Leandra Medine's Blog, page 352

5 Cool People in Their Aspirational Travel Outfits

I GET the appeal of athleisure. I have days where I’m one prom-posal away from wearing white leggings to my own wedding just in case I want to cartwheel down the hypothetical aisle. But when it comes to travel — which is romantic in theory but in reality, the ultimate schlep — wouldn’t it be nice to dress in a way that brings back a bit of pomp and circumstance? At the very least, wouldn’t it be nice to show up at your destination looking already refreshed?

In honor of the holiday weekend at hand and a glorious three-month stretch of summer weekends ahead, I asked five passport-toting travelers for their aspirational travel look. An aspirational travel look is the thing you’d wear if you didn’t have to worry about TSA, luggage fees, missed ferries or crowded trains. Scroll through for their concoctions and then, in the comments, let me know what you’d wear (and where). There’s a lot of days in a summer — let the in-transit outfit inspiration-banking begin!

Ramya Giangola, Founder of Gogoluxe


Silvia Tcherassi dress, Staud bag, Celine shoes, Celine necklace, RTH charm necklace
Photo by Giancarlo Giangola.

If we’re talking about the ultimate travel fantasy, then I would already be in Athens for a few days, ready to embark on a month-long Greek island-hopping adventure by sea on a dream yacht.

I am wearing this crisp, gorgeous cotton dress from Colombian designer Silvia Tcherassi because it’s basically like wearing your coziest nightgown. (Also, the anchor print is very much on-theme for the boating experience I am about to have.) It can double as a beach coverup and, of course, it’s great for a night on the town in Paros or Patmos!

This Staud bag is perfect because it’s almost a two-in-one. The netting can be used separately and is perfect for when we stop and go market shopping for provisions to bring back to the boat. These Céline slip-ons are super comfy and work with everything, plus they’re easy to slide on and off.

I kept kept the jewelry minimal but chic: a Céline daisy necklace and a leather charm necklace by RTH.

Last but not least: our dog Nero. Because this is the ultimate fantasy, he would be with me on my Greek adventure.

IG: @gogoluxe

Azède Jean-Pierre, designer


Azede Jean-Pierre shirt dress and pants, ATP Atelier shoes, hat from artisans in Haiti.
Photo by @visualsbypierre.

I’ve been going back and forth from the Caribbean recently to get inspired for my next collection and a few philanthropic projects I’m working on. I like the idea of all-white for travel because it’s refreshing, and it feels like a mental blank canvas keeps you cooler in warmer weather.

The loose fit of this look adds to the overall breathability and comfort, and there’s something bold and confident about these large-sized garments.

IG: @azedejean_pierre

Laurel Pantin, Editorial and Fashion Director at Coveteur
Lacausa dress, vintage green jacket — another here, Cornetti sandals
Photo by Andee Olson.

This is my best “Upper West Side Mom” outfit (despite the fact that I’m neither a mom nor an Upper West Sider). It’s exactly what I want to wear on my haul out to the Hamptons this weekend. It’s supposed to be rainy and kind of chilly, and this Lacausa dress and vintage green jacket work for my Grey Gardens fantasies. I’ve been wearing these Cornetti sandals everywhere because I love how they sort of disappear into my legs, and because I plan on alternating between this dress and my long-sleeved Sleep Shirt dress all weekend. I’m not bringing a suitcase.

IG: @lapantin

Lucy Laucht, Photographer


Apiece Apart top, J.Crew skirt, Soludos espadrilles, Madewell jacket, Preston & Olivia straw hat, bag from market in Mexico, Away carry-on, Lucy Folk and Miansai jewelry
Photo by Lucy Laucht. 

I love the concept of dressing up for air travel. It’s a lost art in a world of sweatpants, neck pillows and scratchy socks. Recently, I flew to Rome and this insanely chic lady was on my flight. She wore bright colors in that perfect Italian way and it inspired me to up my game. Practicalities aside, I’d wear this outfit on the plane, hopefully arriving just in time for aperitivo at Hotel Caruso in Ravello.

IG: @lucylaucht

Anum Bashir, Founder of Desert Mannequin


Gucci top, Gentle Monster sunglasses, Topshop jeans
Photo by Waqas Farid.

In this look, I’m on a gondola traveling through Venice for the opening of the Biennale this summer. Contemporary art plays a huge role in my life, and both the Biennial and Italy hold a very special place in my heart. It’s where Waqas and I honeymooned back in 2011.

First stop on the itinerary is Lorenzo Quinn’s much talked about installation entitled Support.

Why did I choose to wear this? Because when in Rome (or in this case, Venice). In order to look as quintessentially Italian as possible, I’d turn to Gucci. The goal is to look/feel local (considering their go-big-or-go-home approach to style), eclectic and like a seasoned veteran of the art world. Leggings, sneakers and T-shirts just won’t cut it. This top by Gucci does a great job at saying, “Hi, I’m here in Venice. Do you want to speak to me in Italian and sell me a painting or two?”

IG: @desertmannequin

The post 5 Cool People in Their Aspirational Travel Outfits appeared first on Man Repeller.

