Leandra Medine's Blog, page 597

The Chatroom: Diane von Furstenberg Interview

Diane von Furstenberg is the ultimate household name when it comes to fashion. She’s a style icon no matter your definition of the word, an industry legend among the old and new guard and a true power player in the world of business. But do you know what she’s most known for?

Three things.

1) The ever-flattering, simplistically genius (not to mention timeless) wrap dress.

2) Rather than a stoic half-bow, she dances on the runway at the end of her shows’ finales — it’s her way of saying thank you to the audience.

3) Her fantastic advice.

And advice is exactly what she gives in this very special episode of The Chatroom, spanning every topic from romance to self-love to career. (Not to mention the tweets of yours that she answered.) Why you’re still reading this is beyond me, however. Scroll back up and watch what the inimitable Diane von Furstenberg has to say!

Photographed by Krista Anna Lewis

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Oh Boy Podcast Episode 8: Whitney Cummings

Whitney Cummings is really, really funny. To tell you that sounds sort of obvious, but just because a comedian is hilarious on stage with well-written jokes and the kind of projected charisma that makes you believe he or she is your best friend doesn’t always mean they’re the same way in person — but Whitney is the same way in person. We’re on a first name basis now. You guys will soon be too after this podcast.

That’s because this Oh Boy! episode (which is a longer version of an upcoming Chatroom episode) is the kind of honest conversation that you’d likely have with an actual close friend of yours. Leandra and Whitney cover middle school bullies, the very real need to be seen and heard (whether on stage or age home), the fourth wave of feminism, how dealing with a stalker is similar to improv, plus love, relationships and our ever-changing identities as expressed through clothes.

And like any good conversation between friends, they talk about Sex and the City. Whitney has this really funny story about Patricia Field and the show’s grand finale dress…but better to let her tell you guys, right? She’s the performer, after all.

Follow host Jay Buim on Instagram or visit his website here.

Logo and Feature illustration by Kelly  Shami

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Three Ways to Wear a Mini Skirt This Fall

October is a great month. The sun shines. Amelia writes horoscopes. At Man Repeller, it’s even unofficially become the 31-day tribute to Sex and the City. Most importantly, though, the weather is still warm. Pop cultural phenomenons are in full swing and so are we — philandering through the streets of our towns, sweaters on chest, pants on legs. Not yet forced to endure the prison that is a lockdown in our own domestic dwelling spaces due to the chatter of a snow storm, we hold no responsibilities save for those we impose upon ourselves. We can still wear sandals, for heaven’s sake! Stick our noses up at the tights that become second skin in later months. We wear short skirts, and with those skirts, show the world that, yes, we are those kinds of girls who only shave from June to August.

So what?

What?

Only me?

Okay.

That’s fine. And it certainly won’t stop me.

One of my favorite dressing cues to emerge from Halloween’s antecedent is pairing very short skirts with layers. Layers! Because the thing about a short skirt when it’s hot is that it is hot, so you don’t get to sartorially bartend and concoct weird visions. You just put on the skirt and tank and the sandals and you leave home. When it gets a little cooler, though, you get to get weirder. Allow me to demonstrate.

Here I am in a short sleeve knit by Miu Miu (any short sleeve knit will work — you can even make your own if you’ve got a pair of scissors) worn over an old men’s Steven Alan button down with a red skirt that thinks it is python but trust me, is not, from River Island. I’m wearing the slingbacks and a pair of Céline sunglasses. The necklace is by a Brazilian designer called Aracano. Could I have worn in July? Hell no! But in October, legs out and ankles exposed for all the world to bend and snap? Oh yeah. This is the kind of look I could *totally* see you wearing to work. Or to jury duty.

Here we have exhibit B (that Fiji bottle isn’t product placement, but it is mine. I was parched — parched, I tell ya! So thirsty). Which is the I’m Not Going to a Holiday Party Party Outfit and features the liquid metallic turtleneck I got from Topshop during the last round of Man on the Shops: The Best of What’s Around worn under a pinstriped vest by Edun. The jacket is Rosie Assoulin (flare sleeves for all!) and the skirt is from All Saints. The ankle socks are also from Topshop while the pumps, white and patent leather, are Manolo Blahnik.

