Leandra Medine's Blog, page 8

Sound the Alarm: We Have a Date for Our Book Club Meetup

Drumroll, please! This is your official save-the-date for the inaugural meeting of the MR Book Club—not just your average book-centric meet-up but a verifiable community-building, spirit-lifting, creativity-raising experience. Not only is this a unique chance to deeply commune with the spirits alight in the hugely affecting, beautifully composed The Death of Vivek Oji and its author, Akwaeke Emezi—it’s also an opportunity to meet the people sitting next to you, however virtually, and share your creativity with all of us. You (really, truly) don’t want to miss it. Now: You have questions? We have answers. (And if you’ve already made the exceptionally sound decision to come by, RSVP for the big night here.)

Remind me: Which book will we be discussing?

The inaugural book of the MR Club is Akwaeke Emezi’s The Death of Vivek Oji. Want a preview? Spend a little time with MR Book Club host Sarah Panlibuton Barnes’ interview with the author, in which (says Sarah) “Emezi and I discuss the ways that this novel tests us and asks us to come to the table, with a spicy tangent on tortured desire because you didn’t think I would be on the phone with the author of Vivek’s hot-ass sex scenes and not get a little PG-13.”

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But maybe I’m already in three other book clubs. How is this one more than the usual ones?

Because it’s a community building practice—and more than that, a space to channel your own creative energy. Come dig into that at our Facebook group, where Sarah promises that “instead of just taking in the story, we will do experiments with visualization, mini art or journaling prompts, games that connect us to each other. I want to move our community out of the regular-degular internet friends who hang in the comments section to co-collaborators in the creation of our own intimate world.” And you thought this was just a book club! Sign up here.

I don’t know, sitting on another Zoom call….

Oh, but this will be so much more than that. For instance, there is a dress code. As Sarah puts it: “In The Death of Vivek Oji, Vivek’s friends form a kind of sacred circle around him, where he is free to explore, experiment, and to be understood on his own terms. In his friend Juju’s bedroom, Vivek adorns himself in flowing dresses and can wear a bold lip with the confidence that comes with knowing that he will be received with love and delight. This is the ‘warm room’ we visited with our time travel meditation in the beginning of the month. For the meetup, use your totem, let it take you back to your own warm room, and take inspiration from that moment. Dress the way you would dress in your most free, experimental, expression of yourself, as if no matter what you wore and who you were in those clothes, you knew you would be held in the light of your friends’ love.” Start getting creative now!

So when’s the big event?

Tuesday, August 25 at 7 p.m. ET. Here’s your RSVP link.

It’ll be better if I read the book. Where can I get it?

Right now, right here.

Graphics by Lorenza Centi.

The post Sound the Alarm: We Have a Date for Our Book Club Meetup appeared first on Man Repeller.

3 Ways to Transform Vintage Denim With Paint

After years of painting on canvas, I decided to paint on hand-sewn clothing for my senior thesis in college back (oh, so far back) in 2014. Initially, I sought painting on clothing when the handmade garments I was creating seemed like they were lacking in uniqueness. It was extremely hard work, creating over 50 pieces over the span of 6 months., It was by far the most satisfying thing I’d done in my four years of art school. While a painted canvas often went into a storage room or (hopefully) sold to never see again, the painted garments would go out in the world for countless eyeballs to see.

Painting on clothing—especially vintage clothing—is a beautiful way to add new life to things that already exist. It’s a form of public art—not a painting to be hidden away. As soon as the artist sells their creation, that work is out in the world, showcased by its owner. It’s a wonderful way to purchase art—a source of pride and fascination for its buyer, and free for all its viewers.

I reached out to some of my favorite artists who paint on clothing as a way to bring a second life to old garments. Juliet Johnstone hand-paints trousers and tank tops. Mikaela Clark hand-paints denim jackets, while Emily Dawn Long hand-dyes tops, pants, hats, masks, and more in a rich, painterly way. I love these three artists because their artwork and techniques are so very different—and such a wonderful insight into who they are. Read along to see how they each get inspired, source vintage, and create their work.

Juliet Johnstone

I started this “brand” because I had a desire to break away from the barriers of the fine art world and make things that were more accessible to wider groups of people. It’s super exciting for me that people get to wear and share my art every day. I just like to paint things that make me happy and that are made responsibly.

I source vintage items from sellers that I have made great connections with. Working with vintage allows me to give old things new life and make things sustainably.

I live in L.A. and I’m lucky enough to get to hike every day, so I pull a lot of inspiration for my work from nature. I love vintage botanical books, gardening books, and concert posters from the ’60s.

I typically work on about five pairs of pants at a time, so I can cycle them and keep the process exciting for myself. It also makes the entire process more efficient because I paint an element, then let them dry while I work on another pair. I hand-dye every pair of pants myself. I probably finish around three pairs of pants a week from start to finish. The entire process has a lot of care and love put into it

Hansel by Mikaela Clark

I created Hansel because I wanted to make unconventional clothing that captivated people. To me, there’s nothing more captivating than the human experience, so my art is definitely a response to the stimulus around me. I am anxiety-prone and often find peace in the outdoors or listening to music. I like that in both nature and music, you have all of these independent entities—elements, organisms, instruments—flowing in and out of each other to create a beautiful whole. So, in my art, I play a lot with color juxtaposition. For instance, positioning a fiery orange next to a pure, primary red; at first glance they appear to be the same color, until you look closely. All those independent colors coming together makes such a beautiful whole. Oh, and I like space. You are going to get a lot of stars from me.

I prefer to paint vintage denim because the material is so sturdy and beautiful, like a canvas! B.C. (before COVID), I was an avid fan of hunting them down myself. L Train Vintage always had stacks of good denim jackets—I would truly go in and buy five at a time. Now, if I’m making something for a client, I’ll have them send me a jacket. It’s oftentimes a well-loved piece they’ve had in their closet a long time.

