Loving Mondays

Does your fashion repel men?

Dressing like you just stepped out of a Vogue cover shoot is an idea girls formulate while preening over the mornings wardrobe menu. But if one is trying to impress a guy, the core of our inner trend mantra (which encapsulates our intense creativity and artistic mastery) takes a seat right at the very very back row in the other building, down the street in the next state….as does most women’s flamboyancies mind you…

When men are on the scene we are all a little guilty of a change in mind set. This shift in our philosophies to impress a guy whether it dumbing oneself down or dulling the wardrobe is something that resonates a high school disorientation of FITTING IN to the cool group. Yes, we start dressing a certain way. Things like: Hmmm would he like this colour? No, he hates those pants. This top is extra low- he’ll love it. He won’t get that outfit. I’ll just wear this to snag him than mutate straight back to my fashion excellence once he’s liked the fake me. Yeah riiight…

We don’t want to startle men? Overwhelm them with things they couldn’t possibly understand? They just might think “What the hell is she wearing…she’s weird- nope can’t date her.”

This way of thinking that men are hair triggered with gazelle like reflexes, alarmed by any non-standard issue look,  bewitched only by the blaringly intense and primal spot light, that is, the horrid tight short tacky dress….gasp! This is just so exhausting.

So is this true that single woman in possession of a good wardrobe aren’t going to get laid?

I’m sorry just take a look at the Olsen twins they scream bag ladies most of the time…come on!?

Leandra Medine who writes a blog called ‘Man Repelling’ says “A man repeller is a conscience effort to wear clothing that was attractive in my opinion but not necessarily in a man’s opinion. “ she adds “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.”

So does Leandra have a point here? Men are visual. If they can’t see the merchandise they aint going to buy? This just seems so substandard to think good taste leads to no sex? B-O-R-I-N-G!

Come on… they mustn’t mean MY harem pants. There would have to be an exception to the rule right? I genuinely love my harem pants they are so chic and comfortable. Would I really be judged that badly?? Gulp…

It could be an age thing guys at 21 have different ideals than men at 31 years old. For girls to gain the interest of someone at 21 do they have to wear very little to crack their attention? To warrant a man’s interest at 31will probably take more than just a bit of skin. It’s more of a turn off and isn’t going have the same impact (echoes of ‘been there done that’) so I guess they’ll have a better appreciation of taste?

I think whatever your style is, whether it be a Man Repelling style or someone whose only consideration is how much skin is showing. I don’t think just because you’re dressing outside the standards of most and live in a more vivid and creative fashion world means you’ll repel men. This is your style, be it a wrist to ankle body suit or just a pair of knickers. One day someone will just LOVE IT!

I love the saying “let’s take off all the warning labels in the world. We quickly work out who has common sense because they'll be alive.” Well you can use this theory with Man Repeller fashion just like those warning labels, you’re weeding out the boring and finding your unique pairing. If you didn’t and you just dressed like someone else… who are you actually attracting? Yep…that’s pretty damn frightening.

Fashion like art is subjective. Find what you love, who are and ‘Own it’ and someone will come along. That rhyme is true: Birds of a feather flock together

With great pleasure I write that the ‘Man Repeller’ herself got hitched saying “To a guy who likes me very much. Just the way I am.”

Well there is still hope for us so stay true!

man•re•pell•er1  [mahn-ree-peller]

–noun

outfitting oneself in a sartorially offensive mode that may 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.

Look over there!? Those girls are wearing the same dress....

Vintage fashion seems to baffle most young people, I mean majority of young stylings who chat about clothing online or on the street seem to have an ‘idea’ on what vintage is but appear to conform with dressing all the same and proclaiming how original they are?

There is an obsession about vintage clothing at the moment and I think it originates from the past ideals and psychographic impacts bringing a certain nostalgia. Wearing these clothes enables the person an escape from the contemporary stresses. Vintage has the ability to reconnect yet there is a distinction within the eras; Grunge wearers can at least remember running around a playground in the 1990’s but most vintage wearers didn’t live through the 1920’s. One is a matter of celebrating one’s younger years, and the other celebrating points of historical pride.

Remember, women gained new rights and roles in society (ability to vote) revolutionary events occurred when these designs were living their life. Women from those eras seized and celebrated these freedoms by dressing differently.

British philosopher Francis Bacon said “Fashion is the only attempt to realise art in living forms and social intercourse”. This living form of art holds power- power to control a part of one’s image. People can play a role, embody a story, or represent an era based on what he or she chooses to wear.

You might think choosing to wear blatantly out dated apparel seems counterintuitive? I disagree. Not only is vintage economically accountable and environmentally sustainable it encourages women to pursue freedoms- from choosing how they dress to where they work. As the great Coco Chanel said “The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud” How better to keep the spirit alive and the decades relevant than through the living art of fashion.

I end here with one of my favourite quotes

“Vintage fashion will never be abandoned by time- it will be respected by its future possibilities…..”

Enjoy some of my favourite inspirational images below