valentino, and Pal Zileri will donate €1 million to the French charity La Fondation Hôpitaux de Paris – Hôpitaux de France. – Mayhoola
April 3:
The Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation – Ten million dollar commitment to help teams, partners and communities impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic. – RalphLauren.com
Gucci – Two million euro pledge to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. – Gucci.com
Armani – Giorgio Armani has pledged to donate a total of 2 million euros to Italy’s Civil Protection and various Italian hospitals – Armani.com
MAC Cosmetics – Will distribute $10 million to 250 local organizations across the globe supporting COVID-19 relief efforts – MacCosmetics.com
Prada – Prada S.p.A is financing the ICUs of three new hospitals in Milan. The Italian company has also reconfigured its factory in Perugia to produce 110,000 masks and 80,000 medical garments that will be delivered to Tuscan hospitals on April 6. – PradaGroup.com
LVMH – Using the manufacturing facilities of its perfume and cosmetics brands to process large amounts of hydroalcoholic gel, which it will distribute free of charge to health authorities in France. It has also promised to donate 40 million face masks. – LVMH.com
AG – AG has committed to donate $1 million to COVID-19 LA County Response Fund to help support community clinics and hospitals across the county. – AG
Aritzia – All profits will go to the Aritzia Community Relief Fund to pay employees and support their families through this challenging time. – Aritzia.com
Feature Image Via Tibi.
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The post A Running List of Fashion Brands Making Donations, Offering Discounts, Trying to Find Their Way appeared first on Man Repeller.
May 29, 2020
How to Make Anything Taste Gourmet (Yes, Even Frozen Burritos and Boxed Mac & Cheese)
Have you signed up for MR Thoughtline yet? It’s Man Repeller’s new text-based service that lights up phone screens with good bits from around the internet, opportunities to chat with cool people, and digital recesses to help your mind take a break from the news in favor of a recipe, physical activity or, trust us, very useful WFH outfit ideas. Subscribe here.
Robert Pattinson recently made headlines when he pulled on a pair of latex gloves and attempted to microwave together penne noodles, sugar, cheese, cornflakes, and aluminum foil. It was an exercise in reinvention, in disruption, in expeditious gastronomy.
His microwave basically exploded.
The good news: There are other ways to improve the most humble of food options in your kitchen, many of which I imagine are frozen or dehydrated options that come in boxes adorned with an encouraging photo of the completed dish, enlarged for your pleasure. These foods wait patiently until you realize you simply can’t spend another two hours roasting quarantine chicken without absolutely losing it, for real this time.
When that moment comes, grab that boxed cake mix (or frozen ravioli, or orange mac ‘n’ cheese, etc.) and consult this guide for making them much better than they frankly deserve to be.
1. Frozen Pizza Alla Your Pajamas
Frozen pizza often has a soggy-bottom problem, which is a criticism I hope no one ever writes about me. Fortunately for frozen pizza, its bottom can be unsogged using a hot cast iron skillet. You’ll need to go a little rogue, since most packages instruct you to use a baking sheet or to place the pizza directly on your oven grates.
Speaking of going rogue, it’s time we talk about the frico. A frico is a freeform round of grated cheese fried in a thin layer until crispy, like a salty-chewy-cheesy chip. (Also: my safe word.) Both pizza preparations below invite an oversized frico to town, in the form of some well-placed cheese between the pizza and the skillet.
The Frozen Pizza Facelift:
You’ll Need:
-1 frozen personal pizza
-A few slices of packaged salami, prosciutto, or any salty cured meat you’ve beckoned into your home; for the meat-free, swap something fun and briny like sweet-hot peppers
-1 cup grated semi-soft cheese, like Gruyére, Gouda, or low-moisture mozzarella, divided in half
-Spicy honey (like Mike’s, or make your own by combining honey and sliced chiles)
Place a cast iron skillet big enough to hold the pizza inside the oven while it preheats according to the box instructions, which is usually around 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once the oven has preheated, carefully remove the hot skillet. Take about half the grated cheese and arrange in the skillet in a circle slightly smaller than the pizza. Place the frozen pizza right on top of the cheese-circle while whispering, “The Eagle has landed.”
Place the skillet back inside the oven and bake the pizza according to package instructions, usually about 12 to 15 minutes.
Remove pizza from the oven, and turn on the broiler to preheat. While that’s happening, add toppings to pizza, layering on the cured meat first. Sprinkle the remaining grated cheese on top of that, taking time to make sure some corners of meat are sticking out of the cheese. (You deserve crispy bits.)
Place the skillet under the boiler. Keep a close eye on things—you want to broil just until the new cheese layer is gurgling like a happy baby and has browned in places. Remove from the oven. Before serving, drizzle spicy honey across the top.
The Frozen Pizza Full Reno:
You’ll Need:
-1 frozen personal pizza
-A couple pieces of bacon (pop into the freezer for a few minutes for easier slicing—thank me whenever, I know you have a lot going on)
-¾ cup chopped mushrooms
–Truffle salt (optional)
-1 cup grated semi-soft cheese, like Gruyére, Gouda, or low-moisture mozzarella, divided in half
-1 egg
Follow the directions above, up to and including the Eagle landing. Then place the skillet back in the oven, and set a timer for 8ish minutes.
Cut your bacon into bite-sized pieces, and crisp in a skillet over a medium-high flame. Once crisp, use a slotted spoon to set aside the bacon, but leave its fat behind. Add mushrooms and cook in bacon fat until beginning to brown—they’ll cook more in a bit, FYI—then transfer to the bacon plate using a slotted spoon. (If you have truffle salt, now would be the time to break it out and sprinkle a few pinches over the mushroom and bacon.)
Once the timer goes off, check on the pizza. You’re going to pull it from the oven when it’s just beginning to take on some color around the edges, and no longer feels cold to the touch in the center. When it’s go-time, remove it from the oven and add the crisped bacon and browned mushrooms across its top. Sprinkle the rest of the grated cheese on top of that, making a little nest in the center. Here’s where things get wild! Crack an egg into a bowl (shell insurance) and gently transfer it to the nest in the center of the cheese.
Place the skillet back into the oven, and continue to bake another 6 to 8 minutes, until the newly added cheese is bubbly and the whites of the egg have set fully, but the yolk is still runny.
