In 2019, when I was 35, I had a weird, super-late period. I happened to be going to see my OB that month and said, “Is this something I should be concerned about? My wife and I want to have kids but we’re probably still a year or two away from that.” She said, “You shouldn’t be worried about one weird period, but if you’re one or two years away from starting a family, I would recommend you just start the process and educate yourself and make an appointment with a reproductive endocrinologist.” So, last May, we did that.

She said, “Yeah, I think you’re probably starting early-onset menopause.” My mom started at 37, so last year she’d said, “I don’t want you to wait.” And I said, “Well, we just went to Mexico, we’re supposed to wait at least six months because of Zika.” And she was like, “I don’t want you to wait six months, I want you to get tested and start now.”

So we basically started trying to get pregnant shortly after that. We found an egg donor online and started trying to do an IUI [Intrauterine Insemination]. Every month I would do blood work to determine whether I could even try that month based on my egg level. So, we tried three times and did not get pregnant three times. Then we had more months when we weren’t able to try at all. 

I learned so much about my period while going through fertility. I literally realized at age 36 that my body’s been doing this for 28 years and I had no idea what the hell was going on. I didn’t understand the intricacies of which hormone your body produces during the first half of your period and which hormone your body produces in the second half, in order to thicken the lining to prepare for a baby to implant itself in your uterus. I just had no idea what any of this was doing. 

There are gross things I’ve learned now that I’m supposed to be aware of when I ovulate. They recommend paying attention to your discharge during the second half of your period. There’s this woman who recommends putting your fingers in it so you’re familiar with the texture, and as the texture changes, you’ll know when you’re closer to ovulation. It’s the craziest stuff that I’ve learned about myself during all this. I think nobody knows anything about how their own fertility and reproduction works until there’s a problem.

Anyway, my hormone levels were too near to menopause that month and my doctor at the time would say, “I don’t recommend that you spend the money to try with your hormone levels looking the way they do.” Then we started with a new doctor right before COVID. She agrees with the diagnosis that I’m starting menopause very soon and she feels like I don’t have many months left. But she wants to continue on and keep trying a couple more times. We’ve basically said we want to try one more time. It fits how much sperm we have left from our sperm donor. But we wouldn’t try this May because the clinic was closed.

Then, on top of that, just coincidentally, super-fun, on my period that month, I started getting hot flashes. So I was having hot flashes, I don’t know, throughout the day and night, probably 25 to 30 times. It felt like this constant reminder that my window was closing rapidly and all I could do was sit in my apartment and think about it. There was just nothing I could do.

Hot flashes come along with some of those fertility drugs but this is definitely the first time I’ve had hot flashes without the assisted drugs. The first few times I didn’t even notice it and then by the end of the day I realized, “Okay, this is not like ‘Oh, I was walking around and I got hot.’ This is a hot flash and this is continuing to happen, it’s not a one-off and I’m not taking any drugs. This is just my body doing this.”

My hot flashes start from my back. So, all of a sudden it’s just, like, heat radiating off of my back all the way up my neck, under-boob sweat. I mean, it’s awful. The only good thing is that quarantine is a good time to have them because I can take my shirt off in the middle of a conference call and no one will know. 

But, another thing that’s frustrating is that I follow all of these people—I don’t know what to even call them, people in the infertility world, women who are experiencing this—and I listen to a couple podcasts about it. Everyone was saying, “You know what, while we’re all taking time off of our fertility rounds, we’re home, maybe we’ll just get pregnant.” It was all of these heterosexual couples talking about how that’s an opportunity. And I was just sitting there with my wife going, “There’s no sperm in this apartment.”

Basically every time you start your period, you start the opportunity for a new cycle. So I called my clinic when my period started at the beginning of May and they said, “We aren’t able to open for that service.” They basically only opened for one very specific type of surgery or procedure, which is frozen embryo transfer. Not coincidentally, it’s the most expensive one that you can do. They weren’t open for the one that I need, which is the least invasive, least expensive. But they did say to check back in two weeks. So, I was ovulating that week in May, but there was nothing we could do because we didn’t go and get my baseline blood work done on the first week of my period.

I’m married and my wife has been incredible through all of this. She’s never had the desire to carry a child, so there are some aspects of this she can’t totally empathize with, but she’s been incredibly sympathetic. After I knew I wouldn’t get able to get an appointment, I’d been doing really well and feeling positive, like, “You know what? This is meant to work out the way it’s supposed to work out.” I’ve been on these crazy fertility diets and I’ve been completely restricted. I haven’t had caffeine or alcohol for, like, six months. In some ways it was a relief to be able to say during quarantine, “You know what? I’m going to have a glass of wine tonight and it’s fine.”

I thought, I’ve got at least two weeks where I can work out the way I want to work out. Eat whatever I want to eat. I can drink. I can stop eating so much goddamn kale every day. Kale is supposed to make you fertile. I think I drank an entire bottle of wine by myself. And I had a coffee on Saturday morning for breakfast. It was amazing. I’ve definitely had wine since then, but very healthy moderate amounts, not super-fun amounts of wine. 

It was nice to have that stress removed. But Mother’s Day triggered me and everything felt impossible again. My wife had this moment where she looked at me and said, “I feel like you’re manic right now.” I’d said, “Hey, maybe [our guy friends] will be open to donating sperm. They can just come drop some off at our front door!” That’s so counter to the plan we’d created for ourselves. Going with a known donor was something we talked about in the beginning of our process, but for a lot of reasons we chose not to do that.

At that point, she felt this level of stress about it that I couldn’t understand. We talked about it and decided it was a little quick. We’d need to give our best friends some time to digest the information. It’s absolutely something we’d consider. The reality is that it would be so much cheaper for us to go that route.

I’m a birth mom. When I was 18, I got pregnant and I had a baby and placed him for adoption. We’ve spent $12,000 so far, which in the scope of IVF and infertility is really low, but given what we initially thought—that we’d just have to try this one or two times and we’d be pregnant and it would be done—we thought we were going to spend $5,000. The idea of not having to spend tens of thousands more is really attractive, especially right now. My wife is a photographer and she has no income right now, so we’re living off of my income. We’re super grateful that I have a job. But the idea of spending tens of thousands of dollars for more of this doesn’t feel safe right now.

Ever since then, I’ve been so excited to get pregnant and carry my own child when I was going to keep this child, and it was meant for me. The only year Mother’s Day was ever hard was the very first year after my birth-son was born. Since then, I’ve thought of Mother’s Day as a weekend to reflect on how incredible this boy is and to reflect on this incredible life he has that I’m tangentially part of and was completely unable to give him when I was 18 years old.

This is the first year where [not being a mother again] felt like it was absolutely not my choice and I may never have this opportunity. It was a really awful weekend. I just cried all day. I mean, like, crazy amounts of crying. We live right next door to a flower shop. I was doing a workout in my apartment on Saturday afternoon and watching people in line to buy Mother’s Day flowers, just in tears.

Trying to get pregnant through IVF is a huge rollercoaster. You go through all of this hope and excitement and you’re working toward something and you think it’s going to work. Then you find out that it didn’t work and it’s an incredible low and sadness. But then, literally two weeks later, you’re back on the hope part again. I would say there haven’t been very many lows other than the times when we’ve tried and it didn’t work.

