Fedoras, Fur Jumpsuits and Feminism? A Closer Look at The Message of New Tongue and Cheek "Man Repeller" Blog

Tonight, as I began my daily post-work ritual of reading fashion blogs in bed while listening to Taylor Swift (yes, I really am that cool), I came across a blog curiously titled, The Man Repeller. The insatiable journalist living inside me was instantly intrigued. A blog dedicated to repelling men? Was this a joke? I had to know more.

The tongue and cheek site created last April defines a man repeller as “a woman who dresses herself 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 (see: human repelling), shoulder pads, full length jumpsuits, jewelry that resembles violent weaponry and clogs.”

The Man Repeller celebrates fashion choices in the vein of Lady Gaga and Carrie Bradshaw (in early Sex and the City episodes). From giant hair bows to fur jumpsuits, “fashion” items that blatantly flout traditional notions of sex appeal and notoriously mystify the heterosexual male species are featured. Additionally, the blog provides readers with advice on how to take conventionally “sexy” items (like snug leather pants) and “de-sexify” them (throw on an oversized knee-length plaid poncho, of course!)

While the tone is light and humorous, the underlying message really got me thinking about fashion, what it means to me and my friends, and how it influences and is influenced by our perceptions of ourselves as women. How much of the clothing heterosexual women wear is an attempt (whether conscious or unconscious) to attract the male gaze, and how much is a statement of individuality and art?

I would argue that the site’s celebration of ways a woman can remove herself from her societally enforced role as a sexualized object through the very medium that subjects her to that role in the first place (the fashion industry and popular media) is actually pretty powerful. What do you think? Would any of you feel bold enough to leave the house in some of these accessories? How about go on a first date?

My new favorite way to workout!

Quick Quiz:

Question:

What do you get when you combine a roomful of women in spandex, loud speakers blasting Far East Movement’s “Like a G6”, and an extremely toned woman dressed as Lady Gaga ordering you to clench and unclench as you perform sun salutations?

Answer:

A hip-hop yoga class on Halloween, duh!

A few weeks ago, while visiting Boston to attend my cousin’s wedding (congrats Joanna and David, you are adorable!), a close girlfriend and I experienced this playful and expressive form of yoga together for the first time, and loved it!

So if you’ve ever found yourself getting bored in a traditional yoga class, or your two left feet leave you in fear of enrolling in a traditional dance class, give Hip Hop yoga a go, and be prepared to sweat!

I love fall...

I've fallen in love with this charming fall-themed pic of my beautiful friend, Kristen Boyd :)

Photo By Odessa Cozzolino

Style Envy: Catherine on The Vampire Diaries

I have been a bit obsessed with The Vampire Diaries lately. I know, I know. It's a teeny bopper version of True Blood that continues to feed Hollywood's teen-vamp obsession, but what can I say, I'm hooked! I am particularly intrigued by the wardrobe of the stunning centuries-old vampire villain, Catherine (played by Nina Dobrev). Though her character is certifiably psychopathic, her clothes are to die for (no pun intended). Whether she's dressed as an adorable southern belle living in the 1800s or an edgy 21st century bad girl, she always looks amazing. Check out some of her best looks above.

Pretty things...

Here are a few things that have caught my eye lately...

-Just discovered "Pitter-Pat" by Erin McCarley and am in love...

-Looking for a lovely holiday gift for a special girl? Check out Girls Can Tell for adorable custom screen printed crafts.

-Wondering how to get started in a career in fashion, writing, blogging, or internet marketing? Little Miss Careerist has some great tips and resources!

-Le Love is absolutely beautiful and one of my favorite blogs out there.

Have a great week and keep smiling!!

xoxo

Electronic Books: Kindling an Interest In The Written Word or Ruining The Romance of Reading?

Adore sipping cocoa by a fireplace on chilly nights, immersed in the latest Oprah Book Club must-read? Love lounging poolside in July, Piña Colada in one hand, People Magazine in the other? Heart skip a beat when you last stumbled upon a used bookstore with a cute Nietzsche-reading hipster behind the register? (OK maybe just me…). You fellow bibliophiles out there know there’s an undeniable romance to the act of reading. But if you’re anything like me, you’ve entertained a thought or two about jumping on the new E-reading bandwagon. Well before you drop $150 on the latest Kindle or iPad, or declare yourself permanently anti-Nook, read on as I weigh the main pros and cons of this new literary phenomenon!

The benefits of electronic reading devices appear limitless: Portable access to thousands of books, articles, magazines, and blogs (How fast can you say lighter luggage?); Popular titles at a 10-30% discount; The ability to conduct quick full-text searches in a single book or whole library; Text-to-speech capabilities that not only aid the visually impaired, but also enable listening and studying behind the wheel (potentially further hindering your ability to text and drive…Officer Fred if you’re reading this, I’m totally kidding!); Inexpensive distribution of corrected and updated versions of textbooks (increasing college students’ monthly booze budgets…wait did I just write that?); And finally, file backup capability, which assists the disorganized and accident-prone (Spilled that Piña Colada? House burned down from careless fireplace reading? Misplaced your Nook in, well, a nook? Never fear. Your books are safe—no burnt or soggy pages!)

But before you book it (hah!) to the nearest Barns and Noble, there are several drawbacks to E-reading worth considering. Not all content is currently available in electronic form; Imperfect screen resolution and battery requirements can be irritating (Forgot to pack those Double A’s for you’re red eye to London? Wouldn’t want to be you!); You can’t smell and touch an iPad like you can a real book (That sounded far less creepy in my head…). Nooks make for sub-par living room décor and won’t impress like rows of weathered 1st editions—just ask Blue Water designer, Jen, who calls her book shelf a “trophy case”; And then there’s the oft-repeated “ugly” factor. As Michael Tamblyn, CEO of BookNet, puts it, “No one holding a Kindle at Starbucks has ever been asked for his or her phone number,”(Next time I want a very overpriced *ahem* VANILLA latte, I’ll test and report back!).

So will electronic devices rip the romance right out of reading, or will book-lovers take to Nooks like Hollywood to teen Vampires? For now, the jury’s still out. But whether you end up Team Book or Team Nook, I hope I’ve kindled your interest (couldn’t resist) in another fascinating way technology has merged with one of life’s greatest pleasures: Reading! See you at the bookshop around the corner—and hipster boy, you know who you are…

Lovely Weekend!

What a wonderful weekend. Happy hour at Sequoia in Georgetown on Friday, lunch and shopping in Friendship Heights Saturday followed by "The Social Network" (really well done not to mention The Winklevi = yummy!). Today was spend lazily hanging out with my brother (who is home for the weekend from boarding school) and chatting with The Boy. Tonight had an amazing dinner at The Blue Duck Tavern (South African Chenin Blanc, Chestnut Soup, Texas Moschata Squash Agnolotti with Brown Butter, Sage & Puffed Parmesan, and Cheesecake to top it all off! Mouth is still watering...). Good food, good company, and good weather always put me in a delightful mood...:)

HOW TO Look Like A Million Bucks Without Breaking the Bank: A Roundup of The Best In High End Retail Online

While some might call my passion for fashion a shameless example of American over consumption, I prefer to think of it as community service for the economy (In marketing, we’re all about positive spin). Part burgeoning techie, part Vogue devotee; I’ve accumulated my fair share of E-shopping know how over the years. And I’ve decided, oh lucky readers (crossing my fingers more than one of you exists), to impart my wisdom to you. So whether you’re a certified shopaholic, thirsty for new ways fashion and the Internet merge, or simply want to placate your significant-other/mother/employer with the least amount of effort possible (I don’t understand you but would like to help you), read on for my take on the 4 best ways to shop, 21st century style!

1. RueLaLa.com:
Like a good cocktail, RuLaLa.com is fun, cheeky, and at times sickly sweet. But don’t let the bubblegum interface and cringe-worthy slogan, “Ooh LaLa, RuLaLa!” fool you. Steep daily sales on over 350 luxury brands add kick and substance to this savvy shopper staple. The free site is invite only, but thanks to a recent partnership with Elle.com, subscribers of the magazine are also granted access. If you have a high tolerance for all things “chick-ified”, you may have just found your new best friend…

2. RentTheRunway.com
Want to look like you make six figures while scraping by on student loans? Meet your fairy godmother, renttherunway.com. Shoppers can lease designer ensembles at 90% off retail prices. Selections are delivered (in 2 sizes!) within a few business days and come with pre-paid mailing boxes to send back the clothing post-wear. So get ready for the ball, Cinderella, and start following the Rent The Runway slogan: “Love. Wear. Return.” Just don’t misplace that (Gucci) glass slipper!

3. ShopItToMe.com
Love looking fabulous but loathe the effort involved? The lazy (*ahem* busy) will appreciate how Shop It To Me simplifies the act of buying clothes. Customers fill out a personal profile (listing favorite designers, preferences, and sizes) and Shop It To Me scours the Web to find individualized items, sending regular e-mal alerts (called SaleMail) featuring markdowns, secret promotion codes and VIP sales events. The phrase “shop till you drop” will cease to have meaning once you experience the ease that comes from using Shop it To Me.

4. TrunkClub.com
For those poor souls who wish to strip the shopping process of all creativity and effort (I tease, I tease), there’s Trunk Club. A Skype-based fashion consulting and personal shopping service, Trunk Club assigns each new customer to a personal stylist. The pair begins by chatting on Skype about the client’s lifestyle, profession, and individual preferences. Trunk Club then sends a capsule wardrobe, which the shopper tries on (in the comfort of his or her home) while the consultant makes notes and selects what works best.

I hope I’ve convinced you–being well dressed has never been this easy (or fun!) thanks to a whole host of innovative online shopping websites. The days of clicking aimlessly through pages of overpriced items are over. What are you waiting for? Jump on the E-shopping bandwagon today, and indulge in a little retail therapy–a whole new you is just a click away!