2. Boxed Mac and Cheese to Write Home About (Too Bad You’re Already Home!)
While classic creamy stovetop mac screams, boxed mac whimpers. Like a childhood crush reencountered in adulthood, it’s all “disappointing except if you’re kind of stoned.”
The solution is three-fold: Add elements to amp up the cheese sauce, introduce textural diversity, and lean on nostalgia. Below, the Facelift calls for a few stir-ins and an optional breadcrumb layer for something like a deconstructed casserole, and the Full Reno invites you to make like Marcella Hazan if she were stuck in a dorm room. (In that it’s an adaptation of one of her classic recipes, but also calls for synthetic cheese.)
The Boxed Mac Facelift:
You’ll Need:
-1 box of macaroni and cheese including its flavor packet
-¾ cup frozen peas
-3 tablespoons of butter softened to room temp
-¼ cup milk (or cream!!! I’m crazy)
-⅓ cup grated Gouda, cheddar, or other melty cheese
-Salt and pepper
For optional topping:
-¾ cup breadcrumbs (anything goes; panko is king, but whatever you’ve got works, including old, stale bread you’ve crushed in a Ziploc with a rolling pin)
-2 tablespoons olive oil
-Salt and cayenne pepper or zaatar to taste
Bring a pot of well salted water to a boil. Don’t skip the salt!
Add noodles, and cook a couple minutes before tasting one. These tiny babies turn to mush quickly, and you’re going to finish them over heat, so aim for a hair undercooked. You should be able to easily bite through one but with slight resistance. At that point, set aside about a half-cup of the cooking water, add frozen peas to the remaining water and noodles, and cut the heat.
Drain and return the noodles and peas to the pot, over a low flame. Add butter, milk, grated cheese, and the packet of powdered cheese that came in the box. Stir until butter and cheese melt and sauce comes together to coat the noodles, adding splashes of reserved pasta water to thin things out if needed. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Eat as is, or, if you’re feeling really Ina-when-Jeffrey’s-about-to-be-home, grab a skillet and place it over a medium-low flame. Add breadcrumbs, olive oil, and a few pinches of salt and your Chosen Seasonings. Toast the breadcrumbs, moving them around with a wooden spoon, until fragrant and golden. Top the mac and cheese with breadcrumbs before serving.
The Boxed Mac Full Reno:
You’ll Need:
-1 box of macaroni and cheese including its flavor packet
-2 tablespoons chopped parsley
-Half a clove of garlic, finely minced
-⅓ cup Microplaned or freshly grated Parmesan (or any hard, salty Italian cheese); don’t use pre-grated, it’ll get clumpy
-1 egg, lightly beaten
-2 tablespoons butter softened to room temp.
-¼ cup heavy cream
-1 can oil-packed tuna, drained
Bring a pot of well-salted water to a boil. (Again: Don’t skip on the salt!)
Add noodles, and cook until just tender. Most boxes recommend 7 to 8 minutes, but start checking closer to the 5-minute mark. (You won’t be finishing these ones over heat, but they’ll continue to cook a bit as you drain them.)
Meanwhile, mix together the rest of the ingredients in a bowl: chopped parsley, finely minced garlic, the cheesy flavor packet (cover your eyes, Italians), Parmesan, egg, softened butter, heavy cream, and oil-packed tuna (break into flakes as you mix). Drain the noodles when ready—don’t rinse; never rinse!—and add them to the mixture. Toss together until saucy and emulsified.
3. An Icy Bean Burrito to Keep You Warm at Night
I love everything about a frozen bean burrito in theory (convenience, burritos, beans…) but in practice, flash-defrosted rice and beans often come out of the microwave gloopy as an ASMR slime video. To combat that, I offer a number of edible accessories intended to provide some heterogeneity of both texture and flavor—a.k.a. pickled stuff, cheesy stuff, and spicy stuff.
The Frozen Burrito Facelift:
You’ll Need:
-2 tablespoons sour cream or Greek yogurt
-A couple shakes of hot sauce, such as Cholula or El Yucateco
-1 frozen bean burrito
-½ cup grated cheese, like Queso Oaxaca,Monterey Jack, or cheddar
-½ avocado, thinly sliced
-1 lime wedge
Combine sour cream and hot sauce, adding more of the latter to taste. Set aside.
Unwrap frozen burrito, and place on plate. Microwave for half the total time the package recommends. (For example, if the package says 1 minute on each side, microwave for 1 minute only at this stage.)
Flip the burrito over, and sprinkle cheese on top. Place back in the microwave, and heat for remaining time, according to the package. The cheese should be fully melted and bubbly—if this isn’t the case, put it back in the microwave for another 30 seconds.
Arrange sliced avocado on top of burrito, squeeze lime wedge over that, and dollop on the spicy sour cream. Go to town.
The Frozen Burrito Full Reno
You’ll Need:
-¼ cup apple cider vinegar
-Juice of ½ lime, plus more to taste
-½ cup hot water (not boiling, but like bath-temp if you stick your finger in)
-2 teaspoons sugar
-1 large pinch salt
-½ large shallot, thinly sliced
-2 tablespoons sour cream or Greek yogurt
-A couple shakes of hot sauce, such as Cholula or El Yucateco
-1 frozen bean burrito
-½ avocado, thinly sliced
About 45 minutes before you’re ready to eat, quick-pickle the shallot. In a medium-sized bowl, combine apple cider vinegar, lime juice, hot water, sugar, and salt. Stir until sugar has dissolved. Add the thinly sliced shallots and let sit. (Note: You can do this pretty far in advance—it’ll keep covered in the fridge for a couple weeks, while you work your way through every season of Grey’s until you’ve finally built up the will to buy a frozen burrito.)
Combine sour cream and hot sauce, adding more of the latter to taste. Set aside.
Set a cast iron skillet over a medium-high flame (no oil) to heat for 2 minutes or so. Meanwhile, unwrap frozen burrito, and place on plate. Microwave according to package instructions. Transfer microwaved burrito to hot skillet, and sear on each side until browned.
Remove from heat and serve with spicy sour cream, drained pickled shallots, and sliced avocado.
