Leandra Medine's Blog, page 21

7 Under-$25 Things That Make Exercising at Home a Joy

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According to the app with the little pink heart on my iPhone, I took a grand total of 41 steps yesterday. I know this probably just means I didn’t carry my phone with me as I went from desk to fridge to bathroom all day, but still—41 steps is so far from the 10,000 I used to strive for, I can’t help but think about how much I miss moving.

Unlike passionate celebrities, and a handful of very impressive friends, I haven’t felt an overwhelming desire to amp up my fitness regime while in quarantine. I go for exactly one run per week (early in the morning, with a mask), occasionally do some sit-ups and lunges, and stretch my legs using this nifty stretch-out strap.

Like most of the exercise paraphernalia in my apartment, this strap was bought by my boyfriend, who—unlike me with my 41 steps—is a literal marathon-running, triathlon-winning freak of nature. He originally bought the $16 strap to help treat a hamstring strain, but I personally use it for my tight ankles and hip flexors. Every time I look at it, I revel in the fact that its existence means Michael no longer stretches out his legs using one of our four bath towels.

Curious to hear about the other low-cost products that are helping people move their bodies during this time of pause, I asked my beloved MR colleagues to share their under-$25 recommendations.

These adjustable weights you can strap to your wrists, ankles, arms, or legs

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Recommended by: Jasmin, Global Sales Director

Price: $20.99

How did you find it? I’ve been doing some home workouts, like Melissa Wood Health, that require small weights, so I decided to give them a whirl.

When and how do you use it? For the above workouts, mainly on my ankles or wrists and they really make a difference, they’re also fun to wear—I feel like I’m in a ’70s workout video.

Who would you recommend it to? Anyone looking to make their workouts a little bit harder but not thaaat much harder.

This yoga mat that’s perfect for intense workouts and cute enough to leave out

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Recommended by: Mikaela, Partnerships Strategist

Price: $24.99

How did you find it? My old mat was half a decade old and tearing/pilling all over the place, so, I decided to upgrade. This one is colorful, so I like to leave it unfurled, like a piece of unobtrusive home decor. The material is really sturdy, so I can do pretty intense workouts that require tennis shoes without worrying.

When and how do you use it? Any time I want to have some focused time to myself. I use it for yoga, of course, but also for morning quiet time (meditation, tea, journaling), and whatever Youtube workout (right now, I’m working through 30 Days of Yoga With Adriene) I’ve set my sights on for that day.

Who would you recommend it to? Anyone who has trouble making time for themselves or for moving their body; keep your yoga mat rolled out all day and I promise it will entice you to hit pause.

Or this extra cushy yoga mat for anyone who’s struggling on their hard floors

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Recommended by: Marisa, Executive Assistant

Price: $18.50

How did you find it? Another yoga mat here! I was in search of an extra-thick yoga mat for home Pilates workouts. This one is nice and plush, and I appreciate the color range.

When and how do you use it? Daily for home Pilates workouts that have a focus on matwork, as well as anytime I need a good stretch or quick yoga flow. It’s simple yet effective, and the extra thickness works really well for extended periods lying on my back or side. It helps keep me feeling sturdy and strong, without the added back pain of working out on hard surfaces.

Who would you recommend it to? Anyone looking for a support cushion (read: a yoga mat with TLC) in their home workout practice.

This soft-but-mighty core roller that will give your shoulder some relief

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Recommended by: Tiffany, Creative Director

Price: $19.58

How did you find it? I have scoliosis and used this for the first time at my physiotherapist’s office. The pain relief I experienced was huge, so I bought one to use at home.

When and how do you use it? Anytime I feel stiff or sore. There are millions of how-to-guides online—Leandra even wrote one. I appreciate this diminutive roller because I can fit it in my suitcase, and I normally need to roll out after a long trip. I’ll also use it if I’ve been working out a lot and need to release tight muscles. Sometimes I’ll roll out if I’m bored—self massage feels good!

Who would you recommend it to? Anyone who’s been feeling cooped up recently (who hasn’t?). Foam rolling can help get your blood pumping again, as it increases oxygen and blood flow in the areas you roll.

These resistance bands that make me feel as though my tiny movements can make a big difference

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Recommended by: Gyan, Managing Editor (I have one more recommendation to share!)

Price: $14.99

How did you find it? The same way I found my stretch strap—Michael bought them!

When and how do you use it? As I mentioned earlier, I stick to a pretty basic workout routine. I use these to make squats, leg raises, and other simple moves a little harder than they would be if I were just using my bodyweight. Last week, I attempted the below workout from Melissa Alcantara (a.k.a. Kim Kardashian’s trainer) and it was intense—in a good way.

