Leandra Medine's Blog, page 95

When Did Instagram DMs Become the Sneaky Successor to Email?

So I’m laying in bed on a Tuesday morning, it is no later than like, 6:40 a.m., and I wish I could say I have already cycled through what would be considered the respectable first-order digital checkings of an early morning—the sleep quality app, the news, my text messages—but no, I have only locked apps with Instagram. Which isn’t as bad as it might sound, because those early morning scrolls don’t really exist for the depleting function of comparing my life to the perception of the lives of the people I follow. I spend most of that time inside my DMs.

The anticipation of leaving that upper-right red dot unmet burns a hole through my thumb. A lot of the messages serve as the verbal equivalent of a “like” or a one-way comment that functions as the cursory reaction to something I have posted. But it’s more intimate because it’s private. It feels like a text message because it’s instant—because the assumption is that you’re on Instagram to socialize, not network—or maybe you’re doing both. Is there even a difference anymore? Lately it seems the quality of conversation being conducted within Instagram’s inbox is changing. Chiefly in that it is being used, effectively, as an inbox. Of email. So it’s an email inbox that delivers within a medium that acts more like text, which demands immediacy.

Imagine having to answer a text from a business associate, though—the turnaround times are fundamentally different. You’re awarded some version of a grace period on email, assumingly because you need time to think through what you will reply.

Maybe I’m giving too much credit to our relationships with email, it’s not exactly breeding grounds for thoughtfulness, but I love reading an email, marking it unread, and then coming back to it when I’ve had enough space to collect my marbles and reply.

You can’t mark a DM unread, though. That shit will get lost—and further, you can’t turn off the “read receipt” function, so in that way, because the sender of the message for which you are on the other end can see if you’ve seen what they sent, you feel an obligation to reply immediately. Or maybe you don’t, but I do, and in this way, speed of response trumps quality of response. A devastating revelation, in my view.

If I let myself spiral and apply this tenet of valuing speed over quality to other areas of my life, I can argue that this handling of Instagram—the conflation of what communication through the app is supposed to support (up for debate, but as I see it: recreational social connection) versus what it does support (spur-of-the-moment conversation across a broader spectrum of professional and hobbyistic interests)—could get me in trouble. That is, continue to place value on the easier thing (in this case, speed), and neglect the more valuable thing (quality).

Sometimes I forget the value of deep thinking. The way in which the first thing you think is never the most thorough or sophisticated version of an idea — how thoughts need time to exist and to marinate and to change in order to reach their unbridled potential. Do you get what I’m saying?

By all means, take your time answering that.

The post When Did Instagram DMs Become the Sneaky Successor to Email? appeared first on Man Repeller.

A Guide to the Best Swimwear Brands for Big Boobs

A couple of months ago, I asked the Man Repeller team to tell me about their favorite swimsuit, and as I sorted through everyone’s responses, I felt a familiar wave of jealousy wash over me. In comparison to the crocheted, ruffled, all-round joyous suggestions of my colleagues, my collection of utilitarian bikinis and one-pieces felt incredibly boring. Maybe I should be used to it after 15 years of bikini top-induced changeroom meltdowns, but the reminder that so few swimwear brands cater to my DDD+ cup size still stung.

By the time the story went live, I had accepted my swimsuit destiny and resumed my life’s regular programming, but then I noticed a conversation blossom in the story’s comment section. A reader asked if anyone had suggestions for people with a DD+ cup and others quickly jumped in to deliver suggestions. As I read through and started opening tabs, I felt the flicker of excitement I’d missed the first time around. Eager to curate a list of big boob-friendly swim brands, I dug into the recommendations to see if they were as good as they sounded. (Spoiler: They were.)

So if you share in my occasional frustration, below are some beloved swimwear brands that cater to big boobs, as recommended by MR readers, with a few adds per my own tireless sleuthing.

Monday Swimwear

Before Monday Swimwear even existed, I followed its co-creator Devin Brugman for her bikini recommendations. If you want to see what this brand’s swimsuits look like on someone with big boobs, you need not look further than Devin’s Instagram. The brand’s size range runs from “petite” (an A cup) to “very voluptuous” (a G cup), all designed with big boobs in mind.

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Lively

After being chased all around the internet by targeted Lively ads, I caved and went in-store to try on one of their busty swim bralettes. The top comes in two sizes: one which is said to fit a size 34D to 32DDD, and one which is said to fit a size 34DDD to 38DDD. I’m a 32DDD but had to size up to the latter. Halter tops can be a literal pain in the neck, so I love that this bralette has soft over-the-shoulder straps.

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L*Space

L*Space have an entire collection that’s designed for D and DD cups (sadly, no bigger at the moment). I particularly enjoy the Parker top, which has super soft and thick straps, and the Piper top, which has adjustable straps (the big boob bikini dream).

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Ashley Graham x Swimsuits For All

This Very Good bikini top and this ribbed one piece both size up to a 24. Honestly, the only thing wrong with this collection is that there isn’t more of it.

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The Fold

I mentioned this brand in the original MR swimwear post, and am mentioning it again right now because it truly is that great. The Fold offers a size 30DD to 38G and are so well-made and minimal; I’ve never worn a swimsuits as much as I’ve worn this black one piece. Next, I want to try out this wine-colored underwire top.

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RAQ

I recently got two bikini tops from RAQ and love both. They’re flattering, supportive, and run from a D to GG cup. They offer a fit chat over Facebook Messenger if you have any questions about sizing, and I found the online fitting really helpful.

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Do you have any other bikini top or swimsuit recommendations for people with big boobs? If so, I want to hear them (obviously).

The post A Guide to the Best Swimwear Brands for Big Boobs appeared first on Man Repeller.

Are We Supposed to Be Double-Cleansing Our Hair Now, Too?

I’ve been a beauty editor for seven years, which means I’ve interviewed more beauty experts than I could count and consider myself mostly up to speed on tips and tricks. Wash makeup brushes with baby shampoo, use hair conditioner in place of shaving foam, groom brows to look like sisters, not twins. Got it. Which is why it gave me pause when my own hairdresser, George Northwood, casually revealed during my regular trim last month that the secret to great hair is double-cleansing it. And that hairdressers have been doing it forever.

Obviously I’ve been double-cleansing my face for years, along with just about everyone else with a passing interest in skincare, but hair? How did I not know about this? The words “lather, rinse, repeat” circled round and round in my mind, reminding me how I’d never really considered them. (In my defense, when I checked my shampoo labels later, none of them instructed me to do this.) When I texted my friends to ask if they were part of this secret club, two of six said they were. One, who has textured, coily hair, said she even triple shampoos sometimes, and is evangelical about the results.

What Even Is Double-Cleansing?

When I got home, I Googled, “Should I shampoo twice?” and got immediately lost in a Reddit thread in which “big shampoo” was blamed for creating double-cleansing as a “ploy to get you to smash through bottles of shampoo faster.” But when I recalled that George said you actually use the same amount of shampoo, just divided between the two washes, I moved on. An Allure feature confirmed my friend’s opinion that double-shampooing was a game-changer for curly, thick hair, but said that those with super-fine hair should steer clear or risk damage and dryness. I wasn’t sure where this left me: With thick, straight hair, I fall somewhere in the middle. I currently wash it every day (I know, I know, don’t @ me) because my roots are super oily, but George suggested that a double-cleanse might actually buy me more time between washes by offering a deeper clean.