4. Pre-made Stuffed Pasta That’s Just: *Chef’s Kiss*
If you’re anything like my boyfriend Nate, you love stuffed pasta, but hate to order it in restaurants because you suspect an international conspiracy resulting in far too few tortellini or ravioli per order—so frozen stuffed pasta in the home has some real sex appeal. However, if you’re not careful, you can end up with a bunch of bland, overcooked, gummy has-been tortellini—which if you’re further like Nate, might make you upset enough to develop a few more conspiracy theories.
Instead, I would recommend paying close attention to cook time, salting your water well, and saucing thoughtfully, as in the Facelift technique (adapted from Bon Appétit) and the Full Reno (sauce adapted from Dan Pelosi). Both treatments work just as well with fresh prepared stuffed pasta as they do frozen, and if you’re having Nate over for dinner, please, god, serve him as much as he wants.
The Pre-made Pasta Facelift:
You’ll Need:
-As much frozen cheese-filled tortellini or ravioli as you desire
-About 4 tablespoons unsalted butter per half-pound of stuffed pasta, cut into even pieces
-¼ cup well-chopped or otherwise small nuts, like pine nuts (who are you, Rockefeller?) or cashews or walnuts, per half-pound of stuffed pasta
-A handful of sage leaves
-Freshly cracked black pepper and salt
-Parmesan, freshly grated or in those fancy little sheets
Bring a pot of well salted water to a boil. Please remember: Do not skip the salt!
Meanwhile, in a skillet big enough to hold all of your eventual pasta spoils, melt butter over a medium-low flame, stirring every so often to ensure it’s cooking evenly. Once it starts to get foamy, add the nuts. Continue to cook, stirring, until the foam subsides and your butter begins to take on a toasty tone, and it smells so good you want to bathe in it. Adjust the heat to low, and add a few big pinches of freshly cracked black pepper and the sage. Cook until the sage darkens and curls into crisps, then remove from heat.
By now, the water should be at a boil. Add the frozen pasta. The package will suggest you wait something like 7 minutes before checking on it, but that’s madness. Start checking for doneness a couple minutes after you add it to boiling water; it’s ready for business once the filling is no longer cold.
At that point, use a slotted spoon to transfer directly to your brown butter and sage sauce—don’t worry if you end up transferring a little pasta water, too. Add a few pinches of salt. Toss together with a wooden spoon until the sauce is hugging the pasta as tightly as you wish you were being hugged RN. Taste and adjust seasoning. Top each bowl with Parm to serve.
The Pre-made Pasta Full Reno:
You’ll Need:
-As much frozen tortellini or ravioli as you desire
-4 tablespoons butter per pound of frozen pasta
-5 tablespoons tomato paste per pound of frozen pasta
-4 tablespoons vodka per pound of frozen pasta
-⅓ cup heavy cream per pound of frozen pasta
-Salt and pepper
-Parmesan, freshly grated or in those fancy little sheets
Bring a pot of well salted water to a boil. Don’t forget that salt!
Meanwhile, in a skillet big enough to hold all of your eventual pasta spoils, melt butter over a medium-low flame. Add the tomato paste, and whisk into butter until fully combined. Continue to cook several minutes until fragrant and darkened, then add the vodka and cream. Whisk to combine. Let simmer, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes, until any harsh alcohol flavor has cooked off. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
By now, water should be at a boil. Add the frozen pasta. Look to see if it’s done a couple of minutes after adding it to the boiling water—you’re good to go when the filling is longer cold.
Transfer tortellini or ravioli over to sauce with heat on low—the benefit of doing it this way is you’ll take some of the salted cooking water with you, which will help the sauce bind to the pasta. Add another splash of cooking water if needed to thin out sauce. Stir until well coated over a low flame, cut the heat, and season to taste. Serve topped with Parm.
5. Cake for a Quar Wedding to Yourself
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it’s the most wonderful time of the year
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I’ve Tried Dozens of CBD Products for Sleep—These Are My Two Favorites
Have you signed up for MR Thoughtline yet? It’s Man Repeller’s new text-based service that lights up phone screens with good bits from around the internet, opportunities to chat with cool people, and digital recesses to help your mind take a break from the news in favor of a recipe, physical activity or, trust us, very useful WFH outfit ideas. Subscribe here.
I am not one of those people who finds the flaws of their significant other “charming,” so while Austin is a wonderful person, I will never forgive him for his ability to fall asleep within minutes of getting in bed. As someone who has often battled insomnia, and who pretty much always has to court sleep like an unrequited love interest, watching this happen night after night feels like the ultimate betrayal–by him (for abandoning me, of course), but also by my own body for struggling to do something that should conceivably come naturally.
I have to maintain a rigorous sleep hygiene protocol if I don’t want to stay awake into the wee hours, chewing on urgent thoughts: what I should have for dinner the next day, whether someone is mad at me, how many followup emails is too many followup emails, and oh, did I remember to order more dental floss? My protocol for falling asleep as expediently as possible involves taking a bath, cutting out screen time an hour before bed, and reading for at least 30 minutes. But sometimes life gets in the way and I can’t do all of that, or sometimes I do all of that and I still feel wide awake–hence why I keep a supply of CBD supplements in my nightstand drawer.
I first tried CBD a little over two years ago when the acronym (short for “cannabidoil”) was just starting to enter mainstream vocabulary. I found it helpful for combatting my sleep issues right off the bat, but I ultimately found it even more helpful after continuing to experiment with which specific products work best for me. I’ve sampled dozens of CBD products since then, with a wide range of results. The more I’ve tried, the pickier I’ve become, which is why I’m eager to share the two that have proven to be most effective in my experience: Gossamer Dusk, and Not Pot Vegan CBD Gummies.
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I opt for one or the other depending on the situation at hand. Gossamer Dusk is what I use most frequently–whenever I sense that I’m going to have trouble falling asleep, I’ll place a dropper’s worth under my tongue for 30 seconds before brushing my teeth (the oil doesn’t taste amazing, so it’s nice to follow it with something minty fresh). The effects are gentle enough to almost be imperceptible, but I definitely notice myself falling asleep more easily after taking it, and I wake up feeling totally refreshed with zero grogginess. If you’re interested in learning more about the active ingredients in this particular CBD blend, or about what CBD is in general, Gossamer’s website has an excellent primer.