And finally, there is exhibit C. Only it doesn’t exist yet because here is where I plan to crowdsource a request from you. Are there any particular mini skirts in your repertoire that you are trying to figure out how to style? Let me know in the comments below. Share a link to the skirt or a picture of it. We’re in this together, peeps.

Photographed by Krista Anna Lewis

The post Three Ways to Wear a Mini Skirt This Fall appeared first on Man Repeller.

Ask a Nutritionist: What Should I Be Snacking On?

In a new monthly series called, “Ask a Nutritionist,” we harass McKel Hill of Nutrition Stripped, an internationally-known Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, to answer our health-related queries. As she puts it, “Food should make you feel radiant, sexy and energized as much as it nourishes your cells.” Two avocados for you, McKel. You go, McKel.

You might find her busting nourishment myths, explaining why we should be eating what we eat (or conversely, why not to) or sharing tips. Today we ask: what should we be snacking on?

1. Avocado: My favorite “snack” on the go, It’s loaded with healthy fats and fiber to keep you feeling satisfied, full and energized. Avocados also contain potassium, vitamin C, K, E, B vitamins and magnesium, all great for our hair, skin and nails — a true beauty food. Here’s what I do on the go: slice an avocado in half at home, open it, take the pit out, squeeze fresh lemon or lime juice on it and wrap it up in clear wrap or a Ziploc bag.

Bring a spoon and boom, you have avocado boats ready to eat. If eating straight avocado isn’t your jam, try some high fiber crackers. I like Mary’s Gone Crackers and Flax by Go Raw.

2. Pumpkin seeds: They contain protein, fiber, healthy fats and a punch of zinc, which is an important mineral that keeps our hair, skin and nails healthy. If you have a sweet tooth, try raw pumpkin seeds tossed in a small bag with dark chocolate chips or shredded coconut.

3. Plant power protein smoothie: 1 scoop of your choice of plant-based protein + 1 cup almond milk + 1 tablespoon cocoa powder + 2 tablespoons almond butter. Put everything in a shaker bottle or cold thermos and keep with you through the day.

4. Chia Fresca: Take 2-3 tablespoons chia seeds mixed with 2 cups of water, coconut water, fresh green juice or any other liquid you enjoy, shake it up and let the chia seeds absorb some of the water. This is definitely a unique drink — think “bubble tea” only loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, protein and fiber to keep you energized and your digestion happy. If you’ve never had chia seeds before, start slow. They contain a lot of fiber. Get fancy by adding fresh mint, sliced cucumber and lime.

5. Grapefruit + raw nuts or seeds (like almond, walnuts, or sunflower seeds): Grapefruit is great: citrus naturally ignites our senses and “wakes us up” by keeping our moods up, which is important if you are someone who runs around. It’s also a great source of fiber and carbohydrates, which our bodies love to use and burn for energy. Pair this fruit with a ¼-1/2 cup nuts or seeds to keep your blood sugars balanced. The great thing about citrus is you can bring it around with you with the skin on or you can peel, segment and put it in a Ziploc bag for easier eating.

Follow McKel Hill on Instagram and Twitter. 

What are you snacking on?

The post Ask a Nutritionist: What Should I Be Snacking On? appeared first on Man Repeller.

Know Your Labels: Magda Butrym

Instagram is a fantastic resource to scout new talent. Without it, I wouldn’t have learned about the small fashion houses — like Amélie Pichard (Pamela Anderson, anyone?), or Brother Vellies (purveyor of the fur sandal) or Atea Oceanie (if you’re looking for the world’s best blazer, look no further) — affecting the public discourse in a big way.

