Exclusive: Man Repeller And Atea Oceanie Collaborate On A New Collection

What happens when you combine a fashion blogger known for her more-is-more philosophy with a streamlined, minimalist brand? The kind of "Opposites Attract" chemistry Paula Abdul used to sing about pans out in fashion form.

British label Atea Oceanie tapped Man Repeller's Leandra Medine for its first-ever limited-edition capsule collection. The end result? A pre-fall 2016 range of seven essential wardrobe items that weave Medine's signature flair with brand founder Laura Myers's minimal aesthetic.

"I have been wearing Atea for many moons, and have really admired Laura's approach to minimal dressing that doesn't sacrifice quality—it almost feels like she's not concerned with what goes inside the sandwich so much as she is making sure it's made from the best bread ever. That is not the way I think or shop, so I respect her approach," said Medine.

The collaboration includes classic pieces like double-breasted blazers and wide-legged pants in bold colors and unexpected fabrics, from a lamé suit to a pajama-striped slip dress. For Myers, it was a chance to put a fun twist on her typically minimal brand: "I have always admired the ease with which Leandra takes fashion risks, and was really inspired by the way she styled our pieces. It was exciting to see how Leandra interpreted some of our classic silhouettes but gave them her unique edge."

When it comes to the pieces themselves, Medine thinks of them as both essentials and special additions to the modern woman's wardrobe, "There's nothing particularly shocking or 'special' about a suit and some shirt dresses and knits—but the quirk, which very much speaks to my own personal style, is informed by the element of the unexpected. A suit is just a suit, but isn't it also so much better in lamé? For me, it's about proving that an 'essential' doesn't mean boring garment you didn't want to buy but felt like you had to," the style star explained.

Medine has a point: while the collection as a whole is nothing shocking, it's the details and finishes that will make you do a double-take when you see a woman wearing them on the street. And what better way to shock someone than by wearing a lamé suit?

The Man Repeller for Atea Oceanie collection will be available from June 2016 on ateaoceanie.com.

 From: Harper's BAZAAR US