16 Important Animal Instagram Accounts to Follow ASAP

Collage by Maria Jia Ling Pitt, photo by Teddy the Shetland via @teddytheshetland.

Pet Instagram accounts are my favorite genre of literature. To say I was born to review them would be to understand me deeply and implicitly. My Instagram feed is essentially an animal slideshow, interrupted only by the odd meme and occasional outfit. I keep a tight ship. It’s stuffed with quadrupeds. There’s almost nothing I love more than a paw, but a claw or hoof will do.

Animals are perfect. For one, they can’t speak. Contrary to popular and scientific belief, this puts them ahead of the human species by several evolutionary leaps. Humans simply can’t be trusted. We ruin everything and never understand each other. Pondering what a person is thinking is stressful; pondering what an animal is thinking is my personal passion. They inspire me to live a simpler life. They’re pure little angels.

Pet IG accounts, just like animals themselves, are never braggadocious, spicy or dramatic unless you want them to be. They never have ulterior motives. Unless they’re selling you something, which — listen, animals make the cutest sales associates. Kylie Jenner selling weight-loss tea is annoying. A cat selling a Pavlovian-esque automatic feeder is adorable and meta.

None of this is new information for the modern heart-having Instagram user. We all know our our Toasts, our Grumpy Cats, our Marnies, our Lil Bubs, our Menswear Dogs, our Cats of Instagrams, but do you know your Pinpins, your Pumpkins, your Bagels? It’s time to get more niche. Below, I’ve catalogued 16 of my personal favorite animal Instagram accounts. This is a mere starter pack. And I’ll warn you, I have very specific tastes. Also, please consider my self-editing re: the number of cats on this list as the sole token of my restraint henceforth. Then go ahead and tag the shit out of your fave animal IG accounts below because there’s always room for more on MY feed.

Below, my recs, categorized by [a loose definition of] species.

Raccoon: @pumpkintheraccoon

A post shared by Pumpkin The Raccoon (@pumpkintheraccoon) on Oct 17, 2016 at 5:58am PDT

Pumpkin is chill as fuck. First of all, he lives with two dogs. Second of all, he’s a fucking raccoon living in a house. He sits on the couch like this exclusively and he breaks into the trash constantly because he’s LITERALLY a raccoon. Follow immediately.

Guinea pig: @ludwik_guinea_pig

A post shared by Ludwik (@ludwik_guinea_pig) on May 22, 2017 at 7:13am PDT

Ludwik is a hairless guinea pig and he’s incredible. His facial hair is genuinely stomach-turning. All of his posts are styled shoots and all his captions are shallow, unattributed aphorisms. This one was: “Be strong. You never know who you’re inspiring.” Where’s the lie?

Shih tzu: @dailydougie

Nope.

A post shared by Dougie the Shih Tzu (@dailydougie) on Apr 2, 2017 at 11:34am PDT

Dougie is a living stuffed animal genetically engineered to turn your heart into a dog bed. His ears are always fashioned into a chic bob and his body is stuffed with cotton. Follow.

Squirrel: @sara4309 

A post shared by sara (@sara4309) on May 16, 2017 at 2:57pm PDT

Sara4309 is bold, and not just because her handle has four numbers at the end of it like a popular girl’s AIM screen name in 1998. Her knit bowler hats are out of style and yet look on-point. I can’t say I know a lot about Sara4309 personally because all of her captions are in Japanese, but her life is colorful & inspiring, so.

Hedgehog: @theadventuresofhedgy

A post shared by Hedgy & Friends

16 Important Animal Instagram Account to Follow ASAP

Collage by Maria Jia Ling Pitt, photo by Teddy the Shetland via @teddytheshetland.

Pet Instagram accounts are my favorite genre of literature. To say I was born to review them would be to understand me deeply and implicitly. My Instagram feed is essentially an animal slideshow, interrupted only by the odd meme and occasional outfit. I keep a tight ship. It’s stuffed with quadrupeds. There’s almost nothing I love more than a paw, but a claw or hoof will do.

Animals are perfect. For one, they can’t speak. Contrary to popular and scientific belief, this puts them ahead of the human species by several evolutionary leaps. Humans simply can’t be trusted. We ruin everything and never understand each other. Pondering what a person is thinking is stressful; pondering what an animal is thinking is my personal passion. They inspire me to live a simpler life. They’re pure little angels.

Pet IG accounts, just like animals themselves, are never braggadocious, spicy or dramatic unless you want them to be. They never have ulterior motives. Unless they’re selling you something, which — listen, animals make the cutest sales associates. Kylie Jenner selling weight-loss tea is annoying. A cat selling a Pavlovian-esque automatic feeder is adorable and meta.

None of this is new information for the modern heart-having Instagram user. We all know our our Toasts, our Grumpy Cats, our Marnies, our Lil Bubs, our Menswear Dogs, our Cats of Instagrams, but do you know your Pinpins, your Pumpkins, your Bagels? It’s time to get more niche. Below, I’ve catalogued 16 of my personal favorite animal Instagram accounts. This is a mere starter pack. And I’ll warn you, I have very specific tastes. Also, please consider my self-editing re: the number of cats on this list as the sole token of my restraint henceforth. Then go ahead and tag the shit out of your fave animal IG accounts below because there’s always room for more on MY feed.