Who would you recommend it to? Anyone looking for an alternative to hand weights that are a) really hard to find right now and b) bulky and annoying to have lying around the apartment.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Melissa Alcantara (@fitgurlmel) on Apr 12, 2020 at 4:07pm PDT

And this yoga block that’s the perfect work (and workout) from home companion

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Recommended by: Edith, Associate Editor

Price: $20.49

How did you find it? I first encountered it in a Sky Ting yoga class, or maybe the original Outdoor Voices pop-up shop. I wrote our origin story here.

When and how do you use it? I use it as a chest-expansion and meditation device, but also as a booster when working from home—either as an ottoman underfoot or as elevation for my laptop when it sits on my lap. When I look into my crystal ball, I predict that it’ll have a second life as a doorstop, or perhaps a paperweight for 11 x 17” posters.

Who would you recommend it to? Anyone in need of a good stretch who is also attracted to the beiges in Terence Conran’s The House Book or in The International Book of Lofts (going to venture a guess that the person who sits in the middle of this Venn diagram likely laments the aesthetics of most sporting goods).

 

Feature Image via Edith Young.

The post 7 Under-$25 Things That Make Exercising at Home a Joy appeared first on Man Repeller.

3 Bright, Easy Makeup Looks to Try This Summer

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 keep hearing that “summer’s going to look different this year,” and, well, yeah. Here in my personal quarantine bubble, I’ve skipped my usual spring and summer clothes shopping, but I have paid a lot of attention to what I put on my face (protective face coverings included.) If I’m going to be staring at my own Zoom square for the majority of my virtual meetings, I’m determined to make it the most fun-looking face on the screen.

Now is a fine time to get acquainted with your own visage. Of course, summer makeup is really any makeup you want to wear in the summer but, for me, bright and colorful looks are like visual catnip. This kind of makeup is a signal of freer, more playful times—when the days are longer and the nights are warmer, and there’s a buzzy energy around everything. Whether you’re deep into creative makeup or just dipping a toe in, here are a few ways to jump into “unprecedented summer beauty.”

A Strip of Sunshine

Minimal makeup doesn’t have to be devoid of color, I say. Misconception! In fact, a small but decisive swipe of bold color can be more impactful than a full rainbow sometimes—you know, it really gives the eye of the beholder something to snap to. Yellow in particular is one of those pathologically happy colors, and I always associate it with positivity (and bees, but I choose to believe they are optimistic creatures as well).

Luckily, it also happens to be quite easy to execute. ColourPop’s BFF Liquid Eyeliner in Make Luv is a bright yellow that goes on opaquely in one pass. It’s also $8, so even if you never wear it again, you’re good. (But seriously, you should.)

I have a hard time not getting liner on my lashes, so after I drew a modest wing onto my eyelids I swiped on a volumizing black mascara in the form of Milk Makeup Kush Mascara. This makes for a nicely bumblebee-esque contrast against the yellow, I think. I kept the rest of my face neutral by warming up my cheeks with Kosas Sun Show Bronzer in Light and dabbing a blurred matte nude lipstick (ColourPop Blur Lux Lipstick in CA Love) onto my lips. White sundress and hair bow optional.

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Abstract Bedazzled Butterfly Wings

If you’ve been itching to try the butterfly eye makeup trend (now available on Instagram) this is a pared-down, abstract version of that. I’m consistently bewildered by the many pastel makeup palettes that always seem to launch this time of year. I find their diffused watercolor-y nature politely chaotic—I mean, yes, they’re more visually interesting than neutral, but they’re also so soft that I question their impact. What better way to anchor a wash of pastel shadows like a couple of well-appointed crystals? Consider it Euphoria-lite.

I used the & Other Stories Calypso Nine Palette to create this look, applying the buttery champagne shade to my inner corners before brushing the pale, matte lilac shadow from the middle of my eyelid to the outer corners, then blending beyond the mobile part of my lid and above the crease. I used a thin, angled brush to line the outer corners of my eyes with a little bit of that deeper metallic purple shade, and then stuck some tiny crystals to the center of my upper lid and inner corners with eyelash glue. (I had a stash of these in a nail art gem kit I’ve had for ages, but you can find them all over Etsy.)

After topping my lashes with black mascara (Maybelline Falsies Lash Lift Mascara is fast becoming a favorite of mine) and dabbing some warm peachy blush onto the plump parts of my cheeks (Maybelline Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush in Nude Burn), I swiped on a nude lip gloss (Kosas Wet Lip Oil in Dip). Look fini.

