Style-ish Podcast Summary: “Men Hate the Way I Dress”

Podcast Information:

• Title: Style-ish
• Host/Author: Shameless Media
• Episode: Men Hate the Way I Dress
• Release Date: April 22, 2025

Introduction to the Episode

In the April 22, 2025 episode of Style-ish, hosted by Madison Sullivan alongside co-hosts Joanna Fleming and Anika Joshi Smith, the trio delves deep into the intriguing narrative of Man Repeller, a prominent 2010s media publication founded by style blogger Leandra Medine. The episode, aptly titled “Men Hate the Way I Dress,” explores the meteoric rise and eventual decline of Man Repeller, examining its impact on fashion, branding, and feminist discourse.

Personal Swaps: Weekly Fashion Hacks

Before immersing into the main topic, the hosts engage in their regular segment of sharing personal fashion hacks and product recommendations, known as “swaps.”

• Anika Joshi Smith shares her excitement about the Ouai anti-frizz cream: “I have the Ouai anti frizz cream and it's $24. A little bit goes a long way...” (01:17)

• Madison Sullivan discusses the benefits of tightlining eyeliner to make hazel eyes pop, recommending the Hourglass 1.5mm liner: “I've been doing it just on the top lid, not the bottom lid...” (03:10)

• Joanna Fleming introduces a clever cooking hack inspired by Barilla’s Spotify playlists: “Barilla, number 78, and you start playing the playlist...” (02:53)

These exchanges not only provide valuable tips but also set a relaxed and engaging tone for the episode.

Tracing the Rise and Fall of Man Repeller

The core segment titled “Tracing” focuses on Man Repeller and its founder, Leandra Medine. The hosts reminisce about their personal connections to the blog and discuss its evolution.

• Leandra Medine's Beginnings: Launched in April 2010 while Medine was studying journalism at The New School, Man Repeller started as a personal fashion blog on WordPress. Joanna Fleming recounts, “I was like a full-on blogger... an OG blogger girl” (05:01).

• Unique Branding and Voice: Anika highlights Medine’s distinctive tone: “She always poked fun at fashion. She was always a bit different...” (08:24). The blog stood out with quirky headlines like “A chin strap will never get you laid” and coined playful terms such as “birth control goggles” and “arm party.”

• Expansion into a Media Empire: Madison Sullivan reflects on the transition from blog to business: “Man Repeller began to cover beauty, relationships, culture, money and more...” (07:56). By 2012, the site had garnered significant media attention, featuring in prominent publications like The New York Times and Vogue.

Challenges and Controversies

As Man Repeller grew, internal and external challenges began to undermine its success.

• Personal Life vs. Brand Identity: The hosts discuss the tension between Medine’s personal life and her brand. Despite promoting a persona of repelling men through fashion, Medine was married by 23. Madison opines, “I believe that she can have a blog where dressing a certain way does not need to be seen in isolation to her being happily married...” (20:38).

• 2017 Backlash: A pivotal moment came in 2017 when Medine wrote a personal essay reflecting on Beyoncé's pregnancy announcement, inadvertently revealing her own fertility struggles. This led to significant backlash from readers who felt the platform was shifting away from its core mission. Joanna Fleming summarizes, “The comments... were full of women, suggesting that one woman's celebration would always be another woman's disappointment” (26:46).

• Response to Social Issues: In June 2020, following the tragic death of George Floyd, Man Repeller attempted to address anti-racism but faced criticism for insufficient and performative efforts. Medine’s subsequent apologies and efforts to foster underrepresented voices were deemed inadequate by many, leading to further erosion of trust (28:32).

Downfall and Rebranding

Amid mounting controversies and internal disarray, Man Repeller struggled to maintain its relevance and integrity.

• Rebranding to Just Repeller: In September 2020, the site rebranded as Just Repeller in an attempt to revitalize its image. However, just a month later, it was announced that the site would shut down due to “financial constraints.” Joanna Fleming speculates, “Maybe things just became a bit much and it was easier to just, okay, I'm out of here” (36:41).

• Leandra Medine’s New Ventures: Following the closure, Medine launched a new venture, “The Cereal Aisle,” a fashion-focused Substack newsletter that has garnered over 159,000 subscribers. This move signifies her return to her roots in fashion writing without the pressures of running a large media company (37:52).

Legacy and Influence

Despite its eventual demise, Man Repeller left a lasting impact on the fashion industry and digital media.

• Influence on Millennial Fashion: The podcast acknowledges, “For all of Man Repeller's failings, it's not an overstatement to say that the site really changed the way millennial women thought about fashion” (42:25).

• Revival in Gen Z: The hosts note the resurgence of “man-repelling” outfits among Gen Z in 2025, attributing it to a broader quest for self-expression and empowerment: “Gen Z are seeking to repel men... fashion as a form of self-expression” (41:00).

• Continued Influence Through Former Staff: Former Man Repeller employees have launched their own successful Substack newsletters, continuing the brand’s legacy of personalized and authentic fashion discourse.

Conclusion: Reflections and Recommendations

The hosts reflect on the lessons learned from Man Repeller’s trajectory:

• Balancing Personal Life and Brand: Madison emphasizes the importance of separating personal experiences from brand identity: “Every female should wake up every day... and fuck doing it for a man” (42:49).

• Adaptation and Evolution: Anika commends Medine’s ability to pivot and focus on her passion: “She was already in a place where she was shifting her content... go and do whatever the fuck you want” (37:20).

• Recommendations for Listeners: The hosts recommend following former Man Repeller writers who have launched their own successful platforms, such as Hayley Naaman’s “Maybe Baby” and Jessica Defino’s “Review of Beauty.”

Notable Quotes with Attribution and Timestamps

• Madison Sullivan (03:10): “I've been doing it just on the top lid, not the bottom lid, unless I do want to go full emo kid for the evening.”

• Joanna Fleming (02:53): “Barilla, number 78, and you start playing the playlist... it's a great branding moment.”

• Anika Joshi Smith (08:24): “She always poked fun at fashion. She was always a bit different... I will never forget, just being called a man Repeller would be the ultimate compliment.”

• Madison Sullivan (20:38): “I believe that she can have a blog where dressing a certain way does not need to be seen in isolation to her being happily married...”

• Joanna Fleming (26:46): “The comments... were full of women, suggesting that one woman's celebration would always be another woman's disappointment.”

• Madison Sullivan (28:32): “It's in two parts for me... she ultimately did write about that is incredibly vulnerable and incredibly important to talk about.”

• Anika Joshi Smith (37:20): “I think she was already in a place where she was shifting her content, she was shifting what she cared about, she was evolving...”

• Madison Sullivan (42:49): “And fuck doing it for a man.”

Final Thoughts

“Men Hate the Way I Dress” offers a comprehensive exploration of Man Repeller’s journey, providing listeners with insights into the complexities of building and sustaining a fashion media brand. Through candid discussions and reflective analysis, the hosts underscore the importance of authenticity, adaptability, and the enduring power of fashion as a medium for self-expression.

For those interested in the evolution of digital fashion media and its intersection with personal identity and feminism, this episode serves as a compelling case study.