Below, my recs, categorized by [a loose definition of] species.

Raccoon: @pumpkintheraccoon

A post shared by Pumpkin The Raccoon (@pumpkintheraccoon) on Oct 17, 2016 at 5:58am PDT

Pumpkin is chill as fuck. First of all, he lives with two dogs. Second of all, he’s a fucking raccoon living in a house. He sits on the couch like this exclusively and he breaks into the trash constantly because he’s LITERALLY a raccoon. Follow immediately.

Guinea pig: @ludwik_guinea_pig

A post shared by Ludwik (@ludwik_guinea_pig) on May 22, 2017 at 7:13am PDT

Ludwik is a hairless guinea pig and he’s incredible. His facial hair is genuinely stomach-turning. All of his posts are styled shoots and all his captions are shallow, unattributed aphorisms. This one was: “Be strong. You never know who you’re inspiring.” Where’s the lie?

Shih tzu: @dailydougie

Nope.

A post shared by Dougie the Shih Tzu (@dailydougie) on Apr 2, 2017 at 11:34am PDT

Dougie is a living stuffed animal genetically engineered to turn your heart into a dog bed. His ears are always fashioned into a chic bob and his body is stuffed with cotton. Follow.

Squirrel: @sara4309 

A post shared by sara (@sara4309) on May 16, 2017 at 2:57pm PDT

Sara4309 is bold, and not just because her handle has four numbers at the end of it like a popular girl’s AIM screen name in 1998. Her knit bowler hats are out of style and yet look on-point. I can’t say I know a lot about Sara4309 personally because all of her captions are in Japanese, but her life is colorful & inspiring, so.

Hedgehog: @theadventuresofhedgy

A post shared by Hedgy & Friends

My Most Embarrassing Fashion Phases, Ranked

It’s a little bit sad when you realize that you’ve outgrown experimental fashion phases. It’s like learning you may never get any taller, which I figured out in sixth grade. All those million alternate versions of you don’t feel tangible like they once did. The upside is that who you are settles even deeper into your DNA. Getting dressed is easier. You buy less. Your social media presence is more cohesive.

The past, meanwhile, waits to haunt you in the form of processed disposable Kodak camera photos hiding in your childhood bedroom. I recently discovered all of them during a trip home. Here are my eight worst phases, the ones I’m most embarrassed about, ranked from “meh” to “I don’t know her.”

8. Catwoman (22 to 24 years old)

What a blessed, brief time it was when I embraced an all-black wardrobe for the sake of my bank account and small closet space. The day I realized all-black meant no one could tell that I was re-wearing the same thing — especially at night, when I was “going out” often — was liberating. All I had to do to get ready was my hair and makeup. This was the sweet spot of early social media, when it wasn’t common practice yet to post every single photo to Yung Instagram each and every time my friends and I did anything. Things were stylistically simpler back then. This phase comes in at number eight because it wasn’t actually embarrassing; it’s retrospectively boring.

7. Before the Kardashians… (21 to 22 years old)

Let’s just admit that we’ve all made more than one post-grad social appearance in a bandage skirt. Let’s also admit (safe space) that every once in a while we look back on this short-lived “going-out phase” like…Did I look kind of amazing in that or what?

6. Too-Old Disney Channel Super Star (15 years old)

It didn’t matter if you were Team Lindsay Lohan or Hilary Duff (in the fight over Aaron Carter), you wore the same thing: a peasant skirt, a spaghetti-strap top and a denim jacket (in case it got chilly in my best friend’s converted-into-a-TV-room-basement). It was the ultimate outfit, my first foray into dressing like literally everyone else while feeling supremely independent. That’s probably because I was among the first to snag a pair of those two-dollar slippers from Chinatown.

Speaking of those slippers, how did all of us across America know to buy those shoes at the same time? They were the footwear equivalent of how every ’90s kid magically knew to blow into cartridges in the case of a Nintendo glitch.

5. “Punk Rocker” Without a License (13 years old)

Nothing said anarchy like asking my dad to drive me to the mall so that I could spend my babysitting money on an ironic Care Bears tee at Hot Topic. That’s why the Warped Tour was cool, because I could ditch my dad in the air conditioned Parents’ Tent.

Pants were utilitarian during this phase: a loop on the thigh for a hammer I’d never use, giant pockets, lots of grommets for bondage straps and chains. Every mother’s dream. Shirts were emblazoned with the logos of skate brands (I did not skate), band names (never to be worn to see said band, of course), screen-printed 1980s cartoon characters or all-black with something sarcastic in white writing, like “I see stupid people.” I stacked a million rubber bracelets up my arms from wrists to elbows but accessorized with one belt, and it was covered in pyramid studs. My black Misfits sweatshirt had holes in the sleeves for my thumbs to stick out of. Lyrics written in Wite-Out covered my backpack — this was just pre-AIM profile. Pink Rocket Dog sneakers completed the outfit, or Chuck Taylors. And I was punk, not goth, DAD.

