Leandra Medine's Blog, page 66

Unpacking the (Fascinating) State of Style in Comedy

In what have to be some of the most joyful 93 minutes on YouTube, comedians John Mulaney and Bill Hader shoot the shit on the stage of New York’s 92nd Street Y. (I know about the video because I was there, one of many rapt audience members, having clawed my way uptown in torrential rain on Mother’s Day.) If you watch the recording, you might notice that neither of their outfits veer off the grayscale, save for a few brown elbow patches. And at one point, in the midst of a bit that would be zapped of its magic if I transcribed it here, Mulaney inspects the white Stan Smiths on Hader’s feet and concludes, in his somehow lilting deadpan: “There’s like only four things people who write comedy can wear, and that’s it: Adidas, New Balance, khaki, jean.” With Mulaney and Hader looking exceptionally regular on stage, the joke lands, but beyond this room, I’m not sure it rings true.

Photo by Maricela Magana / Michael Priest Photography.

To the contrary: The style of comedians today embraces and reflects all the idiosyncrasies of coastal America’s zeitgeist. Whereas in the past, a comic’s means of expressing their identities was fairly limited to their material and how they looked while performing it, they can now wield much more influence as a visual presence. This is clearly a product of our era, the one that rewards the person with the strongest personal brand, feeds an appetite for comedy on streaming and social networks alike, and entertains an audience that (rightfully) demands to see itself represented on screen—and this shift has had eye-catching ripple effects.

Pete Davidson, my liege, is but one obvious example of a figure seizing upon this moment. But these days, there’s room for everyone: yes, for John Mulaney, who often looks like he’s stepped right out of a 1950s Barbasol ad, but also for folks like Julio Torres, he of the luminous and metallic otherworldly appeal; post-SNL Maya Rudolph with her long, frothy silhouettes; Tim Robinson in Eric Emanuel shorts; and Greta Lee, oft seen in sublime, slime greens and designer fleece. And sure, comedy has always been accompanied by its fair share of merch, but Aidy Bryant charts new territory as a designer at the helm of her own plus-size clothing line, Pauline.

Photo via Getty Images.

It’s not that comedy’s been heretofore devoid of style. For every neutral Bill Maher ensemble, there’s a kernel of imagination to be found elsewhere in the history of American comedy. Take, for instance, Andy Kaufman’s outfit from his Mighty Mouse performance on the first-ever episode of Saturday Night Live. This might be the closest comedy ever gets to Phoebe Philo’s Céline. Mid-rise white jeans, a light blue button-down over a black turtleneck, and a plaid blazer—it sounds pretty standard, but there’s something electrifying in its simplicity. It’s almost as if Kaufman made himself into a time-defying scarecrow so that the electric current of Mighty Mouse can run through him. The simplicity here isn’t employed to skirt attention or deemphasize his appearance: Kaufman’s clothes align with his concept. The form fits the content.

Dressing for the Special

Do you notice the clothes when you watch comedy specials? Watching Adam Sandler’s 100% Fresh, I could barely pay attention to the jokes and songs, because all I could see was a supercut of every outfit Sandler wore in one year: a Champion varsity jacket, an illegible graphic tee in a New York Mets color scheme, a dusty pink short-sleeve button-down shirt. In Jenny Slate’s recent Stage Fright, she inhabits a black two-piece satin set from Nili Lotan (“Death will come for all of us; I’m dressed for it”) and what look like Kyoto Tango bracelets on one wrist. Courtesy of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, the compelling visual of a bearded and bespectacled David Letterman, styled by Kanye West in head-to-toe Yeezy, has stayed with me long after I closed my browser window. A recent development, Seth Meyers in Lobby Baby could sell a million navy sweaters.

Photo via Getty Images.

And then there are comedians like Ali Wong, Tiffany Haddish, and Amy Schumer, bellwethers of a shift in how women comedians dress for standup, embracing more traditionally feminine silhouettes instead of something more nondescript. Continuing the project of challenging gender norms, Wong and Schumer have also worn dresses while performing pregnant: Wong takes the stage for Baby Cobra in a tight leopard bandage dress, while Schumer used her flowy minidress to reveal the bandage she’d placed over her pregnant belly-button in Growing. Comedians today have a real knack for optics, because part of their job requires keen observation and sensitivity. They know the way they speak can undercut the image before you, and they can pull that lever when they need.

I definitely thought twice about the clothes when I watched Aziz Ansari’s recent special. Ansari recognizes this special as his first widely disseminated opportunity to address the babe.net controversy that enshrouded him in 2018, and he contextualizes it within a conversation about outrage culture and performative wokeness. Seated on a stool in the center of the stage, he wears a Metallica “Ride the Lightning” t-shirt, grey skinny jeans, and black Van-like slip-ons with a skeletal graphic of feet printed on the canvas, hovering above where Ansari’s actual feet are, like an X-ray.

What is Aziz Ansari trying to convey with this outfit? What could a close reading of what Ansari wears reveal? There’s the comfort of wearing a soft, vintage t-shirt featuring the band you love during a trying and vulnerable performance, and yet there’s something sort of defensive, guarded, and intimidating about wearing a heavy metal t-shirt, too. His shoes telegraph the literal idea of transparency, and they also humanize him a bit, with an understated, spooky reminder that he’s the same make and model as the other skeletons occupying the Brooklyn Academy of Music. How intentional these choices are, we’ll never know, but Ansari torpedoes through this special dressed as a vehicle for political commentary and for public relations.

Taking Cues From Joan Rivers

Curious about the tensions between forming your own identity, personal brand, and stage presence, I reached out to Ziwe Fumudoh, a multihyphenate within the world of New York comedy. Fumudoh writes for a TV show, though on any given day she may go to the studio after work and voice-record for her music or an animation (she’s Kamala Harris on Cartoon President), after which she may do a show or two, and during some limbo time, she’ll shoot an Instagram video or write a viral tweet.

Fumudoh credits her predecessors with laying the groundwork for comedy’s crosspollination with fashion: “Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, and Joan Rivers all had distinct personal styles. Comedians have always had individualistic aesthetic senses of self.” But Fumudoh does note that the newly granted access we have to comedians’ daily lives makes it possible to see more expressions of style. “If Joan Rivers had an Instagram, you bet your behind you’d see iconic looks for days,” she says. “These legends paved the way for comedians like Patti Harrison, Cat Cohen, and myself to create fashion moments on a regular basis.”

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6 Ways to Make “Jeans and a Sweater” a Lot More Fun

Jeans and sweaters are universally acknowledged as the go-to combination of winter dressing–and for good reason. They’re warm, easy to pair, comfortable, and look more put-together than a sweatsuit. However, because they make sense for so many aforementioned reasons and are suitable for so many occasions, they inevitably begin to feel… boring.

But never fear! Crystal and Elizabeth, maximalists of epic proportion (sometimes literally), are here to rescue your jeans and sweaters from the drag of sameness. (I promise that’s the last time I will refer to myself in the third person.) I also promise there are a bunch of unconventional jeans-and-sweater-sprucing ideas below for your repurposing pleasure.