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An ode to NYC Summer Humidity

Summer in New York will test you. Let’s consider the humidity, which lends a sultry vibe to all things skin-related. It’s the skin show all season long, like the weather is supplying everyone with a collective dewy filter. It is a damn lewk, if I do say so myself.

A smudgy, smoky eye may read like a meltdown—however, I’d argue that it is a timeless look. It gives evening drama an attitude! And it’s equally at home in a dive bar wearing a black leather jacket as it is on the Met Gala red carpet.

Precision is not as important as the types of products you choose because you want it to be malleable but also to stay put. My go-to is Troy Surrat’s Smoky Eye Baton: it’s a dual-ended pencil that has a gel liner on one end (to line) and a sponge-tipped smudger loaded with a subtle shimmery powder shadow on the other end (to smoke.)

I lined my top and bottom lash line with the creamy liner side and then smudged it all to hell with the blending side, shaping it into a wing. It is truly as easy/messy as that. I then topped with gobs of waterproof mascara (or not waterproof, if you’re married to chaos)—I chose Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Waterproof Mascara—and then dabbed some Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek in Werk on my cheeks for a bit of “I’ve just emerged from a steamy subway platform” flush.

The dewy pièce de résistance is Kevyn Aucoin’s Glass Glow Face and Body Gloss in Solar Quartz, which I dabbed onto my brow bone and around my cheekbones for that glamorously glistening finish. A little goes a long way with this one. I’m also wearing Glossier Cherry Balm Dot Com but any tinted lip balm you have will do.

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The post 3 Bright, Easy Makeup Looks to Try This Summer appeared first on Man Repeller.

Finally: An Online Workout I Actually Enjoy

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.

My workout routine pre-quarantine consisted of running outside (weather permitting), pretending I knew how to use the weight machines at the gym, and group Pilates classes. Since the latter two became unavailable once social distancing protocols were established—and since I’m not a huge fan of running with a mask on—I had to pivot. I tried going on really long walks, which was nice, but I missed the feeling of–warning, NSFW!–quivering muscles. I tried various routines hosted by fitness instructors on YouTube or Instagram Live, which were also nice, but my already tenuous interest in exercise waned with the complicating factor of digging around for a new one every time, and the frustration of not knowing whether I would actually like them until I was halfway in.

[image error]I had resigned myself to doing “stadiums” on our stoop when my friend Virginia texted me: “I just got the Sculpt Society app and I’s really liking it. It’s fun and goes by quickly.” “Fun” and “goes by quickly” happen to be two of my favorite workout qualities, so my fingers perked right up. The app is a subscription service that costs $19.99 per month, or $119.99 for a year. I was reluctant to pay for virtual exercise content given how much free stuff is out there, but the app offers a two-week free trial, so I figured it was worth a shot. I could always cancel if I didn’t like it….

Cut to two weeks later–I’ve never ignored a calendar reminder (to “cancel subscription”) more enthusiastically. Below, my official review.

One-sentence recap: Virtual dance cardio and sculpting workouts that mostly rely on your own body weight, led by trainer Megan Roup.

Break a sweat level: Is it as strenuous as you hoped it would be? 4/5. It’s the perfect amount of strenuous for me, which is to say: strenuous, but not too strenuous. I definitely sweat, but not to the point that I’m ready to give up halfway in.

Enjoyability level: Do you look forward to doing it? 5/5. I am not the type of person who looooooves working out (I have yet to experience a “runner’s high,” though I do get high off the joy of being done with a run), so when I actually found myself not entirely dreading the Sculpt Society workouts, and at a certain point actually even looking forward to them, it felt akin to sighting a rare, exotic bird that I assumed was mythological.

Serotonin spike: Does it give you a boost afterward? 5/5. I feel like a superhero in the comic that is my life after finishing one of these workouts, so yes, absolutely.

Ease for doing inside level: Is it easy enough for you to do at-home? Does it require any equipment that you do or don’t have? 5/5. The equipment recommendations are listed in the descriptions for each video, which is super helpful. A lot of them suggest light weights (2-3 pounds) and a resistance band, but all of them can be done without. The space required is minimal, so it’s great for cramped quarters.

Overall takeaway: Letting my free trial expire without cancelling was undoubtedly the best $20 I’ve spent on something non-essential thus far in quarantine. I really feel like I’m getting so much bang for my buck in this case–super high-quality workouts that are enjoyable and make me sweat. The app is also incredibly straightforward to use, and I appreciate that the videos range in time from 5 minutes to 50 minutes so I can slot them into my schedule accordingly. I encourage anyone hungry for exercise inspiration to give the free trial a shot. Or check out this 30-minute Sculpt Society workout I found on YouTube–an amuse bouche, if you will:

Are there any particular online workouts you’d like Team Man Repeller to review? Let us know in the comments.