4. Going-Out Top/Armpit Bag Cliché (19 to 20 years old)

This phase was some sort of ’90s carryover, I guess. It’s not so bad in that I get the appeal of wearing a cool top with jeans. I think it was the bootcut legs plus the pumps that went with, not to mention the bag that lived underneath my pit at all times, that brought this phase to number four on our list.

3. Peak Teen (16 to 17 years old)

Well before Instagram, the unofficial uniform of the 2005 “Cool” Teen meant layered polo shirts from Abercrombie with a denim skirt from American Eagle and a wide brown belt of unknown Western origin that would hang around one’s hips with zero intention of holding up her very low waistband. Bonus points if you wore kitten-heel flip flops. It was all very The OC. 

2. College Freshman Experimenting With Fashion (18 years old)

This was a style transition rather than a phase, but I didn’t totally know I was in style purgatory. I wasn’t that self-aware yet. The math looked something like leggings + Uggs + Juicy Hoodie, and then to really let everyone know I knew about fashion, an elastic headband around my head like a flapper. Oh yeah.

1. College Senior Experimenting With Fashion (21 years old)

Listen up world, my cupcake-puff of a skirt and white tank top with funky black shoes (I only owned black “going out” shoes at this point for some unknown reason, that and a metallic pair from prom) told anyone who glanced my way. Not only have I seen every episode ever of  Sex & the City, not only do I deeply identify with Carrie Bradshaw and especially her relationship with Big, MY pyramid belt — the one I have chosen to wear around my waist because it’s the ultimate juxtaposition considering the balletic nature of this outfit —  is from childhood. Besides, I went through a little bit of a punk phase when I was younger, so this is authentic.

Shout out in the comments if you went through any of these too. We’ll get through the embarrassment together.

Illustration by @CrayolaMode. 

The post My Most Embarrassing Fashion Phases, Ranked appeared first on Man Repeller.

What Happens When Getting Dressed is No Longer Fun?

I’m having some trouble getting dressed lately. This must sound like a fairly benign disclosure, particularly for someone who has essentially made a career of speaking publicly about the extremely private. But this particular bout of difficulty is ripping the rug out from under me because I’ve spent so many years believing that who I am is what I wear, making a case for style as a litmus test for identity. This practice goes beyond the personal — it’s the basis of a business and a brand. So what happens when it stops working?

I get out of bed and head towards my closet, excited to get dressed, but once there, I find myself paralyzed. It feels a lot like writer’s block — you have all the words and yet, you cannot compose even a single sentence.

Everyone experiences these spells of un-inspiration among their own stuff. You feel blah, you’re anxious, you’re busy — for whatever reason, you don’t want to think about getting dressed. So you rely on your closet tricks, the top-shelf, blah-proof garments that always work. Most of us have these tricks. For me, they’re high-waist jeans and striped tees, button-down shirts and denim cut-offs. I’ve even pulled out some newer ones, shin-length socks and tea-length dresses, but none of it works anymore. So what do I do? Can I do anything?

To try, I tracked how I dressed for a week to figure out if it would tell me anything my mind wasn’t yet computing. Here’s what the log looked like:

Monday:
Isabel Marant top, Levi’s shorts, & Other Stories socks, The Row loafers

I feel foggy. My stomach is slightly bloated, my thighs are kind of hairy. My inclination is to wear something bright, because it seems pretty nice out, but I can’t bring myself to. So I rely on trick number one: a new linen shirt, which I basically rebuy every single Spring, and denim cut-offs that I have had for years. Add shin-length socks and suede loafers and I feel good enough to walk out the door.

Tuesday:
Rosie Assoulin top and pants, Mansur Gavriel shoes, Staud bag

Foggy again, but I don’t feel like dressing so plainly, so I’m gonna fight the fog. I can fight the fog! Today I’ll wear a gingham shirtdress that basically comes with matching pants. But now I’m relying on someone else’s vision. This isn’t a look I put together, it’s a look that was put together for me. Completely prescribed, but that no insurance will cover. For what it’s worth, I feel excellent.

Wednesday:
Natasha Zinko blazer, Kule T-shirt, Vetements jeans, Church’s loafers

It’s raining, but if I have to see another sweater, I’m giving up my passport and moving to the sun. I put on high-waist white jeans with a striped T-shirt and a Pepto-pink blazer. I hate how I look. The clothes are wearing me, I’m not wearing them.

Thursday:
Celine shirt, Adam Lippes skirt, Chanel sandals

This tiger top and zebra skirt are the first pieces to catch my eye today and that’s why I’m wearing them. Easy default. Feeling? Neutral.

Friday:
Rosie Assoulin top, Vita Kin skirt, Chanel shoes

One last ditch effort: a green folk skirt with a similarly colored tank top, plus satin sandals and a clutch. Again, I don’t feel much like myself, but it’s good.

Deduction: It seems I felt my best in looks that weren’t mine (see: Tuesday, Friday). This scares the shit out of me — am I trying to escape myself? What am I running away from? For each time that I rely on a trick and it works, there is almost always another time where I do the same and it doesn’t. This was true between Monday (when I felt okay) and Wednesday, when I wore the striped shirt and jeans. I spent the majority of that day wanting to go home to dream up a spectacle that would eradicate the paradoxical doldrums of a pink blazer.