1. For Dog Walks & Weekend Errands

Crystal and I both have dogs, so often times our “weekend errands” are really just taking our dogs wherever they want to go, but these styling ideas are useful whether you’re at the beck and call of a canine or not. We both suggest wearing shoes that are easy to walk in but still aesthetically pleasing–in this case, the second element is taken care of thanks to the glitter and cow print, but these silver ($50) loafers and these tartan shoes are great, too. Similarly, consider carrying a bag that is both practical (i.e. can be hung over your shoulder) and fun to look at. As for your outerwear, opt for something comfortable, like a quilted coat or jean jacket. Frilly collar optional but encouraged.

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2. For After-Work Shrimp Cocktails

If you typically throw on jeans and a sweater when dressing for work on a gray winter day but maintain a keen interest in spicing it up for post-office activities, then these outfit ideas are a love letter from us to Y-O-U. Crystal is clearly on a robe jacket tear, which makes a lot of sense considering their suitability for both indoors and outside–the ultimate versatile styling piece. She also demonstrates a hack for changing up your outfit without actually changing clothes: turn your jeans inside out! It looks especially cool if they’re baggy. As for me, I’m all about layering skirts over my jeans for a sense of evening flair–plus a semi-coordinating blazer because matching is the new oat milk— just kidding you can have both.

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3. For a Holiday Party Where the Egg Nog Is Spicy and So Is Your Attire

It’s 2019, sweet birthday babies, and yes you can 1000% wear jeans and a plain black sweater to a holiday party if they happen to beckon to you from the pile of winter-appropriate clothes that languishes at the end of your bed (just me?). You can also feel festive at the same time, if you add the right layers and accessories. A shoe with a heel will do wonders in terms of transforming casual clothes into celebratory attire, as will a babydoll dress or caftan tucked into the middle of your holiday millefeuille like a sweet sheet of pastry dough.

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10 PHOTOS
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What are your favorite ways to spice up jeans and a sweater in the wintertime? Please do share.

Photos by Makeda Standford. 

The post 6 Ways to Make “Jeans and a Sweater” a Lot More Fun appeared first on Man Repeller.

Will the Cult of Spiked Seltzer Survive the Winter?

Two years ago, when my youngest sister was a senior in college, I would often jokingly ask her, “what’s cool these days amongst the youths?” Her typical response was a good-humored eye roll, but on one memorable occasion she responded seriously: spiked seltzer.

“So basically, like, a vodka soda?” I queried naively.

This comparison was dismissed immediately, and a few months later I discovered why, when I sipped my first grapefruit-flavored White Claw–one of the top purveyors of hard seltzer. It was genuinely delicious, a descriptor I have not once applied to the numerous vodka sodas I’ve nursed faux-willingly over the years in the interest of imbibing something that wasn’t the nutritional equivalent of a jar of jelly beans. It was refreshing. It was citrus-y. It was the perfect warm-weather beverage, destined to usurp the throne held by Aperol spritzes and rosé before it, reigning supreme as Drink of the Summer.

a stranger yelled “white claw summer!” to me across the pool. as much as i wanted to be all “i don’t know you” i had to raise my lime claw and agree that it is indeed, white claw summer

— Harry Lyles Jr. (@harrylylesjr) July 27, 2019

And so it did. This past summer, spiked seltzer commandeered the cultural consciousness, a meteoric rise to ubiquity catalogued by what seemed like the entire internet:

The Summer of Hard Seltzer Is Coming. Here’s How 4 of the Top Brands Stack Up (Washington Post)

Why Is Everyone Suddenly Drinking Spiked Seltzer? (W Magazine)

Why You Can’t Escape Spiked Seltzer This Summer (Slate)

What Is Spiked Seltzer? TODAY Anchors Try Summer’s Hottest Drink (Today)

Everything You Need to Know About White Claw and ‘the Summer of Hard Seltzer’ (Grubstreet)

It was the best of times, it was the fizziest of times. There was a literal White Claw shortage as of Labor Day Weekend. But now that all seltzers are back in stock, we’re in the thick of fall-bordering-on-winter (as evidenced by the snow icon that’s been flirting with my weather app on and off for two weeks), and last Friday night, when I opened my fridge to the sight of a lone, untouched can of Bon & Viv (pear elderflower, in case you were curious), I was struck with a pressing thought: WILL THE SPIKED SELTZER CRAZE SURVIVE WINTER? Can it compete with the siren call of spiked cider in December? Has it burned too brightly in 2019 to last into the new year? Is it destined to go the way of inflatable swan floats, tiny cat-eye sunglasses, and “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran, fading into the ether of summers come and gone?

if white claw doesn’t make a peppermint flavored holiday seltzer and call it santa claws i will riot

— jeffBlue (@jeff_crisanti) November 10, 2019

When I posed this question to my Instagram followers, the answers were both heated and sharply divided:

“I’m dreaming of a White Claw Christmas!!!” said one responder. “I can’t think of a better Yuletide drink, just put a sprig of holly in your glass and sit by the fire if you need some extra festive ambience.”

“I firmly believe spiked seltzer should be a summer drink and a summer drink only,” countered another. “It feels so weird drinking them in the cold months!”

“I’m currently spending the weekend in Chicago, watching the snow fall right now, and on Friday night my friend and I drank four white claws each and it gave us a hint of summery nostalgia in 30 degree weather!” said another.

“I have 6 in the fridge leftover from a party and I can’t even look at them in this weather!” said another. 

I also received some interesting insight from a former employee of the spiked seltzer manufacturer, Truly: “You would think it’s a seasonal item BUT IT HOLDS UP. We expected a huge dip in sales last year, however they were competitive to summer. The entire category is growing, so therefore the share of consumers who are interested in it is growing.”

A friend of mine also chimed in with some similarly intriguing insider knowledge gleaned from a Miller-Coors employee she met at a wedding: “She told me that an entire generation of young people who are going into or attending college right now have entered the world of drinking alcoholic beverages by drinking exclusively spiked seltzer and no beer at all. So companies like Miller-Coors are having to develop products to this new generation of consumers, knowing that a significant portion of them may not drink beer over their lifetime and that they’ll lose a huge portion of the market if they don’t adapt.”

Despite the differing opinions that flooded my Instagram inbox, it would appear that spiked seltzer’s appeal has deeper roots than the typical summer beverage fare. While I personally associate it with the swimsuits and sweaty upper lips of high summer and likely won’t purchase a six-pack until March at the earliest, I’m comforted to know the cult will continue to thrive in the meantime. And for the staunch members out there who intend to clutch chilled cans in mittened hands, college-aged or otherwise, #WhiteClawWinter has a really nice ring to it.

Graphics by Coco Lashar

The post Will the Cult of Spiked Seltzer Survive the Winter? appeared first on Man Repeller.

3 Couples Style Each Other Using the Same Fall Closet

In partnership with AG.

