Leandra MedineFounder of the man repeller

"I don't really pick them. I let them pick me."

[Ed. Note: Leandra Medine is the all knowing sage of Man Repelling, a term she coined on her blog, manrepeller.com. With her off-the-beaten-path sense of style, Leandra is the perfect guide to have your own personal style. She also happens to be obsessed with shoes, so we scoped out her shoe closet in time for fashion month.]

Photos by Stevie Dance

"I've always been obsessed with shoes, and the reason I think I'm obsessed with them now is too advanced. I've always liked shoes, but I wasn't thinking this way when I was ten, you know? It's tangible escapism. I like that I can step into a pair of shoes and assume a new identity, and then take them off.

I don't really pick them. I let them pick me. These Balenciaga boots are so not me; they speak for nothing that I stand for. I don't really know what that means, but those are not shoes that someone would pick out for me and say, 'These are so Leandra.' But when I saw them, I was like, 'Shit! I need to have these for my little dresses!'

Boots and dresses are great, but like those Charlotte Olympia geisha-ish ones, I can only wear with ripped jeans and denim shirts. With a dress it's too girly. I don't like being too anything.

Photo by Stevie Dance

"I stepped in dog shit in these Manolos. I bought them when I handed in my final manuscript. I was like, 'This is great. I've always wanted a pair of Manolo Blanhik's, but I refused to to buy them because Carrie Bradshaw fucked that up for everyone. But that show's been off the air for 10 years, so I'm going to buy them.' I bought them, and I wore them that night to a dinner at The Lion, and I didn't step on dog shit, I stepped in it. It was all over my foot. It was terrible.

Photo by Stevie Dance

"I buy shoes probably once a week, but in my defense, I never pay retail for shoes. I only buy them with gift cards or when they're on sale. I would say 60% of my shoe closet is from Yoox.

I just bought a pair of Vionnet shoes last week from Yoox – I ended up paying $150 for them. Retail is for idiots, I think. But, I think that also happens when you work in fashion. My idea of a good time is not shopping, you know?" -- Leandra Medine to SHOP GHOST

Leandra Medine photographed in New York by Stevie Dance.