Not Pot Vegan CBD Gummies are more akin to the idiom, “bring out the big guns”–in other words, they’re what I turn to when I need a more powerful sleep induction. In addition to 10 mg of CBD, each gummy is also infused with 100 mg of L-theanine, an amino acid derived from green tea that studies have shown can help alleviate anxiety, and this combination seems to be incredibly effective when it comes to calming my mind and getting me into sleepy-time mode. I take them sparingly because I do find that I am a bit drowsier than usual when I wake up in the morning after having one, but it’s barely noticeable compared to what I’ve experienced with Ambien or NyQuil P.M.
Though neither Gossamer nor Not Pot manufacture products with THC–the psychoactive compound in marijuana that makes you feel “high”–they share a commitment to acknowledging the complicated sociopolitical dynamics of weed and pushing for criminal justice reform alongside legalization. Not Pot uses a portion of their profits to pay for someone’s bail every month, and Gossamer has dedicated free ad space in their magazine for non-profits that do work related to criminal justice reform and drug policy issues, in addition to making donations to organizations like the Women’s Prison Association. (For an informative analysis of these issues as they relate to the mainstreaming of cannabis, I highly recommend this piece by Otegha Uwagba).
After many, many years of battling sleep issues–not to mention irrational jealousy of people who don’t, I’m so grateful these CBD products exist. I’ve been especially appreciative of them over the last couple of months, as the impact of quarantine on my mental health has made things even more difficult sleep-wise. If you’re in the same boat, I’m curious what has been helpful for you. Have you tried taking CBD? If so, from what brands? Does it fill you with petty rage when you witness someone else falling asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow? Please tell me I’m not alone.
The post I’ve Tried Dozens of CBD Products for Sleep—These Are My Two Favorites appeared first on Man Repeller.
The Secret to Successful Search Terms on eBay, Etsy, and More
Have you signed up for MR Thoughtline yet? It’s Man Repeller’s new text-based service that lights up phone screens with good bits from around the internet, opportunities to chat with cool people, and digital recesses to help your mind take a break from the news in favor of a recipe, physical activity or, trust us, very useful WFH outfit ideas. Subscribe here.
If this story had a doormat, it would say, “THE REST IS SEARCH HISTORY,” and you might ask where I bought it. Welcome. Take a seat. Would you like something to drink? And would you like to hear the whole story of how I tracked down the Murano glass in which your drink is served? If so, you have come to the right place.
The Rest Is Search History stems from my inherent nosiness: I want to hear about other peoples’ hyper-specific search terms, guarded like sapphires at the Smithsonian, their laborious and surprising journeys down various shopping rabbit holes, and the elaborate shopping strategies they’ve honed over time.
Today’s guest is Allie Burns, a remarkably efficient and process-oriented person who knows how to find exactly what you want on the Internet. Her qualifications are impressive: In the past, she’s been able to find a Fendi backpack she stalked for two years and a coveted Miu Miu rain hat. Below, Allie details how to find high-value designer items for low prices on eBay—and how using Etsy like a social network can be the most streamlined way to find what you like.
Allie Burns, advisor in virtual communications and efficiency, vgoodthings.com
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You’ve devised a particular system for shopping on eBay, specifically for fashion. Can you walk me through that? How did you cultivate this system? My dad was really into eBay when I was a kid, during the early days of eBay (1998-2002). So I understood eBay’s layout and how to search/filter eBay early. My first eBay purchase was a lot of Betty and Veronica comic books in 1998. I started buying bulk pink North Face fleeces and reselling them on eBay in 2002, making about $22 profit per jacket. I actually found it fun to be in the world of online commerce at a young age.
In college and early in my career (2010 era), I simply could not afford the clothes I wanted to wear. I wanted pleated skirts from the Prada runway, Brunello Cucinelli-level cashmere crop tops, and YSL floor-length dusters, but my wallet wasn’t really in tune with my taste. I spent many late nights browsing eBay (and Etsy and The RealReal), experimenting with search terms and “tricks” to find whatever I wanted in my wardrobe. I started to organize the most effective searches and the most effective methods of searching for a typical item. This developed over time into (1) quite a nice little wardrobe, (2) a reputation as a great gift-giver, and (3) consistent requests to “find something” for a friend.
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eBay utilizes some of the same search logic as Google: This is called “Boolean” logic and allows you to use AND, OR, and NOT to get specific on the keywords included in a search. So if I want to see Chloé collection, I have to be very specific with my search, since writing “Chloe” will bring you everything with the word Chloe in it. My search for an item by chloe starts with |(CHLOÉ, chloe) (Phoebe, Philo, stella) -men -mens -see|. This ensures that I am not getting children’s dresses called “the Chloe dress,” nor am I getting See by Chloé, but I’m getting Phoebe Philo or Stella McCartney-era Chloé, which is important.
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At a certain point, I had a long Excel sheet of eBay search URLs that brought in the really good stuff. At the time, I was scraping Net-a-Porter, Barneys, and The RealReal’s designer index pages, then plugging those names into custom URLs. Once you understand Boolean logic and learn the language of an eBay search URL, you can start getting more custom in how you search.
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Provided that my search was already filtering against designers appearing on Net-a-Porter (for example), I could search something more simple—like a black coat. For example searching |(coat, jacket, trench) (xs, small, 0, 00, petite) black| into eBay without the designer filter would bring you lots and lots of coats of many questionable qualities. But if you do that same search only against the Net-a-Porter designer index, you start your process with an automatic quality filter. Then you organize this search by watch count (the number of users watching an item) and voilà—you have some coat contenders for fall.
eBay’s search can be organized into an RSS feed through an RSS reader. RSS readers are a bit dated in 2020 (Google Reader discontinued in 2013, for instance), but many still exist: I use feedly.com, for example. You can plug custom searches into an RSS feed and create your own mini widget, for free! I created my first version of this in 2014 and found it extremely helpful. I wasn’t browsing eBay anymore; I was browsing my curated version of eBay.