The mixing of my and Avi’s closets started slowly. Or rather, specifically: with a vintage denim jacket. I thrifted it for $40 in the summer of 2016 and, despite our eight-inch height difference, it fit both of us perfectly, like some kind of Ann Brashares-conceived miracle. After loaning it to him several times I just told him to keep it; I loved when he wore it and knew it wasn’t far if I needed it. A few of his t-shirts met the same fate in my own drawer. Then I gave him a red puffer coat, and he gave me a black sweatshirt, and the benevolent swaps continued. Soon our tastes began to mix and overlap, and when we moved in together last spring, we started dressing like accidental twins so often it was almost embarrassing. (It wasn’t. I loved it.)

Avi and I share a boyish sartorial language, so our swaps have never felt particularly ground-breaking, but we’re reaping the benefits of a shift toward a more fluid interpretation of gender presentation—a movement which is owed in large part to those pushing boundaries from the margins. From first-wave feminists donning trousers, to the drag queens in Paris Is Burning, to Young Thug covering Dazed in a floor-length purple dress, few have done a lot to push our culture toward a more expansive definition of dressing well. Now it’s not unusual to see gender-mixed runways and collections, taking cues from the habits of everyday people.

My affection for wearing Avi’s clothes peaks in November. With all its textural layers, late autumn is a particularly fertile season for mixing and matching clothes from different closets. So when AG challenged us to style their mens and women’s fall collections, it made sense to tap couples who do this sort of thing all the time—for whom gender-neutral dressing isn’t a trend as much as second nature. Below, three pairs, including me and Avi, challenged ourselves to style our counterpart in one massive, shared AG closet. Read on to see how it went and get a peek into our clothes-sharing habits.

Avi and I Style Each Other

Avi is a tech analyst, I’m the person writing this story. We live together in Brooklyn.

Me: Hi!

Avi: Howdy

I Let My Chic Grandma Style Me for a Week

My grandmother used to stand over her bathroom sink and methodically dye her graying hair light brown. I would sometimes sit on the edge of the tub and watch her work, mesmerized by her rhythm. Whenever my grandfather suggested she go to a salon and place her trust (and roots) in the hands of a professional, she’d just scoff. Why waste money when she could do it herself? My grandmother has always lived at the sweet intersection of stylish and practical. She cares about her appearance—and aims to look chic, put together—but never at the expense of pragmatism. This is the sensibility she desperately tried to instill in me.

Aging didn’t rob my grandmother of this point of view, nor her beauty, but it has hindered her ability to do everything on her own. A series of injuries over the past year have made dressing and grooming independently a challenge, and now, at 89, most days she simply dons a pair of pajamas, and she’s allowed her hair to submit to the gray. But her mind and taste remain as crisp as the light in November, and instead of focusing her attention on her own appearance, she’s taken to focusing her energy on mine.

My grandmother has never once held back when it came to offering an opinion on my look. She calls my style “eccentric,” often offering suggestions and revisions the moment I walk through her apartment door. So when I asked her to style me for a week, I wasn’t surprised she was game. “You know, all the women in Iran used to copy me,” she explained when I asked, her eyes twinkling. “I was the first woman to wear three-quarter-length trousers.” I laughed, imagining my grandmother in her twenties, strolling around downtown Tehran in 1955, raving about the functionality of capris.

Since my grandmother can no longer venture far from home, she relayed her style guide to me in person, which I recorded and transcribed for use throughout the following week. At the end, I asked her, “How would you describe your style?”

“Simple,” she said, after thinking for a moment. “Simple and chic.”

Day One: A Simple Favor

Her styling directive: “A short dress, paired with a light jacket and high-heeled shoes. Chic, elegant, and simple. Dress to impress.”

My Interpretation: I gravitate toward maximalism, so in many ways, the word “simple” can sound like a trip to the dentist to me. I decided to put my own spin on the assignment, choosing to express myself through texture and color. First, I layered a vintage Chanel dress over an old H&M yellow turtleneck, which made me feel (and look) a bit like a minion. For a jacket, I gravitated toward a baby blue sale-rack gem from Zara, which I found with my mom when I was in college. My heeled go-go boots are actually remnants of a Halloween costume! I know that’s probably not what Leandra had in mind when she forecasted the knee-high boot trend, but I digress. You can literally find these at any Spirit Halloween store.

This ensemble made me feel like the Middle Eastern Sharon Tate. I strutted into work on Monday morning with the confidence of a Love Island contestant. So many coworkers (even ones I had only crossed paths with in the bathroom), stopped to inquire about my boots. The only negative feedback I received came from the receptionist of an acupuncturist I visited after work, who explained that it was perhaps unwise to wear a turtleneck to an appointment that involved sticking needles in my body. In my defense, it was my first time trying acupuncture. In her defense, she was right.

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Day Two: Your Local Politician Could Never

Her styling directive: “A trouser suit, paired with a men’s button-down shirt underneath, and oxfords. Very good for cold weather. Inspired by menswear.”

My interpretation: I got a little cheeky with this assignment. After all, my grandmother called for a pantsuit but didn’t specify a full pantsuit, so I decided to mix and match two different ones. My blazer is thrifted—I think it cost about $15—and my trousers are old Zara. Instead of opting for a boring old men’s button-down, I went with a vintage Burberry find. Yes, I am wearing three different plaids here. No, I don’t intend to audition for a role on The Politician. And while I wanted to wear these Dr. Martens all-black oxfords, I unfortunately don’t own them. So I settled for my trusty matte Dr. Martens combat boots instead. I think they got the job done.

The reactions to this outfit were more mixed. (“That’s a lot of plaid,” a goateed man on the 6 train observed on my way to work. “Yeah,” I responded before switching seats.) But ultimately, I loved it. I appreciated that the lines of each subspecies of plaid didn’t line up; I think the lack of symmetry added more dimension to the overall look.

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Day Three: Dumpster Dive, But Make It Fashion

Her styling directive: “Below-the-knee skirt and a matching scarf, with the colors of the outfit in it. Pair with ballet flats because the skirt is long. The perfect outfit for taking a walk.”

My interpretation: I won’t lie to you guys, I hated this outfit. Day three was one of those days when I tried five million different things and every layer made me feel more and more like the abominable snowman and less like myself. For the skirt, I ended up going with this thrifted kilt I scored for about $7, paired with a vintage Hermès cardigan worn as a top and a matching silk scarf with images of fruit scattered all over it, which I found at a small boutique while on vacation in Portugal last summer. Finally, I layered on a big black puffer, acquired last winter from the H&M men’s section, and a pair of Chanel ballet flats. I felt like Bridgette Bardot meets Mia Thermopolis, pre-makeover.

By the time I left my apartment, it looked ransacked. There were clothes scattered all over the floor and I was late to work. I practically slinked out, willing myself to either melt into the sidewalk or somehow camouflage into a surrealist backdrop that would render me invisible. Unfortunately, neither scenario came to pass. When I got to work, a team member immediately noticed my foul mood and politely asked if I was okay. “I hate my outfit,” I grumbled faintly. She scanned me quickly, clocking the conflicting patterns and silhouettes. “I mean, I wouldn’t wear it,” she told me. “But, like, it’s fine.” I spoke to as few people as possible for the rest of the day.