Last month, I found another one that launched in 2014, based in Warsaw, Poland, called Magda Butrym. Fresh off the mill! Anja Rubik was wearing one of the designer’s skirts — short, pencil, leather and laser cut. It wasn’t me, but it was great. I could appreciate the attention to detail, how obviously carefully it had been constructed and this unflinching sense of this is what Hedi Slimane could have done with the house of Saint Laurent that the craftsmanship espoused.

So in this week’s edition of Know Your Labels, we bring you Magda Butrym — the highly intelligent lead designer behind the eponymous brand that favors hand-craftsmanship in defense of slow fashion, marries technically amazing feminine knits to hard leather details and cites the complexity as a favorite character trait in other women.

Why did you launch your label? I used to work as an in-house designer for a regional fashion brand. It was a great opportunity to learn how a design house functions but after several years I had a clear vision what kind of fashion I want to create. Pursuing my vision and design aesthetic required leaving to start my own brand. I knew I wanted to combine modern fashion design with traditional craftsmanship.

What does high fashion in Poland like? The Polish fashion scene is booming but the focus is very much on the street-wear. Some of the brands are becoming commercially very successful. Due to historical circumstances, Poland has no fashion houses with a long history and my parents and grandparents’ generation had very limited means to access high fashion. Today regional fashion is shaped by the 20 and 30-year-olds.

Have you found penetrating the Western European and American markets challenging? Coming from a region outside of the big fashion capitals has its advantages and disadvantages when it comes to launching a high fashion brand. The hard part is making the first contacts with the buyers, international editors and industry influencers. Poland doesn’t have infrastructure in place to support young designers as opposed to countries like Great Britain, where the British Fashion Council goes a long way to help promote new talent. On the plus side, the costs of labor are much lower than in Western countries, which, in my case, created a big opportunity for a brand focused on employing handcraft.

This season should be a big breakthrough for my brand as we had over 50 appointments with top international luxury fashion retailers. Two things that surprised me very positively is that industry people are not biased against a brand from a region they did not associate with high fashion before, and the amount of support I started to receive from complete strangers who say they like what I do.

Do you design with a specific woman in mind? In fact I do, and I think with every season she becomes more and more defined in my head. She is a girl with things to do who doesn’t overthink what she wears. She likes to play with fashion but her style is effortless.

What’s your favorite piece from the most recent (Spring/Summer) collection? I think it’s my blue jeans. I call them the “Mama jeans” because they remind me of the pants my mom used to wear in the 90s. Even when I match them with elegant pieces I still feel very cool.

Re: Inspiration, have you spent a lot of time observing the women of Poland? Do you travel often? I keep searching for new craftsmanship types and techniques; I like to work closely with the craftsmen to develop the techniques they used for a long time to give them a new “spin.” I also browse piles of archive photos from the 60s, 70s and 80s in search of inspiration. I try to incorporate my findings into my personal style to see if it is something I feel good wearing. I do travel but not nearly as much as I would like to — my brand is at the beginning of its journey so I spend a lot of time in my studio.

If you were introducing someone to the label and only had two minutes to explain your purpose, what would you tell them? The brand combines modern design with traditional craftsmanship to create clothes that make women feel effortlessly cool regardless of whether they are dressed up or casual. The hand-craft I use is the core of our DNA. I think it’s something that sets us apart from other labels and from fast fashion. The techniques I use like braiding, pleating, knitting, etc. are something I can continuously build on; in fact, it’s a platform that can be used to expand the line to include accessories.

What is your favorite quality in women? Definitely  how complex women are – men would probably call it “complicated,” but to me it’s what makes us fascinating. I also love that women can listen.

Shop Magda Butrym here.

The post Know Your Labels: Magda Butrym appeared first on Man Repeller.

Shoesday: Fashion Week Edition

WHAT ARE THOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE?

If you, like me, are mildly behind in the happenings of pre-teen memes, then allow me to offer a fast catch-up so you don’t have to get lost in the depths of Urban Dictionary. Its origin has roots in an authority-defying gag, then was further popularized by a young boy who, when given a microphone and the opportunity to ask basketball and footwear legend Michael Jordan literally any question he so pleased, the young man pointed to MJ’s kicks and shouted, per the above:

WHAT ARE THOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE?