In 2017, I worked with a fantastic developer to develop selected versions of my RSS feeds to the public through vgoodthings.com. Vgoodthings is a very simple website that runs itself (there’s no customer service or person behind this site), and the search feeds can get a bit wonky (the term “Vetements” was bringing in French auctions of bulk children’s clothes, for a minute). But the site does come through with some rare gems. I used to update the vgoodthings Instagram to show the most iconic items I was finding. It’s been a few years, but I’ll come back to it soon!
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I also discovered some sites that had really useful access to “exclusive” eBay API. One of those is collectorsweekly.com, where you can organize a search based on how many people are watching a particular auction. A very helpful way to prioritize a very general search, you get the best items at the top as the “most watched.” Another is haberdashboard.com, which is a site specifically for curating the men’s search of eBay.
Specifically, what kind of fashion items do you search for? And what other items outside of that category have you found via your methods? Almost anything is on eBay. I imagine it can be a bit scary if you have hoarding compulsions. The developer I work with has repurposed the RSS feeds to find specialized music equipment. I’ve used the RSS feed to find rare plant sprouts, limited-edition Dior nail polish colors, cheap printer ink, Dolly Parton photo prints, ’80s runway invitations, Levi’s of a very particular quality for my boyfriend, forgotten dot-com-bubble branded T-shirts, and so on.
Do you keep a running list of things you’re on the lookout for (I imagine probably eBay alerts?) or is it more intuitive, like when you come across something you’d like to buy, you implement your process? A bit of both. I have RSS feeds always running against searches I’m interested in at that moment. For instance, right now I’m looking for luxury designer board games or decks of cards as a gift for someone, and I have that search plugged into all the tools with alerts.
Any other tricks for tracking things down online? When should I use eBay, and when should I search for something on Etsy or The RealReal instead?
For eBay
If you are looking for the lowest possible price for the highest quality items (i.e. you have $10 to buy something worth $1.5K), eBay delivers. It is high risk, high reward. There are sellers who don’t know the value of what they are selling, or they do what is called a “fat finger” and spell Ann Demeulemeester wrong (happens a lot) and no one can find their auction so a pair of $1,000 boots sells for $25. That’s where eBay is unique and especially rewarding.
I recommend only shopping eBay for one-size-fits-all items or items that can run the risk of being oversized without sacrificing “the look” (like jackets and sweaters). I rarely use eBay to find good shoes because it’s too much of a risk in terms of fit.
eBay is also a great place to find reference imagery or archival content. Their website only saves imagery for 30 days but it can be a great source for unique content if you are in a pinch.
For Etsy
I love Etsy for simple and harmless online browsing. In 2012, Etsy was truly for crafts, but over the years it’s developed a fantastic selection of vintage designer pieces.
Etsy also includes what I call “favorite tree links.” Located at the very bottom of the product page in fine print, Etsy links to “26 favorites,” or however many people also favorited the same item. This link takes you to a list of users who favorited said item, and then you can browse like-minded people’s favorites from there. Let’s say I spend three hours trying to find the perfect lamp shade, and you, on the other side of the world, are also trying to find the perfect lamp shade. Then it’s quite beneficial if you stumble across my endless lamp shade favorites and save yourself those three hours of cold-searching lamp shades. And if you like my taste, now you can just browse everything that I like! But beware: It seems like Etsy might be trying to phase this out, as they move the link to view who favorited a product farther and farther away from the above-the-fold eyeline.
For The RealReal
Once I had grown up a bit and more dollars to my name, I started to gravitate more to The RealReal for high-price items that I could not risk buying on eBay. The RealReal allows you to return an item without much hassle (in 15 days). This means I can buy something, and if it does not fit, I can return it, which can feel revolutionary when you’re used to shopping eBay or Etsy. That being said, you will not run into $3 dollar Helmut Lang skirts on The RealReal. The prices on The RealReal speak to the true value: less risk, less reward.
Is there anything Allie Burns can’t find?!? This chrome plant potter, TBD. My boyfriend and I were debating on the name of a particular house plant, and I was using Google Images to show him the scientific name. This image showed up in the search results and caught our attention—not for the plant (although the plant is beautiful) but for the particular silver planter housing the plant.
I started by Googling keywords to find it like |(pot, planter) (chrome, silver, metallic) (round, circular) and “large”|. I probably spent an hour before realizing that the word “large” needed to be mandatory. I found some planters that were close, so I reversed-image searched those to get a bit closer. All of this was via Google. At a certain point, I went on eBay and Etsy to search the same keywords but wasn’t getting any closer. By then it had been about 2.5 hours, and I was frustrated.
I started over, went back to the original article that posted this photo and realized the designers were in Amsterdam, so I started including the keywords in Dutch and French within my search. I also targeted domains ending in .nl, .de and .fr to get some new results. This led me to something very close to the planter in the photo, but it was sold out, and I knew it still wasn’t the exact one.
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Joris Brouwers & Nicky Zwaan Artists, House, IJburg, Amsterdam
May 28, 2020
“Are ‘Socially-Distant Parties’ Okay?”: Your Quarantine Etiquette Questions, Answered
Have you signed up for MR Thoughtline yet? It’s Man Repeller’s new text-based service that lights up phone screens with good bits from around the internet, opportunities to chat with cool people, and digital recesses to help your mind take a break from the news in favor of a recipe, physical activity or, trust us, very useful WFH outfit ideas. Subscribe here.
When you live in a place where it’s too cold to bare your shoulders for most of the year, summer, in all its sandal-strapped gaiety, feels like a right. This probably explains part of the restlessness that has set in for many people as we approach the warmer months. (My friends who used to go to camp express this feeling as “living 10 for 2,” which I find cute.) Our brains know that things are different this year, but many of our hearts seem to be having a hard time catching up to our current reality, which introduces constraints that run counter to the way we normally operate this time of year. This makes navigating the world even more complex than it has been for the past few months. But fret not! Our quarantine etiquette column is back to help guide you through this transitionary period. Here, a handful of reader questions, arranged by the completely logical categories of: Dating, Breaking Up, Partying, and Chewing.
Dating:
How do I ask someone out on a socially-distanced date? I’m afraid people will think I’m irresponsible!