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Day Four: Blue Jean Drifter

Her styling directive: “Street clothes—nothing fancy. Jeans, a t-shirt, a jean jacket, “jean running shoes,” no makeup. Go like a vagabond and be comfortable, with no fuss. Perfect to wear grocery shopping.”

My interpretation: After day three’s outfit disaster (one coworker DMed me and affectionately described the look as “Anne of Green Gables, but she vapes”), I was excited to get back to the basics. On day four, I threw on a thrifted Levi’s denim jacket and the perfect pair of jeans. While I did wear a T-shirt as instructed (white, Hanes), it was chilly out, so I covered it up with this old Madewell turtleneck sweater, which I desperately hope they still have in stores because it is scrumptiously soft. On top, I added a vintage Burberry trench coat, which goes with absolutely everything. I have no clue what “jean running shoes” are, but the closest thing I’ve got are these New Balance sneakers, which I’m pretty sure I found in the kid’s section. Finally, I tucked away my greasy blonde hair with a silk bandana I stole from my sister’s closet, which has the Iranian American Women Foundation (IAWF) symbol scattered all over it. That’s the key to maintaining platinum blonde hair, by the way—never washing it, just hiding it.

Inspired by my grandmother’s “vagabond” directive, I allowed my outfit to influence my behavior and go wherever the day took me. I spontaneously met up with a friend in Williamsburg after work for drinks (on a school night! Who is she?). We gabbed and gossiped, quickly moving from one bar to the next. We ultimately met up with a few more of her friends before returning to her apartment for a nightcap. We were a New York City cliché—the night felt full of possibility. I took an Uber back across the bridge at 1 a.m., feeling liberated, exhausted, and utterly myself.

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Day Five: A Silver Screen Star Is Born

Her styling directive: “Long dress with an open neck paired with an evening shawl and open-toed shoes. Perfect for a party mood. Inspired by old Hollywood movie stars.”

My interpretation: This was my favorite outfit all week. Do you ever throw something on and get it right on the first try? That’s exactly what happened on my last day of the Grandma Challenge. It was too cold to wear an open neck, so I opted instead to layer a white turtleneck from Gap over my thrifted floor-length white lace dress. The oversized blazer is also vintage—stolen from my dad’s closet. I love how its boxy shape breaks up all of the ethereal white, a look I’ve affectionately dubbed the “wood nymph of Wall street.” For the open-toed shoes, I went with my trusty Maryam Nassir Zadeh silver sandals (I’d give this talented Persian designer my liver) and matching sheer silver socks that I found at an Eres sample sale. The shawl was a gift from my mother—I’m pretty sure she bought it on a trip to China. I planned to pin it in the front, a look heavily inspired by Mecca James-Williams’ ode to poncho season, but the wind had other ideas.

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Overall, I had a ton of fun pushing the boundaries of my style and manipulating the contents of my closet in order to meet these challenges. Although my grandmother’s style significantly diverges from my own, there was something warm and nostalgic about spending a week in items tailored to her taste. It felt like sitting in a worn leather armchair with an indent from someone else’s tush.

Last Sunday, I returned to my grandmother’s house a tad earlier than the rest of my family. I wanted to show her the photos from the challenge in private; I was worried the liberties I took might irritate her and didn’t want to cause a tiff in front of my nosy relatives. I watched her flip through the images on my phone, a blank expression on her face. After a few minutes, she handed it back to me. “Beautiful,” she said quietly to herself. “Beautiful and chic.”

Photos provided by Melanie Mignucci and Iman Hariri-Kia.

The post I Let My Chic Grandma Style Me for a Week appeared first on Man Repeller.

How and Where Do Teens Make Friends Online These Days?

Smartphones and the internet have changed the way adults interact with their friends, but for most teens, relationships that are “extremely online” have been the norm for as long as they can remember. (Even 19-year-olds, at the oldest end of the teen spectrum, were only in 2nd or 3rd grade when the first iPhone was released.) So, I asked 73 teens about how they make and maintain their friendships online. From Instagram comments (largely performative, but still important) to scouting for new friends on Pinterest (it’s possible!), keeping scrolling to read more straight from the teens, in their own words.

They make online friends anywhere and everywhere

“I met a friend on Pinterest (strangely) bc we liked the same style boards, films, etc. I remember I was terrified because I always had this thought that it may be some of my friends from school messing with me, because we talked and gave each other advice on dating and boys.” —Julia, 19, Chicago

“I’ve had some ‘online-only’ friendships that started in middle school where we all met because we had One Direction stan accounts on Twitter. I feel like most of my online friendships still start because of a shared interest in pop culture or something pop-culture adjacent. Most of our communication is through interacting with each other’s tweets.” —Alex, 18, Los Angeles

“I’m in Facebook groups like ‘a group where we all pretend to be boomers’ (lol) and there are people there who I find interesting but haven’t really DM’d because those groups often have a rule that you shouldn’t DM anyone unless they explicitly agree beforehand.” —Andrea, 17, Mexico City

“I have had ‘online-only’ friends before, but they never worked out. We met because we were going to the same university, but I never really felt like I could truly express myself through purely text. When reading a text, especially from someone you’ve never met before, the reader could interpret the text in a million ways.” —Angelica, 18, San Diego

“I have some friends I’ve met on Club Penguin, lol. We added each other on Snapchat and now we have a group chat there.” —Ans, 16, Atlanta

“I met a friend in the comments of a YouTube video about mental health. I responded to a comment about dealing with anorexia and just said, ‘If you ever need a random person to talk to, DM me on Instagram.’ A couple months later, out of the blue, someone reached out. We ended up becoming very close friends. We chatted about every other day for probably half a year.” —Arianna, 16, Toronto

Snapchat and Instagram are where IRL friends keep in touch

“With my best friends, it’s usually Snapchat, which I keep pretty private. On Instagram, I always like and comment on my close friends’ posts to hype them up. Commenting things like ‘icon’ and ‘that’s my best friend’ just cheers your besties up.” —Bella, 16, Los Angeles

“Instagram: DM funny memes, and comment on their pictures. Snail mail is always fun— I send my friends postcards whenever I travel.” —Chaya, 17, Brooklyn

“My two best friends and I Snapchat constantly and at least once a week we ‘FaceTime’ each other with the Snapchat call feature.” —Nina, 19, Nashville

“Usually Instagram or Snapchat. I usually comment on their posts to hype them up, and only really use DMs to send memes and posts about Timothée Chalamet.” —Sabine, 18, New York

Most teens wish they had more in-person hangouts

“I see my friends every day for multiple hours so I don’t think it gets any better than that.” —Chrysa, 18, Athens, Greece