My brushes could use an upgrade, but I tend to use the same five for every jacket. One broad brush, one angled brush, two tiny detailing brushes, and this old thing I’ve had for like eight years. I prefer acrylic paint because it’s vibrant, but I mix in a fabric medium to make the paint supple and the jackets (gently) washable.

If I’m working with a client, my first step is always to ask them a few questions about themselves —their likes, dislikes, inspirations. Then, I take a picture of the jacket and start sketching ideas based on their answers. I always sketch first. I tried to be the cool, “Let’s wing it!” artist girl and the result was, in a word, horrendous. Once I have a plan, I pencil sketch the design on the jacket, and I’ll go in with all the background colors. Mixing the paint is hands-down my favorite part of the whole process! I only buy paint in primary colors–red, yellow, blue, and then white and black–so every color on my jackets is hand-mixed to find the right hue. It is such an adventure, and it challenges me to know my color theory! The next day I’ll do the detailing and outlines. The whole process takes about two days.

Emily Dawn Long

I studied textile development in my undergrad, so I’m very drawn to prints. My second collection for this drop was all based on sketches from Jean Cocteau, which was probably my favorite from the natural dye collection. This specific collection was about sustainability. I sourced vintage Stan Ray “painter or workmen pants.” It’s important to always check the fabric content. For this product, I was working with all natural fibers and dyes, so I needed cotton, linens, etc.

Surprisingly, I think a lot of people think I paint, but I guess I made it a lot harder on myself: I used a traditional dye “squeeze” bottle. I would put my finger over the top when I needed to control the pressure of what was coming out, which forced me to draw my designs very fast, adding to the gestural quality of my work. I used natural dyes: avocado pits, wheatgrass, parsley, ash barak, red cabbage, etc.

Because I was using natural dyes, I made a mixture of 70% water and 30% distilled white vinegar, which allowed the dye/stain to adhere closely to the fiber. This was mixed in a spray or mist bottle that I then would mist across the fabric at about 1-3 feet distance depending on the effect I wanted in my final designs.

I discovered this very cool effect that would happen when I did this. It created vein-like lines coming out from all my designs because the dye would search for moisture from the mist and follow it.

I would let it sit for a second but not let it dry too much before I began dyeing. The more moisture and water you add, the more bleed you get. There are multiple processes but this was my favorite. The process takes anywhere from 3-20 minutes, depending on what I’m drawing—because of the materials I use, I have to work quickly.

Feature Image via Juliet Johnstone.

The post 3 Ways to Transform Vintage Denim With Paint appeared first on Man Repeller.

How a Swimwear Designer Sourced, Sewed, and Shot Her New Collection From Quarantine

Last week, designer Maayan Sherris—whose first name means water in Hebrew—sat beside a mound of neon bathing suits on the floor of her sun-drenched Upper West Side apartment, wearing a messy bun, multi-leveled gold necklaces, and a rippling lemon meringue top from her new collection, Family. She had gotten to know the walls of her beautifully white apartment well, after huddling between them for 70 days—hunched over a russet-brown high-top table—hand-cutting, -sewing, and fitting each individual swimsuit for her new season, hoping to escape the thought that summer might be canceled in the heat of COVID-19.

Just a few months earlier, she was jetsetting from Tel Aviv to Senegal to Rockaway Beach with her best friend and photographer, Mayan Toledano. Together, they scouted families—sisters, husbands and wives, mothers and daughters—to capture on camera in Sherris suits. When the pandemic hit New York City like a tidal wave in March, she’d emerge from its waves with new plans for Family, and surface a new meaning in the season’s title.

Growing up on a kibbutz, a planned community in rural Israel in which families share clothes, food, and money, taking turns with responsibilities like laundry and childrearing, Maayan Sherris was accustomed to “family” as an action word. But in a commune, equality goes hand in hand with uniformity, and some part of her craved creative freedom. As a child, she remembers doodling elaborate hairdos and outfits in her school notebooks—or, as she puts it,“things that don’t exist on a kibbutz.”

After serving in the Israeli army—another place full of sameness, and an experience she prefers not to talk about—she packed her bags and hopped seven time zones to New York City, where she studied sustainable fashion at Parsons School of Design on a scholarship.

“I am blessed that I got the education I got,” she says. “But the differences in class were so vivid. I was in the financial aid office every day.” Shaped by her experience as an immigrant to the U.S., with a unique opportunity to study fashion at no cost, Maayan says she doesn’t believe money, race, gender identity, or size should preclude anyone from the industry.

In fact, designing for everyone is built into her brand ethos; she decided to try making swimsuits in 2015 after seeing the Columbia University women’s swim team perform. Interested in seeing how her nylon and spandex blend would fare in other water sports, for Family, Maayan and Mayan befriended and documented surfers in Dakar, Senegal, who run a fitness and training organization called Black Girls Surf. The nonprofit surf club, which also has a presence in Sierra Leone and Jamaica funds surf lessons for girls who dream of going professional—an aspiration not regularly encouraged in West Africa.

“I try to make pieces that you’d want to wear swimming,” Maayan explains. “I think that bathing suits have been so sexualized in society for so long… I would like to make room for pieces that celebrate all body shapes, sizes, and purposes, not only for the male gaze.” Before launching a new item, she always invites friends over to try it on, to see how it works on different kinds of bodies. She also doesn’t label anything as “womenswear” and “menswear” when marketing Sherris.

Naturally, the spirit of Family is focused not on Maayan but on the people she designs for, who want to look and feel good in their clothes. While piecing together each patchwork skort, undulating bucket hat, and custom long-pant swimsuit this year, Sherris rarely daydreamed about how she’d look in her pieces sprawled out on a beach towel; rather, she imagined how they’d dilate with each of her friends’ dance moves, extend with the strokes of Muslim women in Kuwait, and wick sweat off the families she watched walking on the sidewalks outside her bedroom window during quarantine.