The thing is, if I had gone home, nothing would have transpired. I’d have gone to my closet, looked around at clothes that I had deliberately selected to live in there and thought to myself: Who is this person? I think this is bigger than a lack of fashion stimulation; I’m outgrowing the identity I have carried through so much of my 20s. But it’s not just my identity because of what has been built — both personal and not — around it. If that sounds dramatic, it’s because it is. Not knowing how to dress has thrown me down an existential spiral that is forcing me to wake up to life. But it’s still so cloudy, so it’s probably best that I wait for even just a sliver of clarity — a pop of excitement, maybe a pair of shoes or a weird winged dress — anything that will display itself and remind me that even through the most radical change, you never cease to exist. I am who I am — we are who we are. I hope.

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Photos by Edith Young

The post What Happens When Getting Dressed is No Longer Fun? appeared first on Man Repeller.

Please Wash Your Hair As Much As You Want

It is a truth universally acknowledged by the internet that a woman who washes her hair more than twice a week must be deeply confused, or perhaps living under a rock and therefore unaware of the 2015-2017 ban on this practice.

I’m kidding about the ban (that would be some next-level Handmaid’s Tale shiz), but I’m not kidding about the fact that concern over hair-washing frequency has intensified over the past few years, to the point that it seems like a publicly accepted facet of hygiene philosophy. Just like the sky is blue and grass is green, shampoo is public enemy #1.

There have been countless articles cautioning against daily washing and preaching the virtues of shampoo abstinence. “We are well trained to lather, rinse and repeat,” writes the New York Times. “But chances are you’re washing your hair far too often.”

Not only is this seen as not ideal, it is also touted as damaging. “You should never wash your hair every day,” says celebrity hairstylist Ted Gibson to The Huffington Post. “All this does is strip essential oils from your hair. Day-old hair styles better and generally looks better than freshly washed hair.”

You guys! We are living in a hair-washing fear culture filled with shampoo smear campaigns and 14-day fasts. I didn’t realize the extent of it until I was getting my hair highlighted last weekend and my beloved stylist (blonde-making magician Cara Craig of Suite Caroline salon) offhandedly mentioned that she washes her hair every day. My reaction was one of horror. “You do!?!?,” I asked, stunned. My gut reaction was to immediately start…well…hair-shaming her. “You’re not supposed to do that, you know,” I wanted to say. But then I thought, who am I to question a hair stylist about hair? Isn’t she the one touching hundreds of scalps all day long? So instead, I asked, “What do you think about all the hype about how you should only wash it, like, once a week?”

“I do support not washing your hair everyday if that’s your preference — it’s just not for me,” she said. “I wash my hair every day because I think it looks better. I have fine, blonde hair and my scalp is relatively oily. Maybe it’s just that my face is not dry and I wear longish bangs, so I like to keep them clean. I also exercise in the morning and need to at least rinse my hair after that. It feels good when my hair is clean and it looks better, too.”

Huh. Sounded pretty logical to me. Exceptionally logical, actually.

I asked her if there was any validity to the blanket statements people make about how literally everyone on the planet (hyperbole intended) could benefit from washing their hair less.

“Several years back, everyone started talking about not washing your hair everyday and how washing your hair everyday is ‘bad,’” she said. “That’s the tricky part about beauty trends — they just aren’t made for everyone. Everyone’s hair and grooming habits are different. I guess I am uncomfortable when clients feel like they are ‘in trouble’ for washing their hair everyday. That’s my least favorite part about beauty trends.”

I was blown away — not because what she said was particularly radical, but because I hadn’t realized how narrow-minded my thinking about hair hygiene had become. I too, hated the idea of women feeling “bad” or “in trouble” for doing something that made them feel good, so why was I so quick to hair-shame?

For context, I’m one of those lucky people who can go a week, even a week and a half, without washing my hair. My hair is naturally very coarse, curly and dry, so forgoing shampoo for days on end is NBD. But until that moment in the salon, I didn’t think of myself as lucky — I thought of myself as “good.” I was a good hair-washing good girl. (Translation: I was a self-righteous hair jerk!!!!)

The next week, I polled the Man Repeller team to find out how often they wash their hair on average. To those who admitted to washing their hair daily or every other day, I posed the a follow-up question: Have you ever been shamed for washing your hair too much? 

“Yes,” said Yvonne, who washes her hair every other day. “I only started washing my hair every other day because I was shamed for washing it everyday. And that’s why my hair looks like crap every other day now. I’m probably gonna go wash it right now.”

Edith, who washes her hair daily, reported a similar experience: “It’s the same as blow-drying daily, which I also do. I’ve seen no negative side effects but am shamed regardless.”

Leandra, Leslie and Amelia, who have hair with more texture, wash every three days, and Shari and Erica, who have tighter curls, wash their hair once a week like I do. There is an obvious correlation between texture and hair-washing frequency preference, which makes a lot of sense, but what doesn’t make sense to me is why we started assigning moral value to hair-washing frequency in the first place.