Now, clinics have reopened, and we’ve been able to try again, but we had a chemical pregnancy, meaning I got a positive pregnancy test and then started my period about four days later. We’re now taking a month off and hoping to try again in November. During the initial quarantine lockdown, we had no idea when the clinics would reopen, and now having the option to try again in the future makes me feel much less trapped and hopeless.

The post Praying for Pregnancy During a Pandemic: ‘My Wife Said ‘I Feel Like You’re Manic Right Now’’ appeared first on Repeller.

New York Fashion Week found a way to continue in digital form this season, !which is great!, even if not all things can be translated to a livestream. One of the aspects we already miss most? The grand tradition of freaky people gathering out on the street in their fashionable best, whether they’ve got tickets to the show or not. 

So, we decided to check in with some of the people whose ensembles we most look forward to catching at various intersections this time of year. We wanted to know: What shows are they watching, and how and where? And, of course, how are they dressing for Fashion Week inside?

Jo Rosenthal is dressing for a trip to the bodega

If you’re attending a digital show, what are you going to do to make it feel special? Are you dressing up?

I’m most excited for Collina Strada because their shows are always the most incredible spectacle. I eagerly wait for whatever Hillary [Taymour] shows—I’m really her biggest fan. My best friend Elizabeth and I have planned an entire day of viewings on Wednesday. Maybe we’ll wear matching pajamas for the shows. It’s going to be really fun to be able to watch things on a screen for the first time—it feels like you could make an entire day of it, where you eat popcorn and smoke weed and appreciate what’s going to come next. 

What was your initial reaction when you realized Fashion Week/Month wouldn’t happen as usual this year, and how do you feel about it now?

I couldn’t wait to see how designers would use this obstacle as a way to create new and exciting presentations. I think we’ve finally gotten to a place where fashion doesn’t have to exist in a physical sense to feel like it means something. 

How are you getting your style kicks during social distancing? What’s changed about your approach to getting dressed during this time?

I’ve been trying to get dressed up in crazy outfits just to go get a snack down the block or to sit on my fire escape. I think taking the time to realize that fashion isn’t a life-or-death situation has really taken some pressure off of me getting dressed every day. 

Nikki Ogunnaike is getting back together with fashion

What was your initial reaction when you realized Fashion Week/Month wouldn’t happen as usual this year, and how do you feel about it now? 

I felt it was an incredibly appropriate response. Fashion has been doing the same thing for years and years, and I’m so happy for change! 

How many shows would you attend during a typical fashion month?

When I was a women’s editor I would go to more than 60 shows—as a men’s editor, far less. But I still love watching many of the women’s shows. 

Which street style stars do you always look forward to seeing? 

Shiona Turini doesn’t go to shows that much anymore, but when she pops out I love to see her ladylike looks. Lauren Santo Domingo seems like she really dresses for herself and is unbelievably chic and polished. Finally, Mobolaji Dawodu and Jon Tietz are my colleagues but also the best dressed men in fashion, so I’m inspired by them daily!! 

How are you getting your style kicks during social distancing? What’s changed about your approach to getting dressed during this time? 

For the first three months of quarantine, I refused to get dressed. I sat in sweats and let myself feel all the feelings. But now, about six months in, I’m excited to reunite with my clothing! And get to know it again. It’s like I took a break in a relationship but got back together with my person and things are going strong. My kicks come in the form of getting dressed again, full stop. 

María Bernad is ditching elaborate looks (for now)

Which shows are you attending this season?

I currently live in Paris and I won’t be traveling this Fashion Month, so I’ll just attend the physical shows that take place here, and I will of course be keeping up with all the digital shows. (For example, I will be following the live Collina Strada show broadcast from New York.)

Are you dressing up?

I dress up for any occasion! So, if I attend a digital show, I will of course be dressing up. I will watch it from home—being up to date with the new collections is really important.

What’s changed about your approach to getting dressed during this time?

I used to love wearing more elaborate and complicated looks, but now when I wake up I just look forward to wearing something cool but comfortable. I increasingly work more at home, so even if I still dress up, I’ve adapted my style to the situation. 

Courtney Trop is resisting the LA influence

What was your initial reaction when you realized Fashion Month wouldn’t happen as usual this year, and how do you feel about it now?

I knew it wasn’t going to happen when couture was cancelled alongside many of the music festivals—on the day I’m usually packing and prepping, I cried for hours. Mainly because I miss my friends. When you travel for fashion month, four months out of the year with other trips sprinkled in between, with the same people for years and years, those people become your friends—with some even family status. Fashion people are weirdos, myself included. We get really excited about this stuff, to put it lightly, and having a group of people you connect with becomes important for your sanity and as a support group. The thing I miss the most is spending time with people I love, while doing what I love.  

Which street style stars do you always look forward to seeing during FW?

Lotta Volkova. I also look at runway shows for inspo versus real people.  Getting into character is really important to me—full-blown characters that are always different. I also love Georgia Pendlebury and Ursina Gysi.  

What’s changed about your approach to getting dressed during this time?

Living in LA has inspired my style for the last seven months, which I highly dislike. I like getting dressed in Paris in the winter—that’s more my vibe. Really don’t like what LA has done to my style. Thank god for Pleats Please. Also: The sun here has destroyed my skin.  

Kellie Brown is going for a “regressed summer camp vibe”

What was your initial reaction when you realized Fashion Week/Month wouldn’t happen as usual this year, and how do you feel about it now?

I was relieved. I think business-as-usual, crowded events would have been really irresponsible.

Which street style stars do you always look forward to seeing during FW?

Marginalized people. The fat, the black, people who are generally ignored by street style photogs.

How are you getting your style kicks during social distancing? What’s changed about your approach to getting dressed during this time?

I’m having a lot of fun experimenting. Wearing things I still think are cool and mashing styles together. I’m in a bit of a regressed summer camp vibe right now.

Michelle Li is ordering a fancy lunch

How many shows would you attend during a typical fashion month?

~30

Which shows are you attending this season? 

I’m attending only digital shows! Collina Strada, Eckhaus Latta, Kim Shui, Private Policy, PH5.

Where will you be watching from and what are you going to do to make it feel special? Are you dressing up?

I think I’ll try to order a fancy lunch (with a dessert!) and just stream it on my laptop from my bed or couch. I’ll probably dress up a little bit and wear heels since I won’t have to walk very much! 

Pre-pandemic, would you have said you dressed for other people or yourself?

I would say that I dressed for myself. I think during Fashion Week I could get a little bit caught up with dressing for other people and doing the whole peacocking dance, but would definitely have to re-center myself a little bit and remind myself that when you dress for other people, it shows. It doesn’t feel as good.

Which street style stars do you always look forward to seeing during FW?

College Michelle will always stan Leandra Medine’s street style!!!! Also Stephanie Broek, Yan Yan Chan, Tamu McPherson, Susie Bubble, Oumayma Elboumeshouli! 

How are you getting your style kicks during social distancing? What’s changed about your approach to getting dressed during this time?