Right now, the word “family” means more to most of us than it did before COVID-19, as we cling onto our loved ones out of fear and to find comfort. Maayan’s own family was across the ocean during this time, and because of stay-at-home orders, she found new family in her friends and online community. She hosted private appointments, exchanged Instagram DMs with customers, and chatted with her best friend Mayan about the Family photoshoot that had moved from shorelines to apartment living rooms.

Suddenly, Family wasn’t just a title: it was a living, breathing collective. “The face of the brand is my [chosen] family, I don’t want to be on stage,” Maayan explained. “This fifth collection came out extra creative, unique, and one-of-a-kind, and I love it,” she said about this presentation, which ended up 90% zero-waste after recycling scraps she had laying around. “It made me thankful that I know how to pretty much make a fully finished look from start to finish all on my own.” But while she worked tirelessly to craft Family by herself, she knows she couldn’t have truly managed without her friends, athletes, her team—her family—by her side.

Photography Mayan Toledano

The post How a Swimwear Designer Sourced, Sewed, and Shot Her New Collection From Quarantine appeared first on Man Repeller.

1 Ugly Sweater Vest, 6 Cute Outfits

I found my vest—soon to become a treasured wardrobe staple—at the Brimfield Flea Market two years ago, under a giant white tent filled with vintage gems. The white tent at Brimfield is known for having the best of the best small business vintage shops from the East Coast. Talking to the women who own the shops, you will soon learn that their best finds are always from estate sales. These women are always down for the adventure and are real life treasure hunters. 

As for my vest: I immediately was drawn to it for its distinctive campy design and colors. For the first few years I’ve had this vest, I may have thought it depicted a golf scene, when in fact it is actually tennis. 

The vest tends to receive a variety of feedback every time I wear it. A man on Hinge asked me why I was wearing an ugly Christmas sweater in the summer (Automatic Unmatch, thank you, SEE YA). Another man on the street stopped me to take a picture of the vest so he could buy one like it (he cut off my face in the photo).

Because this vest is so much better than the average vest—so much more complicated, so much more demanding—I’ve found it difficult to style. Below are six looks, which I hope will inspire you to fearlessly mix and match articles of clothing you normally wouldn’t throw together. There are hundreds of outfits, even in the smallest wardrobe. Please enjoy this ugly TENNIS vest, styled six different ways. I hope you find them as cute as I do. 

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1. The Casual “I Can Glide Towards You” Look 

Skating has become one of the most fun elements of my pandemic summer and, not to brag, but I suck. My dad used to rock these skates in the 8th grade and I have borrowed them from his memory chest without ever returning them. I tied my vintage vest at the bottom to create a shorter top that meets the start of my high rise Levi’s jeans (P.S. these bad boys are on sale rn). For sunnies, I am always attracted to large grandma lenses. These pink ones allow me to skate and see pink… a win win. 

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2. The Picnic Lounge Outfit

This outfit has become my go-to look when meeting friends in the park. The white shorts don’t show butt sweat (key element) and they are light and airy. I decided to only button the vest twice, which shows off more of the shorts. I paired the outfit with some vintage black cowgirl boots which you can’t see (sorry)(but they’re really cute). 

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3. The Any Time Any Wear Get Up

This outfit is 100% thrifted (minus the socks)! I love this look because it is both dressy and casual at the same time. It’s perfect for a day where you’re confused about whether it’s hot or cold outside. I styled it with some white socks, black loafers, and an awkward thumbs up. 

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4. The Grandpa Technique

I thrifted this blue workout suit for $10 and it may be one of my best thrift finds ever. I added some green New Balance sneakers to balance out the green from the vest. Overall this is a 10/10 grandpa look. I’m ready to retire.

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5. The Confused Bundled Up Fisherman 

According to the laws of the universe, when you wear a yellow raincoat you become a fisherman. It is something everyone must deal with. If you’re down for the adventure, you could embrace it and rent a boat, set sail, and never look back. I decided to add my vest on top of the raincoat to give it a revere-layered look. I’m wearing a Patagonia fleece underneath and some navy Levi’s cords. For a fun touch, I also added this blue puff bag and a hat from the Park’s Project. 

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6. Blazer it UP

Here I paired the vest with an oversized colorful blazer, a short skirt and some boots. This could be extremely cute for a lunch date, if and when those become a thing again. Yes, this blazer has shoulder pads in it and yes I like that about it! This outfit is also 100% thrifted. If you’re wearing a vest that is longer than mine, I’m sure you could get away with making it look like a dress, which is what I hoped mine would do here (it didn’t). 

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I’m sure you have a wacky piece of clothing that you bought on a limb that sits in the back of your closet, waiting for discovery and an award winning presentation. I’m sure whatever it is is looking a lot like this right now:

@ssnavarro275

We literally peed our pants making this video #fyp #greysanatomy #pickme #chooseme #loveme #CheckMeOutChallenge

♬ So Pick Me – x_dallas_x

 Your fun clothing is asking you to take it for a walk so it can breathe the fresh air, pick the roses, and wear it with other pieces of clothing so it can feel cherished and loved. 

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Like Mushroom Lamps? You’ll *Love* This Post on the Biggest IG Design Trends

There are a few enduring vintage furniture trends, like the Murano mushroom lamp and Ettore Sottsass’s Ultrafragola mirror, that seem to only see exponential, hockey-stick popularity on the internet. These trends can be met with some resistance, too, out of cost-prohibitiveness (the seemingly ubiquitous mirror fetches $10,000) and sometimes out of a hesitation to copy and paste a trend into your home, no matter how appealing you find a bulbous, fungi-shaped original. On the occasion of our second-hand-focused week, I scoured Etsy and a few other sources for vintage furniture to find the most fun, trend-adjacent alternatives, riffing off the formal elements of the wavy mirror and the stout yet voluptuous lamp.