The crowd erupted in laughter, Vine erupted in copycats and the Internet erupted in memes.

There! You are now more or less caught up.

But you see, though this young man’s method was a bit uncouth, I understand his enthusiasm. We are so used to the online world of Instagram where, with the press of our finger, a person’s entire outfit is revealed to us so long as they tag its components. “Tap for credits!” is generously offered. (Meanwhile, I’m just like, back in my day, when we wanted to know the brand of someone’s jeans we had to go up to that someone on the street and actually check the tag.)

The shoes of the Spring 16 runway do all the telling for its wearer, however. While there are similarities among them — pointed toes, rainbow straps, heeled platforms, roller-skate flatforms, embellishment (pom poms, fluff, fringe and feathers up the wazoo) — each one is a hyper-identifiable creation that speaks to a distinct designer and that designer’s distinct collection. Even Chanel made a departure from last season’s One Shoe shoe. This go-around, the shoes are like pins in a world-traveler’s map.

As we ease back into the idea personal style as it pertains to the self and not as it excites the photographer (though make no mistake: we’ll still find ourselves victims to But Everyone Else Has Them! syndrome here and there) we will crave such standout shoes more and more for the very reason people used to get rid of their well-worns after a season’s end: these shoes mark a moment in time.

Plus, they do all the talking for us. No one will need to ask, “What are those?” If they creep enough fashion shows, they’ll know.

Photographs via Vogue Runway; feature collage by Elizabeth Tamkin

The post Shoesday: Fashion Week Edition appeared first on Man Repeller.

6 Famous People Having a Worse Week Than You

The MOST fun thing that can happen at a party is when someone who you’ve already met about, oh, twenty-three-hundred-and-four times doesn’t recognize you and reintroduces herself. It makes you wonder why you don’t attend more parties! It also makes you want to stuff corn cobs into the ears of your new-old friend with amnesia — especially while recalling the incident a few days later (you with the social memory of an elephant) as post-awkward waves shoot down your ankle bones.

But guess what? You’re not alone. No one knows who these celebrities are either, and they’re celebrities. Below: 5 famous people and one cat having a worse anonymous week than you.

1. Jared Leto and Mark Ruffalo Comic-CONNED fans.

Still, people not recognizing them is the same bullshit excuse as, “Oh my god I didn’t recognize you with your hair up/down/with makeup on.”

Like if you knew me, you’d KNOW me.

[EW]

2. Literally no one knows who Chris Pratt is even though he’s super famous.

Arguably more so than Mark Ruffalo no offense Mark Ruffalo you do great work.

[Billy On The Street via YouTube]

3. Worse than people not knowing who you are: this cat doesn’t know himself.

(So how can he ever truly find love?!???)

4. No one knows who Sarah Burton is.

Sarah Burton, creative design genius behind the house of Alexander McQueen, lover of ruffles and true visionary, is also a writer at BuzzFeed. But no one in the comments of any of her articles (“29 Dogs Looking Depressed AF in Their Halloween Costumes,” hello!!!) have said anything about her beautiful Spring 2016 collection. Super rude. But also, amnesia.

5. Meanwhile, everyone knows who Kanye is, but the American Idol judges had to pretend they didn’t and act surprised…

Like when an adult pretends to “sit” on “the super comfortable couch” even though it’s a 4-year-old doing a really shitty job at hiding.

#Kanye auditioning for #AmericanIdol #WSHH

A video posted by The Official #WSHH Page (@realwshh) on Oct 10, 2015 at 9:06pm PDT

  #Kanye auditioning for #AmericanIdol #WSHH   A video posted by The Official #WSHH Page (@realwshh) on Oct 10, 2015 at 9:06pm PDT  

  SURPRISE!   A photo posted by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Oct 10, 2015 at 6:12pm PDT

The media is playing along that Kanye “tricked” American Idol judges during auditions, too. Kim was like, “Lol honey!!” then posted it to her Instagram, but look at J. Lo. She is not surprised. She’s just mustering up her old acting chops from such classics as Maid in Manhattan and Stepmonster. 