Graphic by Lorenza Centi.

The post Finally: An Online Workout I Actually Enjoy appeared first on Man Repeller.

Please Help Us Find Dakota Johnson’s China

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 my dear friend Harling Ross, ravenous to know the answer to one question: “Who the hell makes Dakota Johnson’s china???”

Harling Ross, brand director at Man Repeller

Your shopping rabbit hole: Dakota Johnson’s china

Can you walk me through what going down this rabbit hole entails? Thank you so much for asking! Kindly gird your loins. In the beginning of March, I—like many others who consume the internet for breakfast every morning—watched Dakota Johnson’s home tour video on Architectural Digest. The video is memorable for many reasons, including the rather charmingly unkempt landscaping, and a seating card with Patti Smith’s phone number on it, but there is one thing in particular that made a permanent impression on my brain goo: Dakota’s china. It’s hot pink and navy, which sounds terrible but in this case is excellent—likewise for the dishes’ texture, which can best be described as “mottled.” The overarching aesthetic is something akin to tie-dye, or paint randomly splotched on a canvas. At the five minute mark of the video, Dakota admits that she never thought she would be a “dish person” until this particular set of china came into her life: “I mean, can you stand it?,” she asks, holding up a navy and pink-splattered mug. “They’re the coolest.”

No, I couldn’t stand it!!!! I couldn’t stand how cool these plates and saucers and mugs were. So I immediately launched a quest to discover their origins, in hopes that I might procure a similar set for myself. I started by Googling the obvious: ”Dakota Johnson dishes.” “Dakota Johnson Architectural Digest dishes.” “Dakota Johnson L.A. home tour dishes.” I didn’t find any information about the china, but I did find what is seemingly the only 100% nice thread on Reddit to ever exist, populated by a group of commenters who all agree that Dakota is “adorable” and her home is “serene” (I highly recommend reading through them—it’s healing).

I then resorted to less-than-ideal search terms like “tie-dye plates” and “paint splotch plates.” Again, no dice, though they did lead me to discover Este Ceramiche’s delightful splatter motif, not to mention an excuse to scroll through endless pages of china patterns on Mary Mahoney.

What ultimately satiates the quest? I ended up posting a photo of Dakota’s plates in Instagram Stories and asking for help. Almost immediately, my friend Susan Alexandra texted me a link to these very fun floral enamel bowls, which were so close in spirit to what I was looking for that I felt a spark of optimism. Shortly thereafter, Madeline O’Malley, market editor at Architectural Digest, responded that she would check the fact sheets to see if any info was listed for them, which caused my optimism to double in size. Prematurely, unfortunately, since no information was listed. However, she did supply me with a clue in the form of a hunch: “I bet they’re vintage Majolica.”

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I looked through all 40 pages of the search results from the keywords “majolica set” on Etsy, and though I didn’t find Dakota Johnson’s plates, I did find some incredible gems. Like these turquoise plates, and these deep green teacups, and this coordinated set of tray and jars, and this pitcher. I even found myself hankering after a set of Majolica oyster plates, despite the fact that I don’t even like oysters. Every single one of these links went into my “bookmarks” folder, which I suppose would indicate that the quest continues–more satiated than when it began, but still hankering for a taste of something slightly closer to The One. The bad news is that I haven’t found it yet. The good news is that I’ve got the benefit of time: Since my wedding has officially been postponed to next summer, I have a whole extra year to tinker with my registry.

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Graphics by Lorenza Centi.

The post Please Help Us Find Dakota Johnson’s China appeared first on Man Repeller.

I Asked 7 Interior Designers For Tips on How to Upgrade a Small Space

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.

What happens when two preoccupations—daydreaming about decorating an apartment and seeking new approaches for at-home exercise—merge into one idea? For me, this manifested in the brief and ludicrous consideration of whether a Pilates reformer can double as a twin bed (the most beautiful ones look like—and are priced like—an estranged cousin of an original Le Corbusier chaise longue).

Nearing the 100-day milestone of puttering around inside our homes, lots of people who live in small spaces recognize that they’re in dire need of a minor reinvention. In the same train of thought, inspired by my ever-pending move into a studio, I’ve been considering how, ideally, every piece of furniture I acquire can be as versatile as possible (ex. a dinner table that doubles as a desk) and trying to strategize a layout, with the help of tiny furniture stickers, that maximizes the room so I’m able to entertain, work, read, and cook, all in the same space.