At the beginning of quarantine, essentially every single person I knew was open to taking a breather from dating. Then they watched Normal People and changed their minds. (Actually, I received a few texts from partnered friends announcing that Normal People had sent them into a tailspin, too.) But, really, since the first few weeks of lockdown, people started to negotiate new dating rhythms, which often entailed slow-rolling the courtship process with longer periods of texting, phone calls, and video chats. Naturally, if things were going well, and with no end to quarantine in sight, people started looking for safe ways to keep the forward momentum. I totally get that! But like every other aspect of how one might process this pandemic, comfort levels have varied. So, just like you’d check the weather before suggesting a picnic, I recommend doing a little recon before asking somebody out on an IRL date right now. First: Check the CDC’s most recent guidelines and look into what your local government officials have to say. (If the leadership in your area belongs to the “live and let golf” species, rely on local health experts.) Once you know what’s safe, devise an interesting date idea that follows the rules: a distanced, masked tour around a sculpture garden; a BYO blanket hang in the park; a to-go cocktail neighborhood walk, whatever suits! By the time you’ve done that research and planning, you can confidently propose the outing—and share your reasoning as to why it’s safe. (Something therapists and creative writing professors always agree on: you need to narrate.) If they’re interested but not comfortable venturing out yet? I bet they’ll still find your thoughtfulness charming enough to keep chatting.
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SPF, Balm, and the Best Curly-Hair Dryer: 7 Beauty Editors Share the One Product They’re Still Using
Have you signed up for MR Thoughtline yet? It’s Man Repeller’s new text-based service that lights up phone screens with good bits from around the internet, opportunities to chat with cool people, and digital recesses to help your mind take a break from the news in favor of a recipe, physical activity or, trust us, very useful WFH outfit ideas. Subscribe here.
For the past 10 years—after a horrifying UV photo at a beauty event revealed my way above-average sun damage—I’ve worn sunscreen every single day. I’d wear it in the dead of New York winter. I’d wear it when I wasn’t even leaving the house. I’d reapply it before leaving the office to pick up my lunch.
Then the pandemic happened, and I apparently just stopped giving a fuck.
Along with sunscreen, I also saw myself temporarily abandon dry shampoo (why bother?), mascara (not worth the hassle of washing it off), and perfume (what a waste!). However, one product I stayed loyal to was the DIY eyelash and eyebrow tint I’ve sworn by for years. Every few weeks I whip it out, play beautician at my bathroom sink, and transform my light and patchy brows into the dark arches I love passing off as all-natural.
I’ve been fascinated to discover which products fell off my radar, and which have stayed in steady rotation. I decided to reach out to seven beauty editors and see how they’re doing, product wise, during quarantine. Unlike me, there are some serious sunscreen loyalists below, plus you’ll find a rec for a new beauty brand so nice it’s been recommended twice!
Faith Xue
Faith is the Editorial Director at Byrdie
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When the sun hits right and you get new makeup, sometimes you just gotta have a photo shoot
I Trolled Etsy for the Best Lamps under $100
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If this story had a doormat, it would say, “THE REST IS SEARCH HISTORY,” and you might ask where I bought it. Welcome. Take a seat. Would you like something to drink? And would you like to hear the whole story of how I tracked down the Murano glass in which your drink is served? If so, you have come to the right place.
The Rest Is Search History stems from my inherent nosiness: I want to hear about other peoples’ hyper-specific search terms, guarded like sapphires at the Smithsonian, their laborious and surprising journeys down various shopping rabbit holes, and the elaborate shopping strategies they’ve honed over time. Today’s guest is, at times, my closest confidante and archnemesis: I am interviewing myself.
Edith Young, associate editor chez Man Repeller
Your shopping rabbit hole: Cool lamps under $100 on Etsy, because they said it couldn’t be done!
Can you walk me through what going down this rabbit hole entails? On behalf of pedestrians everywhere, yes. I am a firm believer in the idea that restrictions and boundaries inspire creativity, and my search for table lamps on Etsy supports this theory. Etsy, offering both vintage and handmade/upcycled options, promotes a system of recycling that really gets my gears going. To narrow my search, I visited the “Price” toggle with my cursor, adjusting the limits from zero dollars to a maximum of $100. Search terms? “Lamps,” (so crazy that it just might work!) and also “murano lamps,” to dredge up some dupes or kindred spirits to those mushroom-shaped lamps everyone on Instagram likes so much.
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May 27, 2020
How to Improve Your Home Office, According to a Chic Sock Designer
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If this story had a doormat, it would say, “THE REST IS SEARCH HISTORY,” and you might ask where I bought it. Welcome. Take a seat. Would you like something to drink? And would you like to hear the whole story of how I tracked down the Murano glass in which your drink is served? If so, you have come to the right place.
The Rest Is Search History stems from my inherent nosiness: I want to hear about other peoples’ hyper-specific search terms, guarded like sapphires at the Smithsonian, their laborious and surprising journeys down various shopping rabbit holes, and the elaborate shopping strategies they’ve honed over time. This week’s theme is homewares (yesterday, we tracked down Dakota Johnson’s tea set!), and today’s guest is a woman of exquisite taste, Jenni Lee, the sock designer behind Comme Si.
Jenni Lee, Founder & CEO of Comme Si
Your shopping rabbit hole: A floor lamp for my “home office.”
During the day, my apartment gets great natural light through our skylights—our reward for living on the top floor of a walkup—but I’ve been working irregular hours lately (my work day is more spaced out because of my corona feeding schedule), and I want to find a good floor lamp.
Is it possible to be *allergic* to overhead light? Overhead light sparks a visceral reaction from me, and I’m surprised that I don’t own a floor lamp already.
Can you walk me through what going down this rabbit hole entails? For context, my “home office” = my dining/living/sitting/TV room. Our walnut dining table is now a shared desk, and I’ve swapped our matching dining chairs—which need to be replaced—another rabbit hole for another day—with two Herman Miller Cosm chairs that I brought over from my office when it became clear that quarantine would be happening.
I have a logical/methodical approach to making purchase decisions, guided by a Vitruvius + Kondo philosophy: Is it beautiful, substantial, and useful? Does it bring me joy? This will be no different.
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Our founder @definiteleejenni on the @hermanmiller Eames shell chair, business as usual.
