FN Summit: Leandra Medine

Photo Courtesy of WWD

If you don’t know who Leandra Medine, aka The Man Repeller, is, you must be living under a rock. This girl is a fashion phenom, women adore her, and contrary to the name, so do men, as her upcoming nuptials would imply. The Man Repeller was born only two years ago, and though still in its infancy, is one of the most popular blogs on the planet, garnering an astonishing 2 million views a month. One of Leandra’s good friends, Rachel S., told her, in her response to Leandra’s question of why, out of the three guys she was dating, not one would commit (Wait. Dating three guys at once? How’s that man-repelling?) Rachel simply said, “Leandra, you’re a man repeller”. And thus, the blog was born.
Photo Courtesy MR
 She received press very quickly due to her unique approach and point of view, but Leandra didn’t realize she was sitting on a real business until she was ranked the number 1, out of 25, top voice in fashion by Ad Magazine. So she got serious, set up a calendar, and started treating her blog “like a real editorial publication.” She has since collaborated with such brands like Dannijo (they are all best friends though), Del Toro, Rebecca Minkoff (another friend), Saks, Barneys, and has contributed to numerous magazines. Pretty impressive for someone who is just one year out of college.
Photo Courtesy MR
She credits social media for letting her market herself and build up her brand, to the point where people wanted, and still want, a part of it – she has a book coming out in September and wants to create a lifestyle brand to “celebrate women and female intellect, because that’s really what the blog is about.” She gets to learn about her readers, and how most sales she receives commission on happen between 1-5am, because of it. She also credits social media for getting her her engagement-party shoes, a pair of orange, lace up Alaia’s from 2008. She posted about it, a reader found them in a Barney’s Outlet in Honolulu, and they just happened to have her size. Seriously? It’s like she lives in a fairytale. Oh, she also got the shoes, originally $1500, or $176. “And that, is the power of social media”.
But what about her wedding shoes? “I’m wearing a pair of Superga sneakers….what, you all asked!”

And the Bride Wore McQueen

Images via NYMag


Wow. Just wow. Princess Catherine’s McQueen dress by Sarah Burton was simply stunning. So many people have said it was too modern or not modern enough or the train wasn’t long enough or it was too subdued and on and on and on. Honestly, I thought it was perfect. It was that right mix of modern and classic, and whatever anyone says might be wrong with the dress, there is no denying that she looked beautiful.

The lace flowers on the bodice and skirt were individually handmade and appliquéd using a combination of hand-cut Chantilly lace and English lace. Apparently, since the lace was from a variety of different manufacturers, making sure it was all the same color was a tricky task. The dress itself is made out of ivory and white satin gazar fabric, and fastened at the back with 58 organza covered buttons and Rouleau loops. The corseted bodice is narrowed at the waist and padded at the hips, a McQueen signature. The underskirt of the dress is made of silk tulle trimmed with Cluny lace.

The veil is made of ivory silk tulle and hand-embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework, and is held in place by a Cartier “Halo” tiara, on loan from the Queen, who received it in 1936 from her parents. Catherine’s diamonds earrings were a wedding gift from her parents, and were made by Robinson Pelham to look like the Middleton’s new family crest.

Now the real question remains, will Sarah Burton be the new designer for Dior?