This made logical sense to me. The same way double-cleansing my face allows me to first remove surface dirt, and then do a deeper clean, maybe double-shampooing could first remove the grimy film my hair accumulates by living in London, and then go deeper. So the next week, in a bid to break my everyday-washing habit, I resolved to give the new method a try.

The Double-Cleansing Toe-Dip

George said that any shampoo would do, but suggested something gentle and non-drying. I browsed the samples I’d been sent through work and selected Kristin Ess’s The One Signature Shampoo. I’d used it before and it never made my hair feel stripped or dry, plus it gave good lather. I smoothed a dime-sized blob over the surface of my hair, massaged it around a bit, then rinsed. Per my research, the first round can be lighter, while the second is for working up a really good lather and getting deep into the roots, which I did, massaging vigorously. This already felt a lot better than usual: My fingers didn’t get tangled in my bird’s-nest morning hair and the texture in general felt smoother and easier to work with. I rinsed, conditioned, belted out a show tune, and dried off.

Post-shower, I typically hang my head upside down and blast my not-quite-dry hair with cold air from the hairdryer (an attempt to add volume), but it didn’t feel like it needed it this time, so I let it air-dry. Once completely dry, it felt lighter, airier. Normally my hair sits resolutely flat to my scalp, but it was softer and shinier in a way that I for some reason want to describe as baby hair. I added some Kérastase Elixir Ultime oil to the tips, which did feel a little drier than usual, and couldn’t stop touching it all day. The next morning it was definitely less greasy than my regular second-day hair, though it didn’t make it the whole way through the day before starting to look a little lank. I spritzed some dry shampoo on top, twisted it into a bun, and it was mostly fine.

The Verdict

After a couple more weeks trialling the method, I felt mixed. I loved the feeling of my hair on day one, but that didn’t always carry through to day two. And while it gave me a volume boost, my ends felt parched (George warned that a daily double-cleanse would be too drying). Curious to see if changing up products would make a difference, I tried double-cleansing with Kérastase’s Aura Botanica micellar shampoo instead (basically like Bioderma for your hair). A light, nourishing (sulfate-free) gel that works up into a gentle lather, I noticed it was much gentler on my ends, leaving them less dry. The next week, I added a new first step: Christophe Robin’s Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt, a citrussy, refreshing exfoliator that makes my scalp tingle and my foggy brain wake up. My scalp was reborn.

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Although I haven’t managed to skip everyday shampooing completely, I’ve finally settled into a perfect compromise: I shampoo my hair daily during the week with the micellar shampoo (just once), and abstain from washing over the weekend. Then I kick off Monday morning with the ultimate weekly double-cleanse, using the two above products for the deepest clean possible, which lifts away the prior week’s grime and leaves my hair feeling newborn.

Ultimately, it’s a difference that, on sight, probably nobody other than myself (and perhaps George) would notice. But there’s something in optimizing these small, daily rituals and fine-tuning the ways I look after myself that feels like a worthwhile act of self-care. Feeling like my hair looks good makes me feel good. In the wise words of Fleabag, “Hair is everything, Anthony”.

Have you tried double-cleansing? Is your hair and scalp-care routine beginning to rival your skincare routine, or just me?

Photo by Leila Fakouri. Model Elanor Grace Bock.

The post Are We Supposed to Be Double-Cleansing Our Hair Now, Too? appeared first on Man Repeller.

26 Women on Their Worst Career Mistakes

Work mistakes are a special kind of stressful. If you’re scared of making one or knee-deep in one or still shivering from a weird email you got last month, allow the below story, originally published in February of 2018, to be the Tums to your emotional indigestion.

I’ve never made a career blunder dastardly enough to get me fired, but I’ve made plenty of small ones I subsequently mulled over for weeks on end, like Everlasting Gobstoppers that never failed to run out of stress juice. I think work mistakes feel particularly anxiety-inducing because unlike disappointing a parent or friend or even yourself, disappointing a colleague — especially a hierarchical superior — can have immediate, rippling consequences for an entire business that depends on its employees to keep it running. Those are high stakes!

The thing about messing up, though, is that literally everyone does it. Your capacity for failure doesn’t mean you are terrible or special — it just means you are human and ordinary. But I know that’s easy to forget in a moment of crisis, so to buoy all of us with the comfort of solidarity in those moments, I asked a whole bunch of women to tell me about their worst (or best, or funniest, or most memorable) career mistakes. Enjoy them below, and add yours in the comments if you have one.

During my first college job interview, when asked why I wanted the job, I said, “Because I want to make money.” My subconscious totally took over!

Hannah, 21

“I was managing Instagram for a young brand that was taken very seriously at my corporate company. Every piece of content we posted ran through at least four rounds of back and forth, down to the most minor retouching notes for what was meant to be a ‘casual’ shot. In a time of social media spontaneity and sharing content in the now, we did nothing of the sort and it was an absolute nightmare. One sunny afternoon, I was rummaging through my purse when I realized that I had left my Polly-O string cheese snack in there to marinate all morning long. I thought it would be hilarious to post the discovery on my personal account, bouncing the cheese against my desk for the full effect. I penned a witty little caption, clicked send and posted the video onto my account. Roughly four minutes later, checking back to see if anyone had replied to my story, I quite literally dropped my phone in horror. Not only had I posted to the brand’s account, but it was our debut story so Instagram SENT A NOTIFICATION TO ALL OF OUR FOLLOWERS TO COME CHECK IT OUT!!!!! After an immediate delete and a mild panic attack, a coworker talked me down from the situation. Her main piece of advice? If someone had seen it, I would’ve already known. Turns out she was right, and I never heard anything from anyone in the company about it. Long live The Great String Cheese Incident of 2016.”

Paige, 30

In my first months working at my first job, I accidentally sold the director’s personal suit in a sample sale. When he (quite understandably) demanded to know where it was, all of my new colleagues said it was a group mistake and wouldn’t let me go down alone.

Elle, 25

“I am a French stylist assistant based in Paris and worked for two years at Vogue Russia (but the office is in Paris). They like their assistants to be really discreet and quiet, not spontaneous or funny in any way. So I learned to be as discreet as possible when on set and at the office. Then I got the job of my dreams: assistant to the editor-in-chief of French Vogue. I was so excited! But after a month, I got fired because I was too discreet and not funny enough, according to my boss. So basically I learned that I have to be myself in any situation and be really adaptable to any people I work with from now on.”

Annabelle, 23

My first job was in a bakery. The first day, I dropped a knife and tried to catch it with my foot. I ended up cutting my own toe off. From that day on, I never wore slippers to work.

Betty-Marie, 18

“I took my job as an executive assistant right out of college, and the learning curve has been wildly steeper than I could have ever expected. An integral part of said learning curve is the seemingly never-ending stream of mistakes — scheduling errors, lunch order misunderstandings, travel plans gone wrong, etc. Most recently, and potentially my worst to date, were flights booked for the wrong day, a mistake that was only caught as my boss was heading out the door for the airport. As stressful and anxiety-producing as the fiasco was, it gave me a much-needed opportunity to stop and review my mindfulness practices at work and at home. I completely restructured my organizational methods, developed better communication structures with my boss and have started working out daily. Though I will most likely have stress dreams about that mistake for a while, I do (begrudgingly) appreciate the incredibly helpful changes that have been made as a result.”

Liz, 23

I fell hard for a coworker and dated him for nearly two years. It ended very, very badly, and then I was let go. Never, ever linking work with romance again.