The internet is a wild place, where “shoulds” and “shouldn’ts” spread faster than creamy peanut butter on hot bread, especially in the beauty/health/wellness sphere. Sometimes a simple gut check is necessary. If it makes you happy, do it — and if it doesn’t, don’t. Right now, what would make me happy is some creamy peanut butter on hot bread, if that can pls be arranged.

The post Please Wash Your Hair As Much As You Want appeared first on Man Repeller.

Memorial Day Sales 2017: A Highly Strategic Shopping Guide

If you’re like me and rarely buy anything full-price, you’re probably at least peripherally aware of the typical discount cycle: big sales in early December and late May, bonus reductions on Black Friday/Cyber Monday and Memorial Day. If you’re also a freak (like me) and already have a strategic approach plan for the impending Memorial Day discount spree, you can feel free to stop reading now. I have no further wisdom to impart to you. If, however, you don’t happen to be a total weirdo who spends too much time thinking about savvy shopping, I might be of some help.

In other words, this is not your average Memorial Day Weekend sale roundup. This is a Memorial Day Weekend sale roundup ON STEROIDS. I’m going to tell you where to shop, what to buy and how to optimize your shopping experience for maximum pleasure and savings. All I ask in return is your undying loyalty and the right to name your firstborn child Harling, girl or boy.

Ready? Okay, first off, here is a list I’ve compiled of all the sites running special Memorial Day Weekend Discounts:

Moda Operandi (extra 20% off sale with code EXTRA20)

J.Crew (30% off with code SWEET)

The RealReal (20% off with code REAL)

Solid & Striped (20% off with code MDW20)

Onia (20% off with code Memorial20)

Of a Kind (25% off with code HOMERUN)

3×1 (25% off with code MDW25)

Dear Frances (25% off with code MEMORIAL25)

Nikki Chasin (25% off with code SUMMER2017)

Loup (25% off with code SUMMER2017)

Wray (20% off with code MEMORIAL17)

HER (20% off with code MD20)

Maje (20% off — no code needed)

And here is a list I’ve compiled of all the sites running general spring/summer blowout sales:

MATCHESFASHION

Net-a-Porter

Farfetch

YOOX

Kirna Zabete

Shopbop

Bergdorf Goodman

Steven Alan

Goop

Soludos

This is a lot to sort through, even for a freak (like me). To avoid last-minute sale panic, I like to comb through the sites ahead of time and bookmark my favorite stuff. That way, I’m more efficient when the stuff actually goes on sale, and I have a better chance of nabbing things before they sell out.

Here are some of my favorites culled from the above sites:

My super secret tip is to install a widget like Shoptagr on your computer to help you compile all your favorite picks in one place and track discounts. I realize “Shoptagr” sounds like some kind of sketchy Swedish bicycle startup, but it’s actually a highly useful shopping tool that lets you save products from any site to a “wish list” and emails you notifications about future price drops, or when something that was previously sold out comes back in stock. This system enables me to quickly purchase sale items I think will sell out fast and stalk items that are languishing and will likely get more steeply discounted. I told you I wasn’t messing around.

My only other advice is to wear deodorant. Memorial Day Weekend sale-shopping can get heated. Luckily, you’ll already be wearing white.

The post Memorial Day Sales 2017: A Highly Strategic Shopping Guide appeared first on Man Repeller.

Rosé Who? It’s All About the Aperitivo This Summer

The Italian word aperitivo doesn’t have a literal English translation. Derived from the Latin aperire (meaning “to open”), aperitivo describes a pre-dinner sipping and snacking ritual intended to stimulate appetite and encourage digestion, a precious moment to slow down and enjoy face time sans smartphones. As the day comes to a close, cafés across Italy fill until they overflow into adjacent piazzas with people partaking in the sacred custom of fare un’aperitivo. It’s an integral part of the Italian experience and Americans are beginning to catch on.

Leisure as an essential part of life is engrained in the Italian consciousness from a young age, a mentality their approach to alcohol reflects. “In Italy, the drinking culture is very different in that there’s no sense of urgency to get drunk,” says chef Nina Clemente of The Plaza at The Standard, High Line. “I grew up having a little bit of wine in my water.” Americans may find this unapologetic embrace of la dolce vita difficult to comprehend, but it’s for that reason exactly that it’s worth giving it a try. “In Amalfi, my mother lived in a beautiful house 200 stone steps up from the sea,” says Clemente. “She would always have people on the terrace to have a cocktail, some olives, grissini and charcuterie. It’s a celebratory grazing session before a later meal.” If this sounds picturesque, it’s because it is.

Light, refreshing and fizzy, aperitivos are also full of flavor, optimized to wet your palate without dulling your taste buds or compromising your tolerance like stronger liquors or sugary cocktails. They’re generally lower in alcohol content and are served with a dash of sparkling or soda water, over ice or with a twist to offset their innate intensity.

