Leandra Medine's Blog, page 43

Why Everyone Is Horny for Frozen Yogurt, Even Still, and Even in the Winter

I’ll admit that I’ve conflated my self-worth with a number reflected on a scale exactly one time: upon my first visit to the 16 Handles in Greenwich Village. The year was 2011 and the burst of the frozen yogurt bubble that encased New York City was nigh. But I didn’t know that. All I knew was that the pay-by-weight model introduced by 16 Handles permitted—nay, encouraged—me to self-serve tart confectionaries into a pink paper cup the size of a Shetland Pony, but which the cheery employees mercifully called, “medium.” I had read somewhere that self-serve froyo shouldn’t tip the scale beyond $4 dollars. I relegated that silly nutritional fact to a dusty corner of my brain and contemplated heath bar crunch as dollar signs edged past $10 and ultimately settled around $13.

How will I afford this luxury I wish to turn into habit—like skincare, or rhythmically humping a stationary bike? I wondered.

Quick math told me I could either forgo carob chips or find a boyfriend alive with chivalry, one who’d balk at a woman offering to pay. The choice was obvious, but eating froyo with a dude just didn’t feel the same. Just the other night, my husband and I were walking the dog after a particularly rough day and in an effort to cheer me up, he asked, “How about some frozen yogurt?” First of all, kind human, it’s froyo. Secondly—and this was in no part due to the freezing temps outside—I just wasn’t feeling it. There is something about hoovering liquid red velvet birthday cake in the company of women that feels so right.

The bubble may have burst but… frozen yogurt still hits

Virtually since its inception (or rather, the 2007 opening of LA’s first Pinkberry and the ensuing chaos), froyo has occupied a special corner in our cultural consciousness. I struggle to find a rival culinary phenomenon that has persisted in the way that froyo has. Food trends like the cronut and, dare I say, avocado toast, have either faded in relevance or been documented ad nauseam. Even as shops like Red Mango and Pinkberry began to shutter locations as quickly as they opened and froyo seemed destined for a fate akin to Jamba Juice’s (RIP, kind of), the probiotic pastiche prevailed. And despite reports from Grub Street and Bloomberg that consumers have soured on frozen yogurt, my experience has been that the collective female desire for the “mindful” indulgence still reigns supreme.

When I pose the question as to why, my friends are quick to respond. Two things immediately become clear: there is a fair amount of guilt associated with a food that’s built a reputation on the absence of it, and two, that paradox is elemental to froyo’s lure. For example, one friend recounted driving from Brooklyn to Penn Station for Tasti-D-Lite, and then satisfying her craving by pulling over and eating pints in her car. Another reminisced about her freshman year at an all female college; where a floor full of smart women with strong and often conflicting opinions were bonded around Pinkberry’s flavor of the month. “I ate it my entire pregnancy,” said another. One friend, who admits “zero self control” when it comes to Bloomingdale’s mainstay, Forty Carrots, avoids walking past the department store entirely. Every single person I spoke to mentioned the proceeding stomach bloat.

Central to froyo’s appeal? The white lies we tell ourselves

There is a fair amount of self-trickery involved with froyo, and I’m hesitant to chalk it all up to marketing. Many experts have been quick to point out that not all froyos are created equal, and in some cases, ice cream is a better bet. But would it really feel the same adding sliced strawberries to your Ben and Jerry’s? The green juice craze is often to blame for city-wide froyo busts, but who reaches for a kale celery concoction as a reward after a long work day? Is female bonding as satisfying when it happens over 130 strains of Aloe? Does the sound of your Nutribullet quicken your pulse like a self-serve froyo machine gone rogue? Maybe you’re familiar with the scenario: Peanut Butter Perfection keeps whirring even though you’ve turned the lever, and the result is as high as Everest and you have to use the flat side of a spoon to press the chocolate crunch into the sides of your swirl, but Vesuvius is about to blow, so you slurp bits off the top as you make your way to the scale of shame, a flake-gulping fish in a candy-colored tank.

You know the feeling? It’s like illicit excitement with a sprinkle of shame, an emotional cocktail women have been served for generations. You can hear it expressed in idioms like: “I’ve been so bad.” But reaching for a froyo isn’t the same as participating in a 9,000 calorie cheat day. After all, it is yogurt. It’s not overly saccharine. It balances gut bacteria. Charlotte dug into a cup of Tasti D in the 2006 episode of Sex and the City that launched a thousand ships!!! (Cup size: Small.)

Regardless, we shall remain loyal year-round

In my research for this piece, which included me taste testing over ten variations of Vanilla Bean (shout out to Downtown Yogurt), I came across this gem of a quote from a 2008 New York Times article: “[H]igh-school girls in miniskirts, Uggs and goose bumps stood outside Yolato on the Upper West Side, spooning up soft-serve. ‘We come here every day,’ said Shira Cohen, a 10th-grader. ‘I start thinking about the toppings even before second period.’” Something about the imagery struck me—and it wasn’t the UGG Boots, although damn, I miss the relative innocence of 2008 teen fashion. I think more than anything, I was glad for young Shira and her unbridled elation for overpriced granola and frozen aisle blueberries. I related to the inherent irony of her specific situation: Putting yourself through the cold to wait for something that will only make you more cold. And although Yelp reports that this Yolato has since closed, I don’t believe such a statement would be out of place today.

One Yelper wrote of the froyo shop: “I came to Yolato so that I could shake my head in disdain at the people who eat here because when I want ice cream, I buy damn ice cream. Now I must swallow crow, but at least it’s a pretty tasty crow.” Well, Heather M. of New York, Shira Cohen and her legion of 10th graders did not want for ice cream. Wanting ice cream and craving frozen yogurt are not one and the same. Froyo is the closest we have to besting one of life’s greatest malfeasances: Why is everything that tastes good, bad for you?

And if “having it all” is as untenable a quest as it seems to be, well then frozen yogurt might be the closest we ever get.

Photos by Alistair Matthews. Prop Styling by Max Rappaport.

The post Why Everyone Is Horny for Frozen Yogurt, Even Still, and Even in the Winter appeared first on Man Repeller.