Recently my approach has been to start on Monday with an outfit and continuously change different parts (shoes, adding a hat, switching out the pants, fun sock!) throughout the week. By Sunday, I’ll have settled on the ultimate outfit or 3-4 outfit variations to add to my encyclopedia of outfits to re-wear. It’s such a nice, slow way to really get to know a piece of clothing and get creative about all of the ways that you can wear it.

Any predictions for the first post-COVID fashion week?

I hope there will be a lot more smiles, less complaining and more gratitude, bigger hugs, people being friendlier to each other and less clique-y—plus a lot less fixation on the little things like where we’re sitting and more focus on the clothing and being able to experience fashion week safely IRL again! 

Anaa Saber is excited to take a step back

What was your initial reaction when you realized Fashion Week/Month wouldn’t happen as usual this year, and how do you feel about it now?

I have mixed emotions about not partaking in fashion month in a traditional way. I miss the sense of community that comes along with the celebration of fashion. There’s something so special and joyful about coming together with your peers, friends, designers, all under the same umbrella. 

On the contrary, I’m very excited to take a step back, to not only relax from the normal hustle and bustle that comes along with it, but also re-evaluate the things about fashion month that need to be changed. For starters, the issue with the lack of diversity—who is attending the shows, getting front-row invites, seen on street style. Women of color have always been at a disadvantage, and despite how progressive the fashion industry likes to claim it is, there’s always room for growth.

Which shows will you be watching this season?

For New York, I’m eagerly anticipating Eckhaus Latta, Who Decides War, Maise Wilen, Khaite, and Collina Strada. I’m also stoked for the unveiling of Prada’s co-created collection with Raf Simons and Miuccia Prada—butterflies!! 

Pre-pandemic, would you have said you dressed for other people or yourself?

I always dress for myself—I’ve never dressed for others.

How are you getting your style kicks during social distancing? What’s changed about your approach to getting dressed during this time?

To be honest, I dress the same as I would pre-covid. I like getting fly, staying cozy, and having a well put-together look. I’ve always been like this.

The post What Are Fashion Week’s Street Style Stars Wearing at Home? appeared first on Repeller.

Ryan Gale mixes vintage YSL (blazer and heels) with Urban Outfitters denim

Follow Ryan on Instagram here.

Some background on the vintage hero item: The heels are vintage YSL. I scored these babies at an online auction a little over a year ago. The heel is pretty tiny so I don’t wear them often.

Styling notes: I prioritize comfort over everything, so I’m rocking them with my favorite pair of baggy jeans (I love the oversized pockets on them), a cropped white tank, and an oversized mint green blazer. When shopping for vintage I always pay attention to fabric and material–anything made from silk, leather, or cotton will last a lifetime and never goes out of style. Vintage items that are made from quality fabrics can also be professionally cleaned and altered to look brand new. I had to replace the heel on these, but you would never know.

Favorite places to shop vintage: I find the best vintage pieces while traveling. It’s also really cool to see what others were wearing in different parts of the world. The vintage shops that I can’t get enough of on Instagram are @sororitevintage (they carry an amazing selection of lace intimates) and @fvced_ (her vintage designer collection is truly outstanding!).

Yves Saint Laurent

Silk Blazer

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Hot Cocoa Vintage

90’s Sage Green Blazer

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Hanes

Ribbed Tank 10-Pack

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Urban Outfitters

High-Waist Denim Cargo Pants

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Yves Saint Laurent

Slide Sandals

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Yves Saint Laurent

Satin Ankle Strap Sandals

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Anna Gray updates her ex-boyfriend’s dad’s super-slim shirt.

Follow Anna on Instagram here, and check out Object Limited–the online vintage marketplace she co-founded!–here. 

Some background on the vintage hero item: The striped shirt is an ex-boyfriend’s dad’s silk button down from the 70s. It doesn’t look old until you get into the details, like the pointed collar, fraying edges, french cuffs, and slim fit. It’s the perfect shirt. The weight, width, and cream/navy stripes go with everything–all denim washes and jewel tones, and it can be tucked or left open or worn closed. If I believed in making instead of finding, I’d have this patterned so I could keep making new ones as this one wears out. I wear it all! The! Time! Plus, there’s something funny and nostalgic about keeping an old boyfriend’s clothes. He’s probably going to see this and want it back.

Styling notes: I find that mixing prints is the fastest way to say “I’m trying with my outfit” without actually trying. The vintage snake pants are the right colors with the shirt so the outfit looks purposeful (organized?) rather than clashing. The trick to this is to step away from the mirror and squint. Do the colors complement one another? If yes, then we’re good to go. The rust-colored shoe has warm tones that work with the vintage Celine bag and the hint of blue in the Lorod T-shirt keeps the whole thing from being too dull. The lazy stuffed tuck and rolled sleeves keep the whole thing casual and easy. Also! Worth noting that tailoring pants can be a good idea! Everything looks tidier when it fits.

Other tricks for making vintage look modern: don’t wear all same-era. My 70s shirt is paired with Y2K pants, a contemporary shirt, a 90s bag and a shoe style that originated in the 18th Century (but reads very 1950s these days)!

Favorite places to shop vintage: Object Limited!!! We have so many vendors that cover the full spectrum of aesthetics from goth-grunge to Martha’s Vineyard to 90s Italian fashion. Scrolling through the app is like zooming through every well-curated vintage store in the world. Outside of Object, I try to find sellers that clearly, deeply love digging through people’s “old” clothes and finding the gems. It’s interesting to think about resellers as the answer to the fashion world’s overproduction issues. Department stores are failing because it was only up to a few buyers to decide what shoppers would want in six months. Now vintage sellers have so much power, from where they list their items to how they style them to what they choose to buy. It’s cool and feels very nuanced and democratized! And as consumers, we have more options for sustainable shopping, inspiration and community. My Favorite vintage stores are Maj Kiosk, Wayward Vintage, Nanin Vintage, Michaela Co, Subrina Heyink, and Lucia Zolea!

Vintage Dream Box

Striped Grey Shirt

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Thrilling

Vinyl Snakeskin Pants

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eBay

Leather Snakeskin Pants

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Stubbs & Wootton

Printed Pointed-Toe Mules

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Manolo Blahnik

Slingback Scalloped Slingback Shoes

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Celine

Monogram “C” Satchel

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Celine

Monogram Dome Bowler Handbag

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Tod’s

Cow-Print Pony Hair Bag

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Thrilling

Rectangular Sunglasses

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Lorod

Printed T-Shirt

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Studs

Large Hollow Hoop Earrings

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Courtney Madison finds the perfect, flouncy blouse at a Canadian thrift store.

Follow Courtney on Instagram here.

Some background on the vintage hero item: I’ve had this blouse for about 12 years. I bought it at a thrift shop in Canada called Value Village which is like a Goodwill. When I bought it I was working at a high-end menswear store and the dress code was a white shirt and black pants/skirt/jacket. I chose to interpret this shirt as appropriate for the dress code and my boss never corrected me. Now I probably only wear it a couple times a year to a dinner or something, occasionally buttoned all the way up with ruffles and shoulder pads on full display. The polka dots are actually hexagons, one of many special details that make it a pretty memorable piece!

Styling notes: I styled the blouse with a favorite pair of trousers by Nanushka (high waist, wide leg and super lightweight), a barely-there sandal, and classic gold accessories. Unless you’re wearing a two piece set and really going for it, I think the best way to modernize vintage is to pair a statement piece with something more obviously contemporary. If everything you have on is reminiscent of a specific time period, you can run the risk of looking like you’re in costume.

Favorite places to shop vintage: My favorite LA vendor is @marketvintagela, my favorite LA stores for unique pieces are @cannonballandtilly and @recessla.

Thrilling

Polka Dot Ruffle Collar Shirt

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Thrilling

80’s Polka Dot Bow Tie Shirt

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On The Prowl

70’s Ruffle Collar Polka Dot Blouse

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Nanushka

Wide Leg Pants

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Vince

High-Rise Cropped Utility Pants

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Loeffler Randall

Scalloped Ankle Strap Sandal

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Modern Weaving

Bubble Hoop Earrings

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Gabriela Artigas

Gold Rounded Bubble Ring

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Bottega Veneta

Rounded Metal Frame Cat Eye Sunglasses

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The post How to Make a “Dated” Item Look Modern, According to 3 Stylists appeared first on Repeller.

“Maternity Leave Realness”

By Tiffany Wilkinson, Creative Director

The algorithm definitely knows I’m about to give birth—every other ad I get is for a nursing bra! I have a board of cool mums saved, and one of baby-related things. This board is a little mix of everything. As summer comes to an end I’m thinking about being cozy at home with a new baby. There are some noodles I want to eat from @meerasodha, the breast-feeding chair of my dreams from @claudehome, a shot of Alice Cooper and his family by Terry O’Neill, and, of course, some “back-to-school” looks.

1.

Fall still feels like back-to-school time to me, and this tote by Florist is the book bag of my dreams.

2.

If the jeans plan fails (which is totally possible) Nnennna Echem’s loose dress and sneakers combo is going to be my go-to fall look.

3.

Being pregnant, I’ve really missed wearing pants. The idea of fastening anything rigid around my waist has become totally alien and novelty to me. Once the baby comes, I’m excited to have that nice tucked-in feeling again. These jeans are at the top of my wish list.

“Skressed, Nostalgic, and Black”

By Mikaela Clark, Creative Production Manager

I named my fall saved folder “Art,” which at times is frustratingly broad, but it has also widened the scope of what I consider art to be, which I enjoy! I’ve got a few painting videos saved there, a ton of vintage photographs (especially of black people/families) from the 40s, 50s, or 70s, and a couple wild cards, like a post of a close friend juxtaposed with a really good poem about black manhood.

1.

The pearl, the gem, THE Josephine Baker! She is larger than life and that 1950s fast vibrato-style of singing is so nostalgic and dreamy. I watch this video once a week and already have plans to recreate this look for the Halloween Parties that won’t be happening.

2.

This is a still of Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte in the movie Carmen Jones. I’ve never seen the film, but the images of two fine people serving the perfect blend of class and eroticism halted my scrolling. And it is pretty self-explanatory as far as how it relates to my fall mood….

3.

Let’s be real, this has been my mood since March when the world shut down. For a while, I had a flow for keeping up with friends while we’re forced to be apart, but lately I’ve been feeling like this photo, hooked up to every device I own and in constant conversation. I guess my fall mood is to adopt some of Dijonay’s enthusiasm for this new normal, because I love my friends… but my eyes hurt.

“Print-Set Confusion”

By Beth Sacca, Visuals Editor

Everything I save always ends up accidentally looking good together, which is great for my eyeballs. Right now everything is definitely taking a turn towards warmer clothing and how to layer. The funnier imagery is what my mood will lean toward as were all forced to return inside for the cold months ahead. I keep style and photography boards separate. And I have different folders for different styles—I have an entire folder dedicated to pattern smashing and how to style completely different patterns into one overall look, for example. If you separate your folders into complex systems, you may also be the type of person who doesn’t like to have their main entree and sides touching. And yes… that IS ME.

1.

I’ve been in love with these Brother Vellies boots since the beginning of time and feel like a window shopper who will never pull the plug. I plan to gaze at them until they hopefully one day go on sale.

2.

The day this video campaign dropped it flooded my feed. Everyone I know fell in love. Aime Leon Dore is the ultimate fall statement (also forever statement) and I may be convinced Teddy Santis is the smartest guy in fashion right now. I love that the brand is unisex and uses real people as models. Their new campaign The World’s Borough is setting the right example for the rest of the fashion world to follow.

3.

Anna Sarlvit is one of the cute instagrammers of Copenhagen that have populated my instagram feed. I’m obsessed with the colors she surrounds herself with and her ability to transform her new apartment into a relaxing, colorful dream home. Will I move to Copenhagen because of this girl’s instagram? Probably, one day! This outfit in particular I love—it’s a set that also has matching boots (drool) (realize drooling) (quickly wipe away drool).

“Punch of (Cozy) Color”

By Elizabeth Tamkin, Market Editor and Strategist

Since the start of quarantine, I’ve been using my Instagram saved folder for most of my market research. No in-person market appointments means I’m discovering new brands virtually now. You’ll notice a lot of soft colors and pastels, which, until looking at this as a full grid, I didn’t realize I was gravitating toward. I guess those are the colors that make me feel good right now.

1.

I plan to use these Merritt Meacham pants in for an upcoming shoot and wanted to keep a mental note (aka Instagram flag) so I don’t forget about them. They have the coolest side snaps and are unisex.

2.

This photo of a knit set and blazer from Source Unknown Store’s Instagram is some inspiration of how I can use some of my summer wear as cozy items at home this fall. When styling, I like to mix textures and materials from different brands and I appreciate the pairing of this wide-ribbed corset top with these cashmere shorts.

3.

I love how Amaka styled her jeans tucked into tube socks here. I plan to adapt it for my joggers at home.

“Preppy Androgynous Banana”

By Amalie MacGowan, Social Media Manager

This saved folder, titled “Chic,” is curated with my outfit and home saves because, tbh, my giant saved folder is a mix of stuff I want to post to the Man Repeller instagram (no spoilers!) and dumb memes and pictures of cats doing the splits. I have a handful of saved folders. I honestly wish I were more organized. There’s “Art,” there’s “Eats,” “Chic,” “Man Repeller Sh*t” and “Lol,” but most of the time I just dump into the “All Posts” folder with abandon. For those who know me, this tracks.

1.

This is like the Wicked Witch of the East, but Grandpa style. The perfect fall color palette exists and it’s right here. That navy blue? That forest green? That rich mahogany? All I need is a smoking jacket and no smokes because that’s not my vibe!

2.

This is a tattoo artist I follow named Jess Chen and usually I love her tat work, but this image of her peaceful, unfussy home made me produce an audible gasp. As I attempt to build my new home (it’s new! it’s my own!) I hope to take some of the minimal/maximal cues from this image.

3.

I love this entire Aimé Léon Doré campaign with my whole heart. The looks are styled to perfection and pretty much exactly—exactly—what I would like my closet to look like.

