Who Cares What Guys Think? The Man Repeller Totally Gets Fashion

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In the age-old debate over whether (straight) women dress for themselves or dress for men—the answer, we think, is different strokes for different folks and there's a time and place for everything, but fashion-fashion as an industry doesn't really care much about what straight men find attractive—one of the standout tongue-in-chic voices has always been the super-fantastic blog The Man Repeller, which features fashion trends that women love and men hate. The New York Times profiled the blog's founder Leandra Medine yesterday. "I’m really happy that people understand that man-repelling is a good thing,” Medine told the Times. “I was afraid people would think I was mocking fashion, and it’s like, ‘No, I swear, I’m wearing feathered sleeves as I write this!'"

This December, Harper's Bazaar commissioned Medine to write a story called "Can You Be in Fashion and Still Get a Man?" We're not sure what the answer is, but our stance is pretty much: hey, who cares? If you love what you're wearing, does it even matter what guys think? Not that men are shy about voicing their opinions:

On this day Ms. Medine, a brunette with big brown eyes and a tanned complexion, was dressed in skinny brown jeans and an oversized gray sweater with fringes and braided fabric along the arms. “I wore this sweater on a date once, and he was like, ‘Can’t you just wear a regular jacket?’ ” she said. “I guess it looks a bit like a throw pillow.”

Around her neck were pretty pendants layered with biker chains; her father owns a wholesale jewelry business. “I get it from my dad too,” Ms. Medine said, meaning negative feedback. “When I wear the Opening Ceremony bow wedges, he says, ‘Your feet look like trucks!” But if you go to the Jane and you’re wearing enormous harem pants and a turban, people are like, ‘Oh, that girl is really cool.’"

If you haven't already checker out Medine's blog, definitely give it a look. We think it's a brilliant and humorous take on dressing—that belies a serious underlying love for fashion. “I think men like things tight and simple,” Medine said. “It’s not even about slutty, tiny dresses from Bebe because that’s not very becoming of a woman either. But to guys, harem pants don’t exactly shape the body, shoulder pads are unusual because you look like a linebacker and sequins are a cry for attention.”
· The Man Repeller [Official Site]
· Fashion Triumph: Deflecting the Male Gaze [NY Times]