6. Bradley Cooper doesn’t know he’s dating Amy Schumer.

Sucks for him, because she rules. (Fast forward to 6:35 if you’re short on time, but I highly suggest putting your emails on pause and watching the full thing.)

[Saturday Night Live via YouTube]

Speaking of people not knowing they’re dating you! Have you started working on this week’s prompt? No? Great. Consider it the only homework you’ll actually want to do. Besides, it’s about time these people knew they know you.

Feature image via ABC News and tvline.com.

The post 6 Famous People Having a Worse Week Than You appeared first on Man Repeller.

6 Famous People Having a Worse Monday Than You

The MOST fun thing that can happen at a party is when someone who you’ve already met about, oh, twenty-three-hundred-and-four times doesn’t recognize you and reintroduces herself. It makes you wonder why you don’t attend more parties! It also makes you want to stuff corn cobs into the ears of your new-old friend with amnesia — especially while recalling the incident on a Monday (you with the social memory of an elephant) as post-awkward waves shoot down your ankle bones.

But guess what? You’re not alone. No one knows who these celebrities are either, and they’re celebrities. Below: 5 famous people and one cat having a worse anonymous Monday than you.

1. Jared Leto and Mark Ruffalo Comic-CONNED fans.

Still, people not recognizing them is the same bullshit excuse as, “Oh my god I didn’t recognize you with your hair up/down/with makeup on.”

Like if you knew me, you’d KNOW me.

[EW]

2. Literally no one knows who Chris Pratt is even though he’s super famous.

Arguably more so than Mark Ruffalo no offense Mark Ruffalo you do great work.

[Billy On The Street via YouTube]

3. Worse than people not knowing who you are: this cat doesn’t know himself.

(So how can he ever truly find love?!???)

4. No one knows who Sarah Burton is.

Sarah Burton, creative design genius behind the house of Alexander McQueen, lover of ruffles and true visionary, is also a writer at BuzzFeed. But no one in the comments of any of her articles (“29 Dogs Looking Depressed AF in Their Halloween Costumes,” hello!!!) have said anything about her beautiful Spring 2016 collection. Super rude. But also, amnesia.

5. Meanwhile, everyone knows who Kanye is, but the American Idol judges had to pretend they didn’t and act surprised…

Like when an adult pretends to “sit” on “the super comfortable couch” even though it’s a 4-year-old doing a really shitty job at hiding.

#Kanye auditioning for #AmericanIdol #WSHH

A video posted by The Official #WSHH Page (@realwshh) on Oct 10, 2015 at 9:06pm PDT

  #Kanye auditioning for #AmericanIdol #WSHH   A video posted by The Official #WSHH Page (@realwshh) on Oct 10, 2015 at 9:06pm PDT  

  SURPRISE!   A photo posted by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Oct 10, 2015 at 6:12pm PDT

The media is playing along that Kanye “tricked” American Idol judges during auditions, too. Kim was like, “Lol honey!!” then posted it to her Instagram, but look at J. Lo. She is not surprised. She’s just mustering up her old acting chops from such classics as Maid in Manhattan and Stepmonster. 

6. Bradley Cooper doesn’t know he’s dating Amy Schumer.

Sucks for him, because she rules. (Fast forward to 6:35 if you’re short on time, but I highly suggest putting your emails on pause and watching the full thing.)

[Saturday Night Live via YouTube]

Speaking of people not knowing they’re dating you! Have you started working on this week’s prompt? No? Great. Consider it the only homework you’ll actually want to do. Besides, it’s about time these people knew they know you.

Feature image via ABC News and tvline.com.

The post 6 Famous People Having a Worse Monday Than You appeared first on Man Repeller.

Is Email the Next Big Danger to Efficiency?

