AS I was walking my dog through the park the other day, the most surprising thing happened to me.
I was wearing my full “man-repeller” regalia when I got chatted up by a random bloke.
I couldn’t believe it!
I had on a multi-coloured Wrangler fleece, a bobble hat, some shiny disco leggings and a pair of New Balance dad trainers with ruched down socks . . . the type of outfit guaranteed to repel the opposite sex in an instant.
What’s more, men generally don’t tend to get my vibe — normally it’s women who say I look nice, or ask where my lippy is from.
And I definitely have a “happily married and closed for business” face when out and about.
So this sudden burst of male attention did make me think that maybe I am an acquired taste — and that my man-repeller wardrobe is a bit like Marmite.
Not that I give two hoots what anyone thinks about my style, because since I left my school uniform behind I have always dressed exclusively for myself.
In fact, I think it is rather funny that people even entertain the idea of delighting or pleasing someone else with how they look.
For example, blokes on TikTok have been slating women’s boat shoes, which have become popular this season.
But why should us ladies care about what a man thinks of our style choices?
Yes, it is always wonderful to get a compliment on your outfit, but if no one bats an eyelid as I enter the room, or even if someone raises an eyebrow and sniggers about how I look, I couldn’t care less.
Despite my so-called man-repelling looks, I feel confident and sexy in my skin — I’ve even been known to pose on Instagram in my pants.
I have always been inspired by women who dress for themselves and who aren’t afraid of trying to be different.
Stars who dare to be different on the red carpet as well as real life. I find women who dress subversively really sexy.
Pretty Woman star Julia Roberts wearing a men’s oversized suit and brogues at the 1990 Golden Globes was an iconic look and a style the star still references today.
Only a few weeks ago she was on her Instagram in a Celine men’s suit and tie.
Legendary actress Diane Keaton — in her waistcoats, baggy pants and signature bowler hat — has always stood out from the Hollywood crowd and has owned this unique style for decades.
National fashion treasure Alexa Chung oozes style with her preppy, boyish wax jackets, boyfriend jeans, brogues and general gamine girl-about-town coquettishness.
Former pin-up Pamela Anderson has taken to wearing no make-up and over-sized boxy tailoring — which looks AMAZING on her.
And even Princess Diana sealed her style icon status with a pair of man-repelling Bermuda shorts, a bare leg and a pair of ballet flats.
That is the thing about style. If you own it, it will work for you.
Anyway, back to the present day and my current wardrobe, which still contains loads of man-repeller styles that I have worn over the years and still love today.
Baggy Bermuda shorts, boxy Eighties tailoring, Copenhagen blouses with big puffy sleeves, bad-ass brogues, men’s rugby shirts, tuxedo suits, mannish shirts, baggy chinos and red socks — way before they started trending on Insta.
All these things have stood the test of time.
I’ve always been inspired by people who dress for themselves
Tracey Lea Sayer
What I wore in the Eighties still works for me today. That is why style always wins over fashion, whether your style is man-repeller or not.
My shoe collection has been particularly subversive over the years.
From massive steel toe-capped Dr Martens boots in the Eighties, to Vivienne Westwood super-elevated platforms in the Nineties, my footwear has always divided opinion.
These days I mainly wear flat, some might say, man-repeller shoes.
Even now, when I pop a poll on my Instagram account, you can bet your bottom dollar that 50 per cent of the voters just don’t get my shoe choices.
My latest white lace-up leather Jazz shoes from Arket definitely weren’t everyone’s cup of tea.
And I love that people aren’t afraid to tell me.
Yes, I got some red love hearts, but there were also rows of green nauseated face emojis as well.
This always makes me laugh. I would prefer people to have an opinion, because wouldn’t it be dull if we all liked the same thing?
My husband, who loves how I look and wouldn’t say anything hurtful to me if his life depended on it, has quite often said “no comment” when I have taken my latest pair of man-repeller shoes out of the box and tried them on in front of him.
While he doesn’t really mind my big chunky boots or anything a bit kick-ass, he HATES the tweeness of ballet pumps. Which is tricky, as this year is the year of the ballet flat.
Similarly my daughter hates most of my flat shoe choices too.
She normally mimes sticking her fingers down her throat when I wear my latest pair of flats. I, in turn, reply to her with my widest smile.
But sometimes man-repeller trends are even a bit too much for me.
How do you feel about this season’s boat shoe?
I know they are a hit, because after appearing on the Miu Miu spring 2024 runway in Paris, they are all over social media. But I won’t be wearing them.
Don’t get me wrong, if I was 25 and a gap-year student making my way around Europe, I would be definitely wearing a pair of worn-in, second-hand deck shoes with cut-off jeans and scruffy Breton, all tanned legs and long blonde hair.
But unfortunately for me it is now 2024 and I am 52. The irony will be a little lost, I fear.
I believe women should wear exactly what they want to wear — and if your outfit repels a man then so be it.
And you never know, like me a few days ago in my local park, you might just do the opposite.