“Textural Terra Cotta”

By Marisa Lifschutz, Business and Communications Strategist

This board is chock full of moments that resonate with me on a soul level, which includes a mix of interior, culinary, and style groupings. For fall, I’m drawn to imagery with different textures and layers that contribute to a cohesive look. I love to mix different patterns and colors in my own personal style, but saved folders provide the perfect opportunity to group fall inspiration in a more consistent tone. I like the saved feature but rarely look back on my saved posts. I prefer to think of myself as Cam Jansen when saving photos, taking a mental photographic *click* when hitting save and then storing said post in the depths of my brain rather than returning to the folder.

1.

This chocolate loaf has everything I want served up for fall with seeded textures galore. I would love to first bake this loaf and delight in smelling chocolate wafting through the air, and then translate the loaf to a look with sesame and brown layers.

2.

I’m quick to save Nina Marker’s style and have this photo at the ready for a perfectly cohesive dose of fall 2020. Worn leather and a gray sweatshirt sounds like my ideal autumnal outfit recipe, and I can’t help but covet a secondhand shearling Chanel for fall elevation station.

3.

This flatware set provides the ultimate autumn color wheel: chocolate and bone mixed with deep vermillion and a few pastels for good measure. I’ve been really into flatware in general and gather a lot of inspiration from secondhand sets in unexpected and satisfying color combinations.

“Relaxed, Creative, and Self-Serving”

By Lorenza Centi, Art Director

My Instagram saved folders are a beast. They’re a massive mix of everything and anything. I started trying to create folders but soon realized that was hopeless. 

My fall board is a mixed bag. I’m hoping to focus on self-care and getting back to being more creative. Funky fashion inspo, dog memes, and Alex Chung’s cute barrette clips with great brows, are all things I hope will imprint into my fall experience. 

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This post from artist and designer David Mendez Alonzo has definitely graced my Instagram saved folder before and I happened upon his page at random this week and reupped on the inspo!

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These leather monster shoes by Xander Zhou caught my attention immediately as spooky vibes start to creep into my feed for Halloween; these are the perfect mix of luxury shoe for a monster mash wedding. 

3.

Patterned pants from Paloma Wool have been a staple IG trend for the last year and this post finally made me buy a pair.

Now, can we see your boards in the comments?!

The post Team Repeller Annotates Their Instagram Mood Boards for Fall appeared first on Repeller.

These updates (the site design and the name shortening) are just one part of the larger changes we’ve been working toward this year both internally and externally—a transformation that extends beyond the surface level of what Repeller simply looks like and actually reimagines what it is. These are just a few of many more changes to come.

As for the shortening of our name: We want it to be clear that we’re a brand made by and for the full range of odd eggs who want to find a community online. We think our name should reflect something that’s been true for a while: being a “Man Repeller” was defined as empowering yourself by deflecting the male gaze when this site began 10 years ago, but today discovering yourself and earning your confidence feels far more multidimensional. You can still expect the same dad jokes, the same feel-it-in-your-bones essays, the same souped-up outfit ideas—just told by more people and taken to the next level. Consider the ante upped!!

Now, for a little tour of our ~refreshed~ site: Two things we’re very excited about: 

• Our new shopping section, which includes stickers to help you shop based on your priorities. It will also simplify finding ‘That Thing’ you may come here looking for (like, you know, a lavender dress with red stitching you can wear to both a distant relative’s wedding and the gym?)
• Our contributor page, which makes it easier to keep up with your favorite people in Repeller world. 

We’ve also added some basic features to make reading more pleasurable (see our expanded site navigation up top) including some that you’ve all asked and patiently waited for (go ahead and lower your sunglasses and enjoy those big-ass product images). Then please feel free to take the site for a spin and let us know what you think. (You can email thoughts to feedback@repeller.com or DM us on Instagram at @repeller.)

So, that’s our “fall reset” here on the dot com. Now we’re going to spend the rest of September exploring the idea of resetting for the remainder of the year in all the other ways—through style, relationships, our own expectations and goals—and not to mention a sure-to-be unusual Fashion Month. 

Before you can “reset,” though, you have to change, or want change to come, so let’s start this with a series of questions: We want to know about the biggest change you’ve made this year. AKA: What’s the biggest difference between ‘you’ at midnight on January 1 2020 and the ‘you’ who is reading this post? Tell us about it in this survey, and we’ll come back to you soon with a story about what’s going on with everybody else who’s reading this right now, too.

The post Notice Anything Different Around Here? appeared first on Repeller.

I’m talking about piecing together old quilts to make a new jacket, like Psychic Outlaw does. Or combining several vintage T-shirts to make a new tank top, like those of JJ Vintage. Taking apart towels from the ’70s to make a bucket hat like DOS Swim has. Or even making loafers out of vintage hand-woven Turkish rugs a la Res Ipsa. The list goes on and on, as evidenced by the #reworkedvintage and #upcycledclothing hashtags I follow on Instagram, so I asked the team to share some of their favorite upcycled and reworked vintage brands out there. —Elizabeth Tamkin

JJ Vintage, recommended by Elizabeth

I scored a JJ Vintage original a couple of months ago from the brands then-Depop. After selling vintage reworked items in 2015 as a side business, the brand’s founder, Jasmin, launched JJ Vintage in 2019—and since my purchase, has since set up her own website to release a new batch of designs—sometimes weekly—announced in advance on the brand’s Instagram. The product sells out within seconds, so don’t dilly-dally. JJ Vintage also offers 25 custom orders per drop, in case you have a specific color combination in mind or need custom sizing. In this case, Jasmin pieces together existing clothing—and therefore is able to custom fit to the client’s measurements. Prices range from $30 for less intensively reworked pieces to $150 for dresses and sets. My personal favorite pieces: her vintage sports logo one-shoulder tops and tanks, often boasting a Nike swoosh. I like to wear my top (which is a three-panel tank) dressed up with a little skirt and Mary Jane flats or pants and heeled mules. I feel incredibly cool wearing it—and I love knowing that there is no other top in the universe that is the same.

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Eat Da Rich, recommended by Lorenza

Eat da Rich has been on my radar for a few years now. Artist and founder Simone Else does her magic by making irl edits to dated silhouettes and adding metal chains anywhere possible. Her EDR collection is quite large, with accessories, clothing, intimates, housewares and sale—she even has a section on her site for chic unaltered vintage finds. Pricing varies from $18 statement earrings to $5,000 tufted fine art rugs. EDR also offers custom orders as well as collaborations with other local artists. But no shop is complete without a staple item—so might I suggest EDR’s signature Hot-Wheels bolo tie? I already own a handful of their creations, but here’s what I have my eye one at the moment:

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Girl of the Earth, recommended by Mikaela

I came across this brand on Instagram, and though I have yet to buy anything, I am always in love with everything they make! It was the scarf shirts that got me— there’s just nothing quite like waking up on a hot summer day, removing your head scarf and tying it around your bra-less boobs. Throw on some jean shorts and you got a whole ‘fit. Anyway, I digress: They specialize in upcycling vintage fabrics, so all of their pieces have gorgeous prints and trusted blends like 100% cotton or silk. I’ve been giving the “eyes” emoji to their Williamsburg top, so if you snag one we can match.

