Not many women would choose to call themselves the "Man Repeller."
But that's exactly what Leandra Medine did back in 2010 when she launched her freethinking fashion blog of that name. It started as an unpolished look at her zany New York style with some rambling thoughts on brands and trends (she's a proponent of everything from harem pants to shoulder pads).
Now, it's morphed into a bona fide lifestyle writing destination. The core thesis: women should dress for themselves first and foremost. The content: everything from fashion show recaps to "New York Closets" features to bitingly honest dating advice and personal essays. Think Vogue meets Jezebel, but written by really funny, quirky women.
Despite its name, Man Repeller has reeled in a devoted audience: 2.6 million pageviews a month four years ago, according to Business of Fashion, 2.2 million followers across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and an average 53% fan growth year to year. Meanwhile, a series of high-profile brand collaborations have boosted the site's bottom line; they've worked with the likes of Sunglass Hut, Fossil, NARS, and Estée Lauder.
Medine, who's now 27, employs a stable of writers, artists, and social media gurus who whip up and spread their of-the-moment content. She's expanded into offline work, too, publishing a book of personal essays in 2013 and launching two podcasts, called "Oh Boy" and "Monocycle", in 2015.
"I started Man Repeller because I wanted to write," she told Business Insider. "I didn't start Man Repeller because I wanted to be a founder."
But make no mistake: the business role is one she's tackled head-on. The unfiltered entrepreneur shared with Business Insider how she spends her very busy, very fashionable day.
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7:15 a.m.: Up and at 'em. Medine lives in downtown Manhattan with her husband of four years, wealth manager Abie Cohen. She starts her days early, often with a workout and meditation, before perusing her packed closet for the day's look.
9:30 a.m.: Breakfast at Balthazar. The old-school French bistro in SoHo is a perennial favorite, and is just around the corner from her office.
After breakfast, it's time to head to Man Repeller headquarters. Right on lower Broadway in SoHo, the office is just one airy room. Ten women, hard at work, are seated at two broad tables. The only sound is the tapping of keys on keyboards, and of one of the women blowing bubblegum bubbles.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider