November 2009 - Style in Sweden - Blogs

Archive for November, 2009

Going out with Stockholm guys. A runway show.

Sunday, November 29th, 2009

People from the south of Sweden often say that Stockholm is full of brats who just think about expensive fashion, slicked back hair and fancy nightclubs. Even if a person doesn’t fulfil this stereotypical picture of a person living in Stockholm he or she is often considered snobbish because of the dialect.

I don’t care for Swedish dialects and if people sound snobbish. However, when some guys from Stockholm and Gothenburg started to party regularly with me and my friends a few weeks ago I realised how much more guys from bigger cities in Sweden care for fashion.

We went out on Friday and during the pre-party one of the new guys changed his shirt eight times (I counted!) while the other ones were talking about their great purple t-shirts.

I wouldn’t say that my friends who are from the south or smaller towns in Sweden don’t care for clothes but they seemed to be more relaxed. Some of them are these typical “jeans plus band t-shirt guys” and some of them have a very classic style. They usually wear a shirt and a tie when they go out. I think they need at most five minutes to get dressed before a party (OK, ten if they have to search in their laundry mountains).

I don’t like clichés and of course not every Swedish guy from a big city changes his shirt eight times before he goes out. However, I think there is a quite remarkable difference how guys from rural regions compared to the ones from cities value clothing and style.

This difference is nothing new but I think it is more remarkable in Sweden than in other countries such as Germany when it comes to guys.

In the end my friend changed his shirt a ninth time and took the one that he tried the second time. He said it would fit best to the topic of the party. By the way, the topic was rainbow…

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Posted in People. | 16 comments »

Zombie and vampire flu in Sweden. Alexander Skarsgård and Ann-Sofie Back infected.

Saturday, November 21st, 2009

A terrible virus that turns people, mortals in this case, into mindless zombies or bloodsucking vampires has become a threat in Sweden. It is still unclear as to how the virus came to the country but the virus has become left an imprint on Swedish culture, showing up in TV shows, movies and even on the runway.

The well-known actor Alexander Skarsgård was already infected in 2008 when he began playing evil vampire Eric Northman in the TV-show “True Blood,” which recently aired on Swedish television. It appears that he is in the recovery process, as his normal complexion has returned during the breaks in between shooting.

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Alexander Skarsgård in “True Blood”. Picture: John P. Johnson.

Ann-Sofie Back, one of Sweden’s most successful fashion designers, also suffers from the zombie flu. Her autumn/winter collection was presented at a runway show in London in February, displaying obvious indications of the dangerous flu: pale faces, empty eyes and lavish clothing.

In October the zombie and vampire flu also reached Stockholm, resulting in congregations of thousands of zombies on the streets of Sweden’s capital.

The next big outbreak is predicted to hit the country soon. On November 20, “New Moon”, the sequel to the teen vampire hit “Twilight”, was released in Sweden.

Due to the fast spreading of the virus, vaccinations are in short supply at the moment. Therefore it is important to protect yourself! Here are some tips:

1) Don’t leave the house without garlic or silver!

2) Sneeze and cough in your arm or a tissue to prevent catching the virus.

3) Avoid people with pale skin, bite tracks on the neck and strong bleeding wounds.

4) Stay at home if you feel sick.

5) Pretend to be a zombie or vampire and join the party if you meet them. Click here if you are not sure about the moves.

Stockholm zombie walk 2009:

Pictures: Patrick Eriksson

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Posted in People., TV. | 10 comments »

Saturday: Jimmy Choo for H&M.

Friday, November 13th, 2009

Don’t forget that Jimmy Choo’s collection for H&M will be launched tomorrow (November 14). If you want to buy one of the fantastic 80s style pieces you should get up early and run to one of the few stores selling the popular collection.

Here is a list including all H&M stores in Sweden where you can find the Jimmy Choo collection. If you want to buy a special piece it is better to check H&M’s homepage because not all pieces will be sold in every store. Good luck and have fun tomorrow!