For added intrigue, I also asked Cat Snodgrass of Bi-Rite Studio, a design store specializing in 20th-century furniture and objects, if she has a hunch regarding what the next “it” piece of design will be. And she does: Snodgrass thinks you’re about to see Robert Mallet-Stevens Model 222 chairs everywhere, so consider this your running start.

“No other chair says ‘chic’ to me like the 222—they were first fabricated in France in the ’20s, but were in production throughout the 20th century, so your chances of finding them at an affordable price are pretty good,” Snodgrass tells me. “The design strikes this wonderful balance of simplicity, while still having a ton of graphic visual impact. I’ve been championing these for years—they’re truly a personal favorite of mine—and they’re just now starting to have their moment among some forward-thinking interior designers and curators.”

Snodgrass suggests that the 222 chairs are one way to approximate the ambiance of a Sottsass interior without springing for the mirror: “They were even a favorite of Ettore Sottsass, and he often used them in his interior commissions. Plus they’re such a simple design that they suit practically any interior style—just change the color!”

Below, I tried to operate like a slightly more nuanced algorithm and find a few new points of entry to put your own spin on the great furniture trends of the Instagram era.

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Cozy nights.

6 Resale Sites You Might Not Know About (But Should!)

You know the thing when you’re searching for something special online, and you’ve completed the loop of all your go-to websites (like eBay, Etsy, Depop, Poshmark, Craigslist, Mercari, The RealReal, Vestiaire Collective) and ultimately, you don’t find the thing and you have to go to bed glassy-eyed and empty-handed? Well, I put together a list of my six favorite under-the-radar online resale shops–from local resale marketplaces to luxury consignment shops and marketplaces with charity donation components–that may help you get closer to finding that which keeps you up at night.

ReRuns

Re-sale with a charity component

The most distinctive aspect of ReRuns, a U.S.-only website for pre-owned clothes, is their pledge to donate the entirety of their 20% seller’s fee profit to a charity of the seller’s choice. Otherwise, everything’s pretty standard–sellers list item photos, descriptions, and prices for buyers to review and then choose which charity ReRun’s profits will go to for the sale. Once an item is purchased by a buyer, sellers use ReRun’s shipping methods to send out their item. You can learn more on ReRun’s FAQ page here.

VarageSale

Local resale marketplace

VarageSale is a virtual garage sale (get itttt?) app that lets users buy and sell items locally. Similar to Craigslist, when a buyer is interested in an item, the seller receives a notification through direct message, and after agreeing on the terms of sale, the seller will reserve the item for the buyer and schedule a meet up. If using the mobile app, the buyer can complete the transaction when the item is handed over. I recommend that you search with specific terms in mind (designer, style, type, etc.) rather than surfing through the pages. Photos are very low quality, but if you look closely there are some gems! Learn more about VarageSale here.

OfferUP

Local resale marketplace

Offer-Up is another local resale marketplace. You browse for items in your area and message sellers securely through the app to negotiate a price and meeting place. OfferUp allows you to review seller’s ratings and reviews easily to give buyers knowledge in advance (so if you’re a Yelp freak, this is the resale venue for you). Again, I recommend utilizing the search tool for specific items you have in mind, and don’t let the poor photo quality discourage you. Learn more on OfferUp’s about page here.

WeBuyBlack

Resale marketplace for Black-owned businesses and sellers

WeBuyBlack is an online marketplace for Black-owned businesses, buyers, and sellers from around the world. With over 1,200 vendors, it offers everything from jewelry and clothes to homewares and electronics. If you search “vintage” in the search bar and do some scrolling, you’ll find a slew of vintage clothes (I found some great T-shirts), jewelry, accessories (check out the sunglasses) and collectables.The company also offers monthly grants starting at $2,000 to small businesses and aims to build partnerships with various nonprofit organizations and donors to promote Black-owned business growth. Learn more about selling on the platform here.

LePrix

Luxury consignment

LePrix allows you to shop luxury consignment boutiques across the world in one place. Shoppers can “buy now” or “make an offer” to sellers or search by boutique location. The website is also set up with Affirm, so shoppers can purchase items in installments, if that’s your jam. LePrix has a customer care team that can recommend items, kind of like a virtual personal shopper. Authentication is guaranteed, every order ships free, and returns are available on non-sale items. Learn more on LePrix’s FAQ page here.

Linda’s Stuff

Luxury consignment

Linda’s Stuff is an online consignment shop that re-sells authentic designer clothing, shoes, handbags, accessories, home goods, collectibles, and electronics. Pre-approved consigners earn between 60-80% of the sale price. To consign, you have to fill out a form, and Linda’s Stuff will help coordinate a free pickup, similar to how TheRealReal works but on a smaller scale. The item is housed at Linda’s Stuff, so if you’re a seller you don’t have to worry about the hassle of shipping. Learn more about selling on Linda’s Stuff here.

Any other alternative resale sites out there that you love? Drop them in the comments.

Feature Image via  Larissa Gill.

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A Practical Guide to Conscious Thrifting

Once, when I was in my mid-twenties and thrifting with a friend, I pulled out my iPhone to capture our day of clothes shopping. I didn’t think twice about posting a Snapchat video of the scene at the Goodwill—until a staffer approached me and said, “Some of the customers said you took photos of them and they’re uncomfortable. Can you delete them?” Even though I wasn’t intentionally trying to take photos of store customers, I immediately realized how terrible the optics were in that moment. Here we were, two privileged young women in a space predominantly occupied by lower-income folx who were thrifting clothes out of necessity, whereas we were simply perusing for cheap vintage pieces in the name of fashion. The fact that I initially had zero qualms about documenting our “thrifting day” for social media was also a certain kind of millennial brain disease. I felt like scum. It was insensitive and careless, and it was a stark reminder of how I needed to be more self-aware moving forward. I apologized to the staffer, deleted the post, and vowed to myself that I’d never do that again.