Alexandra, 31

“My biggest career mistake (can you call it a mistake if you learned something from it?) was staying almost two years in a marketing job that was so far away from where I wanted to go professionally. At the time, I took it out of financial need and felt it was something temporary, but I ended up getting comfortable. I ended up leaving it in order to explore and find my place. It wasn’t easy, but it was definitely worth it. I learned to never settle, follow my bliss, get out there and knock on many doors, even if it’s just for a short conversation. … You will be surprised where the connections you make along the way can lead you.”

Michelle, 26

On the first day of my first job out of college, my new boss was extending her arm to point to my office but I thought it was a hug, so I went for it. And I haven’t really recovered from it. I have just repressed it until right now.

Abbey, 21

“While working as a long-term child protective caseworker, I had a child in foster care with a pre-adoptive family. The biological mother would float in and out of contact with the agency, without a permanent address or way to locate/contact her. There was not an identified father. On one occasion, the mother made contact with me and agreed to come to court and surrender her parental rights, with conditions. She wanted four annual visits and progress reports on her child. In an effort to achieve permanency for this child, I had a 15-minute phone conversation with the adoptive parents encouraging them to agree with the mother’s desires. They reluctantly agreed. At the time, I thought this was great casework because I had achieved permanency for a child.

However, I did not realize the burden placed on the adoptive parents to facilitate four annual visits and provide progress reports to the biological mother. As I continued my career, I realized that such important decisions should not be brokered by telephone — families need time to process and evaluate if they can accommodate having contact with biological parents until the child is of age. At the time, I did find permanency for a child in foster care, but at what cost? I’ve learned to look at a case from all sides and to facilitate decisions that benefit all involved. I am now a supervisor in the adoption unit.”

Michelle, 45

The first that comes to mind is knocking a huge crystal vase off a shelf at a high-fashion magazine (and then awkwardly trying to clean it up with my hands and cutting myself while my coworkers watched in silence).

Emily, 25

“I recently got a new boss. He’s pretty awful (I promise this isn’t hyperbole). He was describing these nonsensical templates to me and they were very backwards and made no sense. So, as any mature professional woman would do, I Slacked my coworker, saying, ‘What a fucking waste of time,’ and yup, I sent it to him instead. Luckily, he wasn’t at his desk so I immediately deleted it (thanks, Slack!) but then he got the notification on his phone (fuck you, Slack) and messaged me he didn’t know you could delete Slack messages until now. So yeah, that was a pretty low low and very embarrassing. I acted confident. I tried to play it off and apologized for deleting it. Obviously, I should have just told him what I had done and why. I learned it’s better to be honest when you fuck up instead of covering something up, but also, sometimes it’s necessary to play the policy game and put on a good face and tell someone what they want to hear. Even though he’s a shitty manager and sucks, he’s still my boss at the end of the day, and I need to respect that and use that to my advantage. You can’t get anywhere if your manager doesn’t have your back.”

Emma, 28

One time, after I quit my job, I went and begged for it back. I’m talking ugly crying and pleading. I didn’t get the job back, but in hindsight it all worked out for the best! I learned that you have to leave the past behind you and move forward with life even if it’s scary!

Sarah, 20

“On the second day of a job that I was so excited to land, I put the coffee mug (that they gave me on my first day) in the office microwave to heat up some coffee. I didn’t realize it was metal and that metal can’t go in the microwave so…I started a fire. Someone I didn’t know from the accounting department had to put the fire out because I was practically useless.”

Carson, 27

I didn’t file my vacations properly so they were filed as absences and I received a $3.50 salary last month.

Sabrina, 23

“I stayed with a manager who refused to give me metrics and a pathway for growth, both skill- and money-wise. I spent a year stagnating financially after that, and though I did learn and it wasn’t a complete waste, I was shocked when I started job hunting and discovered I was way more valuable than the amount my employer was paying me suggested. I’ll strive for girl bosses forever now. The moral of this story is don’t let anyone sell you short!”

Bobby, 27

I’ve been a creative copywriter for more than 10 years now, and I just realized last week that I had been misspelling “timing” the whole time (it was “timming” for me). Well, being Spanish and working in Madrid could be my excuse, but it was so embarrassing.

Claudia, 34

“I was on a call with my boss, opened Slack and typed, ‘This is so annoying’ to my best friend at work. My boss immediately asked, ‘What’s annoying?’ Turns out I had completely forgotten that my screen was shared. I quickly made up a story about spilling juice on myself and how annoyed I was about it. He definitely didn’t buy it. Lesson: Slack is dangerous, and don’t use it to critique your boss. Also don’t share your screen, ever.

Kaycie, 28

I pressed send too fast on my introduction email the first week in a new job and had not finished spelling my name in full. My name is Kimberly but it said Kimbe. It took some explaining to get people to stop calling me Kimbe.

Kimberly, 31

“I had a really important interview during the holidays and decided to take an Uber to the office near Bryant Park instead of the train, just to be safe. I completely forgot to factor in how crowded it would be because of the time of year, and I got stuck in insane traffic. Five minutes before the scheduled time of my interview, I was still a 10-minute drive away. In my panic, I somehow convinced myself that I would get there quicker by foot. I apologized to my driver, opened the door, and ran at full speed down 42nd street…in the snow…wearing heels. I showed up to the interview soaking wet, red-faced and, despite my best efforts, 20 minutes late. (But hey, I still got the job).”

Hannah, 18

I quit my job with no plan to follow my dreams, pursue adventure, etc. I was unemployed for a year. It really slowed down my progression and career. I am really frustrated and feel I didn’t quite “land on my feet.”

Alexandra, 29

“A work mistake I made was not asking enough questions about a job I was pursuing. When I first reached out, the company wasn’t actually hiring. But a couple of months went by and I had a series of calls, and they told me they had me in mind for a position that would be opening up. After months of talking to people there about myself and my strengths, I was confident they knew what type of job would be a good fit for me. I received an offer and leapt at it WITHOUT ASKING ANY QUESTIONS. What the fuck was I thinking???? I didn’t even negotiate the salary, and I took a pay cut. I was seduced by the fact that this really cool company wanted me. I got there, and it took about two hours for me to realize that I was in the wrong role for me. I tried to make it work and attempted to worm my way into a job with another department, but I was doing a terrible job because I was so out of my element. I was there for six months before going back to the exact same job I had before. It was a waste of six months, but I also learned a big lesson.”

Eleanor, 26

Week two of interning, I walked in on our managing director on the toilet. I was so stunned thinking what to do next (doh), I froze in the doorway and she had to push past me to leave the cubicle. Everyone’s human, and everyone pees and poops.

Hannah, 25

“When I was 25, I was thriving with my own little startup but was in a long-term relationship and my partner was eight years older than me. He had quit his job and was working on a food hall. Since I had PR background, I dedicated myself more toward his project, helping him build the social media, getting designers to create the logo, working on his image and the company’s [image], etc. Basically worked with him for an entire year (for free). Long story short, three weeks before the food hall opened, he dumped me after two years of being together, completely ghosting me, and a month later started going out with someone else. The truth is, it was a mistake to focus on someone else’s dream instead of my own, no matter how much I loved him!!! You should always be your own priority and dedicate yourself to advancing your career because it’s something you can fall back on when things fall apart! Happened to me!”

Andrea, 27

My biggest mistake was not having an operations agreement clearly defined in two separate business partnerships. Long story short, going into business on two separate occasions with two different people who were my “friends” left me financially, mentally and emotionally exhausted. I knew better, but I didn’t do the due diligence of writing out a contract because time was of the essence.