Stockholm

Drottninggatan 56 (Mon-Fri 10-19, Sat 10-18, Sun 12-17)

Gallerian, Hamngatan 37 (Mon-Fri 10-19, Sat 10-18, Sun 11-17)

Kista Galleria (Mon-Sun 10-21)

Sergelgatan 1/ Drottninggatan 50 (Mon-Fri 10-19, Sat 10-18, Sun 11-17)

Sergelgatan 22 (Mon-Fri 10-19, Sat 10-18, Sun 11-17)

Täby Centrum, Stortorget 126 (Mon-Fri 10-19, Sat 10-18, Sun 11-17)

Gothenburg

Kungsgatan 55-57 (Mon-Fri 10-19, Sat 10-17, Sun 12-16)

Östra Nordstan, Postgatan 24 (Mon-Fri 10-19, Sat 10-18, Sun 11-17)

Malmö

BK-Huset, Gustav Adolfstorg 2 (Mon-Fri 10-19, Sat 10-17, Sun 12-16)

Uppsala

Svartbäcksgatan 4 (Mon-Fri 10-19, Sat 10-17,Sun 12-16)

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Posted in Hip & Hype. Trends in Sweden. | 1 comment »

Queer is cool. Part två.

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

Sweden’s currently most successful musician Robyn is in many countries very popular in the gay scene. She said once in an interview, that especially people in the US associate her style with a lesbian look (short hair, high school jackets, loose-fitting clothing, flat shoes, etc.). It wasn’t surprising that Robyn was the supporting act of some concerts on Madonna’s “Sticky & Sweet” tour last year.

The British fashion magazine “Love” writes in its latest issue that the lesbian look is the new great trend at the moment and calls it “Les is more”. They refer to the androgynous style, which has become incredibly popular on runways.

At nightclubs I have also realised that more and more girls either prefer a gender-neutral style or even a “masculine” one instead of the “classic female” look. Short hair, no make-up, no décolleté.

However, I think it’s a little bit poor to call it the lesbian look. I mean can it be more cliché to call women with short hair lesbians? “Love” admits that androgyny and lesbianism are not the same things and that being gay can’t be a trend. So why do they need the reference?

I remember when a friend of mine told me that he was gay after high school and I was absolutely not allowed to tell anybody. That was seven years ago. In other words, seven years ago it was embarrassing to be gay and now it’s cool and hip. What a development!

A development that definitely helps celebs like Robyn or Beth Ditto from “The Gossip” with their careers although Robyn isn’t actually gay I think.

Of course it is fantastic that being gay is not an issue anymore (at least in Sweden) but I hope that this positive attitude is more than just a trend and that it continues when fashion magazines discuss the comeback of the classic female style.

I really like the androgynous look. I even collect pictures of people who look gender-neutral or combine female and masculine elements. My favourite ones are my pinboard:

PS: I mean the woman next the pink illustration, the guys in the ballet dresses at the bar and the woman with the shaver. Of course, the Cézanne copy and the “Use your brain” lady are no examples of gender-neutral people…

By the way, here is my blog entry Queer is cool. Part one. It’s about gay friends and accessories.

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Posted in Hip & Hype. Trends in Sweden. | 10 comments »

Jimmy Choo for H&M. Sandals in winter?

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

hmscreen 451

Jimmy Choo launches a collection for H&M on November 14 including mostly shoes and accessories. The pieces embody really everything that you can associate with the 80s: leather, glitter, animal prints, fur and heavy jewellery. With the mix of rhinestones and studs the collection is very chic and glamorous but at the same time edgy and cool. Perfect for a night out on the town!

Jimmy Choo’s collection will just be sold in certain H&M stores in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö and Uppsala and on the internet. There will even be a queue system out of the shops because of the great popularity of Jimmy Choo (can it be more Swedish?). In other words, get up early if you want to have a pair of real Jimmy Choo shoes or one of the fantastic clutches.

The collection also includes men’s wear. However, apart from the biker boots I think the pieces are not very exciting. The design is very classic (I think almost too classic for H&M) and the colours range is very dark and simple including mostly black and brown.

However, I like Jimmy Choo’s collection. There is just one thing that really confuses me. Why does it include so many sandals and ballerina flats when the winter is coming and it’s getting colder every day? Are Swedish girls somehow resistant towards cold weather or am I such a wimp?! Actually I often think about that when I am at nightclubs during winter. I always have like ten layers of clothes on me plus warm boots and many Swedish girls wear sandals and short dresses.

How do they do that? Do they secretly change their clothes in the restroom or do they just don’t care? I’ve always wanted to ask some of them but I have changed my mind every time because I don’t want to sound like a 40-year old mother who doesn’t understand young people anymore.

Anyway, if you are not cold in sandals when it’s freezing outside and if you want to have shoes or accessories in the style of 80s you shouldn’t miss the great queue party out of H&M this month.

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Posted in People. | 19 comments »