To be certain: I believe that thrift stores are available to everyone, privileged shoppers included. Spending money at a thrift store allows funding for its aligned charity programs. It creates opportunities for those who are underserved and in need. Plus, we can all agree that buying second-hand is far better for the environment than buying new. But perhaps where I feel more complicated on this topic is the utter ease in how more affluent shoppers—i.e. those who grew up in the middle- to upper-middle class like myself—are able to access the same goods and occupy the same space as shoppers from vulnerable communities, and what responsibilities and etiquette we should actively think about in those environments. And, more broadly, how can we be more mindful and thoughtful participants within the thrifting culture? I am often reminded that thrifting is liberating when you have money; it’s limiting when you don’t. Even though my own thought process on this topic is ever-evolving, here are some things I consider when shopping for used clothing. I hope you find these useful, too.

No photos, please

This research comes as no surprise: A 2014 study in the Atlantic Marketing Journal cited that “saving money was the top motivation (58% of respondents)” for the majority of thrifters. The thrifting experience is unique because it services both the rich and poor and everyone in between, so one person’s hedonistic spree might be another person’s basic need for clothes. (I keep thinking about this tweet and, ahem, how thrifting applies.) All this to say, be mindful of your fellow shoppers, respect their privacy, and refrain from taking pics of folx (no matter how visible or unrecognizable they are) while inside the store.

Shop with a goal in mind

Buying with intention should always be top of mind, but especially with thrifting where it’s easy to get carried away with things priced so affordably. A friend told me she likes to keep her goals straight while she’s thrifting. If she’s in the market for dresses, she’ll make a beeline for dresses and won’t browse other sections. Before you leave your home, peruse your wardrobe, see what’s missing, and make a mental note of what you actually need. Don’t buy anything superfluous.

Stick to a budget, buy less stuff

There have been numerous occasions where I carelessly thrifted an item because it was “only $4,” or whatever. When you have a healthy spending budget, thrifting can yield a lot of clothes, much of which can still get hoarded and later “discarded.” My method for not over-shopping is this: Take out a reasonable amount of cash (whatever that may be for you), and enter the store with only that dollar amount. Having a strict budget will make you way more selective about what to buy.

Try things on

Find a mirror and see how the pieces look on your body, just like you would at any regular store — this is an easy, no-brainer way to stop yourself from purchasing things so flippantly. (And, as you may know, vintage sizing is wild, so it’s best to try things on.) I personally like wearing a unitard or bodysuit to thrift stores because I can quickly throw something on and off with ease. And, if something isn’t right for you, be good to the store staffers and try to place the garments back on their respective racks.

Get rid of unwanted clothes responsibly

If you enjoy thrifting for sustainable reasons, it’s appropriate to get rid of unwanted clothing in responsible ways, too. A 2018 Saturday Evening Post article reported that “the average American throws away about 81 pounds of clothing every year” — much of which end up in landfills. When you’re ready to part with a piece of clothing, discover what options are available to you so you’re not simply trashing it: take it to a resale shop, donate it or have a clothing swap with friends, or bring pieces with qualified fibers to a textiles recycling program.

Donating back? Do it mindfully

If you want to go full circle and give back old threads to your local thrift store, see what their donation guidelines are. An upsurge in people cleaning out their closets and donating their used items during the pandemic has bought on a slew of unforeseen problems. This ends up financially burdening the thrift stores that are then tasked to clean up other people’s (well-intentioned) messes. When you’re ready to donate, sort and organize items with care. Launder if you must. Don’t donate unusable or badly stained or damaged pieces.

Don’t shop in the mens’ section (if you don’t need to)

Gender-inclusive clothing should be the future, but we’re often forced to shop according to the binary. In the case of thrift stores, you may have noticed how the men’s section is always considerably smaller than the women’s. Tamarind Tidwell, general manager of a Boston-based thrift chain, was quoted in Today saying: “Men’s clothing is something that I think probably across the board we always are in need of. […] I would say women’s clothing outnumbers men’s probably 3-to-1.” (Side note: This sentiment applies to homeless shelters too; men’s clothing is scarce all around!) So if you’re able to find clothes that fit you from other sections, leave the men’s section for the folx who have fewer options.

Now, go forth, thrifters! Treat your fellow shoppers and clothing haul with utmost care. I wish you all the wonderful gems and vintage treasures that have yet to be discovered.

Header Image Via: Everett Collection

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This Week We’re Talking Everything Second-Hand

About a year ago, during the first week in July, when the MR team logs off for an annual summer vacation, I became obsessed with ultralight camping. Two of my close friends were moving to L.A., and we decided we’d spend a few days hiking around and sleeping in tents in Los Padres National Forest before driving into the city to find the girls somewhere to live.

Whenever the three of us set up camp together, we relentlessly critique our gear: Is this the best water bottle? Does it collapse when it’s empty? Does it leak? What’s it made of? IS IT CUTE? How quickly can you set up this tent? Can it just-barely-fit our sleeping bags? And the sleeping bags—how soft are they? Is the softness worth the extra weight? We go on like that until we decide to start analyzing the people we are dating or have ever dated.

On that trip, my friend introduced me to ultralight camping by way of a few Instagram accounts and some YouTube videos—and having a name for what we were already kind of doing flipped a switch in my brain. Ultralight camping is basically just a style of camping in which you try to have as little stuff as possible and get as much out of that stuff as you can. Figuring out what constitutes an essential feels like a game—one in which you happen to be creating less waste while, truly, sacrificing zero enjoyment.

This outfit is one-part second hand, one-part ultralight: The tank is a Chloë Sevigny x Opening Ceremony dress purchased on The RealReal that I cut into a tank because it was too short on me. The Turkish towel is something that dries me off during the day and gets rolled into a pillow when I’m back at camp. The shorts, I must add, are by Noah—one of a handful of brands I thoroughly enjoy buying new these days because of how thoughtful and communicative they are about their processes and values.Teva's sandals, Sun Buddies sunglasses, Noah NYC shorts, Chloë Sevigny x Opening Ceremony top

I’ve already incorporated some of this “obsessive minimalist optimization” into other aspects of my life to some degree—I live in a studio apartment, for example, and so one of my space-saving hacks is that all of my hair tools are a high quality travel-size version, that way I only have one of each and the ones that I do have take up less space in the cabinet under my sink. (Blow dryer, fly-away straightener, tiny brush, for anybody wondering.) I’ll admit that the only way this works is if I keep my hair short….