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3 Women, recommended by Harling

I found this California-based company through my Explore page on Instagram (I love when that happens!) and was immediately drawn to it because of the unique fabrics they use to make upcycled clothes. Upon further investigation, I found out most of their fabrics are from old 1940s-era flour and seed sacks and tablecloths—so cool. They have a small ready-to-wear collection of upcycled clothes in addition to a general vintage offering, and they also offer size-inclusive, custom-fit pieces based on your individual measurements. I haven’t purchased anything yet (the pricing for their upcycled pieces ranges between $160-$250 on average, which is steep, and things seem sell out almost immediately as soon as they’re posted to the Instagram account), but I’m a very content “window shopper” for now, and I love seeing how they reinvent stuff.

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Psychic Outlaw, recommended by Amalie

I first became aware of Psychic Outlaw when she took a beloved family quilt from none other than Ruby Redstone and reinterpreted it as a coat! Since this editorial last year, styled by none other than Harling Ross, I haven’t been able to get patchwork out of my bloodstream. The longer the trend extends, the more palpably I feel like I actually just want to wear quilts from my head to my toes (no joke—where are the quilted shoes). Though the price point is on the higher side, Psychic Outlaw provides the unique service of turning an heirloom into a wearable work of art. Even if the quilt you choose to be made into a coat is of little importance to you personally, how fun that a bespoke jacket was made just for you? They also make one-of-a-kind dresses out of bandanas, if the quilted route isn’t for you. The brand emerged in early 2018, from what I’ve divined through an Instagram lurk, and has taken off in the past few months. Snag a coat or dress while you can!

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I Need Vintage, recommended by Tiffany

I started to notice a specific subset of upcycled, vintage, sportswear on my Instagram Discover page, where old fleeces, soccer scarves and sweats were remade into sporty two-piece outfits—the modern equivalent of the twin set. Of these brands, my favorite is Italian contender I Need Vintage which reworks vintage cycling jerseys into crop tops and mini skirts for an end product that’s equal parts Tour de France and Euro disco. The sets are a steal at €35.00 (around $40) and feature an amazing mashup of ’90s prints and typography. In a dream world, I’d wear mine to enjoy an aperitivo after a long day of cycling up and down a mountain somewhere in Europe. In our current reality, I’ll settle for pairing one of their crop tops with some jeans or Dickies for a socially distanced park date.

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Thirsty for more? Here’s an extended list of excellent upcycling brands to shop:

3 Women
3J Garments
4YE
Aisling Duffy
Almost on Time
Asata Maisé
Bode
Cacti Crops
Chi qc
Conversations Over Chai
DOS Swim
Eat Da Rich
Ellie Misner
Flat Fifteen
Frankie
Girl of the Earth
I Need Vintage
J’adore Vibes
JJ Vintage
Keeka Vintage
Kiki the Brand
Les Fleurs Studio
Lifer
Lily Eve
Lola Alba
Maddy Page Knitwear
Nat Lam
Need Things
Next Level Vintage
Nicole McClaughlin
Ohemaa
Peachy Salvage
Pentimento Shop
Pigment The Label
Psychic Outlaw
Rave Review
REAL100TECH
ReKREATED Threads
Rentrayage
Res Ispa
Resurrect by Night
Rhi Dancey
ROOP
Rua Carlota
Samaria Leah
Sami Miro Vintage
Scarlett Orange
Seks 5th Avenue
Selina Sanders
Slow Hands
Sole Rebels
Sororité Vintage
Streetwrk Clothing
Styles in Seams
The Label Rae
Tonari
Upcycled by Reissued
Who Decides War
Youth Junk

Do you have a favorite upcycling brand? Let us know in the comments below! 

The post 6 Upcycling Brands That Are So So Good appeared first on Repeller.

We apologize for the change of plans, but hope this will give you a bit more time to spend with the marginalia in your copy of The Death of Vivek Oji. We’ll be in touch with the new date soon, and look forward to convening with you over virtual wavelengths!

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 Repeller.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for an instruction manual on how to navigate contemporary romance in these times, Nicholas Braun’s new hit single, ‘Antibodies (Do You Have The),’ parses out the nitty-gritty of dating etiquette in a pandemic.

1.

Write a fan letter to your favorite writer or artist—nothing more than telling them what you love about their work, asking for nothing in return other than perhaps a dose of good karma!

2.

Do your future self a favor and buy a boatload of stamps via the USPS while you’re at it. Nothing feels as convenient as sliding open a desk drawer and seeing a fresh sleeve of stamps. Save yourself future trips to the post office, whether you’re in bill-paying mode or sending midsummer valentines.

3.

Try out Warbly, the karaoke guessing game, and invite a fellow crooner into your virtual room.

4.

Commence that deep clean of your beauty cabinet you’ve been putting off for months, organizing the contents into three categories: to keep, to toss, and to donate. Any fresh hand creams, hand sanitizer, body lotions, lip balms, face moisturizers, acne products, shampoos, conditioners, hair ties, hand soaps, oral care products, and facial cleansers can go to essential workers via Donate Beauty. Chet Baker over Bluetooth will make it easier.

5.

Maybe you’ve caught the organizing bug after that clean sweep: Place an order for a (free!) kit from ThredUp and start weeding through your wardrobe. You can choose to sell your secondhand clothing on the site, or donate the value to one of their charities: Feeding America, Girls Inc., and Help a Mother Out. Any items that don’t meet ThredUp’s standards will be recycled. For a break, try to recreate your favorite Michael Jordan look or Elvis outfit to a T with what you have in your closet.

6.

Attempt the wiggliest dance of all time, in secret. Treat it like an invention that’s so proprietary, it can’t even be shared on TikTok.

7.

Watch a silent film.

8.

Play a game of chess (or seven!) against the computer (it comes pre-installed on Macs). Or, tackle the Sunday crossword over FaceTime with a friend.

9.

Cozy up with your jar of loose buttons and sew those babies back on!

10.

Wallpaper your room by neatly tearing out your favorite pages of an old Guinness Book of World Records tome and affixing them to your wall.

This playlist is 13 hours and 45 minutes long—let us know how you spend that time!

Feature Image via Everett Collection.

The post 10 *Other* Things You Can Do While Listening to This Makeout Playlist appeared first on Repeller.

Elizabeth: When I stopped by your home the other day, I noticed a pair of slide-on backless Nike sneakers that TOOK ME BACK. I had a blue suede pair years ago and I hadn’t thought about them until I saw your pair by your front door. Can you tell me about yours? Where do you wear them? Why did you buy them?

Mikaela: Hiii! First of all—you literally had blue suede shoes, like the song?? Fantastic.

Eliz: Oh, yes.

Mikaela: Unsurprised. You fashionista, you. So, the shoes! It’s funny you noticed them because they’re just my “bodega shoes,” that I’ve had since the early 2000s. I truly don’t recall them ever NOT being in my life… one day, they just kind of appeared. But I guess that’s the case when you’re the youngest kid. They’re a size too small, so it’s clear that my past self jacked them from my older sister. Youngest kids always end up with the best hand-me-downs.

Eliz: It’s true. I got a lot of my sister’s growing up. Actually–sneakers in particular. I guess it’s because they only get better as you wear them.

Mikaela: Yes! Something about a sneaker’s structure just ages like fine wine–I don’t mind if my sneakers look a lil’ ratty. My Air Maxes are shot and torn, but I love that about them! And you can’t tell in photos.

Eliz: The nostalgia hit me when I saw them, but they also made me newly aware of a hole in my shoe wardrobe. I only want to wear closed-toe shoes in general right now, so I can walk as far as I need to comfortably, and because I love how sneakers look styled with summer dresses–but historically that’s meant missing out on the ease of a slip-on sandal. I really feel like backless sneakers are the solution?

Mikaela: YES to all of the above. It wasn’t until I put those black Converse on with the slip dress that I realized how perfect that combination is.

Eliz: It’s such a good combo, and the backless element makes the look feel more summery than it would if the dress was paired with normal sneakers. I also like how the sportiness of that particular style juxtaposes with the flowy, lightweight sweetness of the slip.

Mikaela: Yes, and the backless look makes the outfit a little more unconventional. We’ve reached a peak with the slip dress + chunky sneaker combo, and the 3 wing 4 in me always wants to look a little ~different~ from the norm.

Eliz: Were they easy to walk in without sliding around?

Mikaela: My old ones are tough because they’re not my size, so I can’t make it far without them slipping, but that’s why they’re my bodega shoe. When I’m wearing the correct size, I find them very easy to walk in, and am much less prone to slippage than a traditional slide sandal.

Eliz: In addition to styling them with dresses, I also love pairing them with pants that naturally slope down in the back so it’s not obvious the shoes are backless until you start walking. And then it’s a fun surprise!

Mikaela: Hahaha yes! We love to keep the people guessing. Those pants combined with the slipper sneakers made me feel like I was wearing the most luxurious and fashionable pair of pajamas in my life. And I mean that as the highest compliment.

Eliz: I love those pants so much, too. That elastic waist band and big cuff. They’re by DIARRABLU and there’s also a matching top available. I think we should officially start calling that style “slipper sneakers.” They’re the ultimate loungewear of footwear–but you can still go outside in them.

Mikaela: Okay I’m going to have to snag that top ASAP. And yes, slipper sneakers are the backless sneakers’ bougie, sleepwear-loving cousin! Time to bring the loungewear to your feet, people. This outfit was definitely my favorite. I felt like that effortlessly chic, cool girl you see on the train. You just wanna be her friend, or know where she’s going! The knit top elevated it, but the sneakers kept it comfortable and approachable.

Eliz: Yes yes yes! Cool Subway Girl = the ultimate goal!

Mikaela: I hope I’ve been someone’s Cool Subway Girl before.

Eliz: Same. And those were your good ol’ bodega shoes! Their time to shine.

Mikaela: They never thought they’d see the day!!!

Eliz: LOL. And what about outfit number three: the mini skirt ensemble?

Mikaela: Oh you mean my Dionne from Clueless cosplay??! ICONIC.

Eliz: That’s the one!

Mikaela: I loved this outfit. The dainty sneakers kept it preppy without looking too tennis-y (but also, there’s nothing is wrong with a good tennis ‘fit). The layers are what got me, though. The T-shirt with the skin-tight, thin cardigan! It’s genius. I felt hawt.

Eliz: You looked it! And yeah, I liked the cardigan element, too. A tissue sweater is always a good investment because you can wear it through so many different seasons.

Mikaela: You are a master stylist, Eliz. I’ll say it every day.

Eliz: Oh jeez. It was all the model and… the backless sneakers, I tell ya! He he he.

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The post 3 Outfits That Prove Backless Sneakers Are Underrated appeared first on Repeller.

Mallory: Hello everyone! Welcome to our roundtable discussion: What Makes a Perfect Mask? I will be MCing for no other reason than that will make it easier for me to edit this into a post.

Roll call: Can you drop a pic of yourself wearing your favorite mask and tell us why it’s working for you?

Matt: omg hello hello hello

brb taking a pic

Jasmin: Yoohoo! This is me in my Steele Canvas x Food52 mask purchased from Eliz’s mask story in May. It was a ‘buy one give one’ situation.

It has thick, soft lining inside and denim (?) on the outside. It’s comfy and has adjustable ear straps, and even though it’s heavy, it’s not too much in the heat.

I have some cuter linen ones, but this one is softer on the cheeks

Mallory: Wow yeah I was going to ask about how it’s doing in the heat—it looks nice and sturdy which I have liked in a mask so far

Jasmin: Sturdy is a good word for it, feels like nothing is exposed around the sides

Matt:

Jasmin: Hi Matt, cute top! and mask

Mallory: Sporty spice!!

Matt: Hahahha YES. So, now that sporty spice reference is the number one reason this mask is working for me. But other reasons include that the ear straps are elastic and haven’t stretched out yet and keep a snug fit without being super restrictive. The fabric is light and breathable but feels like it’s substantial and there is a built-in pocket for a filter, which I appreciate from an added layer of protection perspective.

I really like it and also the cut-out on the nose area has been the key difference for me and other masks I’ve tried

Matt: It makes it feel a little less like my whole face is covered / constricted

Mallory: @Matt oh that’s cool about the filter pocket. Have you used it yet?

Matt: Yes! I got some filters in my order from another mask, which I ultimately swapped out for the adidas one, but still used the filters and they fit

I also read that you can apparently use coffee filters for an effective DIY filter sitch?

Eliz: I read that too!

Matt: Don’t know how fact-checked that is though

Eliz: This article says “Missouri S&T research found three layers of coffee filters by themselves without fabric removed 24.1% of relevant particles…. There’s no harm in adding one to your mask.””

Mallory: Love that pattern, Eliz. Is it an around-the-ear style or tie?

Eliz: I need the ties—my ears hurt so much otherwise. This one’s super lightweight and I don’t sweat in the heat with it on. Also very easy to wash and dry. I tie it in the back of my head! Way more comfortable

It’s by a friend of mine who is hand-making them

Amalie: Have you guys seen that Christy Dawn Instagram ad?

Eliz: I haven’t, but I know they make sustainable ones

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Amalie: I feel like they’re the only brand I’ve seen advertising masks on IG (they’ve overlaid a posi review from Vogue on the ad from this article)

Anyway, my friend Jamie had a pack of five and gave me one

Eliz: Omg, I’ve seen SO many ads

(I think it’s bc I did so much market work for the mask story so my targeted ads are at a high)

Amalie: It’s made from deadstock material, cute asf, and really lightweight. I had a jersey mask my mom sent me from Etsy for the longest time and it just wasn’t cutting it on these hot days. No face swamp here.

Edith: Amalie, thanks so much for bringing up the topic of Instagram-promoted masks.

I recently had the pleasure of this mask catching my eye on my Discover page

Amalie: Edith stop

Matt: omg wait

Mallory: @edith sending the mask convo into a tailspin so early

Edith: The transparent mask is a contentious topic, but one I can get on board with if only because of the transparent mask’s role in our cultural mythology

(This will be quick re: tailspin)

Not sure how many of you are familiar with the Detroit Pistons 2004 roster, but Rip Hamilton was a prominent player on the team and had an iconic clear-mask look

Photo incoming

Edith: He had to wear this after breaking his nose twice in order to prevent significant nasal reconstructive surgery. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to look as cool as Rip

Now is my chance

Jasmin: I feel like the clear mask should come with some built-in digital technology, like it should at least be tracking my steps or double as a microphone or something

Matt: or let you do fun voices

Mallory: Rly wish you’d been able to order in time to contribute a selfie

Amalie: Apropos of almost nothing, I feel like I should share this:

@jessssthabest2Oh no they didn’t!! ##fyp ##foryourpage ##lol ##missrona2020♬ original sound – aangeliquee.p

Sound pls on the video

Jasmin: hahahaa so good

Edith: This is my other errant mask thought

Do you think someone has already invented a mask that has like a SK-II sheet mask as its inner lining? If not, seems like a huge opportunity

Matt: LOL

Jasmin: Edith, trademark that idea now!

