Seasons change, so does my blog. I decided to give my blog a new outfit. Thanks to my friend Sandra, who is a very talented graphic designer, I have a fantastic new banner now. I hope you like as much as I do. Check out Sandra’s homepage if you like her style.
As you can see in the banner, the title of my blog has changed to “Style in Sweden – comments on fashion and aesthetics”. I think this title expresses in a much better way what this blog is about.
In the beginning my idea was to make a nightlife and fashion blog. I wanted to show you people who I meet when I go out, because I think Swedes have a great and unique sense of style. However, after some time I realised that I would like to do more than a pure picture blog because I really like writing.
The other problem was that I felt very uncomfortable with publishing my private life. Many bloggers present every detail of their life. A classic in fashion blogs is for instance to show the content of the own handbag. Isn’t that boring? Showing lipgloss and tampons?
That’s just not my style since I like to discuss issues. Questions like: “What is going on in Sweden’s fashion world and what does Mareike think about that? What does an immigrant think about Swedish style?” I think the new title captures this attitude much better. I still would like to include street style in this blog but it is not the focus.
Regarding blog writing, it is an interesting experience for me to get so many comments. When I lived in Germany I only worked for newspapers. Readers usually don’t comment on printed articles if they are not extremely angry. Therefore it has been really interesting to read your opinion on my texts. I hope you will continue with that.
There is just one kind of criticism that I don’t like. Several times people told me that I am stupid to be interested in such an unimportant topic as fashion. I was often suggested to write about politics instead. I don’t understand why people click on my blog if they want to read political articles.
I am also wondering if these people just have one interest in their life?! Yes, I read ELLE and Vogue BUT I also read Spiegel or Dagens Nyheter. This blog shows one part of Mareike – the fashion part. That doesn’t mean that I am not interested in other topics. I am totally aware of that climate change or the economic crisis are of a greater importance than H&M’s spring/summer collection but wouldn’t it be depressing to talk about such extreme serious topics all day?
Although fashion is probably less complex than the economic crisis it shouldn’t be ridiculed. I mean football does not have the same importance either but it is taken seriously. Nobody would suggest a sportswriter to change the topic.
I also want to emphasise that fashion is not just clothes that you put on. What you wear is who you are. Clothes unveil many hidden attitudes of a society or an individual. Why do people from southern countries generally have a more casual style? Because they are more relaxed than people from northern regions.
It is not surprising that Swedes go perfectly dressed to work or school as they have in my opinion a very strict attitude towards rules. Just think about time, drugs or speed limits. My friends are always shocked if I drive 10 km/h too fast on the highway and call me Michael Schumacher. I think this strictness and perfection is obvious in their style.
Anyway, I am looking forward to further interesting discussions and comments.
Have a nice weekend and don’t forget Stockholm Fashion Week next week where Cheap Monday, Minimarket, Acne and other fantastic Swedish designers will display their autumn/winter collections 2010. Check out “Style in Sweden” if you are interested in the latest trends.
Cheers,
Mareike