Naturally, this thinking eventually made its way to my closet. I started phasing fast fashion out of my shopping habits a few years ago, and started consuming less by default, but at the beginning of the pandemic, while staring down my closet—doors dramatically strewn open—I realized I had not gone nearly far enough. I needed an overhaul. A big-ass, ruthless edit. I needed, also, a philosophy?

At the moment, this philosophy is at the stage of renegotiating what I should be buying new and what is better off second hand. I’ve always had an appreciation for fashion as a form of self-expression, and for the environmental advantages and nostalgic value of vintage clothing, but this is the first time I’ve come to my closet with my ultralight camping brain—truly critiquing the form and function of each thing I have and asking myself whether I’d be willing to hike it up a mountain.

As sustainability feels more central to my view of fashion, second-hand shopping has unfurled itself as a much more expansive and pivotal aspect of my better, future wardrobe. While second-hand clothing has always been a part of my shopping habits—the options in this realm have never been more expansive than they are right now. I’ve been hearing from lots of friends (and of course coworkers at MR too), that they too are ready to change their own closet ratios, so we’ve decided to dedicate a week to exploring the whole constellation of second-hand style.

We chose the word “second hand” over “vintage” because we really want to go wide on the idea of getting the most out of things that already exist in the world—we’ll be digging into online and brick-and-mortar resale, upcycling, and recycling. We’ll also be bending the word “second hand” to refer to ways that you can take something you already own and turn it into something new—either with paint, or tailoring, or the kind of imagination that acknowledges that one woman’s scarf may be another woman’s skirt. (Another thing we really like in ultralight camping: multitaskers.)

To start, the MR team is creating a crowd-sourced list of the best vintage stores out there. Would you add your pick here? We’ll share the list back with everyone at the end of the week.

Over the next few days, you can expect stories like:

A practical guide to thoughtful thrifting by Jinnie Lee
An exhaustive list of the coolest upcyclers out there right now (wow there are so many??)
The story of a bathing suit designer who reworked her entire approach during the pandemic
Tips from teens for shopping and selling on Depop and other resale sites
Sneaker aficionados on their favorite under-appreciated vintage styles

Now, please gather ’round the campfire and let us know what else you’d like to read about, things you think we should keep in mind, and any second-hand shopping hot tips you may have. We’ll be covering this topic well beyond this week, so don’t hold back.

Graphic by Lorenza Centi.

The post This Week We’re Talking Everything Second-Hand appeared first on Man Repeller.

Cocktail Recipes and a Love Story That’s… Aging Well!

Elizabeth and I host Happy Hour on Man Repeller’s Instagram Stories every Friday at 4 p.m., and doing so has helped our relationship in ways we didn’t know it would. Below are our thoughts on working together and how it’s brought us together—and of course some cocktail recipes for you to make at home.

Elizabeth: We’ve been confined to our studio apartment with our dog-baby Bow day after day since mid-March—I am no longer going into an office, and the bar Mikey bartends at closed because of the pandemic. Mikey’s never seen me in meetings with my coworkers or constituents, nor has he ever witnessed me in a “market hole” while compiling shopping for a story. I’ve never really seen him writing during the day and making cocktails at night. So here we are, seeing a side of one another we never really knew in the five and a half years we’ve been together.

Mikey: Liz is super focused and analytical. I’m more comfortable with winging it and taking things as they come, which is reflected in the cocktails I make during the happy hour series. I’m always aware that people may lack certain ingredients, and in my ideal world, cocktails would be way less about snobbery and more about just having delicious adult beverages. I make sure to suggest alternatives to specific ingredients throughout the videos. Our characteristics balance each other when filming, which I believe is a very important part of a relationship.

Elizabeth: We always had staples in our home bar—many of which we get DMs about how to use—but, as quarantine progresses, so does our bar. Pre-quarantine it was pretty small: I honestly never really drink (maybe once every few weeks), and Mikey was used to bartending at work, not at home. These days, our bar cart is packed with the spirits that Mikey is used to working with at his bar so he can make a good range of cocktails (and come up with some originals) for our videos. He’s always finding ways to suggest substitute ingredients for viewers who don’t have everything that a full stocked bar has.

Mikey: Speaking of working at bars, I always loathed the cocktail snobs, like the people who could tell the difference between an aged barrel versus oak aftertones. One time I took a mandatory sommelier course at a bar I worked at and a guest had the audacity to reference leather and soil as it related to the specific wine.

Elizabeth: We prefer to keep Happy Hour chill, and Mikey is the main source of that, because in reality, preparation for Happy Hour is actually quite intense! We start talking about what cocktails he’s going to make early in the week. When it’s time to go get materials, we go on the haul together (we love to go to the supermarket with each other). I coordinate with brands who we sometimes feature on the series, the sort of “market” work I’m used to for photoshoots. Day of, during set-up, I’m uptight and anxious and clumsy with the ingredients and materials. Mikey preps without any difficulty, and during filming, he’s his usual humorous, relaxed, and creative self.

While I can’t keep track of which spirits are what or properly list the recipe to our viewers (I’ve never been able to perform!), Mikey speaks with ease as he bartends. We’ve gotten so fast now that we’ve honed in on our individual strengths, and while there are frustrations of course, I genuinely look forward to working with him. He’s so talented and I’m proud to have him be part of my workplace. Happy Hour is fun, sure—it’s Happy Hour! But it also is such a representation of our relationship, our balance as a couple.