“Yes! I would prefer IRL convos, but I’m in a long-distance relationship and in long-distance best-friendships, so digital communication is essential. I make an effort to call on the phone regularly though.” —Alice, 19, London

“Please! Give! Me! Real! Life! Friends! It’s hard to motivate myself to go outside, hard to match energy levels, hard to make friends even if you are at college in the city. But bitch I want someone to care about! Be able to see them when I want! Have dinners, sleepovers, etc. It’s like a lost art.” —Catherine, 19, New York City

“With my girlfriends I am happy with the ratio, but sometimes I feel like boys are a lot quicker to Snap then to have a conversation in person.” —Lulu, 15, Brooklyn

“I’m happy with my current ratio, but I wish I did get more time with my IRL friends. Everyone has clubs and sports and studying and other friends to attend to, so sometimes it can get lonely.” —Ayjia, 15, New York City

Some public figures are so good at social they feel like real friends

“I love Ashley from Best Dressed on YouTube. She’s a fashion vlogger who also talks about her experience growing up with advice for teens. All of her videos are super casual, like she’s an older sister or friend giving truthful and real advice.” —Margot, 16, Pound Ridge, NY

“My friend and I keep very updated on this Italian villa that posts beautiful photos on Instagram (@masseriamoroseta). It’s not a person, but we talk about it as if we’re going to stay there tomorrow. What did they serve for breakfast? Is it too cold to swim there today? Maybe we’re ridiculous.” —Lilah, 19, New York City

“Jaboukie on Twitter! I feel like he and his followers have a really casual relationship.” —Alex, 18, Los Angeles

“I follow Busy Phillips, she shares a lot of details about her life and uploads to her Instagram story daily, through this I feel strangely close to her.” —Jane, 18, Los Angeles

“Elizabeth Warren. I just want to give her a hug every time I see something of hers on my feed. I know it’s a campaign manager or whatever posting but her ability to reach those on social media is truly game changing, and every post seems sincere.” —Margo, 17, Texarkana

“Literally Harling Ross and Leandra Medine. I LIVE for a week in review. I feel like if I ever saw either one of them on the streets I would give an overabundantly joyful ‘HEY!’” —Emma, 17, Gulf Breeze

The standards for who gets “close friends” status on Instagram are subjective

“I’ve never created a close friends tab on my Instagram because it feels weird! And sometimes cliquey.” —Lyla, 17, Minneapolis

“My best friend, my sister (when she’s being nice to me), and a couple friends that I see during the summer. No one from high school!!” —Alma, 19, New York City

“I have a finsta, so I use that instead of using the close friends feature.” —Hannah, 19, Seattle

“Close friends IRL, and boys I like if I want to show them my elite meme taste.” —Lulu, 15, Brooklyn

“People I talk to a lot in my classes, my childhood friends, cousins, and crushes.” —Ayjia, 15, New York City

“Literally only people I would die for (who won’t show my mom).” —Lailah, 19, San Diego

It doesn’t take much to feel love from friends online

“I feel super cared for when I post something about feeling bad and someone messages me about it. I feel like doing so means that they are accepting and acknowledging my vulnerability, especially since it’s so easy to ignore online.” —Julia, 19, Chicago

“When they text me or share their everyday life with me on Snapchat.” —Emma, 15, Roskilde

“When they send me cute animal pictures after I’ve had a rough day.” —Nadia, 17, Pasadena

“I guess I feel most loved when people post for my birthday. Someone is taking the time out of their day to recognize me, which makes me feel so special and loved. I wish I could really show how much their action means to me.” —Yonah, 16, Newton, MA

“When they post pictures with me.” —Chaya, 17, Brooklyn

“When they send me random memes or videos from their explore page, because it means they are thinking of me and care.” —Gemma, 16, San Francisco

Ask a Teen identity by Coco Lashar.

The post How and Where Do Teens Make Friends Online These Days? appeared first on Man Repeller.

Wardrobe Makeover: Maybe the Secret to Closet Organization Is Actually Optimization

One great thing about living in New York City is that you have very limited space to store your belongings. Most people consider this one of the shortcomings of being a resident here, but I actually think the condition requires you to think more thoughtfully and strategically–dare I say even sustainably—about the shit you bring into your temple. For as long as I’ve lived here (a lifetime), my closet has looked like a regular wall enclave, capable of holding no more than 20 of any varietal of garment. Now that I write it, it sounds like a lot–and it is a lot!

But we get so distracted by size that we forget optimization–a logical system for how to organize a mass of things–is perhaps the better thing to focus on. And to this point, we might also mistake organization for optimization. It’s one thing to have a closet full of neatly folded pants and carefully hung shirts or dresses (I do), but it is something very different to have a closet that’s been updated to complement your life. (I mean LyFe.)

Last month, I put out an informal social media summoning for the help of anyone with a more linear mind to help me figure out how to develop a system to make getting dressed feel more like a thing that I’m doing and not a complicated argument I am trying to win with the very simple rule that I was not willing to invest in a new closet build-out. What you see is what you get. I’m not interested in obtaining more clothes, just utilizing the ones I have. So, how can you help me reach this state of closet nirvana?

According to Jessie Gainsley and Lindsay Colhoun of L.A.-based, The Team, who responded by offering their services FREE OF CHARGE, this can be done by treating a personal closet like a store. But how?

First: display your merchandise

Pretending your closet is a store and thus setting it up by color or style makes it easier to see what you have. According to Gainsley, “When things are placed this way, it’s more apparent what you do or don’t need.”

Next: rethink your folding strategy

Colhoun and Gainsley prefer hanging as much shit as they can, but I don’t have that much hanging space, so one way they blew my mind was by recommending that I stack no more than 5 pairs of casual pants on top of each other—this helps eliminate those annoying folding lines that create an imprint on your pants when they haven’t been worn for too long and make fishing them out of the piles somewhat easier. Apparently your closet is not supposed to look anything like the leaning tower of Pisa, which I totally didn’t realize. This goes for sweaters and t-shirts too. For the chunky mother effers, three to four is the max. For lighter fare knits and cotton, no pile exceeded six tops.

One thing I was not doing, btw, was separating the weight of knits from each other, which seems like an obvious thing that everyone should do, but lo and behold, not obvious to me. To this point, you probably already know this too but as far as your actual hanging space, I’ll just reiterate it: velvet hangers are v. narrow and save you tons of space. Thank God for Joy Mangano, you know?

Also: use baskets and bins unconventionally; never underestimate a divider

This was my favorite pro-tip–Gainsley and Colhoun recommended using baskets to store stuff on the floor of my closet. We created one basket for off-season flat sandals, another for ~fun socks~, one for belts, and a bigger one for sneakers, which is now under my coat closet. A plexi tray sits next to the belt and sock baskets on a shelf in my room for jewelry and some sunglasses.

Gainsley and Colhoun also added small linen bins and dividers to my drawers to hold underwear, bras, scarves, et al. Another thing that’s helpful: designated holders for small belongings–jewelry, sunglasses, bags, etc.