A post shared by Comme Si (@commesi) on Mar 13, 2020 at 4:03pm PDT
It starts with my dream list: What would I buy if budget was not an issue? From there, I try to determine whether it’s worth a) waiting and saving for said dream item (I’ll be saving for an Ettore Sottsass Ultrafagola mirror for years), b) finding an alternative that’s more affordable and serves as a replacement for the dream item, or c) buying something that’s cheap and gets the job done, but isn’t for keeps.
My rabbit hole begins via “digital moodboarding,” a.k.a. Pinterest. I have a pre-existing board for interior inspiration, where I specifically hone in on images with lamps. Before I know it, I’m rapidly clicking to add more images to the board (the “More ideas” feature is very conducive to Alice-ing down the hole). Pinterest reminds me of collecting Pokémon and Sailor Moon trading cards—you see so many things, you want to hurry and catch them all, lest you lose them.
Looking at the board, I realize that lamps have distinct categories by shape, and I need to determine which shape is right for my space.
I try to imagine the personality of the lamp and what the lamp says about me. Does my floor lamp hinge at its midpoint, in the shape of a V? It’s reminiscent of the Pixar lamp, but at five feet tall, it’s not as cute. Do I like the slender sloping body of a U-shaped lamp? Am I a lampshade person? Is it just me or does it feel weird when a lamp with a shade is shorter than you when you’re standing up? Should the lamp be a conversation starter, or should it blend into the background? Can you tell that my moon is in Virgo yet?
On my dream list is a Frances Alder Elkins street lamp, either as a singleton or as a pair. Rather than investing in lamps as art, it seems that going with a well-designed, affordable option is the way to go.
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I Google and Pinterest-search “interior design best lamps,” “floor lamps for designers,” “floor lamp designers” in separate tabs. I open each search result in a new tab, and it takes me to specific design sites like Flos, and retailer sites like Chairish, Lampsplus.com, Ylighting.com, and 1stdibs. Before I know it, I’m also on the desktop version of Instagram, looking through #floorlamps.
I finally narrow my choices down to two options that are artful but still require a few more days of ruminating: the Muller Van Severen standing lamp and a Flos IC Lights F floor lamp.
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What ultimately satiates the quest? As I mark the ideal height of a lamp on the wall, I look up at my framed art and prints and decide that the wall needs a refresh, too. I’ve been staring at the same William Eggleston/Untitled (cocktail on airplane) print for too long. It just reminds me of how much I miss traveling, and inspires me to make another cocktail, for which I do not need additional inspiration.
About six months ago, on a late-night whim, I purchased a vintage Rolex print ad with Yo Yo Ma, and now think that it would look better as a pair or trio of similar-sized frames on the wall. I search eBay and Etsy for vintage print ads: Rolex, Range Rover, Olympics. There’s something aspirational, romantic, and nostalgic about them. I decide to check out with a Chris Evert Rolex ad, and immediately feel a sense of achievement.
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I’m going to sleep on the lamp decision, but I’d invested so much time researching and eye-shopping on the internet it seems wrong to not have something to show for it. It’s kind of like spending hours trying on Manolos and Chanels in Barneys (RIP) and leaving with a $30 hand cream on your way out, because you feel you should leave with something in hand.
Graphics by Lorenza Centi.
The post How to Improve Your Home Office, According to a Chic Sock Designer appeared first on Man Repeller.
Leandra & Harling Debate: Is Getting Dressed Only Satisfying If Other People See It?
Have you signed up for MR Thoughtline yet? It’s Man Repeller’s new text-based service that lights up phone screens with good bits from around the internet, opportunities to chat with cool people, and digital recesses to help your mind take a break from the news in favor of a recipe, physical activity or, trust us, very useful WFH outfit ideas. Subscribe here.
This unusual time we’re living in puts our relationships with our own style under a new microscope, urging us to ask ourselves: Is the satisfaction of getting dressed in the act itself, or in the experience of the outfit being witnessed? Leandra and I have formed considerably different stances on this conundrum, so we convened for a healthy debate. —Harling
Leandra: I have been thinking about Edith’s question in last week’s editorial meeting, about whether the expectation of being seen by other people is the ultimate incentive to get dressed. Do you think personal style is contingent on other people seeing it?
Harling: I sure do.
Leandra: And I sure don’t. Let’s debate if you’re up for it. You try to convince me “yes” and I’ll try to convince you “no.”
Harling: Definitely up for it. Shall we begin?
Leandra: Yes.
Harling: Style is contingent upon other people seeing it because “style” as a concept implies that there’s a transaction taking place. Style is perception-based, right? So it only exists when it is perceived. Without visual dialogue, an outfit is just… clothes. I think you could say the same about writing an essay–it only becomes a story when someone else reads it. That’s why I haven’t felt motivated to put thought into what I’m wearing while in quarantine. Doing so would feel like asking a question even though no one is around to answer it–a waste of time! I definitely miss the effort of turning clothes into an outfit–which is to say, I miss the pursuit of style–but not to the extent that I’m interested in a watered-down version of it. It just wouldn’t feel the same. What about you?
Leandra: I think the answer depends on whether you consider my own perception as a part of the transaction you’re describing. Meaning: Does my perception of the outfit I’m wearing count? Because I don’t actually think personal style is contingent on other people seeing it. I get dressed in quarantine because I feel like shit when I don’t–it adds shape to my day in a way that is similar to meal planning, preparing, and consuming.
I don’t dress the same way I would if I were going out (though honestly, I feel so good when I put on jeans), but I’ve definitely applied the tenets of my personal style to the way I dress to: be home, go to the grocery store, take a walk, etc. I don’t think I get dressed for other people to see what I’m wearing–my mom used to basically chastise me for putting on “outfits” to stay home–but it doesn’t sound completely correct to say I’m not influenced by another person seeing what I’m wearing, so I’m trying to untangle that. Or maybe that’s just the whole thing–personal style is influenced by other people seeing it. But is it really contingent on that?