In Spritz: Italy’s Most Iconic Aperitivo Cocktail, aperitivos are divided into two main classifications: aromatized wines and bitter liqueurs. The former consists of wines that have been fortified or strengthened and naturally flavored, such as vermouth, chinato and Americano. The latter encompasses bitter liqueurs like Cappelletti and Contratto that are easily recognizable by their bright yellow, orange or red shades. The strength and taste of each liqueur corresponds to the depth of its hue, with fiery Aperol leaning sweeter and lighter than scarlet Campari, which tends to be sharper and more alcoholic.

Like most of the greatest contributions to Western civilization, the aperitivo tradition can be traced back to ancient Greece, where it was born out of necessity. “Even though wine was considered a drink of the gods, it was not very godly to be inebriated all of the time,” says Jordan Salcito, Momofuku’s resident wine connoisseur and founder of RAMONA. “They had a lot of strong wine, but it wasn’t necessarily delicious.” Diluting wine with water — or adding honey, spices and herbs — made the drink more palatable and helped to fend off drunkenness. When Rome surpassed Greece as the dominant power in the Mediterranean in the middle of the second century B.C, they adopted the practice as their own.

It wasn’t until the turn of the nineteenth century that aperitivos began to take off internationally, gaining widespread popularity throughout Europe and later, the United States. “In Europe, wine is and always has been a natural part of life,” says Salcito. “Everyone drinks it, not just the elite class.” On the other hand, America’s complex history with alcohol — formed by Prohibition, stifled by countless legalities and stigmatized by religious doctrines — helps to explain the lag. The first domestic iteration of the spritz was the white-wine spritzer of the 1980s, a glorified diet fad reflective of the era’s complete rejection of challenging flavors. Now, the closest American convention is happy hour, which is characterized by dollar draughts, cheap well drinks and wings — a far cry from the romanticized Italian ideal.

Finding the aperitivo that suits your palate is only a matter of opening up to unfamiliar words, colors, flavors and textures. “I had heard of Campari forever, but I didn’t know what to do with it,” says Salcito. “I knew I liked the posters and the ads, but if I drank Campari on its own, it was too bitter.” If your initial forays weren’t entirely pleasant, fear not, there is an aperitivo out there for you. “The beautiful thing about aperitivos is that you can turn each one into a beverage that fits your taste or find something else that you like better,” says Salcito. “There’s an entire world of them should you choose to explore it.”

Food, cocktails and location courtesy of Grotta Azzura Restaurant, follow them on Instagram @GrottaAzzuraNY; photos by Edith Young.

The post Rosé Who? It’s All About the Aperitivo This Summer appeared first on Man Repeller.

Leandra and Amelia Trade Styles for a Day

In honor of the launch of the new (but same old) Manrepeller.com, we’ll be debuting makeovers all week. First up was Monday’s makeover-that-wasn’t-a-makeover with Stacy London, then Tuesday’s hair makeovers, Wednesday’s bedroom makeover and Thursday’s tips to make over your life. Today, the style makeover you’ve been waiting for. If you’re into before-and-afters, you’re going to like this. And if you’re not, please see me after class. We need to talk. Happy makeover week!

We met because of a dress. Leandra and I were interns together, and one day she wore a tented, sherbet-colored, super-short, floofy frock. I liked everything about it — the shape, the color, the way she styled it — so I wrote her a message on Facebook and said, “I like your dress! Who makes it?” This was before the era of tap-for-credits — the dark ages, as we called it — when an IRL label inquiry could lead to IRL friendship. This was also one of the last times we’d ever see eye to eye on an outfit.

We have very different styles. Leandra is a trend-forecasting, print-clashing wonder woman who embraces odd shapes and disproves the theory that ten wrongs don’t make a right. I stick to “classic” things and a pretty preppy uniform that revolves around the button-down. It’s not uncommon for us to gravitate toward similar items, but the way we’d wear them differs greatly.

Our individual personal styles have evolved and solidified, while our close chair proximity has led us to more frequent instances of dressing like one another. With Man Repeller getting a makeover and all, we thought it would be fun to really blow out what that means. I styled her and she styled me.

Me first! Here’s Leandra dressed like a horseback-riding, tennis racquet-swinging, sailboat-adjacent hot mom from West Palm Beach meets Nantucket meets my brain.
Everlane shirt over Diane von Furstenberg sleeveless cardigan, Thom Browne blazer, Reformation pants, Nancy Gonzalez shoes, Rejina Pyo sunglasses

During a forever-ago fashion week, when Leandra and I were still in a long-distance relationship AKA we did not work together every single day, we ran into one another at a show. Leandra greeted me with, “Twins! We’re wearing the exact same thing!” We both had similar ideas — a blazer and shorts as the bare bones, my sartorial sentence ending in a tee shirt and hers carrying on for a whole other paragraph. “We are not wearing the same exact thing,” I had to clarify for her. “You look insane.” I thought it would be fun to replicate that sentiment again.

