THE PRACTICE OF MAN (AND WOMAN?) REPELLING:

Today’s post has been written by my good friend Laura Hunter-Thomas from the amazing Obsessive Coolness. I’ve been in touch with Laura for a while, as I love her deep, insightful posts, and we decided to guest post on each other’s blog. Head over to her website to check my post.

It is a well-known fact that fashion does not always cater to the less fair sex. While women worship at the (fashionably adorned, of course) alter of harem pants, jumpsuits, feathers and fur, and madcap prints, men desperately offer sacrifices to the God-please-don’t-let-my-girlfriend-ever-wear-that. There’s even a hilarious and popular blog, The Man Repeller, dedicated to the “fashion do’s and fornication don’ts” that haunt men’s nightmares.

But while we are all, in varying degrees of distress, aware of the practice of warding off hetero men with women’s one true love – fashion – what about the revenge of the men: woman repelling? Of course there are the wannabe gangster faux pas (chains – “You are not a gangster, your necklace comes from Topman, and why are you wearing women’s accessories?” – and low-hanging trousers, namely), but what about the sartorial sexual setbacks of the chic and fashionable?

 In the Libido Litigation Act version 1.0, it boils down to three items often sported among the male fash pack: bow ties, v-necks and skinny jeans. Yes, a guy can look incredibly chic in all of these items, but they will, quite frankly, do nothing for your powers of attraction (probably because each gives the impression that you bat for the other side). A bow tie worn outside of a situation warranting a tuxedo screams ‘not on your team’, while v-necks and skinny jeans (both often sported by Hayden Christensen wannabes going for the rocker-chic look) both leave you in competition with your paramour (I mean really, a guy shouldn’t have skinnier legs than his love interest, or more cleavage on show).

 But here’s the thing – should you care? Well, only if you’re dressing for fornication rather than fashion. If your end-of-the-night goal is to be scoring photo ops with Mr. Lagerfeld rather than sharing your bed, well then, a bow tie is practically a required uniform! If you’re reading this, you most likely are, after all, a fashionista. Embrace your calling. Go on, be a (wo)man repeller.