Who better to ask for advice than some of my favorite interior designers? Below, they deposited a few insider tips on ways people in small spaces can upgrade their interior, whether it’s a storage trick, a well-dimensioned piece of furniture they’d been eyeing on Chairish, a cool multi-tasking product for a kitchen, or a large-scale photo that adds depth to a small room.

Young Huh*

A great piece of furniture to have as a multi-tasker is a bar, bar cart, or console with shelves. They tend to be narrow in depth, but you can use it for entertaining, or as extra storage for dishes or supplies. I’m using mine as an additional surface area to hold drawing supplies and papers as well as some pretty vases and flowers to cheer me!

If you can fit a small occasional French side chair, or any side chair, in a corner instead of leaving the space empty, this can be a game-changer. You can place books and boxes on the seat, and underneath you could have additional storage boxes stacked nicely to hold extra papers and supplies.

*(you might recognize her room from last year’s Kip’s Bay Showhouse!)

David Netto

Get the biggest, most theatrical piece of furniture you can find and put it in the smallest space it can fit. Like a front hall where you aren’t USING the space, just walking through it.

Put it somewhere it will surprise you—and make you feel, for a while, anyway—like a visitor in someone else’s exciting house. Invest in this piece of furniture: It will give you the storage, the desk, and the beautiful object you need all at once.

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For the kitchen, install two of these wall-mounted pot racks, one over the other. Hard to say why, but two widely spaced is cooler than a double:

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Beata Heuman

Life becomes hopelessly dull without variation, and finding it is a bit of a challenge during lockdown. But I’m not one to give up, and there are quite a few things you can do in a small space to create a bit of tension and newness.

Furnishing your home with colorful items that serve more than one purpose is a great way to change things up. I use our Marbleized tray to balance cocktails on my living room ottoman in the evenings, and then pair it with our Metal Tray Stand whenever I need a side table to place my book or morning tea out in the garden.

Rearranging decor around the house, such as artwork, will help you appreciate the pieces you love that over time literally become part of the furniture. The aim is to make your home feel a bit more mysterious and exciting—you know, the kind of effect you get when you light a candle.

Lastly, you can try to elevate even the smallest things. It sounds a little ridiculous, but decanting washing-up liquid [Ed. note: British for dishwashing soap] into a glass bottle will add an element of beauty to an otherwise menial task. It can all help jolly things along, in my opinion!

Ariel Okin

When designing apartments that are lacking in the size department, the main thing to consider is using pieces that are multifunctional. Think: a console or dining table that can also serve as a place to work, or a side table that can also serve as a place to stack books for a creative interpretation of the word “library.” Milking the most of your pieces is the best way to stay efficient in small space living.

A kitchen item that I absolutely love for space-saving multi-functionality is the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer—it can do everything from air fry to roast to make bread or pizza or even dehydrate fruit to make your own fruit roll ups (now that we have the time…). I know I sound like I’m on QVC, but I probably use this four nights a week in the city!

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My recent furniture collection that launched with Society Social in April has two pieces designed with small spaces in mind: the Franny side table was born because I literally could not find any side tables that fit next to the glider in my daughter’s nursery, which is the size of a thimble, so I took a tape measure and figured out what would fit. The other table, the Amy, is a scalloped console with measurements I based on what could fit in our very small galley entry in our apartment; it has a super narrow depth and short length and can house a basket underneath it for hiding shoes (or anything you need to store) with a clearance space of 27″. Both were born out of necessity with my own small space, and are fully customizable in any Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams paint color.

Sasha Bikoff

The key to storage solutions is not the shoes in the oven, but an étagère. An étagère is tall and has open shelving. This kind of furniture is great because generally they’re not so deep but they are tall, so you can utilize a lot of space for things like shoes, handbags, and folded sweaters. This one’s a great example because you get that natural texture that adds a little something to your fashion.

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Chiara de Rege

I tend to try to maximize apartment living as much as possible. As much as I love a formal dining room, I’ve found that often in a NYC prewar building, for example, the dining rooms are very gracious. So I turned my dining room into a dining room, home office, and family room, all-in-one. During the day (prior to Covid-19), my design associates would sit around the dining table with their laptops. I snuck my desk into a corner of the room and at 5 p.m., the associates would leave, and I’d set the table and sit with my daughter to have dinner. In a cozy corner of the room, I put a comfy sofa that faces a TV (hiding behind a pair of lamps). I remove the lamps and watch movies with my daughter and friends in that area. So, in this one room, we get three uses.