Leandra’s next! She styled me in an outfit that she has worn before and will likely wear again.
Esteban Cortazar shirt over Everlane T-shirt, J.Crew camouflage jacket, Rosie Assoulin pants, Gucci sunglasses

Before I looked in the mirror, I told her that I felt like a print-mixing member of Insane Clown Posse in this getup. But this is what’s amazing about her style: not only does she “get away” with it, it translates well onto other people even when you think it won’t. Then the rest of the office told me I looked awesome, which was annoying because it meant Leandra did a good job, but also nice, because it was my butt in the pants. Would I wear this again? In full, absolutely not; in pieces, definitely. Will I Instagram myself in this outfit? Absolutely.

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Moral of the story? …Uh, there isn’t one, but always tell someone when you like her or his dress because you never know — it could end in friendship or better, a makeover!

Photos by Edith Young. 

The post Leandra and Amelia Trade Styles for a Day appeared first on Man Repeller.

3 Ways to Wear a Dress if You Hate Dresses

Sometimes, I’m all about a dress. Zipping one on before a wedding or holiday dinner or special event feels right. Sometimes, I don’t mind feeling done up, all womanly and put together, like the grown-ups I admired as a kid. But day-to-day, I prefer to feel casual and boyish. This presents a challenge in the summer, when structured layers feel like wet blankets and frilly dresses like a breeze.

Dresses are girly. They often convey a spirit that, while perfectly okay, doesn’t really feel like me. And they do it in one fell swoop. I get that the one-and-done nature of dresses is part of the appeal, but to me it feels constricting. A full outfit, on the other hand, is easier to manipulate and make my own. A slinky tank can be pared back with old Levi’s and high-top Converse; an A-line skirt by a baggy vintage tee; tight-fitting pants by an oversize denim jacket and a baseball hat. But those are just too hot in the summer. My knees and elbows need to breathe. Heavily. And shorts are just hard.

How do I make a dress feel dressed down? How do I wear a dress without feeling like a summer daisy, even though I love summer daisies platonically? When I posed these questions the other day, Leandra jumped in right away. “You can totally wear a dress and still look cool. Let me style you for a story!” I obviously obliged. Have never done so quicker, in fact. And I’m so glad I did, if for no other reason than having the honor of wandering around a sculpture garden in four-inch heels, feeling like Leandra’s well-loved Barbie doll.

Scroll down for the fruits of her labor. Three dresses, three outfits, nary a flirt, if I have a say in it.

1. A strawberry in tube socks

Realisation Par dress, Topshop socks, Eytys shoes, The Row pouch, Safsafu earrings

When I saw this dress on the rack, I must admit I was horrified. It’s so feminine. Look at the ruffles! That shape! So pretty and so not me. I imagined she’d style me in structural, cotton dresses, perhaps tea-length. This felt like the opposite of that. But a pair of tube socks and sneakers later, I started to understand her vision. She’d somehow managed to make this strawberry dress feel less sweet, more cool. A fete unto itself.

Consensus: Would I wear this dress? Probably not. But! I didn’t feel silly in it at all, and I definitely plan to co-opt this look thigh-down. Sneakers with a dress changes the whole thing.

2. Cleopatra if she time-traveled to the ’90s

Protagonist dress, Manolo Blahnik shoes, A.P.C. flannel, Aurélie Bidermann necklaces and Jennifer Fisher collar, Eddie Borgo cuffs, Selima Optique sunglasses

I’ll be honest: When I put on this silk dress, I got a pit in my stomach. This time I did feel silly, like a fraudulent Cinderella. It was hugging me in places I don’t prefer to be hugged and I struggled to hide the discomfort on my face.

“What’s wrong?” Leandra asked me.

“I don’t know,” I responded, my cheeks flushed red, “I would just never wear this.” It would look so much better on her, said an evil voice in my head. I wanted to hide. But then she grabbed a flannel and knotted it around my waist, disguising the dress, and dropped a bunch of necklaces over my head, transforming the neckline, and I felt the whole thing change. I was beginning to understand that dresses don’t have to be one-and-done.

Consensus: Wearing this casually — like to lunch — would make me feel like a wannabe Leandra, rather than myself, but I’m 100% taking these style cues for next time I genuinely need to dress up. I’ve never looked this cool at a formal event.

3. A cool teen who lunches

Ulla Johnson dress, MUJI flannel, Tibi shoes, Rejina Pyo sunglasses, Jane Carr neckscarf, Staud bag

This dress, which is short, ruched and covered in pink and purple flowers, isn’t something I’d even pause on while shopping, much less buy and wear. But wear it I did, with bright pink heels no less. I was thrilled to add the flannel though, it felt like home. As did the bandana; I wear neck scarves a lot. This outfit probably felt the most like me, but it’s also the least wearable on a hot day, which might boot me back to square one.

Consensus: Oversize button-downs can dial anything back. A lighter one might work on not-too-hot days. I might even be able to pull off something this feminine and still look casual, if I can just find the right attitude. (Still working on that.)

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My main takeaway from this experiment is that I’m not thinking creatively enough when I style dresses. Adding doesn’t have to mean adding hot layers, it can mean adding something super unexpected (like tube socks) or disrupting the shape (with another shirt) or further deviating from the rules. Less coverage doesn’t have to mean less interesting. I’m excited to head into summer with that attitude.

Photos by Edith Young, styled by Leandra Medine.

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