Announcement: Saturday Spirals Are the New Sunday Scaries

Controversial opinion: I love Sunday nights. They’re the evenings I’m least likely to have plans, and most likely to get to bed early. These are the only nights of the week I have both the time and energy to recipe hunt, grocery shop, and cook, all in the span of a couple of hours. Sunday nights are the most wholesome of the week and, in my opinion, the Sunday Scaries have given them an unreasonably bad reputation. When it comes to Saturday mornings, however, I have a problem.

The Saturday Spirals generally take place within two to three hours of waking up. (In my experience, the later you wake, the faster they arrive.) Unlike the Sunday Scaries, the Saturday Spiral comes from a place of desperate anticipation, rather than dread. While some people spend their Sunday nights mourning the weekend’s conclusion in fear of the week to come, I spend my Saturday mornings overwhelmed and anxious that I’ve already missed the chance to make my weekend count.

Let me paint you a picture: It’s Saturday morning and I wake up around 9 a.m. I didn’t go out the night before, but stayed up late watching TV. I am not hungover, but I’m tired, so I might as well be. I decide to go back to sleep, but instead lie in bed for an hour just looking at my phone. Eventually, I get up. I have no breakfast food in the house, so I don’t eat. I wander around my living room, straighten my couch cushions, look out my window, check my phone for the 20th time. I consider leaving the house to get an avocado and some bread, but don’t. I check my phone again. Then, the spiral hits—as it always does.

In my head, I begin to calculate the remaining hours I have until my Saturday night dinner plans, the hours until I need to leave the house to get to that dinner, the hours I have left until I need to start getting ready to leave the house to get to the dinner. I divide the remaining hours between everything I’d been hoping to achieve that day: go for a run, start reading one of the five novels piled on my nightstand, tint my eyebrows, research flights for an upcoming wedding, go to Home Depot, hand-wash that sweater. I waste half an hour doing these calculations before I realize I don’t have enough time to do even half the things on this list. I check my phone again, see on Instagram that a group of people I only half-know are at brunch a few blocks from me, and imagine how it must feel to be both fed and dressed. Now, I am well and truly spiraling. The weekend feels like it’s over before it was meant to begin, and I feel like the only one who missed out on it.

The Saturday Spirals don’t hit every single weekend, but they still curse me frequently. Typically, they come to torment me after a long week at work, when I’ve promised myself that working late was absolutely fine because imagine how much fun stuff you’ll be able to do on the weekend. Since becoming aware of the Spirals, I’ve tried my best to actively combat them. The best approach, I’ve found, involves getting out of bed and ready for the day as if I have to go to work—a tricky kickstarting hack that gets me awake, ready for any kind of spontaneous plan (or errand), and keeps me off my phone until I’ve showered or had a coffee. My coworkers swear by making Saturday morning plans to force them out of the house and have something to do first thing—which I intend to start trying ASAP. But my most urgent emotional need is validation: Are the Saturday Spirals a real thing? Or have I just reached expert levels of self-sabotage?

Graphic by Lorenza Centi.

The post Announcement: Saturday Spirals Are the New Sunday Scaries appeared first on Man Repeller.

How to Wear 1 Pair of Jeans 4 Different Ways

In theory, the best staples in our wardrobe are those that can be worn in different ways. In practice, though, you might justifiably ask yourself how different can the same thing actually look, even if it’s styled with a fresh combination of things? Ketchup still tastes and looks like ketchup whether putting it on a hot dog or dipping a french fry in it, right?

I’m willing to concede on the ketchup point, but the versatility of certain garments might surprise you. I speak from experience, as I’ve been giving a lot of thought to how I can truly maximize the clothes I already have, not just in terms of styling but also in terms of manipulating the appearance of specific items. To demonstrate what I’m talking about, I’ll use my favorite pair of jeans as an example. Below, I’ve attempted to showcase four genuinely different ways of wearing–or rather, transforming–them.

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The Waistband Flip

With a semi-fitted top like this cropped cardigan, leave the top button or two of your jeans undone and cinch with a belt, ribbon, or shoe lace (my preferred material as pictured here). The jeans instantly transform from a classic high-rise silhouette into a more casual, “undone” look. It’s an especially good styling trick when you’re going out for a multi-course dinner–instead of having to surreptitiously unbutton your jeans under the table before dessert, you’ll already be swimming in comfort–and in the name of fashion, no less.

The Boot Tuck

It’s not always easy to stuff a denim leg into high boots, but if you have a pair with an accommodating circumference, the endeavor is worth your while. Note that there will and should be a little bit of bunching at the knees–it’s part of the aesthetic! (Just ask Bella Hadid). This approach gives the jeans more of a sweatpants vibe, and takes them in a solidly distinct direction from the usual loafer or ankle boot pairing (inevitably tucked under) I find myself falling back on when I wear jeans for the umpteenth time in the same week.

The Giant Cuff

A small cuff can  look expected or even sloppy–often a forced product of an inseam that is slightly too long. An extra-big cuff, however, is riddled with intentionality. As a bonus, it also converts your jeans into temporary capris, easily rendered winter-appropriate with a high sock or narrow boots. I don’t know what it is about a temporary denim capri, but these made me want to go full Canadian tuxedo with my boyfriend’s oversized shirt.

The Inside-Out

Did you know your jeans look this fantastic on the inside? I love every detail, from the contrast stitching to the pocket flaps (but you can also eliminate the pocket flaps by pulling them inside out if you don’t share my affection). I tamed down the deconstructed vibes with a put-together knit polo and shiny flats, but if you want to go full “opposite day” and wear an inside-out shirt too, I salute you.

Are there any other wardrobe staples you’d like to see transformed multiple ways? Let me know in the comments.

Photos by Beth Sacca.

The post How to Wear 1 Pair of Jeans 4 Different Ways appeared first on Man Repeller.

I Taste-Tested the Internet’s Favorite Snacks & One Is Called a “Fat Bomb”

I love snacks, and while I appreciate a well-curated assortment of charcuterie, my tastes tend to skew less “artfully arranged board” and more “highway-rest-stop free-for-fall.” So I figured that reviewing the most popular snacks from the most popular online store in the world would be a magical meeting of my interests and the internet’s hunger for guinea pig snack journalism. But in the interest of personal growth, I decided to try snacks I’d never had before—really expand those sweet and salty boundaries—and boy did that go awry.

