If you know who Man Repeller is, you will know that you want to dress a bit like her. If you don’t know who she is, you will have to take my word for it that you want to dress a bit like her, but it’s still true. Leandra Medine is the thinking woman’s girl crush, for her unexpected-but-laid-back wardrobe. The other day, scrolling through Instagram, I screengrabbed a photo of her wearing a sequin tank and Chloe tracksuit bottoms and a stripe shirt, as an aide-memoire that I should try and dress like that. OK, that came out creepier than it sounded in my head.
Man Repeller started as a blog, and is now a media company-slash-lifestyle brand whose ethos – women dressing to please themselves – is its USP. Medine, the accidental media mogul who is one of us, is Diane von Fürstenberg for the Girls generation. Atea Oceanie is a British brand whose serene, minimalist shirts and shirtdresses fall into the what-on-Earth-did-I-wear-before-I-had-this category. Together, they have created Man Repeller X Atea Oceanie, a capsule collection which goes on sale right now, aimed at solving that “it’s summer but I still have to go to the office” wardrobe problem.
So! Here are fashion thought leader Leandra Medine’s thoughts on what to wear this summer.
1. Start with an oversized blazer
“A blazer is such a great place to start. It connotes effortlessness, but not a lack of effort. The whole philosophy of Man Repeller is that what you wear is about more than clothes, it’s about the messaging you put out into the world.” What appeals to Medine about Atea Oceanie, she says, is feeling “well spoken” in these clothes.
2. Keep your edit tight
“We all have too many choices to make every single day. It’s a luxury not to have to make choices. One great piece that you can wear several ways is better than a rack of too much stuff.” Laura Myers, Atea Oceanie’s designer, singles out a simple slipdress that is perfect for day with trainers, or Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy elegant for evening with heels. “The fewer choices you have to make in a day, the more able you are to focus on the ones that matter, and make the right decision. When your life is streamlined it is easier to tackle the tricky parts.”
3. Wear red in the summer
“Red is a great summer colour,” says Medine. “A mandarin collar looks cleaner and doesn’t get cluttered when you add a necklace or a blazer.”
