Writer and stylist Leandra Medine Cohen maintains a distinct voice—sharp, self-aware, and disarmingly funny, yet deeply attuned to the textures of modernity. She has long carved out space for a different kind of fashion writing: one that blends intellect with instinct, irreverence with depth. As the founder of Man Repeller and now Café Leandra, her work carries a singular rhythm balancing rigor with levity. There's a joyful quality to how she dresses and how she writes, but also a real honesty: a concession to the mess and meaning behind what we wear and how we move through the world. In an industry often dominated by spectacle, Leandra's perspective remains anchored in a commitment to clarity, complexity, and the power of personal expression.

We first crossed paths with Leandra nearly a decade ago in Soho, over a glass of Broc Cellars red—a custom blend created for west~bourne before restaurant wines became commonplace. A friendship formed, sustained by shared values: a belief in thoughtful food, intentional design, and the act of creating community. This summer, that connection took the shape of a new collaboration between Café Leandra, Broc Cellars, and west~bourne: a skin-contact wine that serves as a love letter to summer, and to the rituals that ground us across coasts and seasons.

We caught up with Leandra to talk about her latest project, Café Leandra, and the evolution of her personal style—how it's shifted across seasons of life, and why humor, honesty, and a sense of play remain at the core of her approach.

How would you describe who you are and what you do?

I'd say I'm a writer and a stylist—that's what I do. But if I'm thinking about who I am? That totally changes depending on the season, but is informed by the experiences that take up the most emotional terrain. So these days: I'm a mom, a wife, a friend, a daughter.

Can you share a standout memory of your early personal expression through outfits?

I have a memory of pairing a corduroy blazer with red cotton boxer shorts from Walmart (Cat in the Hat theme) and flat, pointed-toe shoes that had embellishments all over the front of them. It was probably among the first times I felt that lock-in feeling you get when you put something on and feel like you're invincible. I have learned that clothes can't solve your problems, but that feeling of ecstasy that comes from nailing them is exactly what can arm you to solve them.

Describe your personal style in one word.

Deep.

Describe what your personal style is not?

I dress to reflect how I'm feeling, or how I want to feel. It informs the best of who I am and who I want to be—or how I want to be.

Do you find yourself generally adhering to a consistent personal style over the years, or do you feel you have distinct eras?

My style always endures a steep but rewarding learning curve when I'm in an intense moment of transition: starting a business was one, becoming a mother was another. Closing a business followed that, then I became a new mom again. I'm a few years away from 40 and already feeling how that will move me, but the denominator that stays common is my own desire to reflect a multiplicity. Some sort of peephole that breathes different air into a label.

In what way does your newest project, Cafe Leandra, differ from past endeavors?

It's a one-person show. Where my prior business grew out to a full-blown media company that reflected lots of voices and taste levels, Cafe Leandra is really just my own taste. For better or worse!

How has your personal style evolved since beginning your career to now?

It's grown up. I think the bones of what motivates my style are the same, but with time, my eye has refined.

And how has it evolved in motherhood?

It's become more practical.

You seem to maintain a fun, lighthearted quality in everything you do. Can you describe the importance, as you see it, or humor, play, and role playing in fashion?

Style is an opportunity to dream.

Find Leandra at Café Leandra and on her Substack, The Cereal Aisle.