Join me as I not only try new foods, but a whole new approach to nourishment, thanks to five of Amazon’s 100 best-selling snacks.

The Good

Planter’s Pistachio Lovers Mix

Baby Nut weirdness aside, this is a good mix because it’s got nothing but all-stars. It’s the Lady Marmalade 2002 cover of nut mixes. Mostly pistachios, a good amount of salted almonds broken up so as not to disrupt the general texture of the mix, and nature’s butter: cashews. The whole thing is EXTREMELY salty which is great and you get a lot! Were it not flu season I would have put them in a little dish on my desk in an attempt to make friends (please be my friend). I will say, I missed the ritual of peeling pistachios, I always feel wise when I’m doing that, but the tips of my beautiful fingers were grateful for the break as were my tastebuds.

Buy this product if you like luxury.

A truly irresponsible amount of popcorn kernels

I get it, I am not the target audience for Amazon’s bulk snack market. I’m a single woman who lives in New York City, a snack oasis. Which is why, in the spirit of that one time I watched Big Bang Theory, I ordered this large tub of popcorn kernels to see how most folks do it. Also, I fucking love popcorn, just ask Edith, just ask my family that I keep trying to convince to get matching popcorn tattoos. I made these kernels on the stove and they only turned out okay but that was mostly due to user error. I imagine if you are running a carnival, or own an air popper, or one of those stir machines, this popcorn would be delicious. What I like about this giant tub of kernels is its ability to help me mark the time. Where will I be when I reach the bottom? Where will we all be? Who knows, but watch this space (in like 10 years) to find out!

Buy this product if you have a family, own and operate a movie theater, or are trying to get into some sort of popcorn-related ASMR.

The Fine

GoGo Squeeze Applesauce on the Go

I LOVE applesauce. I LOVE convenience. Why was I surprised by how much I loved these applesauce bags??? Who knows! The applesauce is very good, all of the flavors are nice, and the pouch is easy to open and a nice little serving. I averaged two a day and felt great about that, even though I looked slightly deranged drinking pouches of applesauce at work. The only thing that takes this from “good” to “fine” is that you have to collect the applesauce bags and return them to a specific place in order to recycle them. Just make them regular recyclable! Even better, compostable! I love these little guys but I love the planet more so my final verdict is “meh.”

Buy this product if you’re committed to keeping a box of applesauce empties in your home and then making an extra stop at your local shipping purveyor.

Utz 40 oz Barrel of Pub Mix

Sigh. This poor Pub Mix. What it lacks for in quality it makes up in quantity, and my good dudes, I have been there! It knows that people will look at it and think it is its Italian-American cousin Gardettos, or its wholesome twin Chex Mix, but there’s no way sticking your hand in this giant barrel of snackable sundries won’t lead to disappointment. But they didn’t give up, they tried to stake their claim in the world of rye chips and pretzels by adding a beloved element: cheese powder. And let me tell you, it doesn’t work. And it’s heartbreaking. There are those yummy sesame chips in here and rye chips are good no matter what, so if you exist in the kind of space where it is acceptable to only eat the pieces you want and leave 80% behind, go nuts.

Buy this if you want to see your own uncomfortable attempts at individuality reflected back to you.

The Unconscionable

Slimfast Keto Fat Bomb Snack

Albert Einstein once said, “What is right is not always popular, and what is popular is not always right.” That thought ran through my entire being as I consumed the true wild card of this whole experiment, these Slim Fast Keto Cup Fat Bombs. I knew that these weren’t going to be standard peanut butter cups, I knew they weren’t going to be like candy at all, and yet, they still found a way to surprise me.

Upon first bite, the familiar taste of the chalky chocolate “coating” (think the flavor profile of chocolate La Croix combined with the texture of sand stuck to your hand at the beach) and then the not-very-peanut-buttery peanut filling that went from bland to surprisingly fine a few seconds after filled my unwilling mouth. As I chewed slowly and intentionally, not enjoying the experience but not hating it, I thought, Hey, if I were on a Keto diet, this might work in a pinch on a particularly bad day. But then. THEN. I finished. I took a sip of water and… the taste was still there.

I took a sip of coffee and the taste was still there.

I decided to see how long the taste would stick around but caved a minute in and drank more water. But still, it felt like the particles of MCT oil or god knows what were clinging to the roof of my mouth with all their might. Diet flavor stalactites populating the unwilling cave of my soft palate that would not be removed.

I had more coffee and, oh god, is it worse? Less strong but still there. I was beginning to feel claustrophobic. I was sweating. Just this morning my train was the victim of the serial emergency brake puller and this situation conjured a series of similar emotions: How did I get here? Why would someone do this? When will it end? Just then I remembered I had gum and could use the chemical sweetness of one treat to outdo another, and finally, I was free.

All in all, my Amazon snacking experience was just very Amazon: easy, satisfying enough, occasionally surprising. But did I do anything with the time I saved? Not really. Did I discover anything new about the bold wide world of snacks? Actually, yes (shout out to pistachios, I see you thriving). So to that I say: If you’re looking for a large quantity of snacks that you know and love, and your life prohibits you from your local bulk grocery, by all means, go ham.

But please, do not eat those Keto cups, my friends, for they will lead you down a dark path.

Photos by Beth Sacca.

The post I Taste-Tested the Internet’s Favorite Snacks & One Is Called a “Fat Bomb” appeared first on Man Repeller.

“To Wear So Many Pieces From Black Designers Is Such a Blessing”: Naomi Elizée’s Outfit Anatomy

Welcome to Outfit Anatomy, a series of comprehensive style analyses that aim to break down what we wear by answering questions like: How much did that cost? Where did you find that? Why did you buy it in the first place? Up this week is Naomi Elizée, Fashion Editor and Podcast Host. 