Erada, 32

“My work mistake was working at a jewelry story at 16 getting paid minimum wage. I had keys to the store and would open and close by myself. At 16. After two years with no raise, my parents put me on restriction until I got the courage to ask for one. Now at 32, in my career I boldly asked for a big raise after only 10 months. Because I work hard. And I deserve it. Never be ashamed to ask for something you’ve worked hard for.”

Ashlee, 32

 

Animation by Madeline Montoya. 

The post 26 Women on Their Worst Career Mistakes appeared first on Man Repeller.

Help Me Compile a List of the Best Shoes for Travel

I’m going on vacation for a week at the end of August, and in my most fantastical off-the-grid fantasies, I’m packing ultra-light. A couple sundresses, a swimsuit, some sunscreen, and a maximum of two pairs of shoes. One of those pairs will conceivably be running sneakers, just in case I find it within myself to exercise at some point. The other pair is to be determined–ideally by you, dear reader, if you happen to have a salient recommendation.

I’m looking for the perfect jack-of-all-trade pair of vacation shoes. Shoes that are comfortable to walk in but won’t detract from the overall appearance of my outfits. Shoes that are suited to daytime and dinnertime alike. Shoes that go with lots of disparate kinds of clothes, from nice-ish dresses to jean shorts. Shoes that don’t take up too much room in a carry-on suitcase. Shoes that will remain in good shape, over the course of the trip, despite shouldering all these requirements.

Does the answer to such a tall order even exist? I’m honestly not sure. I’ve had love affairs with footwear that meets most but not all of the above criteria (Birkenstocks do not make an easy day-to-night transition!), which convinces me it’s possible my Holy Grail vacation shoe is out there and I just don’t know about it yet. So tell me: What’s the best pair of shoes you’ve ever packed on a trip? I’m all ears. And toes.

Feature photo by Edith Young.

The post Help Me Compile a List of the Best Shoes for Travel appeared first on Man Repeller.

I Tried the Saltiest Sprays Haircare Has to Offer

This spring, I took a less-than-revolutionary plunge and got the haircut I’d been lusting after since freshman year of college—the long bob. I guess it really started out as a short bob, or as industry experts call it, a bob, but within a month or two it grew out to my desired length. Then there was a hitch I hadn’t foreseen: The natural shape my lob assumed was neat and bowl-like—a reality that worsened when I brushed it. As someone who has never been far from her Mason Pearson brush, I was unprepared for the topsy-turvy notion that my new hair looked better when it was a mess.

But how to manufacture that? I’d never ventured into hair product use beyond the occasional spritz of a thermal dry conditioner, both because I loathe the feeling of stickiness and crunchiness when I run my fingers through my hair, and because I’ve never really needed it: With thick hair that falls so straight it won’t hold a curl, I’ve been able to coast with minimal hairstyling. The new cut changed that, but I was at a loss for how to adapt. So when a friend recommended I try salt spray, I was intrigued. Seemingly unintimidating and user-friendly, it felt like a good place to begin my foray into product.

Below are the results of my test-drive with five of the most highly rated salt sprays I could find. My questions with this experiment were twofold: Would testing sea sprays convert me into someone who can stand the feeling of product in her hair? And would it get my head of hair closer to where it was trying to go (a Babba Canales Rivera or Maya Hawke sans bangs, a 2013 Leandra Medine, all of my friends in college)? I tested for three variables: the salinity (how saturated with salt the spray is, and how closely it mimics the feeling of having just emerged from the ocean, determined by the metric of granularity), the crunch factor (the hand-feel of my hair post-application, a.k.a. how much it seemed like it was coated in hard-shell chocolate sauce), and how the spray performs in terms of 360° lob transformation.

(A quick disclaimer: By the time this story and I met face-to-face at the saloon doors of the publishing calendar, my hair had grown out to a shoulder-grazing length. In the event that this concerns you, know that my next trim is imminent.)

Rahua Enchanted Island Salt Spray

Salinity: Smooth and gradual, like Jeni’s Salted Caramel Ice Cream.

Crunch factor: Medium crunch, like a bell pepper.

Overall transformation: Rahua is a clean, green beauty brand I learned about via Into The Gloss, where I also read that Antoni Porowski tried to bottle his own DIY sea spray with ocean water, only to find out through olfactory detection that natural salt water goes bad after a few days. Regardless—Rahua’s vegan spray is formulated with pink sea salt, evidenced in the spray’s blushy color. Rahua’s Enchanted Island Spray spurred nothing dramatic, but worked agreeably as an enhancement: it was effective in creating wavy shape and volume.

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Davines This Is A Sea Salt Spray

Salinity: Like a potato chip, this spray is crisp and light, while packing a lot of punch.

Crunch factor: Minimal, on a crunchy peanut butter level.

Overall transformation: The before and after doesn’t do it justice—I had just woken up and it looked better in person. Some latent salt remained in my hair after a shower, which actually produced the most desirable effect: a slight wave and added body without the impediment of gobs of salt in my hair. I’ve liked Davines’ dense conditioners in the past, so I was glad that their spray met the same high standards.

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French Girl Jasmin Sea Spray from Goop

Salinity: Like Rick’s Picks Classic Sours, there is only a (welcome) tingle of salty residue.

Crunch factor: Ranked very low, like the softest sweet potato fry in a basket.

Overall transformation: My first ever foray into the goop universe! The difference here was subtle, though French Girl was a workhorse in terms of horizontally lateral, full-bodied oomph. The faint, wafting scent of jasmine didn’t hurt, either. 10/10 would come again.

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Captain Blankenship Sea Salt Shimmer Spray, Rose Gold
For the last two sprays, I followed the directions for spraying onto damp, towel dried hair.Entireworld sweater, Warby Parker sunglasses, Brinker & Eliza earrings

Salinity: Salty, like truffle fries.

Crunch factor: A Dorito-ian crunch that softened over time.

Overall transformation: This organic spray had a gradual effect, expanding my wet hair from its resting state, which was flat like a sun-baked soda. With a healthy you’ll-get-what-you-paid-for dose of salt, a rosy aroma care of two essential oils (rose geranium and palmarosa), and a glimpse of glitter from the responsibly sourced mica, this one was the multi-tasker of the bunch. It’s also available in a blonde-friendly sheen that looks like liquified gold, and in a sterling metallic formula for the silver foxes among us.

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My Appointed Crown Jewel of Salt Sprays:

Herbivore Sea Mist, Coconut

Salinity: Light and muted, akin to that of black olives or edamame beans.

Crunch factor: A non-factor, like a maki roll.

Overall transformation: This spray’s effect was as minimal as Herbivore’s packaging, and in this context of this experiment, that’s the highest prize a product could win. It functions as a slight boost that doesn’t throw a wrench into an everyday routine. I had seen Herbivore’s various products all over Instagram for years and, as is rarely the case in instances of overexposure, the brand lived up to its hype. At the risk of sounding cliché, I will admit that the Herbivore spray was my favorite.

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The post I Tried the Saltiest Sprays Haircare Has to Offer appeared first on Man Repeller.

3 Rainy-Day Outfits for Your Consideration

The question of what to wear when it rains in the summer is rendered no less challenging by the frequency with which it must be asked. Just because summer is stereotypically associated with sunshine, clear skies, and the joys of being outside doesn’t mean it gets a free pass from precipitation. Au contraire! This summer has been a particularly watery one—and I’m not talking about the ocean.