Harling: I admire you for continuing to put on outfits during quarantine. I wish I was the kind of person who felt the desire to do that. There’s something very pure, or iconic, about it, like making art for art’s sake. Whereas there’s something very commercial about the other side of the spectrum–the need for approval or appreciation in order to justify the “art.” I feel a little guilty falling so squarely on that side of things. I wonder what it says about my relationship with style, that I’m willing to let it fade from my life so easily. But to your point, maybe contingent isn’t quite the right word, because even though I’m not putting tons of thought into my outfits right now, I’m still thinking about outfits quite a lot. I’m still paying attention. I’m still being influenced and inspired. I love seeing the stay-home looks people like Tahirah Hairston, Mecca James-Williams, Michelle Li, Jenny Walton, Laura Kim, and Reese Blutstein have been putting together.
Leandra: For what it’s worth, I’ve never really thought of myself as someone who does art for its sake, who makes just to make. I’m very outcome-oriented! So I wonder if perhaps I’ve just replaced the outcome I used to know with the one I have now–which is the even more pervasive, global gaze of social media DUN DUN DUN. That changes the conversation entirely, although I should mention that what I wear while at home is different from what I wear to Instagram (a destination these days, IMO). Your point about thinking about outfits is interesting though–what are you thinking?
Harling: I remember a conversation we had right when you got back from maternity leave, about how posting a photo of your outfit to social media can definitely scratch the same itch as parading it around outside and/or in front of actual human eyes–maybe even more so, since it amplifies the number of people who see it. I do get satisfaction out of doing that, but at the same time it feels more like dress-up than getting dressed. Not a bad thing, just different.
Leandra: Yes that’s a good distinction — it’s definitely dress-up.
Harling: I’m thinking about what I want to wear when we’re allowed to move about in the world normally again, though it’s very unclear when that will be. I bought one of these French Madagascan market dresses, which I am very enthusiastically looking forward to wearing in the future (and maybe even in the meantime, curled up next to a sunny window with a book). My “favorites” section on The RealReal is also particularly robust at the moment. I’m hoping this blouse goes significantly further on sale, and I’m very tempted to buy this nightgown and exclusively wear it as a day dress. Have been stalking Lacoste, too, because it’s really good right now. Can’t you picture me in these terry shorts and this oversized sweatshirt??
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I’ve seen jokes on Twitter about how we shouldn’t count this year toward our respective ages, and I almost feel like the same joke applies to outfits–like their potential should be frozen in time, and carried over into next year, or whenever they’re applicable again. In terms of social media though, here’s a question: When you’re excited about what you’re wearing but no one else sees it for the entire day you’re wearing it, do you feel a sense of urgency about posting some kind of evidence of it on Instagram? It’s like that saying… if a tree falls in the forest, etc. If an outfit is worn and there’s no one to see it, did it even really exist?
Leandra: I do want to say something about your first comment, though! Because I think that is what will happen–very little fashion is being made right now, so it’s tough to think that new trends and styles of dress will come online. We’re in backwash mode–I’ve been packing up my apartment (we have finally been given the OK to move) and thumbing through hangers, deciding what to keep and what to donate and the same sensation you describe keeps coming up. As far as the outfits, I don’t post everything that I wear generally, and actually, this might sound crazy, but tend not to post what I wear and love the most because they kind of become parodies of themselves when they’re immortalized. There’s something kind of freeing about no one ever seeing them, but that freedom, I think, is wrapped up in outward perception because for as long as they’re private, like you said, they kind of never happened. Whether by the gaze of another, or click of a camera, they never get “posted.” I love that part in the cycle of an outfit’s life.
Harling: Yeah, I’ve been considering how the lack of fashion trends is making space for trends of other types (see: personality vases, a hallmark of quarantine Instagram, still lives–still want to go halfsies on one of these with me?). Do you think this era we are currently living in has broadened your conception of style to include more than just clothes in a tangible sense? In other words, because clothes matter less–even if you still maintain an interest in them–what have the parameters of your style grown to encompass?
Last week you asked me what has been occupying my time now that I’m not thinking about getting dressed, and I told you food/cooking, but I’ve also been devoting a lot more thought to home decor, and what my “taste” is in general. And while I do believe that style is predicated on other people observing it, I think of taste a little differently, more so in the vein of how you described not wanting to post the things you love and wear the most, because it becomes a parody. Taste feels like that to me–a little more precious, and also more resilient to the effects of quarantine, because it manifests in other ways.
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Leandra: I’ve been thinking a lot about where my taste appears elsewhere, too, i.e. the things that compel me to want to take a photo (it’s also like my eyes become the camera lens for a second), and I think it comes down to what we respectively perceive as beautiful, right? Like that is the boiled-down definition of taste? And when you think about beauty and its purpose/function, it is pretty unilateral, right? Example: We buy flowers to decorate our homes not for other people, but to appease ourselves. I think if we’re revisiting the question that started this conversation, personal style is an expression of taste. And while you’re finding this taste in other areas of your life that are logically more applicable to the state of now, I’m still holding on to my taste as it relates to how I dress, even though its less relevant. But that’s not where the loop closes. It might actually be where it opens because taste is an expression of beauty, and beauty is much more intimate. But this is too philosophical, I don’t even know what we’re talking about anymore. Do you?
Harling: Us at the beginning of this conversation: Let’s have a rly tactical debate where we try to convince each other of our respective stances! Us at the end of this conversation: What is the meaning of life?
We’ve definitely led ourselves down a tangent, but I enjoyed it, especially because it reminded me of this quote from Dayna Tortorici’s delightful n+1 essay about Instagram: “Elaine Scarry writes in On Beauty and Being Just that it’s characteristic of beauty to compel us to reproduce what we see.” I agree that what we’re circling around definitely ties into our relationship with beauty, but to Scarry’s point, if we’re compelled to replicate what we see, then it makes sense that quarantine is affecting the nature of that replication. I’m quarantined at my mom’s with .0005% of my usual wardrobe, and the things I have here are mostly sweats and athletic clothes, so of course I’m not inspired to replicate beauty in the form of outfits. Maybe style isn’t contingent upon other people seeing it so much as it’s contingent upon what WE are seeing. It’s probably both.
Leandra: Opening this up to Disqus — what do you (yes, you!) think?
Graphic by Lorenza Centi.
The post Leandra & Harling Debate: Is Getting Dressed Only Satisfying If Other People See It? appeared first on Man Repeller.
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