The moment I landed my first job in fashion, I knew my bank account was in major trouble. Within a month, my entire concept of money and shopping drastically changed. If you asked me three years ago if I would spend over $100 on a pair of shoes, I would have laughed at the thought. I grew up in a small town where shopping at Forever 21, Macy’s, and Zara was a luxury. Now I don’t hesitate to purchase a pair of Margiela Tabi boots for $400 because I view it as a steal (which it most definitely is!), but also because I understand the value of investing in clothing you will have for years instead of a few months. For the most part, I only buy vintage and secondhand designer pieces. I rarely buy new unless I view it as an investment piece that will get a good amount of wear. This leather patchwork jacket I’m wearing is actually one of my proudest vintage finds—I discovered it on a crowded rack in Beacon’s Closet almost two years ago. I remember it being around $85 and thinking to myself that this would become one of the best things I ever purchased. It honestly was me in jacket form!

The leather apron I styled over it is from the brand Edas, which is designed by my incredibly talented friend Sade Mims. Although Edas was initially an accessories brand, it’s evolved to be way more than that. I gravitate toward the line because of its clear brand objective: to make women feel fearless. And also the feeling of knowing that I’m supporting my friend who is a black-woman entrepreneur growing her business. I had my eye on this apron for about six months before finally taking the plunge and purchasing it for $298. I first saw it on Sade and just loved the way it moved; the asymmetrical design was like nothing I’d ever seen. And it’s an easy transitional piece between summer and winter, which is a definite plus! In the summer I’ll wear it with a mini short dress and thong sandals (I am in full support of this trend).

These vintage Levi jeans have been in my closet for about six years now. I think it might be time to retire these bad boys—they have a hole in them now from constant wear over the years. I found them in a Beacon’s Closet in Manhattan for $16 and I have yet to find a pair of jeans that fit me as well as these. I have a small waist but larger thighs so it can get a bit tough at times to find jeans that hug both my hips and thighs at the same time. These jeans pack so much memory for me! I wore them on my first day as a fashion intern in Seventeen Magazine’s fashion closet. I stupidly paired them with uncomfortable heels which I instantly regretted when I was sent off on four runs across the city to pick up clothing and accessories for a shoot. The more I think about these jeans, the more I don’t want to get rid of them, even though I think they’re way past their shelf life.

When you see someone wearing a Telfar bag or piece, there’s an understanding that you’re both part of the same community.

The boots are Balenciaga. I bought them from a coworker who purchased them brand new via a sample sale. I think I paid a relatively low amount (around $150) for the boots, and I’ve worn them to the ground. One foot is a half size too small for me, but I still think they’re perfect! I wear them with jeans, slip dresses, leather pants, skirts… they’re my go-to boots, a wardrobe staple. The New York streets are taking a toll on them, though, so now I’ve decided to only wear them on special occasions!

I purchased this black mini Telfar bag about 2 ½ years ago. Telfar’s another black designer that I love to support and want to see prosper in the fashion industry. I learned about him through the Fashion Fund and by seeing my friends in the New York fashion scene wearing his designs. When you see someone wearing a Telfar bag or piece, there’s an understanding that you’re both part of the same community and it’s an instant connection. Deemed the “Bushwick Birkin” through a viral tweet, the Telfar Bag is part of my style DNA. I own five and wear them often. My medium and large ones are more practical for day-to-day, but the small ones are perfect for a night out with friends at our favorite local bar, Cafe Ezrulie. Growing up, I didn’t know any black designers, so to now have the opportunity to support and wear so many is such a blessing.

Sometimes I forget I’m wearing it and get caught off-guard when I hear someone I don’t know say my name.

I don’t wear a lot of jewelry but I have three pieces that I never take off. First is my ring: It’s engraved with the word “Love.” I actually took this ring from my sister’s jewelry box (sorry, Tati!) once when I was home on summer break. Ever since I was little, I’ve been snagging things from my sisters’ closets. Honestly, I think I had just been really homesick and wanted something to remind me of home and help me cope. She luckily never noticed until last year and has yet to ask for it back, so I think it’s mine to keep for good now! The second piece, my necklace, is a nameplate from The M Jewelers. It’s a classic piece of jewelry I’ve always wanted to own. Sometimes I forget I’m wearing it and get caught off-guard when I hear someone I don’t know say my name. This happened once while I was trying to buy a train ticket in London: For a split second, I thought the guy ringing me up was some type of psychic, only to realize that he read my name from my necklace. And the third thing: I never leave my apartment without a pair of hoops on. Back in middle school, I used to steal hoop earrings from my other sister Samantha. They were about four inches in width—the biggest hoops I’d ever seen at that age. I would hide them in my backpack. Once my mom dropped me off at the bus stop and I knew the coast was clear, I would quickly put the hoops on and wear them into school. Fast forward 12 years and I’m still that girl! I love a good hoop earring. It’s such a classic staple… you can’t go wrong with hoops. These are from Argento Vivo and they’re good for everyday wear. At only $78, they’re the most affordable, perfect-sized hoops!

Although I do work in a corporate environment, I can still have a little bit of fun with my outfits! I try not to take what I wear so seriously—fashion’s meant to be fun and full of risks. I love to experiment with textures, prints, and colors. At first I was worried that maybe a leather-on-leather situation may read to be “too heavy” or just downright doing “the most” to others, but at the end of the day I try to remember to dress for myself and not for the sake of others. I love every piece that I’m wearing in this photo and I can’t wait to wear this exact same outfit again. As told to Edith Young.

Photos by Joshua Aronson. 

The post “To Wear So Many Pieces From Black Designers Is Such a Blessing”: Naomi Elizée’s Outfit Anatomy appeared first on Man Repeller.

5 Styling Tricks for Winter Doldrums Dressing, Care of London Fashion Week

London Fashion Week has come and gone, and I’m left considering the strange, one-off moments it left in its wake. At Burberry, I was excited to see a fleet of split-hemmed trousers walk down the runway, and I wondered about the matching wristbands and neck-bands that seemed like a riff off of Richie Tenenbaum. J.W. Anderson treated tinsel like sequins, winding up with a slew of dresses that looked like wearable Confetti System. I saw a briefcase adorned with its own ribbon at Simone Rocha, and at Margaret Howell, I spotted a jacket reminiscent of her most iconic design, the red corduroy number worn by Jack Nicholson in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. My favorite hat of the week wafted down the runway at Roksanda: It looked as if it had been lifted off of Rembrandt’s head. The new iterations of Christopher Kane’s signature jelly accessories (including gel brassieres meant for external use only?) stoked pangs of nostalgia for my long-lost Pylones jelly watch.