Rain is a bummer in any season, but particularly so during summer: The presence of cloud spit rarely results in the absence of muggy warmth (the opposite, in fact), so the usual waterproof accoutrements (tall rubber boots, an insulated rain coat) are inappropriate—vehicles to another, and perhaps even more sinister, form of dampness. Nonetheless, with a little pre-planned wardrobe ingenuity with a focus on the right footwear, it IS possible to avoid mutating into a human swamp whilst out and about in a summer rainstorm. It’s also possible to do so without sacrificing your sense of personal style. Scroll down for three outfit suggestions.

Outfit #1: Gym Shorts and Short Boots Akimbo

Because your usual industrial rain coat and boots-made-for-fly-fishing are likely to lose their appeal in 80-degree heat with 90% humidity, feel free to eschew both. Your resulting outfit will not be protected by a waterproof outer layer, however, so opt for fabrics that won’t be damaged by contact with a little drizzle. Gym shorts, a.k.a. my favorite shorts to wear anywhere that isn’t a gym, are literally made to withstand some moisture and are thus ideal. A cotton shirt is fine, too. If you want to wear boots, I recommend a short pair that won’t make your calves feel like hot dogs in a tepid bath. These ones from Everlane are my personal favorite.

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Outfit #2: Three Cheers for Toe Lungs

Toes eager to breathe? Consider a sandal that will hold up well despite the occasional shallow puddle. I wear my Birkenstocks all the time when it’s raining in the summer—they’re the less expensive ones made from “Birko-Flor,” a durable synthetic material that can definitely cope with a bit of water contact. If you’re thinking about wearing pants, I would advise implementing the aforementioned protocol when it comes to materials (basically say no to your suedes, leathers, and silks), and prioritize darker colors that will hide any splatter that comes their way. I’m also very pro-hat during summer rainstorms, because my hair and humidity are a very unpredictable combination.

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Outfit #3: The Ultimate Waterproof Going-Out Shoe

Even more challenging than figuring out what to wear when it’s hot and rainy during the day, in my opinion, is figuring out what to wear when it’s hot and rainy during the evening. Fortunately for us (and by us I mean human civilization), sparkly Tevas exist (check out the color “Black Constellation,” a.k.a. black Tevas with a subtle silver sparkle), and if that is not the ideal waterproof going-out shoe I truly don’t know what is. Pair those with the Holy Grail of guaranteed hits, an LBD, and you’re ready to sip a martini while watching a pink and purple sunset through square frames. A hair-kerchief is always welcome (see above commentary on humidity and hair), especially one that you can remove from your head and tie around your neck once you’re safely indoors. Bon appetit!

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Any additional hacks for getting dressed during summer rainstorms, i.e., nature’s blessed armpit? Do share.

Photos by Emily Malan. 

The post 3 Rainy-Day Outfits for Your Consideration appeared first on Man Repeller.

The Toni Morrison Documentary That Honors Her Legacy

Toni Morrison passed away today at the age of 88. Morrison’s words were a fearless reminder of what it means to be human, a lush celebration of all forms of black womanhood. In her writing she let fear, pain, love, lust, shame, and joy sit side by side, hand in hand, gently tugging a string from my heart to her words on a page, making me feel known in ways I didn’t think possible. As I wrote in my below review of the documentary Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am, it’s been a great gift to be alive at the same time she was, to have never known life without her.

With so much to be sad about in the world today, her passing feels timely in a way, a final gift to remind us to not sit in our despair but to turn to the things that make us who we are. Not to run from our sadness and grief but to let them remind us that we’re still here, still feeling, still able to do something with our time on earth. Below, a little bit more about The Pieces I Am, a story originally published on Man Repeller in June 2019, in case you didn’t get a chance to see it.

“There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal. I know the world is bruised and bleeding, and though it is important not to ignore its pain, it is also critical to refuse to succumb to its malevolence. Like failure, chaos contains information that can lead to knowledge—even wisdom. Like art.”- Toni Morrison, The Nation, 2016

When I was 17 and read The Bluest Eye, I saw parts of myself I didn’t want to see, like the ways in which being a black girl in a culture that is hostile towards my very being had shaped some of my thoughts and values. I have re-read the book every few years or so as a barometer of growth, and every time I find something new in the writing, and new in my reaction to it.

Toni Morrison has been so critical to who I am as a reader and person, it seems like a strange twist of fate that she’s alive. Not in a macabre way—but when I think about how I get to read her work as it’s being produced, how I can see her at lectures, and how I could feasibly send her an email (I have not tried to email Toni Morrison) or run into her at a gas station, it’s…surreal. Legends are supposed to be these distant unknowable figures, ahead of their time yet timeless, suspended in some imperfect past in which they shaped a more promising present.

So it feels like a blessing that Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am, a new documentary filled with talking-head interviews and b-roll footage, offers the Nobel Prize winner space to reflect on her life and work while she’s still creating. The doc opens in select theaters June 21. Below, my review.

What did you see? Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am

I know I could look this up, but who is in it? Toni Morrison, Sonia Sanchez, Oprah, many others, and lots of archival footage.

Oh cool, cool. Who made it? Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, the documentary filmmaker who made The Black List, The Trans List, and The Latino List.

Why should I leave the comfort of my home for this? If you love Toni Morrison, this is a no-brainer. It’s nice to hear from legends while they’re alive—to hear others celebrate their work knowing that the legend in question is going to hear every single word. If you’re a casual Toni Morrison fan, it’s still interesting to hear about her career path and the doors she opened for others. She also recounts her freshman year at Howard in such a way that made me write, “All right, Toni” in my notes.

Which movies is it cousins with? Greenfield-Sanders previous docs in style and tone, and RBG in that it is more of a love letter to a famous figure than an exposé.

Explain this movie like we’re strangers at a dinner party! It’s a pretty standard interview-format documentary. Toni Morrison discusses her life and work and what it’s like to be a literary giant in a world dominated by white men and the value of black people writing stories for, and seeing themselves without the white gaze. There are interviews with other writers and public figures and people who worked with her behind the scenes who flesh out different parts of her story. She is fairly casual and blunt about her success and the obstacles put in her way—she talks about writing while parenting as if it is the easiest thing in the world. There are no shocking revelations nor conflicting viewpoints presented, but it’s a good reminder to anyone who wants to be a creative that just doing the work is the biggest part of the endeavor.

*Now imagine me chewing through that entire spiel.*

Did you enjoy it? Sounds like you enjoyed it. I did! I love Toni Morrison and it was great to hear her talk about her life in her own words. It was also great to watch other thinkers and writers I admire talk about how much her work has meant to them. I learned a few things (she sees ghosts!), but it isn’t particularly probing. It’s a very nice 119 minutes.

Would you sit through this movie if the AC was broken? Yes, because that’s nothing compared to what Toni Morrison puts her characters through.

Date movie? Clearly a yes if you like Toni Morrison. Also a yes if your combined canvas tote bag count exceeds five.

While we’re here, top 3 Toni Morrison books? The Bluest Eye, obviously, for being equal parts savage and beautiful and giving a voice to black girlhood in a way that I don’t think I’ve experienced since. Paradise for such a poignant and smart look at insularity annnnnnnd Beloved because it’s just a masterpiece.

Ideal snack for this viewing? Carrot cake.

Poster Design by Mickalene Thomas.

The post The Toni Morrison Documentary That Honors Her Legacy appeared first on Man Repeller.

