If you have yet to discover the witty, & quirky super-blogger that is The Man Repeller, then click here and step into Leandra Medine's platform of layering, arm-parties—sometimes even arm soirees, "gracelettes"— & more fashion perks that excludes attracting the Male Gaze.
So what is Man-Repelling? Well, it's simple, really: "outfitting oneself in a sartorially offensive way that will result in repelling members of the opposite sex. Such garments include but are not limited to harem pants, boyfriend jeans, overalls, shoulder pads, full length jumpsuits, jewelry that resembles violent weaponry and clogs," Leandra explains (business insider).
Leandra has coined "arm-party," as decorating one's wrists with an array of statement bracelets, stacked on top of each other. Personalizing these accessories with a "more is more" philosophy—along with her innovative approach to style—is essentially about unleashing the inner-you, rather than repelling (straight) men, as she often notes. While she has a slew of press, a reference she made in Harper's Bazaar captures the assortment of ensembles, that well, aren't exactly alpha male-appealing: "I am the definition of my blog's name: the Man Repeller. To a fashion fan, I look stylish. To the average straight man, however, I'm not a bird, so why the feathers? I'm not a schoolboy, so why the ill-fitting trousers? And I am certainly not a Sikh ... so why the turban? Essentially, I'm wearing the sartorial equivalent of birth control"
Oh, and here's another good one:
"Being a man repeller becomes a process of elimination. If a guy is only really into your outfit and won't date you because of what you're wearing, they are too driven by the female exterior and don't care about your intellect."
I say, we cheer on the Leandra's, Alexa Chung's & Olsen's of fashion (vs. the Kim Kardashian's) and partake in our own 'arm party' this Halloween, yes? Yes.
xo Maria