In the midst of all the excitement, I did manage to pick up on a few low-lift microtrends and styling tricks among the hodge podge—and I think they might inject your winter dressing doldrums with some zest. They were:

1. Woodshop Goggles
Shrimps (Left); Burberry (Right) via Vogue Runway

As seen at both Burberry and Shrimps! This sub for sunglasses makes it look like you’re well-versed on the safety protocol around a lathe. I find nothing more perennially stylish than precaution.

I actually bought a pair of anti-blue-light goggles much like these a couple years ago and had intended to add an asterisk to my Gmail signature that said, “When I answer your email, know that I’m doing so while wearing these bad boys.”

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2. Undersweaters
Molly Goddard via Vogue Runway

The Molly Goddard show made a compelling case for the undersweater: pullovers and cardigans worn under tulle dresses and two piece suits alike. This feels deliciously permissive if you’re the type of person whose secret shame is forgoing a barrier between skin and sweater.

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3. The Harry Styles Effect: A Watermelon Sugar Colorblock
Roksanda (Left); Richard Quinn (Right) via Vogue Runway

Pink and green color-blocking is a tale as old as The Preppy Handbook, but here it is again, more timeless and verdant than millennial pink standing on its own, seen anew in Harry Styles’ homeland. The Roksanda look brings to mind the most colorful outfit on HBO’s Silicon Valley: In the show’s final season, Monica Hall exhibits a most convincing instance of watermelon with a pink trench coat with a sage-colored blouse. “Rind green” has a real ring to it.

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4. Knee Socks
Margaret Howell (Left); Simone Rocha (Right) via Vogue Runway

I haven’t given serious consideration to knee socks in years, though if Margaret Howell and Simone Rocha are any indication, the secret to wearing the socks is finding a knee-length skirt to graze against them. I was drawn to this head-to-toe Margaret Howell look because it looks like something you can wear to work that you won’t fidget with all day (the shoes do remind me of these Emme Parsons Mary Janes that got away…). And then Simone Rocha suggests that knee socks work for any occasion.

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5. The Persisting Personality Collar
Erdem (Left); JW Anderson (Center); Victoria Beckham (Right) via Vogue Runway

My worldview has always been that the Peter Pan collar is entirely underutilized in contemporary fashion (other things that fit into this category: smocking, Liberty print, Swiss dots). This season, my aesthetic preferences for a reimagined neckline are finally being recognized: I love the pointy, rickrack school shirt collars from Laveste, and Leandra and Harling’s more Elizabethan approach to decorating their clavicles during NYFW. From Erdem to Victoria Beckham, London Fashion Week offered a whole host of spunky alternatives.

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If you find a way to combine all five of these micro-trends into one mega-outfit, don’t be shy in letting me know.

Feature photos via Getty Images.

The post 5 Styling Tricks for Winter Doldrums Dressing, Care of London Fashion Week appeared first on Man Repeller.

Do You Know the Right Way to Sew a Button? Let’s Double Check

Sewing a button back onto an article of clothing—it seems simple enough, doesn’t it? My rational mind knows it’s a fairly easy task, knows that it would probably only take 10 minutes for me to complete, and yet my heart could spend an entire afternoon avoiding it. But, of course, once I actually sit down to do it, as I have done many times—after fishing my sewing kit out of the back of my closet, retrieving my out-of-commission coat from wherever it’s been stashed—I am awash in satisfaction over my old-timey accomplishment. I may even feel so inspired that I consider hand-washing a delicate garment or two, which of course, I do not do, because I have probably already made plans to meet someone for lunch. Another time!

[image error]But, for all the button reattaching (and replacing) I’ve done over the years, I’ve never been completely sure whether I’m doing it right or if there’s a more efficient, more long-lasting way to do it. So, as part of a how-to mini-series we’ll be publishing on mending clothes—to help make them last forever, or close to it—I asked Kendall Khanna of Shopboy to break down the exact right way to do it. “Most of these repair jobs aren’t expensive, so it’s worth doing. As long as aesthetically it’s going to look okay, I say salvage it,” Khanna explains. “You might as well, because it’s probably going to be cheaper than buying something new to serve the same purpose.” (For those who prefer not to take to needle and thread on their own, Shopboy also offers mending services, which Khanna says their clients often spring for when dropping off pieces that need more substantial tailoring.)

Things to learn here? How many times you actually need to loop the thread and the best way to secure your button—so that you don’t find yourself resewing the same button anytime soon—and probably one or two other things you were doing instinctively that could be done a little bit better.

Keep scrolling to read and watch Khanna’s guide (then bookmark this story for the next weekend afternoon when you’re ready to expand your wardrobe in one of the easiest ways possible). —Mallory

Flat Button (Two- or Four-Hole)

1. Thread the needle

2. Tie a knot at the end of the thread by wrapping the thread around your index finger and rolling the thread off your finger. Pull the thread tight.

3. Push the needle through the fabric until in stops at your knot. Then push the needle through one hole of the button and bring the button to the garment, placing it where you’d like it sewn.

4. Then push the needle through the hole opposite your needle.

a. For a cross shape, use the hole diagonal to your first hole (only works if your button has four holes, like the white shirt with the brown button).

b. For a straight stitch, use the hole across from your first hole (you can do this with two or four hole buttons, like our orange silk shirt).

5. Push the needle back up through the garment through the hole you started with.

6. After you’ve gone through the same two holes twice, move to thread your needle through the other hole. You will be starting from the back side of the garment.

7. Push the needle through the hole and then back through the opposite hole twice.

8. Here you should be on the back side of the garment, so when you thread the needle back through, do not thread through any hole in the button, but rather to the side of the button.

9. Wrap the thread around the button 3-4 times.

10. To tie the knot, create a loop with your thread and stick the needle through the loop. Pull tight to secure. Repeat to create one more knot.