This has become invaluable during the time of coronavirus. While we do not have guests or any of my design team, I can still work from my desk and my daughter can do Zoom school next to me. When the day ends, we can watch a movie or play a board game. I love having a space that is multifunctional like this. You can only be in one room at a time, so why not make that room serve a lot of purposes?

Photo by Jessica Antola.

Off of the dining room, there’s a hall to the kitchen and entryway. Its width is 42”—generous enough for my daughter to have a play kitchen and table and toys there to play with in the hallway. This is ideal when I am in the small galley kitchen, as we can see and hear each other but not feel on top of each other. I love that she has a place to play family or school or restaurant, a space all her own. I know it sounds odd, as it is literally just a hallway, but I covered the walls in wallpaper and gave her a chalkboard paint wall as well. Now the space is very defined and feels like a teeny room instead of a hall.

Stefanie Scheer Young 

And now, some rapid-fire, no-bigger-than-a-bread-box tips for ways to improve your immediate surroundings, from our in-house interior designer, my mom!

— “Our dish towels have been through a lot,” (I nod knowingly) “so I just got new ones. Refreshing your dish towels is going to feel like you just washed your hair. I recommend these classic striped ones from Williams Sonoma.”

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— “Topiaries are a fun and slightly less predictable way to spruce up your apartment with some plant life. The only downside with topiaries is that they’ll die if you don’t water them every day, but now, since you’re home all the time, that shouldn’t be a problem. You can order them from Atlock Farm, Snug Harbor Farm or New York Topiary.”

— “I found these cordless table lamps with rechargeable batteries that are perfect if you want some atmospheric flexibility around the house, or even outside, if you have a back patio or a fire escape. They come in a handful of fun colors, but the white and grey versions are dimmable, the ultimate jackpot!”

— “Sometimes you just need a pitcher with a little owl perched inside to bring you some joy.” Co-sign.

The post I Asked 7 Interior Designers For Tips on How to Upgrade a Small Space appeared first on Man Repeller.

Harry Styles’s “Watermelon Sugar” Music Video: Get! The! Look!

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 watched the “Watermelon Sugar” music video on Monday morning from my kitchen while eating a banana. The mouth-full-of-banana mutterings of “Oh my god” soon evolved into full volume “Oh my god”s as I watched Harry Styles slide his bubblegum-pink-polished fingernail along slices of watermelon and roll around with women in day-glo bikinis. Not a phone in sight, just vibes.

This dumbstruck response wasn’t solely for the reasons you’d think. Did I need to stand in a window with a cool breeze for a few minutes after? Sure. But who didn’t? The video did disclaim in its opening titles, after all, that it was “dedicated to touching.”

Anyway, the primary reason my mouth hit the floor is because this music video looks like it could have been ripped from the digital pages of a Man Repeller fashion editorial.

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IS IT OR IS IT NOT A MAN REPELLER PHOTOSHOOT

A post shared by Man Repeller (@manrepeller) on May 18, 2020 at 9:43am PDT

Did Harling style this? Did Edith shoot it? If they quietly did and are holding out on me, is our friendship now over? I know the answer to these questions is that surely they did not, but the look, feel, and spirit of this video (though maybe a *smidge* sexy, lol) feels so closely aligned with Man Repeller’s brand that I had to take a beat.

Harry Styles always looks like he stepped out of a Man Repeller article and it’s one of my favorite things about him

— Gianni (@giannisegarra) May 18, 2020

Now that I’ve taken that beat, I’m here to do the important, meaningful work. I’m here to tell you how to embody the sizzling, fruity, crochet-knit, hot, wet, splashy quintessence of “Watermelon Sugar” this summer. Why? Uh, because the moment I realized Harry was the owner of a crochet-knit tank top and novelty sunglasses, I said to myself, I must own a crochet-knit tank top and novelty sunglasses. Also, maybe it will imbue some of the spirit of carefree summers into a summer that feels less carefree than usual.

Step 1: The Crucial Crochet-knit Tank Top

The moment Harry walked out in his orange and lime crochet-knit mini-tank, I gasped. It is, of course, vintage, according to one of my favorite Instagram accounts: Harry Styles Fashion Archive. My pursuit of a similar tank has been swift and ruthless. A handy trick for looking for these is searching for “vintage Missoni tank tops.” I will not rest until I am clad in one of these, drinking spiked agua fresca and tossing my head back with fake laughter. IMAGINE.