Mallory: Wow this does feel very untapped

Eliz: I sometimes wear acne spot patches under mine!

Nobody would ever know

Jasmin: Mask-ne (mask acne) has been a very real thing for me

Whilst my upper face has thrived with lack of make up over lockdown, my lower face took a hit

Mallory: Same! Sweat is a big contributing factor to breakouts… trapped sweat? forget it

Here’s my fave mask:

Eliz: What brand is that?

Mallory: It’s from the denim brand 69

Eliz: oooo

Eliz: I love this denim ruffle one they make

Mallory: The cutest thing about it is that I’d been looking at this mask since the day they came out but did not buy yet because I haven’t really been buying things… and then I met up with my friend at a protest and he brought it for me as a present, not even knowing that I wanted it!

Unless I DMed him about it and forgot, but I’m pretty sure he didn’t know

Edith: I hope your friend also gives you the boots

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Mallory: If you’re reading this, Joe….

But anyway I love this mask bc it’s a substantial fabric, but not cumbersome at all. Fits really nicely and easily. And as someone who wears a lot of simple basics for the most part, the tie dye is like my little moment of flair that still kind of goes with everything

The tie dye does make it feel like a distinctly summer mask though

Eliz: 100% of profits from Mallory’s goes to ACLU and Color of Change

Do the elastics not hurt anyone else’s head? They give me a headache

We shot a summer quarantine hairstyle story on my roof last week and the models + I were all talking about how much they hurt

Mallory: I have a mask I made from a bandana and hair ties and that one kinda bothers me

Eliz: Like even the really stretchy ones—I get a headache within 10 min

Mallory: Sensi ears

Endearing

Amalie: I like yours a lot, Mallory. It’s a good neutral.

Genuinely displeased none of us own this

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Mallory: Ok, so Eliz are you the one advocate for the tie-back mask then?

Eliz: Yes 100% need the ties. It’s why I kindly separated by type in the mask story

Mallory: What’s your secret for making it not a pain? Doesn’t your hair get messed up?

Eliz: OK so what I do is… I actually tie it above my ears but down around beneath my hair with the little nose wire, it stays in place

The gingham one I have is perfect for that. So are these from Baggu

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Mallory: Ok, I may still be too lazy for that, sad to say. Time for a quick poll: Does the perfect mask require a nose wire?

Jasmin: I haven’t really used a nose wire, but now I feel like I’ve been missing a trick for four months

Matt: Conceptually my vote is “agree” but then I just realized the adidas one does not in fact have one and now I’m confused lol

Eliz: Nose wire so important!!!

hahahha Matt

Matt: Nose wire is important for glasses and sunglasses for sure; I feel like they have provided the only solution to mitigating breath fogging  and temporarily blinding myself while masked

Eliz: BUT I think they’re more imp for the ones w ties than the elastic ones?

Jasmin: I actually googled nose wires just to confirm what it looked like

Eliz: It’s hidden!

I wonder if this one would be comfortable because of the little adjustable thingies:

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Mallory: Have you guys seen any crazy / interesting masks out on the street? Any ones you keep thinking about?

Eliz: I saw a newspaper print one and then found this on Etsy

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I’m a fan

Amalie: I saw someone with something like this and can’t stop thinking abt it

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Mallory: I saw some people at the Bushwig event wearing masks that had one protective layer and then a layer of fringe on top—it was a really cute/fun party mask look.

Matt: Oh thatttt is fun

Jasmin: I’m quite intrigued by these ones with a straw hole!

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Mallory: @jasmin Yeah at first I thought the straw hole was probably not safe but in practice it makes more sense than pulling down your mask entirely?

Eliz: Also it’s a flap so I think it still blocks

Edith: I saw someone on my bike route wearing one that was the same shade as their face and it was as jarring as seeing someone from afar wearing a flesh-toned shirt and thinking they’re topless

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Mallory: @edith Oh yea—but in this case like their features have been erased. Nightmarish!

Mallory: Ok another question: Excited is definitely not the word… but are you some version of excited about your fall or winter mask situation? Like, are you thinking about how you’ll switch up your style for that?

Eliz: No

I absolutely hate these things but at least in the colder weather it won’t be swampland

Jasmin: I haven’t starting thinking about it yet, esp because I haven’t found a more lightweight mask to run or cycle in for the current season

Eliz: There is no world for me where I am giddy about styling a mask

Edith: I am looking forward to seeing how the mask looks over my balaclava

Eliz: HAHA EDITH

Jasmin: Maybe we actually will just be wearing balaclavas

with a straw hole

BUT  feel like they will be quite pleasant to wear in winter, esp when it’s really cold. Might be quite cozy actually

Mallory: Yeah I got kind of excited about the idea of a really warm and soft mask… sorrrrrryyyyy

Eliz: Yeah! Remember at the start when it was still cold out? It kept my face warm

Amalie: I like the idea of having a wool face mask or something honestly

Eliz: I don’t like the lack of expression from passerby

Mallory: Maybe Edith will let you borrow her clear mask

Mallory: After she hand-washes it at the end of the day, of course

Edith: Seems easier to sanitize than the other options

Eliz: No, I’m fine covering my expressions up. I’ve seen those memes about RBF being hidden w the mask—that’s me

Mallory: My friend and I did a smizing test the other day where we tried to guess whether the other person was smiling

Mallory: It went well, we both guessed correctly each time

Mallory: Ok ok, final question, wrapping up here: What mask are you currently ogling and what do you like about it?

Eliz: This one—it looks high fashun and I like the adjustable straps. I have high hopes for them to not give me a headache. Also the clouds r cute (and it’s made by a black-owned brand).

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Mallory: Maybe I should truly commit to mask-as-flair and go for this one, which I can’t stop looking at. It’s so sweet. Joe… if you’re still reading this… another present pls

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Matt: I’m VERY into this mask approach

Amalie: This one because I’m baby grandma

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Eliz: That is SO U AMALIE

Amalie: Hahaha. I know, I want

Mallory: Oh Amalie I saw another good, similar style

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Amalie: Ahhh Judi!

Jasmin: I like these in either Mango or Sunshine for no other reason than I think they look cute and like Eliz, would match outfits!

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Eliz: I linked to those!!! I like them

Jasmin: You did!

Mallory: And Edith?

Edith: Still ogling

 

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A post shared by Yanko Design (@yankodesign) on Jun 27, 2020 at 6:51am PDT

Matt: Me too—I’m also ogling the Yanko mask now

Graphic by Lorenza Centi.

The post Roundtable: What Makes a Perfect Mask? appeared first on Repeller.