Your August Horoscope Wants You to Get It On, Literally and Figuratively

Oh my friggin goodness you guys, is it just me, or was that month of eclipses and retrogrades a doozy? I was feeling it so intensely and communicating about it so messily that my inner world began to feel like a mosh pit. It sent me right back to my days of swinging elbows and getting accidentally punched in the nipple by a sweaty stranger. I had to remind myself that even though retrogrades and eclipses get a bad rap for being the worst thing on either side of the Mississippi, they do important work. They stir up our shadow selves—all the parts of our humanity that we would rather not look at—which can ultimately be enlightening. That said, July was like “shadow self” rush hour, with all of our gross, sad, self-obsessed feelings trying to get on the beltway all at once, honking incessantly and cutting each other off. Let us all gather into a circle, hold hands, and take long, deep synchronized breaths to release all of that chaos en masse.

Okay, now that we’ve acknowledged the journey we’ve been through, we can fully appreciate what’s on our communal horizon. That’s right, all you accumulations of ancient carbons, it is finally Leo season and things are about to get generally fun as heck. In the spirit of these ebullient vibes, I have engaged in esoteric congress with the small gods of the skies in order to serve up some hot-n-ready star wisdom for you. I am feeling a bit more earnest and tender after all that eclipse business so let’s take this month’s readings real gentle and make sure we hydrate throughout, okay?

Leo

Your horoscope this month has basically already been written, and it is the lyrics to the song “Dancing Queen” by Abba. If your horoscope for this month was a piece of clothing, it would be a sequined cape. If your horoscope was a showy dessert, it would be Baked Alaska. Your general flamboyance and verve are amplified right now and I honestly don’t know if we are even ready for that as a species. But, because we are moths to your light, all of us mortals will flock to you, whether we’re ready or not.

What do you have planned for your birthday, you perfect fire angel?! After diligently gazing upon the stars and conducting tedious astrological calculations, I would like to encourage you to consider the following birthday party elements:

1. Champagne bottles with lit sparklers

2. A talent show highlighting your various skills. There should be multiple costume changes (of course) and an audience full of enthusiastic fans. Start with your flashiest contributions, such as singing or dancing or a good dramatic monologue, and then work your way down to less obvious but equally impressive talents, like dish-washer organization, besting babies at staring contests, or perhaps undertaking an hour-and-a-half long subway ride with multiple transfers whilst managing to avoid touching any public surfaces with your bare hands.

The full moon in Aquarius on the 15th will have you thinking towards the future in optimistic terms, which is wonderful. But take heed, young buck, there are very pushy Jupiter and Uranus vibes in the celestial sphere, so you will be itching to make moves quickly and perhaps neglecting necessary but patently boring stuff like budgets and scheduling. It is going to take some restraint to resist jumping off cliffs and diving into the unknown, literally or figuratively, but the stars counsel a measure of patience in your endeavors.

Virgo

Wow I feel like we haven’t talked in a month of Sundays, Virgirino! July was a busy time for you according to those chatty ol’ stars and I would like to officially welcome you to Leo season, a time for Virgos to chill tf out. I feel like I am always giving you this advice, but instead of thinking of me like a broken cosmic record, think of me more as that daily alarm on your phone that says, “Hey there, you muscular spiritual stallion, drink more water and pack some snacks!!!!!!!” Oh, you don’t have that alarm set? Well definitely get on that. And while we’re on the topic of getting on, I need someone to cue “Let’s Get It On” by Al Green so we can start two-stepping smoothly together in perfect synchronization because this is a perfect time for some lovin’.

Although there are romantic tidings in your chart this month, there is also an amplification of your inward-looking nature. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to clamber atop my soapbox and advocate for the valuation and appreciation of physical self-love. Yes, I am absolutely talking about masturbation. But I am also absolutely talking about other physical expressions of love, adoration, and romance that are given to you by you and for you! This is a wonderful time to practice some sensual self-care. I highly recommend the practice of Abhyanga—an ayurvedic technique of self-massage using nourishing oils. I literally cannot get enough of myself after these massages. I want that for you (in a totally platonic and chill way)!

Virgos are known throughout the vast world of astrology memes to be very, hmm, I think particular is the most neutral word I could use. Y’all know what you want and meticulous in your planning. Thus, Mercury retrogrades, with all of their delays and miscommunications, can really put a damper on your love of linear progression. The good news is that the full moon in Aquarius on the 15th should bring some clarity to a project you’ve been stalling on throughout Mercury’s retrograde.

Libra

Salutations, you well-loved fiddle leaf fig! I am surprised that you even had time to read these horoscopes considering how full your dance card is this month! Because Venus has decided to do-si-do with Uranus, your post-Mercury retrograde (or as we like to call it in my apartment: The “Accidentally Sending My Mom a Tasteful Nude Meant for a Lover” Season of Endless Delights) period has you shining with magnetism and hydration. The stars suggest that you go full-libra mode: dress in sumptuous fabrics only (this is always my advice for everyone at literally any point in the time-space continuum), text all 17 of the adoring folx that are currently blowing up your phone a line of smiling devil emojis, and dust each and every shoulder on your body in blindingly luminescent highlighting powder.

With the full moon in Aquarius on the 15th, you will notice an exhilarating momentum culminating in the completion of a creative project. I just refreshed my rudimentary knowledge of Einstein’s theory of time dilation and relative motion because I felt that there could be a really satisfying metaphor there to illustrate “exhilarating momentum” but then I realized that physics is the least sexy association that one could make with that phrase. So please insert masturbation metaphor of your choice here and hit me up in the comments lounge if you wanna talk about Einstein’s Greatest Hits: The Wikipedia Edition.

What else do I have for you? Well, Mars and Uranus will probably have you looking for some solitude around the end of the month, which will be really good for you after four weeks of rigorous gallivanting and carousing. Okay, my dude? I love you and I want to end by telling you that I hold an intuitive belief that you have the capacity to make an excellent quiche, and I want to encourage you to lean into that.

Scorpio

Dear sweet scorpling, you light beneath every boulder, I am so excited for your Leo season! I am excited for everybody’s Leo season, it’s true, but the planets are aligning for you this month in such a shimmering and social way. Let me put it this way: If all the astrology signs went on a beach vacay, Scorpios would generally be the ones dressed in all black with a massive umbrella, surveying the horizon and plotting out some form of domination. During Leo season, though, all bets are off! Like, you might catch a Scorpio engaging in enthusiastic small talk with a stranger in line at CVS. You might catch a Scorpio being like, “Hey, it’s fine guys, someone else can choose where we go to dinner.” You might catch a Scorpio at a party being described as “very chill and easygoing.” That is how much Leo season will shake up the generally crazy-eyed sex magic vibes that you dear scorplings usually ooze. (Before we move on I would like to point out that we are truly doing ourselves a disservice by only using the verb ooze when referring to sexuality or pus. I think we should be able to ooze many things and I am open to your suggestions as to innovative usages of ooze.)

Now, back to the matter at hand. This whole month is going to be abuzz with social delights, for which we must thank the tiny baby lord of all things that are holy because July was a friggin mess. Your social graces will be at their peak around the full moon in Aquarius on the 15th so be prepared for your own magnetism because it will be something for the record books. This would be an excellent time to advocate for yourself in your work life, or to stunt on your enemies in your personal life. As a responsible shepherd of astrological wisdom, I can’t rightfully encourage you to use your powers for petty gains, but I also wouldn’t be mad at you if you did. Just saying.