Mikey: Fixing these cocktails up each week helps me recreate the social parts of the industry that I miss. Hanging out with friends and coworkers, meeting new people, letting them in on some tips and tricks I’ve learned and just paying forward the skills the great bartenders I’ve worked with taught me. And of course, hanging with Liz. At the end of the day, I hope that you guys enjoy our series and get ideas to spruce up your next Zoom happy hour or make something for a special occasion.

On that note, below are three cocktails I’ve made for the segment. Cheers!

1. The Spicy Sandia 

Make your watermelon juice by blending watermelon in a blender and then straining the juice from the pulp. Fill a glass with ice cubes + frozen watermelon cubes. Add watermelon juice, lime juice, triple sec or Cointreau, Ancho Reyes and/or jalapeno slices, and tequila. Rub lime juice on the rim of your glass and add Tajín to it.

2. The Cucumber East River

Peel the cucumber, reserving part of its peel for a ribbon garnish. Juice a cucumber or blend it in a blender and then strain the juice from the pulp. Mix the cucumber juice and sugar and warm it up over the stove or in the microwave and shake in a jar to ensure it’s mixed. Fill a Mason jar with ice. Add cucumber and sugar solution, plus lime juice, cucumber syrup, and rum or other clear spirit. Shake and top off with Champagne or club soda and a cucumber ribbon.

3. The Matcha Cosmo Wake Up

Fill a mason jar or shaker with ice. Add lemon juice, triple sec or Cointreau, and vodka, topping off with matcha. Shake and strain through a fine mesh strainer into another glass. 

Photography by Beth Sacca.

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The Best Mattress, Pillows, and Sheets, According to 15 Well-Rested Experts

When I look into my crystal ball, I see myself sleeping on a mattress on the floor for the next two to three months. Unfortunately, there’s a defect in this crystal ball, so it doesn’t do the legwork of specifying exactly what kind of mattress it is: Is it firm, does it have a little give, is it made of organic latex, is it better for a side-sleeper or a stomach-sleeper? Does it share a name with a friendly ghost, or a secondary color, or a popular fruit often spread on toast? Does comedian Neal Brennan have the right idea?

These days, the world of sheets and pillows and mattresses-in-a-box and duvet covers is supersaturated. When my eyes glazed over Krispy-Kreme-style after reading my eleventh mattress-centric message board, I decided to change my approach and beeline to a few well-rested experts for their personal recommendations on how to concoct the perfect bed. Below are a bunch of enthusiastic suggestions that’ll make sleeping in your bed feel like snoozing on a CBD-infused cumulus cloud.

Sheets

Liz Eichholz, co-founder and creative director of Weezie Towels

Liz’s favorite sheets: “Here ends the never-ending hunt for the perfect set of sheets! I am obsessed with this super-soft set from Ettitude: the Bamboo Lyocell Sheet Set. I love that they’ve held up well in the wash and don’t wrinkle. Bonus points for keeping this warm sleeper cool throughout the night.”

Elizabeth Tamkin, market strategist of Man Repeller

Elizabeth’s favorite summer sheets: “This 100% Linen Sheet set from Linoto is locally made and the set includes the whole shebang: flat sheet, fitted sheet, and two pillow cases. They also come in 25 different colors to suit your style. This is the perfect summer sheet set that remains soft and sturdy wash after wash.”

Gyan Yankovich, managing editor of Man Repeller

Gyan’s favorite linen sheets: “My boyfriend didn’t get a good night’s sleep for the first two years we lived in NYC—in the summer the weather was too hot, and in the winter, our building’s heat was on full blast. He spent a lot of time researching the best linen sheets and came away with these ones, the Pottery Barn Belgian Linen Sheet set. I was apprehensive to spend so much money on sheets, but we did and they’ve been a game-changer! I have some other sets of linen sheets (from much ‘cooler’ brands) but these are the best by far.”

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Mattresses and bed frames

Allison Petty, design director of Hyphen & Co.

Allison’s favorite mattress: “The Avocado mattress offers both green and vegan options which is something we really love. The quality and comfort is there, while also committing to a more earth-friendly product.”

Ellen van Dusen, founder of Dusen Dusen

Ellen’s favorite bed frame: “I have the nest storage bed from Design Within Reach, and as a borderline hoarder, it is perfect. I do a lot of ‘testing’ for new bedding when we get samples for my line… which means I have way too much bedding… which takes up a lot of space. The bed frame easily lifts and there’s an empty compartment underneath, which is where I store it all. Also, it just looks really good and has a soft headboard. It’s relatively low to the ground and has an aesthetic I’d describe as plump, the visual equivalent of how I want my furniture to feel.”

[Ed. note: while still a splurge, the Cello storage bed by EQ3 is an alternative to the Design Within Reach model!]

Tavia Forbes and Monet Masters, principal interior designers of Forbes Masters

Tavia and Monet’s headboard tip: “We often recommend a bold headboard, like this tufted one by CB2, to our clients. Whether it be ornate or upholstered, the headboard is a great decorative addition to a space. Paired with a beautiful set of table lamps or pendant lights above the side tables, we love!”

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:: TRAVELING DESIGNERS :: As we gear up for our #LA install we couldn’t help but reminisce on the bold and eclectic install we completed in #barbados this year. #accentpillows #interiors #decor #decorating #decorations #interiordecorating #accents #crafts #custom #custompillow #black #white #blackandwhite #design #designers #interiordesigners #interiordesign #interiordecor #luxury #luxe #fabulous #fab

A post shared by F O R B E S M A S T E R S (@forbesmasters) on Sep 28, 2018 at 6:25am PDT

Pillows

Tiffany Wilkinson, creative director of Man Repeller

Tiffany’s favorite pregnancy pillow: “I ordered this Parachute Home Body Pillow as an alternative to the crazy shaped pregnancy pillows, hoping that I’d be able to keep it as part of my bedding set up post-pregnancy. After I ordered it, I had buyer’s remorse, wondering if it was too self-indulgent of a purchase. Once it arrived, it became an instant game-changer—I immediately started sleeping better, my whole body felt so supported, and it’s great to have something so substantial to spoon. I love the pillow so much I even gave it a name. My partner is a little envious of all the love my body pillow is getting, but if I get out of bed before him, I’ll look over and see him fast asleep straddling the pillow in a deep blissful spoon.”