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Step 2: Novelty Accessories, Ahoy

Oh you thought I was joking above? Novelty accessories are in order. Though perhaps not the perfect vintage sky blue and heart-shaped sunglasses on Harry’s inhumanly perfect face, these are some good options to get your quirk off the ground. And the earrings? Resin hoops and beaded cherries for days are in order.

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Step 3: The Floral Shirt to End All Floral Shirts

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@ukesquire “Harry Styles May Well Have Debuted The Shirt Of The Summer” by Murray Clark. Custom shirt for Harry Styles from 1970s lace, styled by Harry Lambert for Watermelon Sugar.

A post shared by BODE: clothes, etc. (@bode) on May 20, 2020 at 1:46pm PDT

Of course Harry’s shirt is a Bode shirt, and of course it’s custom-made. I could weep tears of solid gold. It is indeed the perfect summer shirt for everyone: A lightweight button-down in a groovy floral is summer’s pièce de résistance. I’ll be wearing mine over a bikini top even if I’m going to dinner with my non-existent in-laws.

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Step 4: Rainbow-Brite Swimwear

Even I–not one to shy from color–wince at the thought of my ghostly pale body in a bright bikini. However, this summer is not the season for that!!! No time for trifling. So what if I’m translucent and almost-neon color on my body makes me look like I crept out from the crypt? I’m here to let it all hang out and look like walking fiestaware.

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Step 5: A Skinny Scarf, Duh

Oh, Harry, my sweet little Gucci ambassador angel! According to, once again, my favorite Instagram account, Harry’s tiny sweater, skinny scarf, and ripped jeans are all from the Gucci runway. I did not realize that I wanted to wear a skinny scarf in summer until I witnessed this exact outfit. I’m not expecting you to follow me to this place, but Harry has led the way… and I have my marching orders.

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Step 6: A Rogue Summer Sweater Vest

Listen: This one’s for the real hardos. If you’re committed to the aesthetic, then you’ll try your hand at a sweater vest, summer-ified for when you’re on the beach and it gets a smidge chilly—but just on your torso trunk and nowhere else. Make it look chic-est by wearing it over your floral button-down, if you’re so inclined.

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The final touches are candy-colored nail polish, an ungodly number of rings and necklaces, and over 60 tattoos. I leave that to your discretion. If you acquire and follow all the steps above and sing “Watermelon Sugar” in a bathroom mirror while your roommate looks at you worryingly, Harry Styles will appear next to you when you wake up the following morning.

Just kidding, wishful thinking! But, if anything, these steps are a surefire formula for helping you remember how to exult in sun, sweat, heat, sweetness… the feeling of friends’ and lovers’ hands. We can’t, for now. But I’ll be in my “Watermelon Sugar” couture the whole time, watching this video on repeat.

The post Harry Styles’s “Watermelon Sugar” Music Video: Get! The! Look! appeared first on Man Repeller.

Open Thread: What Do We Do With Summer Fridays Now?

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 don’t know if you’ve realized this yet, but it’s almost summer. It’s a fact that’s making a lot of people feel a lot of things, especially in New York.

As The Cut’s Bridget Read perfectly put it this week: “Summer has functioned, as it always does in New York, like a promise—one that is now broken.” This is true for many places, of course, but the thought of spending the city’s stickiest—and most eagerly anticipated—season inside my apartment.

But, this is the reality of our situation. And it’s also, ultimately, the right thing to do.

Memorial Day weekend is the striking of the match to light the sparkler that is summer. It also signals the beginning of my favorite seasonal adjustment: summer Fridays. But, how does one have a summer Friday without afternoon walks home from the office, outside seating at a bar, or blankets spread in parks? Without everything that makes a summer Friday a summer Friday, how can we possibly celebrate the best afternoons of the year? Well, I actually have a few ideas.

Throw a Summer-Themed Movie Night

Watch Call Me By Your Name. Wear a linen button-down. Make a runny egg.

Wear a Bikini Top as a Going-Nowhere Top

Going-out tops are so 2019. But that doesn’t mean you can’t revel in the joy that is repurposing swimwear as daywear.

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Put Fruit in a Salad and Have It for Dinner With the Spritz of Your Choosing

Try this aguachile recipe. Or this spicy watermelon chaat. Have it with a glass of prosecco or a can of LaCroix—I don’t care, it just needs to have BUBBLES.

Finally Pack Away All Your Winter Coats and Light a Summer-Scented Candle in Celebration

This New York City candle smells like lemon, grapefruit, and concrete. It doesn’t smell like garbage, the subway, or urine. Basically, it’s what you’ve always wished summer in New York smelled like.