Here’s something: store shoes back and forth

This tip only works if you have a designated shoe closet, which I do because I am dramatic and fucking love footwear. I can see how shoe bags hanging from closet doors are probably a pretty efficient option here, too, in the event you do have shelves on which you place your shoes, storing them back and forth creates like, two new spots on each shelf, and if the shelves are deep enough, you can also store them one forward, one back. Does this make sense? I’m terrible at explaining anything that is not an emotional feeling.

Finally: take mirror selfies

Not a real closet optimization tip, unless you create a folder in your phone’s photo album of outfit ideas à la Cher Horowitz if she were a member of our generation, which is actually not a bad idea, so, uh, celebrate good times, come on!

Jessie Gainsley and Lindsey Coulhoun are effectively closet editors who have come up with a method of closet organization that ultimately helps people get dressed. They edit wardrobes by recommending discarding, tailoring, and adding long-lasting new pieces, then they create online images of the wardrobes for their client, replete with outfit ideas (!). In addition to these services, they also help clients pack for travel and offer gifting services.

The post Wardrobe Makeover: Maybe the Secret to Closet Organization Is Actually Optimization appeared first on Man Repeller.

3 Spontaneous Dinner Party Ideas, Inspired by the Contents of Your Fridge

If you think about it, your refrigerator is basically a roommate. It keeps you (and your food) company. It provides soothing sustenance when you’re in need, emotionally or physically. And it’s an important fixture when you’re entertaining.

Some fridges are better entertainment facilitators than others, though. Thanks to special features like a built-in glass panel that lights up when you knock twice to show what’s inside and a next-level dual ice maker that automatically makes cubed, crushed, and batches of large, slow-melting round Craft Ice, LG’s new LG InstaView Door-in-Door refrigerator is particularly helpful in this regard. It’s primed and ready to back up your hosting skills. The only question is… what kind of hosting do you want to do? 

That, of course, depends on what you have inside your fridge. But just as you know the contents in your fridge are wont to dictate the nature of your shindig, you also know that oftentimes–especially if you’re planning something last-minute–they don’t always go together in an immediately apparent way.

That’s where I come in. I’m an expert at concocting party plans out of disparate fridge contents. Partly because I don’t cook very often, so my fridge always has super-random assemblage of ingredients in it, and partly because I’m a big fan of impromptu gatherings. To show off this particular skillset and to celebrate the joy of a refrigerator that makes a challenging task a delight, I asked three MR colleagues to tell me exactly what’s inside their own fridges right now, and I prescribed party ideas accordingly.

Scroll down and find yourself some weekend plans.

Fridge Party #1: Luxury Snackstravaganza

This refrigerator belongs to Dasha, Man Repeller’s Director of Product, who lives in Chinatown with her husband and two sons.

Fridge Contents

A few random bottles of white wine and champagne that people have gifted over the years, chicken breast, heavy cream, light soy sauce, coconut yogurt, cheddar cheese, Babybel cheese, hot dogs, hot dog buns, bread, apples, blueberries, avocado, grapes, fig jam, peach salsa, bottles of Stella, and Aperol spritz fixings.

Party Plans

Let me ask you a question that may or may not be rhetorical: Who doesn’t love consuming an entire plate of snacks??? Like I said, it may or may not be rhetorical, because I’m fairly confident the answer is universally “No one. That’s who.” Let me ask you another question: Have you ever purposefully chosen to eat a plate full of snacks instead of a typical “dinner”? I do this all the time and it is one of my life’s greatest pleasures. I can’t believe it hasn’t occurred to me until now, whilst absorbing the snack-heavy contents of Dasha’s refrigerator, that this concept is perfect fodder for an eclectic, snack-centric dinner party.

The key here, is how you set them out. Arrange the various snacks in pleasing arrangements on your fanciest dinnerware–large helpings of fig jams and peach salsa in small dishes beside a plate of artfully sliced cheddar and Babybel cheese and maybe some grapes. Cubes of diced chicken with soy sauce for dipping. Hot dogs in buns cut into fourths. Avocado mashed and spread on toasted bread. Apple slices fanned in a semi-circle. A bowl of blueberries topped with coconut yogurt or, if you’re feeling wild, heavy cream that you’ve whipped with an electric mixer. Endless glasses of white wine, champagne, and Aperol spritzes with slow-melting Craft Ice cubes. Give a toast to whomever it was that gifted the bottles all those years ago (and to the ice–because damn does it melt at a glacial pace).

Fridge Party #2: Black Tie Pasta Potluck

Mallory, Man Repeller’s Executive Editor, who lives in a studio in Greenpoint, is the keeper of this fridge.

 

Fridge Contents

Chorizo, salsa verde, olives and/or cornichons, boquerones, leftovers from Xi’ian Famous Foods, ingredients for my go-to quick pasta (tomato basil sauce, onion, pancetta–with mezze rigatoni, garlic, and canned tomatoes kept outside of the fridge…), three half-drunk kombucha, Grady’s cold brew, and a lil carton of Oatly.

Party Plans

If you want an instant hack for making people feel immediately festive—even if it’s rainy outside or it’s been a particularly long week or your apartment is in a far flung locale—tell them there’s a dress code. Even better, a fancy dress code. Hell, make it a black-tie affair! But if you don’t have a party’s worth of food in your fridge–inform them it’s a potluck. A pasta potluck! Wherein everyone brings their go-to pasta dish. This is a win-win, because most people have basic pasta ingredients on hand and feel passionately about their favorite recipe.

The guest who arrives most enthusiastically dressed to the nines will be rewarded with the prize of creating cocktails with the remaining halves of your half-drunk kombuchas. (And yes, if you’ve got the InstaView fridge, this is where your crowd-pleasing spherical ice comes in.)

Fridge Party #3: Candlelit Breakfast-for-Dinner Date

Please rise for the fridge of Sabrina, Man Repeller’s Photographer & Photo Editor, who lives in South Williamsburg with two roommates (well, three, if you count her fridge)

 

Fridge Contents

Raspberry jam, beer, oat milk, onions, peppers, miso paste, mushrooms, clementines, half a loaf of bread, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, extra-hot salsa, and Granny Smith apples.

Party Plans

Your best bet here is an intimate candlelit dinner where breakfast is served, ideally with a friend you don’t get to see that often. Invite them over for toast with raspberry jam accompanied by sweet potato “hash browns” with hot sauce, decaf oat milk lattes and clementine slices. If they aren’t a “sweet” person, swap out the raspberry jam for mushrooms and butternut squash sautéed with miso. Wash down the lattes with a rerun of your favorite Meg Ryan flick.

Your turn! Tell me the contents of your fridge and I’ll fantasize up a party idea for you. No pressure to invite me, but if you do, I promise I’ll make enchanting small talk with your guests, roommates, and/or kitchen appliances.

Graphics by Coco Lashar.

The post 3 Spontaneous Dinner Party Ideas, Inspired by the Contents of Your Fridge appeared first on Man Repeller.

