Why I blog

I'm an avid blog reader, especially of fashion blogs. These blogs chronicle the style musings of young, twenty-something women, who somehow manage to look consistently fantastic. I've learned a lot by reading these blogs. Mostly college students or recent graduates, they live in studio apartments with their hipster boyfriends and spend their days hanging out with friends, seeing concerts, crafting their own jewelry, and perusing thrift stores.  They often get spending money from their parents and are gifted expensive clothes from relatives. Because of these blogs, I've been encouraged to delve into my closet and look at fashion in a much more creative way. In addition,  I've expanded the range of stores I visit beyond those at the mall. I now thrift with regularity, focusing on items that express my individual sense of style rather than what labels they are. I'll admit that I used to have a teensy tiny problem as a label whore, buying things just because they were of a certain brand, rather than how they fit. I'm thankful that I've broken that habit because there's so much more to dressing well than wearing the trendiest or most coveted brand.

While perusing my favorite blogs the other day, I realized there was one thing that bothered me about them. While I consider myself young at heart, I am not a unencumbered twenty-something living in a studio apartment with her hipster boyfriend. I spend my free time chasing after my kids at the park, cleaning up one of my twins' millionth juice spill, and catching up on laundry. I'm lucky if I can grab a moment to read something other than the instructions for the Wii, much less attend a concert. And I have a husband to focus on, a mortgage to pay and school events to attend.


I suppose that's why I felt the need to create my own personal style blog. I understand that as a parent, fashion means something different to me that your average twenty-something. It has to be comfortable and functional, while also remaining stylish. Affordability is also important, as it would be inappropriate for me to rely on my parents for a clothing allowance. And, for the record, I am a thirty-six year old woman. I have no desire to dress as these young women do. Tight skirts, thigh-high boots, and midriff-baring tops would look ridiculous on me. And I'm perfectly fine with that.

American Eagle shirt; Texas Rangers tee; Old Navy skirt; J Crew tights; Frye cowboy boots; Nordstrom Rack necklace; Plato's Closet bracelet; Marc Jacobs watch, Forever 21 belt

High fashion: Men-repelling or merely absurd?

What is the point of "fashion?" According to one style blogger, the point of fashion is to repel men. Oh. Okay. Darn. I am confused as to whether this fashion strategy is sincere, and actually works. And, also, whether the blogger is question above is completely crazy.

There is a girl in New York named Leandra Medine. There she is, in the picture. Here is her fashion "thing", as described by the New York Times:

Since April, Ms. Medine, 21, has been publishing photos of herself wearing these pieces on her blog, the Man Repeller, as well as shots of similarly challenging recent runway looks: fashions that, though promoted by designers and adored by women, most likely confuse - or worse, repulse - the average straight man. These include turbans, harem pants, jewelry that looks like a torture instrument, jumpsuits, ponchos, furry garments resembling large unidentified animals, boyfriend jeans, clogs and formal sweatpants.

Fashion magazines have taken notice. Lucky has asked Ms. Medine to guest-blog. Harper’s Bazaar assigned Ms. Medine a feature in its December issue titled, “Can You Be in Fashion and Still Get a Man?” And women in New York who are fans of her blog have begun using it as a verb, as in, “I am totally man-repelling today.”

Ms. Medine's style blog seems like pretty much every other one I follow: a young, affluent hipster mixes thrift, discount and runway pieces in a sloppy haphazard way that somehow looks chic in the end. She has the requisite long flowing locks, Upper East Side apartment (albeit it shared with her parents) collection of thick horn-rimed glasses, and DIY tips on becoming a crafty hobo hipster yourself.

However, I truly believe that this girl doesn't understand men. On average, men do not care what you wear. They only care if you have an attractive body. Here's what really matters to them:

1. Are you in somewhat ok shape?
2. Do you have a vagina?
3. Are you single? (That one's debatable.)

If you can answer yes to any or all 3 of those questions your outfit will fail to repel men.

The clothes Medine showcase only enhance the fact that she is slim and elegant in a quirky way. In every picture, she looks like the kinda loopy, cute but quiet girl whom men assume is fun in bed. As long as she's showing leg and wearing heels, she'll get a man. I think the only tangible things that could really kill a man's interest are unibrows, Ugg's, and facial hair.

Furthermore, women's fashion is not about impressing men. Men, by and large, don't know what's fashionable and what's simply flattering and to a much smaller extent, appropriate. Fashion is really about two things: impressing/exerting dominance over other women (a Manolo shoe will not get you laid, but is guaranteed to make other women jealous) and self-expression. There's freedom in being creatively attired and wearing pieces that communicate your individual sense of style. When I get dressed in the morning, it's always from the perspective of what I want to wear, what I find comfortable and appealing, and what message I want to send to the world. Aside from my husband's opinion, I really could care less about what men think.

In addition, I feel like the Times kind of missed the point regarding this blog. Despite its name and the running joke Medine has about not getting laid because of her outfits, 'the man repeller' isn't really about the dudes. it's about the absurdity of 'high' fashion - stuff that is as beautiful as it is ugly/unconventional. I actually like this blog. She's funny, and the clothes that she points out are truly hideous. Her entry on how to get photographed on fashion blogs like The Sartorialist was totally accurate and literally made me laugh out loud. Hint: wear as many different types of fabric as possible. Layer on multiple clashing pieces. Add heinous lipstick.