Sagittarius

Oh my lucky stars Sag, it feels fantastic to be here under the auspices of celestial wisdom, choppin it up with you once again. Now, let’s hold hands. I want to talk to you about abundance, about feast and famine, about deserts and oases! But let us begin with dim sum. So, you know that feeling when you’re totally starving after a night out, you’ve split off from your group of so-and-sos, and you find yourself walking through Chinatown aching for clarity and direction, wondering how we all came to be so lost on this spinning rock in space? Suddenly, you see a brilliantly illuminated little restaurant with a sign on its front door that says, “All You Can Eat Dim Sum, Open 24hrs” at the EXACT moment that you realized that all you wanted in life was a mountain of shrimp dumplings. Once you bite into the dumplings you dreamed of, you find yourself settling back into a sense of peace and optimism. Do you know what I’m talking about? I am talking about the particular kind of ecstasy that comes from encountering exactly the thing you need after a period of confused longing.

I chose to evoke the image of the mythical unlimited dim sum spot not only because I am currently craving turnip cakes and baozi, but also because after the frustration of Mercury retrograde, Leo season will bring you fulfillment and delight that could be paralleled only by the acquisition of more plentiful dim sum rations than you ever even thought possible. The celestial bodies, particularly your ruling planet Jupiter with its saucy intersection with Venus, are conspiring to bring serendipitous abundance and adventure into your life. In the latter half of the month this will spill over into your creative and professional life, so keep an eye out for opportunities to get out of town. This is going to be an excellent time of year for you Sag—the full moon in Aquarius will give you the clarity and foresight to make decisions that serve your highest dreams. I am honestly so excited I just gave myself full body chills. Good luck out there, scamp.

Capricorn

Gather ‘round all ye good sea-goats of starlit pastures, and let me tell you some things that the stars are absolutely itching to communicate to you. First of all, you’re doing great. Second of all, this month could shake up some of the bonds and obligations that have become stale in your life. This is good news! No one wants the crusty leftovers of love, it is time to feed those to the ornery pigeons in the park—I want only fresh-baked commitments for you! You are not alone in this emotional shake-up, Cap. Leo is a hot-blooded sign driven by the heart, so this time of year plays everyone’s heartstrings like a fiddle. The cosmic movements that you will be feeling the most have to do with Uranus meeting Venus at the start of August. This pairing of the planet of eccentricity and revolution with Venus, ruler of beauty, love and money, promises an opportunity to release all the things in these areas that do not serve you.

The full moon in Aquarius on the 15th will draw your attention to your wealth. I’m talking about all kinds of wealth here: the stars want you looking at your health, your time, your self-regard, etc. I recommend you pick yourself up a copy of Toni Morrison’s The Source of Self-Regard, dump the apps, activities, and dudes that waste your time, and consider all the things you could do if you took that time back! You could embroider pillows with Megan Thee Stallion lyrics (which is actually my dream hobby so if you start doing this, I mean, I’m happy that someone is, but I’m also so jealous it burns)! You could do a taxonomy of your junk drawer and try to get it published in a poetry magazine! The options are endless! Time is truly all we have in this life, my dude. I want Leo season to be a period where you put yourself back at the center of your schedule. Okay? Besitos, ‘lil aquatic goat of my dreams, I’ll see you next month.

Aquarius

Aquarius, you bird in flight, welcome to Leo season! Now, if your sign was a dessert that I vaguely remember seeing on Chef’s Table, it might be one of those edible pillows that releases a pleasant aroma, and sure, it’s not a stick-to-your-ribs bread pudding, but it is avant-garde, it is futuristic, it is innovative beyond what us mere human meatheads can even appreciate. On the other hand, if Leo was a dessert I vaguely remember seeing on Chef’s Table, it would be that Momofuku Milkbar cake that looks just like the funfetti mix that comes in a box at any grocery store. It is a cake brimming with nostalgia and warm associations, a loving, classic, homey dessert. As you have surely gathered from this gastronomic metaphor, you and Leo are at opposite sides of the spectrum when it comes to general vibes. Your cool-headed, intellectual, maybe-she’s-an-alien vibes are in stark contrast to Leo’s hot-blooded, heart-forward approach to life. This contrasting energy will do you some good. All of last month’s eclipses and the Mercury retrograde had you reexamining your relationships, and now that the smoke has cleared, it’s time to act on that new clarity.

On the 15th we get a full moon in your sign! This brings the opportunity to let go of anything in your life that is holding you back from the future you want for yourself. For example, maybe you have finally decided that you are never going to get caught wearing dumb socks again. Maybe you want to wear classy, minimalist, all-black crew socks from a luxury sock mercantile. This is the month where you throw out those toe socks you got in high school because all the popular girls had them, or the Christmas-themed sock collection that grows every time your aunt Margie who never remembers your name comes to the family dinner and hands you a present with no wrapping. It is time to become a whole new bitch, Aquarius. Welcome to your next incarnation—it’s gonna be hot.

Pisces

Pisces! I’m so glad you’re here, you human crystal ball! Y’all are a special breed—the most psychic and intuitive of the signs due to your position right at the end of the zodiac. You are the door between darkness and light. If there is a veil separating the world of the living and the dead, y’all would probably be the spooky veil itself. I am telling you things you already know not because I am that dude in the self-checkout lane who inexplicably tried to tell me how self-checkout worked at CVS yesterday. I am telling you because this month you will need to drink from this deep well of intuition. Leo season lights a fire under many signs, especially under you water babies, causing many of you to jump into action without taking the time to pause and check in with that wee voice in your heart that is only audible if you are very quiet and chill.

I’m gonna get real with you, my dude, because I think you need to hear it, but I super don’t want to be a downer so I need you to just look into my eyes and believe me when I say that we are going to get through this, you gorgeous forest of kelp, I swear it. Here’s the sitch: It’s time to get your shit together. More specifically, it is time to stop distracting yourself with whatever your favorite time-sucking vice might be. I’m sorry, I know how you probably feel right now. I ride hard as fuck for my right to waste my own time, but sometimes we’ve got to focus, and you need to focus on healing your damn self right now—no excuses. The full moon in Aquarius on the 15th will push you to look at the shadowy parts of yourself that came up during last month’s eclipses and retrograde. This is a season where so much can be healed and transformed, if you get uncharacteristically real about it and do the work. Oh my gosh, I hope that didn’t sound mean, did that sound mean? I just want the best for you, but I’m a Libra and it actually kills me to have scared-straight real-talk moments with you so please hmu in the comments if you want to do a few rounds of mutual complimenting which is totally more my wheelhouse.

Aries

Well hello there, you victorious fire ram, it is an absolute pleasure to spend some time with you again here on planet Man Repeller. How was your retrograde? Tumultuous and kinda icky? Or did you face the challenging aspects of Cancer season with enthusiasm and aplomb? Regardless of how you weathered last month, Leo season promises exhilarating opportunities for you to cut loose and shine. The fire-sign energy in the air will amplify your innate shine and your tendency towards the flamboyant and Jupiter’s influence around the 8th will nudge you to embark on an adventure. It could be an adventure of the romantic tryst variety. It could also be a spontaneous road trip to a bizarre roadside attraction that calls to you (might I suggest the world’s largest pistachio? It is 30 feet tall and in New Mexico and I just think that is fabulous). Or it could be a party that you consider bailing on because you don’t really know the host and it requires moderate effort to get to, but then when you arrive the whole venue’s interior decor PERFECTLY matches your outfit (that is one of my personal fantasies).