What You Can Expect This Cuffing Season, According to the Zodiac

Communing with the celestial bodies can give us meaningful insight into so many aspects of our lives, but it’s about to get cold cold and I know that y’all want to know who you’re going to be sharing a space heater with during this year’s cuffing season. Read on to find out if you’re going to spend your indoor-days with the dude from the mailroom who you’ve been sleeping with for two months even though he inexplicably pronounces the word tattoo like ta-TOO, with the emphasis on the latter half of the word, or with that person at the Whole Foods who always buys the same magnesium supplements as you and has a face one could only describe as “architectural,” or perhaps alone in your bed with your cat, as the dulcet tones of The Office theme song sing thee to thy rest.

Aries

The cuffing season weather in Aries-town is hot and heavy. Think tropical levels of steamy, sweaty excitement, whether you’re single or partnered. If the single-and-looking Aries’ winter months were a late-90s romance movie you already know it would be How Stella Got Her Groove Back. But let me offer you a word of caution—with that November retrograde, you may have gotten some of your wires a bit crossed, so take extra care to communicate your intentions and boundaries. If you are partnered, the stars show me that you’ve been doing a lot of hard work on building your relationship with yourself or another intimate other. Now it’s time to get you something crotchless and fill your refrigerator with sexy-themed foods like oysters, cream, tiny patisserie, etc. and get your decadance on. Whatever your status, know that the entanglements you dive into right now you will have a lasting impact on the year ahead, so cuff wisely.

Taurus

Taurus, my dude, look me in my eyes when I say this to you: Block your ex on all social media and delete their phone number. Donald Trump is President and we are living through the sixth mass extinction event in the planet’s history, meaning: Do you really want to face the imminent cataclysmic apocalypse with someone who wastes your damn time and raises your blood pressure? Let me answer for you: No, you don’t. You deserve better. This is the season for all the single Tauri out there to throw out the old rotation and get what they want for real. For all of you that are happily partnered for the cozy months, my advice is the same. The grass is not greener with ol’ dude. You’ve been there, you know the grass is parched and probably littered with other people’s dog droppings. Stay strong.

Gemini

Hello there you saucy minx! The heart-quickening flirtation stage of any relationship is your bread and butter, but the seasons are changing and you might find yourself wanting to lock it down with a special someone. Mercury retrograde came for us all in November, which means you might have found yourself trying to sabotage yourself by making some regressive choices. So let me remind you: It is 2019 and we don’t have time to settle. If you’re single/dating around and no one in the current rotation is worth your time, make some mulled wine and pick up embroidery or buy an excellent new sex toy to get you through it. If you’re happily partnered, it might be time to make amends for some retrograde misunderstandings.

Cancer

Look fam, I know that all your instincts are telling you to crawl up inside your shell and stay there for the rest of eternity. Pluto, small lord of the underworld, is acting up right now and it’s likely that little things that annoy you in your current relationships, whether you’re partnered or single, feel like big gigantic many-headed foul-breathed spawn from hell that exist to torpedo any hopes you had of companionship. Do not be fooled, you tender soft-shelled angel, this too shall pass. When you’ve licked your wounds and cleared your head, there will be someone waiting to hold your hand.

Leo

Leo, regardless of your single or partnered status, I honestly wish I could just give you a handful of various lube samples and tell you to have at it, but alas, I have only words. The planets are conspiring to make this year’s cuffing season a particularly active one for you. The decision to try out a threesome (or more! idk!) is of course not everyone’s speed, but after gazing upon your chart I’ll just say that if you’ve been thinking about it, it might be time to invest in a bigger bed and a crate of coconut water for group re-hydration breaks. I only counsel a heightened attentiveness to communication, so pick a good safe word (some autumnal recommendations: pumpkin spice, maple bacon, Vermont) and do your thing.

Virgo

Welcome to the coziest and most sensual time of year, you hyper-analytical sex-pot! With Mars in Scorpio, partnered Virgos or Virgos who are playing the field could be feeling particularly nit-picky and jealous. The celestial bodies have told me to tell you that you need to chill out and not get in the way of your own happiness. If you’ve got a special someone(s) but you’re feeling the itch to dump them because they insist on loading the dishwasher in a way that makes you want to explode, maybe sit on that for a few days. Or! Every time they use the wrong towel and you want to call their mama and tell her she should have raised her child right, how about you write a list of all the nice things you like about your partner instead? Just a thought.

Libra

It’s the most decadent season of your year Libra! According to the stars, if you’re single, you should be prepared to meet someone who absolutely lavishes you with attention (or maybe you’re about to get a puppy? The stars can be a little vague…) You’ll want to incorporate more sensuality into your day-to-day life regardless of the state of your romantic goings-on. This is a time to invest in things that feel good to touch and have. You know I’m always suggesting jade yoni eggs, and I stand by that. Also perhaps you should consider getting some silky under-things for your undercarriage? Make this cuffing season about locking down your own sense of pleasure and luxury.

Scorpio

Oh buddy, it is YOUR season. The deep sex appeal that animates you will be in overdrive this time of year. According to the stars, if you are single and looking, you may be feeling conflicted about whether or not the soul-shattering, teeth-chattering chemistry that you desire will be in the cards for you. I am here by direct order of the naughtiest celestial powers to tell you that you can have the connection you desire. It is your solemn duty as a Scorpio and as a shepherd of your heart to settle for nothing less. If you are getting your raunch on with a special someone these days, I recommend that you take the lead and try some of the things that have been pattering around your imagination.

Sagittarius

Maybe you’ve noticed that no one can keep their eyes off you lately. This is by celestial design, my friend. The biggest struggle for you this season will be organizing your social calendar. When so many tender souls out there will be coming into the colder months hoping to lock it down, you might be more interested in broadening your horizon in terms of the friendships you cultivate. Whether you’re single or not, it is likely that you’ll spend these next few months out in these streets playing the field, smartwool socks and all. But as Sag season washes over us, you’ll want to take some time and decide whether you’re happy in this hyper-social lifestyle, or if you’ll want to ring in the new year with some changes.

Capricorn

I have very good news for you, Cap. Whether you are partnered or single, this season promises to be abundant. If you are looking for someone to get your snug on with, you may have more candidates than you know what to do with. If you already have your person or people that you are happily getting your snug on with, then you will find an overflow of sweetness this season. As I gaze upon your chart, I see almost unbearably cute activities that might seem saccharine but I insist that you consider them. This means trying your hand at an elaborate blanket fort and watching the most romantic movies you can stomach. This means couples baking projects. This means matching PJ sets. Consider this your permission to engage in the date night activity equivalents of baby talk and pet names.