Shank Buttons

1. Thread the needle and pull the thread through to double the thread.

2. Tie a knot with both threads at the end by wrapping the thread around your index finger and rolling the thread off your finger. Pull the thread tight.

3. Push the needle through the fabric until it stops at your knot. Then push the needle through the shank of the button and bring the button to the garment, placing it where you’d like it sewn.

4. Push your needle down through the garment, pull tight and then push the needle back up through the fabric.

5. Push the needle through the shank of the button and repeat step five 4-5 times.

6. Wrap the thread around the button 3-4 times.

7. To tie the knot, create a loop with your thread and stick the needle through the loop. Pull tight to secure. Repeat to create one more knot.

And now, may we interest you in a little button shopping?

While the original idea for this story was focused on reattaching buttons that have become uncoupled from your garments, you can also freshen up a piece that’s not inspiring you or substantially spruce up a vintage find by replacing existing buttons. MR Market Strategist Eliz Tamkin is, naturally, a fount of ideas when it comes to this scenario. “One thing I love to do is order mismatched buttons—like mixed metals or primary colors,” she says. “Something like that can totally reinvent a boring cardigan.” Cruise through some of Eliz’s favorite button retailers via her selections below.

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P.S.: If you’re new on the sewing scene and need a kit of your own, we recommend springing for either this standard option, a great travel-size kit, or this glorious wooden basket.

Photos by Alistair Matthews. Prop Styling by Max Rappaport.

The post Do You Know the Right Way to Sew a Button? Let’s Double Check appeared first on Man Repeller.

Margherita Missoni on Her Best Outfit Ever

In which I ask Margherita Missoni, heiress to the Missoni fashion house and creative director of M Missoni, what is the best outfit you’ve ever worn?

My closet is pretty big–I use it for work, so it’s basically an archive, and I have a lot of stuff that I keep for research. A lot of times, when I’m in a rush, I end up picking out a dress and it’s easy and I don’t have to think, but when I can actually pick good things from the past–things completely unrelated to each other and make them work altogether–it’s a real satisfaction for me. I really love that.

In this photo from an amFar gala, I’m wearing a Missoni skirt that was from that year–I think 2011. It’s very heavy, fully beaded, but it’s just one piece, so I needed to find a way to make it “a look” for an evening. I found this Helmut Lang top in a corner in my closet, folded in a stack sandwiched between two bigger tops—I was so pleased.

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I loved the idea of pairing it with the skirt to break up the embellished mood, but just the two of them together would have been too minimal–well, not minimal but… easy.

My grandmother from my dad’s side had given me an ensemble from the ’50s, it was a dress with a matching jacket in a really nice flower print on silk taffeta, which I loved and wore many times. It’s a simple dress: cut under the breast, straps hanging vertically over the shoulder, straight neck and going down to the knee. I wore them together a bunch–typically during the period of my life when I tried to dress to look more grown up. I guess I wanted to be taken more seriously when I was younger. By who? Everyone, including myself.

When I can actually pick good things from the past—things completely unrelated to each other and make them work altogether—it’s a real satisfaction for me.

When you enjoy putting outfits together, it’s definitely a way to communicate yourself. If I’m sad or in a bad mood or when I’ve been a bit depressed, I hate to get dressed. I think more about how to get covered.

When I first moved to New York, I had a really hard time. I was at Columbia University after transferring from the University of Milan and I was there to study philosophy even though I really wanted to be an actor. It was one of those very cold New York winters, I think the year was 2003. Even though I really wanted to be in New York, I was only doing university to please my grandmother. I was a really good student in high school and my teachers thought it would be a waste to pursue acting, which is where my heart was. One day, my mom called and asked why I hadn’t asked her to send me any clothes. To her, it was really symptomatic of my state of mind.

I look back on that time period now and I think I just wanted to understand who I was outside of my family. I grew up on the countryside, and the company workplace [Missoni] was next to our house. We’re an entangled bunch of people. I always felt like a branch on a tree, not like my own person, and going to Milan and New York symbolized breaking away.

I decided to study philosophy because I guess I felt it was the closest thing to acting: thinking about life and its meaning and why I’m here and what I’m doing. But I was so unhappy—here I was in the place where I wanted to be (I had been dying for city lights after growing up in the countryside) but I didn’t want to be there. I’m much lighter now on life and choices, but when I was younger it felt as if every single choice I made would have long-term consequences on my life and the smallest wrong decision could fuck everything up and there would be no way to fix it. When I think about it now, I’m really happy that I went through all those bits before starting my own family. I have two sons now with my husband.

I was so unhappy—here I was in the place where I wanted to be but I didn’t want to be there.

It’s my mom who actually forced me to withdraw from Columbia and put me in acting school. To be clear, I was never going to be an actor. I would never pursue acting now. I was trying to avoid becoming part of fashion. When I was growing up, everyone would ask me, “Are you going to be a designer?” So, of course, I rebelled.

I studied philosophy and I went to study acting, and then I moved. I left New York and I moved to Paris to act, then I moved to Rome for a play. And when I was in Rome, it hit me: Fashion is what comes out most naturally and spontaneously for me. That’s what I want to do. It’s always what I wanted. I just had to get there myself.

I still wear that Helmut Lang top from the photo. It’s white cotton on the back, and foil from the front, so it doesn’t snag. The jacket from the set that I put over the top doesn’t have a brand—it’s tailored. I got lucky because my grandmother would give me lots of clothes and I’m good at archiving. The combination I wore was really contrasting with the top but it gave good proportion to the skirt—made it softer and added a bit of print. I like prints—they make me feel more like myself.

The only time in my life I didn’t wear prints was when I was 7 or 8. My parents got divorced and I only wanted to wear navy and white smock dresses. To me, they symbolized structure. There was a lot of confusion for me at the time, but those dresses were clear.

When I was in Rome, it hit me: Fashion is what comes out most naturally for me.

What makes an outfit best is when you are at your best, and when I’m at my best, spontaneity lets me create a random pairing from my wardrobe. These combinations don’t make sense, but they really work, and everyone can see that. Even more, they say something about whoever is wearing them.