Liz of Weezie’s favorite sham: “I’m a sucker for layers and an eclectic mix of playful patterns throughout my home—and that extends to our bedroom! I’ve long been drawn to the gorgeous prints from Biscuit Home. Next up for me: this Texan-inspired print that reminds me of my hometown of Austin, the Biscuit Home Marfa Euro Sham.”

Allison of Hyphen’s favorite throw pillows: “The Milaya Project has great embroidered throw pillows that have a ton of personality. We love that they also help support the art of South Sudanese refugees.”

Ellie Buckingham and Miri Buckland, co-founders of The Landing

Ellie and Miri’s favorite throw pillow: “We love the Big Rock Throw Pillow from one of our new partners, K-Apostrophe. K’era takes neutral, soothing colors but applies them in interesting ways that make these pillows a great statement piece for many colors of bedding without being too over the top.”

Yours truly

Edith’s favorite slender pillow: “If you, like me, sometimes only want a nominal lift from the mattress for your noggin, the Vermont Country Store makes just the slender pillow for you. I’d dress her up with this brown striped Tekla sham sold by Goodee.”

Elizabeth’s favorite decorative “body” pillow:  “I suppose this isn’t technically a body pillow but during the night I like a pillow to hug and this Hook Pillow by Justina Blakeney is a great substitute for when my dog doesn’t want to sleep beside me. It also happens to be absolutely beautiful (I love many of Justina Blakeney’s designs and find that their price points are great)—a nice touch to a made bed when you’re not sleeping.”

Megan Hopp, interior designer

Megan’s favorite lumbar pillow: “Every bed should have a lumbar pillow, and St. Frank has my favorite selection. While I love color and pattern, I still opt for a calmer combination in the bedroom and these pillows are perfectly patterned. I am also smitten with the gold zipper detail.”

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Comforters

Lindsey Johnson, co-founder and CEO of Weezie Towels

Lindsey’s new comforter: Buffy Cloud

“The Buffy Cloud is the most recent addition to my bed, and it is certainly living up to its name! Not only is it incredibly soft and cozy, I love that it’s sustainable and made up of 100 percent recycled fiber. A win-win!”

Allison of Hyphen’s favorite comforter: “We love down comforters but are always looking to see how we can make more ethical choices in the products we suggest. Feathered Friends comforters come in different weights depending on preference and use ethically sourced down!”

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Oh hey, we make bedding too!

A post shared by Feathered Friends (@featheredfriends1972) on Feb 14, 2020 at 8:50am PST

Blankets and duvet covers

Lindsey of Weezie’s favorite quilt: “At the end of the day, nothing beats a solid white quilt, and this one—the John Robshaw Hand Stitched White Quilt—has stood the test of time! It’s my go-to base for a fun mix of pillows and a patterned duvet.”

Ellen of Dusen Dusen’s favorite blanket: “Tooting my own horn here, but I love our coverlets at Dusen Dusen! My current favorite is the river coverlet. It is really soft and drapey, has enough heft that you’re not missing the weight of a duvet, and it’s light enough that you’re not sweating all night during the summer. They are all individually woven by a small manufacturer in Portugal and then stonewashed, so they have that lived-in quality while still looking fresh. Plus, it’s cute!”

Ariel Okin, interior designer

Ariel’s favorite blankets: Kashwere blankets

“Kashwere makes the MOST comfortable blankets—you’ll feel like a little kid with your blankie.”

Tina Rich, interior designer

Tina’s favorite bedding: “I’m a huge fan of Cultiver Bedding! I have them in my own home and recommend them to all my clients. The linen gets softer with each wash and I especially love their gorgeous colors. Their bedding is perfect for a natural, effortless look.”

Elizabeth’s favorite dog-proof blanket: Pendleton Glacier National Park Throw Blanket

“I have a dog who’s slept in bed with me since she was a baby. I only like white sheets, so this combination has been an ongoing struggle for all nine years of our time together. I’ve never had a blanket that disguised her shedding or protected my white sheets quite like this Pendleton blanket. It’s not cheap, and I purchased it after much consideration, but I’ve now had it for over five years, and it still looks brand new. It is hands-down the best home purchase I’ve made.”

Allison of Hyphen’s favorite duvet cover: “Duvet covers are a great way to bring in color or pattern without having to commit, we love going soft and neutral with tones but if you want something a little more fun, Aelfie has a great line of duvets that come in exciting and unique prints.”

Edith’s favorite duvet cover: Marimekko Unikko duvet cover

“I’ve had this duvet cover for years, and it does a lot of visual legwork in a room, plus it does not overheat the sleeper who runs warm. If I could buy it again, I’d pick this beige/light blue/off-white color-way instead.”

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Bed-adjacent bells and whistles

Liz of Weezie’s favorite diffuser: Vitruvi White Stone Diffuser

“I love crawling into bed at the end of a long day, adding a few drops of lavender essential oil, and letting my Vitruvi diffuser roll. It’s a simple indulgence and the perfect way to unwind, relax, and prepare for a good night’s sleep.”

Ellen of Dusen Dusen’s new bedside lamp: Duck Lamp from Dave’s Clubhouse

“It gives off the perfect amount of soft light and is on a dimmer, which I love. When it’s off, it’s a cute piece of art on your wall.”

Ariel Okin’s soon-to-be favorite alarm clock: “Very excited about Hatch’s new alarm clock—it sounds like a great way to untether from your phone at night.”

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Feature Image via Cody Guilfoyle.

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