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Make Your Usual Summer Playlist, Even if You’re the Only Person Who Will Hear It

Harry Styles released “Watermelon” Sugar for a reason, you know.

That’s five things, but what else? How are you planning to make your summer Fridays—or summer weekends, if they’re what you’re thinking about more—feel special this year?

Feature Image Via Tory Rust

The post Open Thread: What Do We Do With Summer Fridays Now? appeared first on Man Repeller.

Bored? Hungry? Need Inspiration? Our Stay-Home Guide Has Everything

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 spent yesterday looking around my apartment, taking note of all the things I’ve planned to do to improve it since I moved in that I have yet to do. (This is not a new exercise.) That’s the phase of quarantine I’m in right now: I took a nearly-two-month vacation from future planning, lived more “presently” than I have ever managed before, and now I’m reacquainting myself with the life I was leading at the end of February and the aspirations I had for it. (Whether I actually intended to follow through on any of those aspirations is a separate question.)

This feels like a natural shift in my mental state, but I worry it’s happening too early. New York is not ready. And now, for the first time in a couple months, I’m feeling a sustained impatience. I don’t plan to change my day-to-day, because, frankly, my interest in the greater good is a lot stronger than my desire to get moving, but I am looking for new ways to spend this time that will not just distract but help me progress in a manner that makes sense right now.

So, I’m turning to our Stay-Home Guide, which has stories to suit this frame of mind—but also plenty more for whatever mood you might find yourself in. The existence of this guide happens to be the entire point of this post, so here it is as a big-ass link:

THE MR STAY-HOME GUIDE

If you’re still here (what are you still doing here?! The link’s right there!) I’m going to share a few random thoughts I’ve recently had and their corresponding “Stay-Home Guide” stories, to prove how useful it is and how much it might improve a weekend you’d likely not expected to spend mostly indoors.

The thought: “Karaoke is going to be one of the last things to come back, isn’t it? (What if we put those little shower cap things over the mics??) I miss my friends who are bad singers and good singers in equal measure.”

The story: I Suck at Socializing, a Plea to Change

The thought: “I wonder what my housemates find most annoying about me

The Most Intensive Thing You Can (and Should) Do to Your Skin During Quarantine

In the continual pursuit of silver linings, I don’t think I’m the only one with questions for any estheticians listening: What’s the best way to take advantage of this time at home when it comes to skincare?

Luckily for me, Sofie Pavitt, an esthetician who runs her own skincare studio in Chinatown and is known for the Krispy Kreme-caliber results following her esthemax jelly masks (available to order online at the moment!), has answers. Pavitt graciously walked me through the steps of the more involved at-home skin treatment we can do with a little extra alone time at home. My moisture barrier feels more lush already.

I think the best thing about being stuck at home is the fact that we can spend a little more time on ourselves. This might mean doing some beauty treatments that would be at the back of your list in normal times.

The week before we closed the studio, I had an inkling that we were nearing the need to close. I had some of my regular clients come in for a deep peel so they could spend some time at home flaking—but a professional deep peel is not something people should be buying off the internet to do at home. But I do think that we can take the time to do some more intensive treatments.

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First week In the studio and at center COMPLETE (and fashion week to boot!) good to be BACK

Open Thread: What’s Your Go-To Cocktail Recipe?

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.

Until recently, my bar cart was simply a place where old issues of the New Yorker went to die. Who actually makes cocktails at home, anyway? I would think this and laugh quietly to myself, after getting home from a night at an actual bar with friends.

Oh, what difference a couple of months can make.

Now my new Friday routine consists of video calling my friends who live in Brooklyn, which might as well be the opposite side of the planet—not just the East River—and making margaritas. My bar cart? Stocked with liquor that’s just waiting to be shaken as soon as 6:30 p.m. rolls around.

I love my little routine—I’d go so far as to say it’s the best part of my entire week. But as the months drag on, I’m starting to get bored of a lot of things that brought me joy at the start of quarantine, including my beloved three-ingredient spicy margs (made from one part tequila, one part Cointreau, one part lime juice, shaken with some sliced of jalapeño if I want to turn up the heat in my living room.)

I want to open the floor for new cocktail recommendations that meet the below criteria:

Must have three hero ingredients (or less if that’s even possible?)
Can have one optional wildcard ingredient, like a garnish or salted rim
Doesn’t require any more cocktail-making equipment than a Mason jar and shot glass (because that’s all I have)

They can be alcoholic or not. They can use any liquor I could easily obtain at my local wine store. They can use any ingredients I could get at a normal grocery store.

I can’t wait to hear what you’ve got!

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