I’m always inspired by other people when their outfits make me think—when they wear things in a way I would not have. It’s not necessarily people who have styles similar to mine or who wear things that I would wear, but just the ones who give me new ideas.

I shop a lot. I love to buy antique jewelry, I buy a lot of vintage—I go around, I buy online. When I’m in a new town I go to flea markets. I love to search, it’s really a passion. It’s part of what helped launch this new concept for M Missoni [the second brand of the family’s heritage knitwear brand, Missoni], and it’s going really well. It’s exciting because when something is born new, you can have the chance to be playful and write new rules, and with M Missoni, I really wanted to take advantage of Missoni in the best possible way—all the fabrics are from the brand’s stock. Sometimes we recolor them, and it’s not all the zigzag or the space dye. There are these great forgotten florals. This neoprene. We used ten miles of stock fabric and 25 miles of lining from Missoni to make this collection. They’re like medallions from my childhood, it has a really personal feeling and it’s completely sustainable.

It’s also designed to give a feeling that looks a bit more like a closet rather than a collection with its color chart and recurring themes. That’s my mood. It’s different pieces that hang out together in different ways. The antidote to dressing easy. A whole collection, I hope, of, as you say, “Best outfits ever.”

As told to Leandra Medine

The post Margherita Missoni on Her Best Outfit Ever appeared first on Man Repeller.

Breakup Makeovers: 3 Newly Single Women, 3 Dramatic Haircuts

I always change my hair after a breakup. Dark brown, bleach blond, a big chop. It’s one of the most cliché things about me, after my love of fall and penchant for thinking everything’s going to be okay when I look at cityscapes from moving vehicles. To its credit, the post-breakup hair makeover is a trope that follows through on its promise. Coming out of a relationship can often feel like meeting a new version of yourself, and hair—permanent enough to make you unrecognizable but temporary enough to be “just hair”—is the perfect springboard for the kind of evolution heartbreak forces upon you.

At the end of 2019, Tina, Margaux, and Nadine all ended relationships, which means that now they’re ready for new hair. I asked the three of them to meet me at Hairstory’s salon in Manhattan on a recent Tuesday afternoon so hairstylist Wes Sharpton and colorist Jennifer Covington-Bowers could help them get it. As each of them sat down in the salon chair-cum-therapist couch and told their stories, the parallels between their current headspace and current hair were so dead-on it almost felt scripted. Tina, with the long straight hair she’s had for years, has been holding onto an old version of herself. Margaux, with her shoulder-length brown hair that fits right in at her architecture program, has been thinking too much about what other people want. And Nadine, with long curly hair past her shoulders, feels weighed down by her own indecisiveness.

“It’s pretty,” Wes said as he fluffed Nadine’s hair, tilting his head, “but it softens your blow. If we bring this up and you’re all neck and your hair is expansive, I think what’s gonna happen is suddenly you’ll own the room.” I watch Nadine for a reaction; she smiles nervously. “My vision for you is as the motherfucking boss of your life,” he says. Then we both laugh, because it sounds like a line from a movie, albeit the kind you want to watch when you’re feeling down, which feels about right.

More on their breakups and hair makeovers below.

Nadine has felt stagnant since graduation, and hopes new hair will be her first bold step of many

The breakup:

My ex and I met the first night I was in college, and I just graduated in May, so he was very much a part of my college experience. We didn’t date for all four years—when I was abroad for a semester, we didn’t date—but when I got back I knew I wanted to finish my college experience with him.

After graduation he moved to DC and he thought I would follow him, which kind of made sense because I want to do environmental work. But I hadn’t gotten a full-time job yet, so I’d just been bouncing around and traveling a bit, and I still am. He was like, “Well, apply to jobs! Take it seriously. Come here. What are you doing?” He really didn’t like being long-distance, because I’m very much an out-of-sight-out-of-mind kind of person. So that eventually led to tensions, particularly because when we were in school we would spend basically every day together. And I think there was a lot of codependency, which would come to a head whenever I would get overwhelmed and realize that I needed space and he wouldn’t be willing to give it to me.

I also have a lot of family history with anger, and he was a little bit of an angry person, and that was something that would flair up every once in a while. And then—without getting too specific—the last time I visited him, there was an incident. And I was like, What am I actually still getting out of this? Because our relationship always worked best when it was just the two of us in isolation, but that’s not a realistic way to live a life. Or one that I would want anyway. So I was like, I should probably stop this now.

It’s been very weird to adjust to not having him in my life. I had to break up with him over the phone and my sister was right there with me. So I definitely leaned on her a lot for support and then I just blocked him on everything. And now he’s like, “Okay, I want one more call to say my final piece.” So we’re maybe going to do that? But while we were breaking up he was like, “I have changed and I have gotten better and I want to continue to get better,” and I was just like, “I have a lot of growing to do as well, and I just don’t think that’s something we can do while we’re together.” I’m not the greatest at enforcing boundaries—when they’re being transgressed I just tend to forgive, so I don’t think he can improve if I’m constantly forgiving his behavior.

Before: Are you ready?

I’m open to anything. The one thing I do want to keep is the curls, so I don’t want to shave my head—I mean, I do want to shave my head, but not right now. Even though my hair isn’t very exciting right now, I think because of the space that it takes up it tends to be a focal point of my appearance. I do want to do something interesting because I feel like, although I have been bouncing around, I actually feel very stagnated right now and I don’t really know how to move forward in my life. I don’t really have a plan. I feel like I’m stuck.

After: How do you feel?

I feel good. I’m very excited. It’s shorter than I expected and shorter than I’ve ever had. I think I see myself differently now—or, I’m forced to see myself differently now. Also, I’m bi and I feel like this is way more queer-coded than how I looked before. Because I was super hetero-presenting, that was such a challenge, and now I look a little more fun. Like, “Maybe she’s got something going on there….”

I’ve been living in our family home, and I’m kind of just there because I don’t have anywhere else to be—but I envision myself moving to California. I haven’t really figured out a reason why except for the fact that I know I want to be there. But my ex is over here and he was always like, “Cali is so far away, why would you do that?” and I’m like, because I want to. So this haircut is like the first bold decision that I’ve made and hopefully now I’ll start doing things more intentionally. Finally start sorting out the direction I want to go in.