Aquarius

This cuffing season’s greetings comes with specific celestial instructions for you Aquarius: It is time to be selfish. The best thing you can do for your romantic life right now is to put yourself first, ostentatiously. If you are still engaging in the particular contemporary hell of online dating, the stars ask you to be that dude that just has “selfish lover” as their bio. That’s it. No qualifiers. I know, I know, it’s daring, but this is the time to try grand experiments in self-renovation. What if the only people you tarried with were people who came into it with the explicit knowledge that you and your desires are your priority? I’m not saying that you need to lead the rest of your life as a megalomaniac life-top, I’m just saying that this is a season for tasting the sweet side of selfishness. If you’re partnered, same rules apply minus the dating profile. Put your bossy pants on and let your chosen human know that stuff is about to get weird.

Pisces

Now, being a Pisces, you are generally caught up in the fluvial, emotional below-the-surface side of life. But this season, if you’re partnered and looking to heat things up with your special someone, the stars advise you to engage in some surface-level peacocking. You need to indulge in some aesthetic play, some primping, some shining of your scales. If you’re single and looking, it is imperative that you put on your saving-this-one-for-a-rainy-day look and finally go out with your friend’s friend who shares your obsession with subversive embroidery, or that cutie from the coffee shop that orders egregiously festive coffee beverages (you might learn to find it endearing!) Just make sure that you communicate as clearly as possible, or you could end up on one of those weird “hangouts” that could be a date or could be a casual friend thing, which we both know is a particular form of hell that must be avoided at all costs. Happy trails, gorgeous!

Graphic by Coco Lashar

The post What You Can Expect This Cuffing Season, According to the Zodiac appeared first on Man Repeller.

I Reinterpreted 5 Dior Looks With My Own Wardrobe

As much as I love my wardrobe, it does have its limitations. The foremost is that my closet is really just a corner of a slightly larger closet that I call “my apartment.” Space is a hot commodity at my place. Every time I buy something new, I have to give something else away or rotate it into storage. Each time I pull out one sweater, all the rest have to fall on my head. Another glaring flaw? My closet tragically does not contain any couture. Jeans on the floor? I’ve got those in spades. Swarovski crystals, hand-stitched suede, and trains of tulle? None to be found, despite my constant attempts to mentally manifest them into being.

In spite of this reality, I decided to try my hand at recreating looks from legendary couture house Christian Dior because, well, stumped for inspiration this month, I polled my mom for ideas and during the 24 years I’ve known the woman, she hasn’t been wrong. Well, that and the fact that perhaps no other brand in existence today boasts such a rich history of talents at its helm. The legendary Mssr. Dior himself, Yves Saint Laurent, and many other now-iconic designers paved a veritable Hollywood Boulevard of fashion celebrity within the house of Dior. In 2016, Maria Grazia Chiuri took the reigns as the first female director of Dior and has managed to simultaneously extend and upend the brand’s tradition of making the finest of formalwear.

Below, I’ve paid homage to four of Chiuri’s finest runway moments and one Christian Dior classic, because what discussion of Dior would be complete without reference to the revolutionary New Look? With some trepidation (and not just because my sweater stack was looking precarious), I reached for my closet door, uneasy about the thought of reinterpreting couture with my comparatively pedestrian trappings. But! Necessity is the mother of invention…right? Scroll on and let me know.

#1: Suit, Tie, Swim Cap, Spring 2019 Couture

While the existence of contemporary couture itself is polarizing (is it an outmoded, overpriced system or the last true bastion of capital-F fashion?), it is universally agreed upon that wearing a suit and tie in place of a ballgown is cool. The one I have on here I purchased at H&M several years ago, before I swore off fast fashion of any kind. It fit just how I wanted it to without any tailoring, which is a testament to the fact that perhaps couture is just a state of mind. This is certainly the only time I’ve ever regretted disposing of my shiny blue elementary school swim cap, though I’m not mad about the Old Hollywood touch a neatly knotted scarf provides. This scarf keeps appearing in my columns, and I didn’t realize until now that it may just be the hardest-working item in my wardrobe!

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#2: Another Suit With a Beret on Top, Fall 2018 Couture

Okay, mine isn’t a beret. It’s a Tam o’ shanter, a tribute to my college years spent in Scotland, made by one of my absolute favorite brands, Le Kilt, that makes all their items to order using local wool mills in Scotland. Also, I clearly just can’t resist any type of accessory that perches atop my head. I recently snapped up this suit at A Current Affair, a traveling vintage fair, because it combines my two favorite clothing accoutrements: scalloped edges and daisies. Dior’s look is decidedly a bit more serious than mine, but, hey, I’ll get my kicks where I can.

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#3: Evening Hoodie, Spring 2018 Couture

I’m almost glad I didn’t see this look until after my wedding, but it’s not like I would actually get married in a hoodie…would I? I also regrettably did not have time to festoon the entirety of my outfit with floral-feathery appliqués, so I’ll consider my version of this look the more everyday option–something to wear to your own wedding and then to a meeting, if you will.

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#4: Patchwork, Fall 2018 Ready-to-Wear

I scored both components of this outfit on a recent visit to Paris, but it didn’t occur to me to pair them together until I perused some Dior runway photos. The tone-on-tone patchwork reads more ladylike than still-yearning-for-the-seventies, making it an approachable introduction to the trend. I liked this outfit so much that I wore it several times this past week (a rarity for me, a dignified outfit non-repeater), dressed up with glittery loafers for the Leandra x Mango launch and dressed down with a varsity sweater thrown over the whole shebang for a day of errands.

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#5: My New Look

I tend to dislike the phrase “timeless” when used to describe clothing. The term seems to imply an ability to predict the future of fashion while ignoring the fact that aspects of any look, from its fabrics to its accompanying makeup and hairstyle, are inextricably embedded in the time period during which they were created. However, there are silhouettes that lend themselves to reinterpretation from decade to decade, and while I would still be hesitant to call such looks timeless, there’s a certain… historical flexibility to them. The New Look, designed by Christian Dior in 1947, is one such silhouette. More than half a century after its original design, the combination of a blazer with a nipped-in waist and a pleated skirt still feels fresh and decidedly powerful. For 2019, I’ve added some mixed animal print and forgone the hat because, as much as I love a hair accessory, I just can’t get behind that one.

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Over the course of the week or so that I spent brainstorming and writing about these looks, I found myself feeling even more inspired than usual. Poring over years of Dior’s fashion history made me want to outdo my own history. I dressed up even more than usual, with blazers, faux furs, and big, full skirts. I had expected to feel limited by my wardrobe, but I instead felt amazed by its capacity to rise to the challenges imposed by couture.

It’s nice to feel that sense of self-one-upsmanship in fall, when there’s still the crisp, invigorating back-to-school promise that this year you’ll build yourself into something better than you were the year before. It’s preferable still to try and hold on to this feeling as the holiday season approaches with ever-tempting advertisements promising that what you and your loved ones really need this year is the latest, luxest novelties–not to mention a new outfit for all the impending parties. My goal over the next few months is to shop less but also to want less. I know that I can create an abundant supply of festive fineries with what I already have on hand.

If you were thinking of sending me a little something, though, I’d love a dollhouse. I think it’ll look great with tights.

The post I Reinterpreted 5 Dior Looks With My Own Wardrobe appeared first on Man Repeller.