The full moon in Aquarius this month will insist you hit the pause button on August’s non-stop fun-a-thon and spend some reflective time with yourself. Full moons offer us the opportunity to lighten our spiritual and emotional load. There might be some relationships that you need to reexamine, but luckily you have the Aquarian energy of discernment and cool-headedness to balance out your headstrong nature. You see what I did there? It was a ram joke…because horns…no, you’re right. That wasn’t my best work, thank you for your characteristic bluntness, Aries, you keep me honest. I will come correct with significantly fewer dad jokes next month. I’m sorry I get corny when I’m tired and it has been a long day of ritualistic dance and crystal gazing trying to procure this wisdom for you! Let me know how I can make up for my transgressions in the comments section, please and thank you.

Taurus

What do you think about summer house slippers, Taurus? I have spent the last ten minutes imagining what the optimal comfy cozy indoor footwear would be during a summer where the weather feels like a hoard of fire-breathing hellhounds were set loose to wreak havoc on my sense of well-being. The challenge is that nothing feels cozy when my whole body is perma-damp with sweat. I think that a classic rubber slide with a massaging footbed has to be a top contender, perhaps with a sweat-wicking ultra soft crew sock? I can’t wait to hear your thoughts about this very important question. Now, some might read this contemplation as a bewildering non-sequitur, but I know you can probably intuit where I’m going with this, my main dude, my earthy warrior queen of any gender. Not only is this discourse on sensuous foot-based pleasures classic Taurus small talk (being that y’all are the connoisseurs of sensual pleasure in the zodiac) but it’s also highly relevant to the general ambiance of your chart this month.

It is Leo season, and according to the esoteric congress of stars, planets, and other chill forces of the universe, you should be coming into a very sweet period of grounded, homey delights. What I’m saying is, if you don’t already have a pair of sole-massaging summer slippers, you must rush to your nearest trading post and procure some so that you can really settle into this time of wholesome house-joys. Let these simple pleasures be your focus for the first half of the month. Then, when the full moon in Aquarius hits on the 15th and shifts your energy towards seeing a work-project through to its final stage, you will be recharged and ready to finish strong. Wow that was so inspiring I accidentally motivated myself. Thank you for coming to my presentation, please grab a party favor on the way out.

Gemini

Oh Gemini, you made it! You hung through a month of challenging scenarios in which you were routinely the odd person out. I absolutely hate that you may have felt excluded last month and I would like to rectify that right now by making extended eye contact with you and offering you my undivided attention in the comments section if you feel so inclined. Luckily, that dark time of disconnection is behind us and we have crawled into Leo season wherein your need to be right in the heat of the action will be fulfilled. The planets are aligning to offer you a much-needed respite from last month’s retrograde which was chock-full of miscommunication which I know you hate more than I hate when people make me watch YouTube videos that they “promise are funny” but are almost always not funny at all—that’s right, “Jeff” at the water cooler, I fake laughed at every single video of goats screaming at random times during an Australian news broadcast!

Anyway, around the full moon in Aquarius on the 15th, your communicative powers should experience a significant boost on top of your innate abilities. This would be an excellent time to have that long-avoided conversation with your housemate about how it is very triggering to you when you see them dip their bread directly into the softened butter at the breakfast table instead of using a knife to spread the butter on the bread like a real human being, or whatever else in your life you’re really concerned about. No matter what you choose to communicate about this month, starchild that burns with the light of one thousand temple fires, know that it is okay to set boundaries, that you come first in your life, and that you are a very good mammal.

Cancer

Hi there, Cancer, are you currently wearing a velour tracksuit and counting your money while surrounded by decadent desserts? If not, I think that you should prepare yourself for this imminent occurrence because Leo season is all about luxury and, according to the stars, you will be taking this to heart. Venus rules love, beauty, and money and she wants to show off for you this month. I would like to suggest you temporarily minimize the tab that you are reading this horoscope on and watch the music video for the song “Practice” by Drake because the woman in this video is basically embodying Venus’s attitude about you rn. Like, she is out there in celestial space just slow-grinding and waiting for you to come through and accept her abundance. Yes, in this scenario you would be Drake only it would be totally less creepy. Anyway! August is looking real good for you, Cancer! Your friends and lovers want to lavish you with attention and presents and the like. This can sometimes be a struggle for y’all with your nurturing instincts and your tendency to occasionally put others before yourself. I want to formally insist that you accept the good things that are coming to you and not only stop impeding your own blessings but also go out into the world, open your arms, and actively call those blessings down to you!

This is important because at the full moon on the 15th, Uranus is making some moves that set you up perfectly to make big changes in your social circles and your ideas about what constitutes “community” to you as you move forward. With these celestial influences, you might find yourself dropping some beliefs that you once held dear, but that you no longer need. You might find yourself realizing your values no longer align with those of the people around you. This is a beautiful moment of clarity, and you should trust whatever your intuition moves you to do.

Illustration by Audrey H. Weber. 

The post Your August Horoscope Wants You to Get It On, Literally and Figuratively appeared first on Man Repeller.

How to Recreate Princess Diana’s Best Outfits

What is it about Princess Diana’s style? An uncanny relevancy decades later? A perfect cocktail of aesthetic intrigue and practicality? A mesmerizing twist on classics that might otherwise be considered stuffy or stale? I’m inclined to think the answer touches on all of the above. In honor of the uptick in visibility bestowed upon Princess Di’s fashion icon status courtesy of Instagram’s ever-churning nostalgia machine, I challenged Man Repeller contributor Juliana Salazar to reinterpret her best outfits for 2019. Below, the very inspiring results.

Outfit #1: A De-Puffed Polka

A puffy-sleeved polka dot blouse tucked into a pencil skirt (which you can see in full here) and cinched with an oversized belt looks decidedly charming on Diana, but might seem a bit dated if replicated exactly now. Juliana gave the get-up a modern update with a pair of white Bermuda shorts from Markoo, a blouse with significantly less puff from Aritzia, and a belt that contrasted instead of perfectly coordinating.

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Outfit #2: An Iconic Sweatshirt

As excited as Juliana was to recreate this (admittedly legendary) look, she was even more excited to discover that you can purchase a replica of her exact sweater online for just $30 (pro tip: size up to achieve optimal bagginess). To adapt the ensemble for the modern age–not to mention for life outside the gym–Juliana swapped Diana’s large messenger bag for a tiny shoulder bag from Gimaguas, and her white sneakers for gray New Balances.

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Outfit #3: An Ideal Approach to Rainy Day Errands

After attempting her approximation, Juliana deemed this “the ideal outfit for a rainy/ugly day when you have a bunch of running around to do,” and I’d have to agree. She pointed out that the casual nature of the hero pieces are counterbalanced by the obvious intention imbued by matching your sweatpants to your sweatshirt and polishing it off with a tailored blazer. Patent leather cowboy boots give the original ensemble a slightly glossier spin.

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It’s worth doubling down here, in the final sentences of this royal style opus, on how refreshingly simple these outfit combinations are. They are largely composed of things you probably already have in your closet: a patterned blouse, white shorts, a sweatshirt and sweatpants, a baseball cap, etc. And perhaps that’s what makes Princess Diana’s outfits so compelling: She could have worn anything she wanted, and her outfits could have easily skewed inaccessible as a result, but instead she gave us the gift of accessibility interpreted through the $free.99 lens of personal style.

What are your favorite Princess Di looks? Have you ever tried copying one of them? What did you eat for breakfast this morning? (Unrelated, but inquiring minds want to know).

Photographed by Louisiana Gelpi and styled by Juliana Salazar.

The post How to Recreate Princess Diana’s Best Outfits appeared first on Man Repeller.