I got back from Paris on Wednesday night. On Thursday, I was up at 5:20 a.m., care of the generous jet lag. By 7:54 a.m., I’d gone through the 221 e-mails I labeled “post-Paris follow up.” In that time, I had anticipated writing at least two stories and outlining one more — this one, as a matter of fact, being among them.

But what turned out happening is exactly as I described — I just checked e-mails. Were they urgent? Some, but not all. Was it absolutely mandatory that I tend to every single one immediately upon waking up the morning after an 8-day work trip? Probably not. And yet, I felt a strange obligation to deal with them immediately. Before anything else. Including the product that Man Repeller extols — our content.

So I ask: has e-mail become the next big danger to efficiency?

You should know that by 12:45 p.m., three hours after I had arrived at my office, I was still checking e-mails. I could have spent the entire day habitually tab-surfing on my browser, using the inbox messages being transported my way as a sort of reprieve from doing what I actually needed to do. I have done that before.

But it is a harsh and sad reality when your means of procrastination becomes deploying e-mails about payment follow-ups. Because procrastination is supposed to be an indulgence! The mythical moments you spend surfing Net-a-Porter, or eating even though you’re not hungry. Scrolling through Instagram. Sending emojis to your mom.

This makes me wonder what is happening to our joie de vivre. If e-mail is work, and yet we’re using it to escape from working, don’t we realize that we’re using work to counter work and possibly setting ourselves up for burnout?

It occurred to me when I last sent a “Hi! Sorry for the delay in reply!” e-mail after it had only been an hour since receipt that something bad is happening. I understand that the way in which we interact with e-mail has changed considerably since it first launched. Back in the early aughts, you could check e-mail once a week. You could lie to people and tell them the message never came through. It may not have been a lie! But today? Today e-mail is the less abrasive phone call, only there’s no busy dial-tone if you’re already on and you can — nay, must — access it from wherever you are. Even if that means 15,000 feet above ground.

Recently, I heard that an editor at an otherwise publication only checks her e-mail twice a day. I found that brilliant. I want to try it. I never feel as satisfied as when I can’t access my e-mail and that’s primarily because I can actually use the time to do work. Or to talk to the people sitting before me. So I’m going to try it. But before I do, I’d really like to hear that you empathize — or at least sympathize with what I’m saying here. We’re doomed, aren’t we?

Background to feature illustration by Joseph Amar.

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Dressing Tips From Paris to You

Yes, it’s true, I did just wax poetic about the changing climate of street style. I called it homogenous and asked where all the weirdos went. In spite of that, I will still recommend a week of outfits care of the photos that have emerged from Paris Fashion Week — but the reason this works is because it’s never about simply copy and pasting, right? It’s a game of take, toss and add, my friends. So you can use your own closet as the department store + stylist that I am sure it endeavors to be and then make like a super star, kneeling down on one knee, arms in the air and body odor in check.

What?

Ever.

Let’s get dressed.

Monday:

Keep: The slingbacks (you have to!), the concept of jeans, the very feminine dress (but any version will work)

Toss: The handbag, the cropped blazer, the skinny ankle on those jeans

Add: A double breasted something, wider leg holes

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Tuesday:

Keep: The coat-that-looks-like-a-dress, the rope belt

Toss: The sneakers, the black pants

Add: Blue jeans, red loafers

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Wednesday:

Keep: The monochromatic color combination, the bandana-as-necklace, the loafers, the ankle-duster

Toss: The cigarette

Add: A smoothie!

Thursday:

Keep: Your shoulders uncovered

Toss: The zip up

Add: A regular-ass turtleneck, preferably black if you’re wearing a white dress (blue if it’s red, purple if it’s green, hit me up if I’m missing your color combinations)

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Friday:

Keep: The turtlenecklace (in fact, make your own), the sock-ish boots

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Toss: The constructed, deconstructed blouse — but only because…

Add: Your own tank top, worn with a button down buttoned off the shoulders underneath it

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Friday and a half:

Keep: The Victorian style blouse (here’s a $29 one for you), the high waist jeans

Toss: The jewelry, the sunglasses

Add: A pair of amber lenses.

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