Margaux’s new friends at school don’t care what other people think, so why should she?

The breakup:

We were together for nine or 10 months. The hard part about the breakup is, on paper, we were exactly what the other person wanted. Like, both of us are really into being outdoors, for example, and after I’m done with college I want to move to, like, Wyoming and work out there in the Grand Tetons. He was of the same mindset—he wanted to get out and go somewhere in nature. It was the first time either of us had been with someone who had those aspirations.

But it was getting difficult toward the end because, culturally, we had different expectations of the relationship. Like, for me, it’s not a big deal for my partner to meet my parents, to be involved in my family—l would bring a friend home the same way I would bring a boyfriend home. But for him it was like: You only bring someone home if you’re getting married. And so it was difficult because neither of us was willing to compromise on that.

Another part of it was he’s a year older than me, so he was graduated and panicking because he didn’t know what he wanted to do, whereas I kind of know what I want to do, so we were at two totally different places. And neither of us saw each other changing or attempting to change things, so at the end of the day, both of us were just like, we just need to be done. Maybe at another point in life, if we were in totally different situations, it would work, but right now it’s just not fruitful for either of us. We couldn’t communicate well, or what our intentions were, so while it was hard letting go of the potential of what it could have been, it just wasn’t worth it. I’ve also been with someone where I never doubted if he loved me and I loved him, and with this relationship, I didn’t feel a fraction of how I felt then. And once you know that feeling, if you don’t have that, then you’re like, Why am I in this?

Since things ended it’s made me look at other things in my life and think: If I don’t get fulfillment out of this, then I have better things to be doing. Especially since I’m graduating soon and my life is about to start, why am I wasting time on something that I’m not appreciating in the moment? That’s how I feel about my hair, too.

Before: Are you ready?

I grew up never doing anything to my hair. My mom was like: “No makeup, no hair.” But as I’ve gotten older and started to experiment with my life, I’m like, why can’t I do that with my hair? Up until now I’ve been very neutral—I dress in black and a lot of neutrals, like denim. I never wear anything bright. Especially in architecture, there’s a trope that you wear black only, most likely turtlenecks, and specific glasses, and you have your hair in either a severe bob or a ponytail. But now I’m like, who’s to say I have to abide by that? The friends that I’m close with now are just very, I really don’t give a fuck, and so I’m like, yeah, why don’t I not give a fuck what people think? And this is the last time where I don’t have to be professional and I don’t have to impress people, so why not go for it?

After: How do you feel?

I’m feeling good! Different, definitely different. I’m in shock a bit. But not bad! It’s not even the color, it’s the cut. Its like… that hair was attached to me, and now it’s not. But it’s okay. I like it! I always thought I didn’t have a feminine enough face for a short cut, but I really like it. My hair is so weightless now. It’s definitely a fun change to do post-breakup, with all the other changes in my life right now. This is probably the last time I’ll be able to do this with very little consequence. I’m excited to see what my boss says tomorrow.

Tina blew up her life to move to New York (and now her old hair feels all wrong)

The breakup:

I was living in Nashville until I left everything to come here last fall. My job, my relationship, my ex, my lease—all so I could come to school in New York and pursue fashion. I just felt like I was jumping from minimum wage job to minimum wage job and I thought: If I don’t do something now, I’m never going to do it.

My boyfriend and I had been together for three years and lived together for two. It was my first serious relationship—I’ve never said “I love you” to anyone else. It was very hard to get over, because when it was good it was so good—so cinematic and beautiful and romantic—but when it was bad it was so low. There were a lot of differences in our lifestyles, too. He liked to go out to the bars almost every night and drink with his friends and I like to hang back at home. He was just very content with what he was doing, whereas I always wanted more than I had. He also had a child which, when we got together, I thought I could take on. But I figured out that it was not for me, especially with his ex so involved in the situation.

Still, I wanted to get back together after we broke up. I was so heartsick, it was like withdrawal. I tried every trick in the book: called him a bunch, said I would change, considered moving back to Nashville to do school there even though it would be more expensive. And then I found out through Instagram that he had started a new relationship with someone else. That just completely destroyed me. I didn’t think I would actually recover. But I’m figuring it out. It’s been tough, but I’m happy to be here, doing this. I know it’s the right thing now.

Before: Are you ready?

I’m ready for a complete change. I’m pretty much open to anything—all color suggestions and anything up to here [just above the chin]. I pretty much had this style the whole time I was with my ex, so as I’m in this new phase, and also interning at The Row, a brand I’ve admired for a long time—none of which would have happened if I hadn’t left—it feels like the end of an era. I’ve been holding onto this breakup for so long and honestly I’m still processing it, but I’m ready to be in the accept-and-let-go stage. I’m down to go short or whatever you think is going to look a little cool and a little funky. I’ve learned to listen to the people around me.

After: How do you feel?

I feel like a weight has been literally and figuratively lifted. I still recognize myself, it’s just a new version of me. I feel a little 90s, a little French new wave with a twist. I put everything into my relationship in Nashville to the point where I barely had any friends. I put so much of myself into another person I lost sight of what I wanted. And I think sometimes you have to break free from what you think is safe and comfortable and secure. I’d had my long hair forever, and I’m starting this new chapter in my life. It was time to cut off the dead ends.

A special thanks to Tina, Margaux, and Nadine for taking this leap with us as an audience, and to Wes, Jennifer, and Hairstory for making it happen.

Photos by Beth Sacca.

The post Breakup Makeovers: 3 Newly Single Women, 3 Dramatic Haircuts appeared first on Man Repeller.

5 Nightgowns Tried, Tested, and Ranked by Sleepability

Our story starts on Instagram, where all modern novellas do. Hill House Home posted a photo of its founder, Nell Diamond (no relation!), in the decor-and-more brand’s tartan “Nap Dress.” Nell had styled it with a black turtleneck, opaque tights and platform shoes, and just like that, a dress meant for nighttime was dressed for daytime, as sleeping gowns so frequently are.

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@nelliediamond in a currently unreleased plaid Ellie Nap Dress