February 2010 - Style in Sweden - Blogs

Archive for February, 2010

Exhibition: Strindberg’s dressing gown next to Cheap Monday jeans.

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Today (February 26) opens a very interesting exhibition called “Power of fashion – 300 years of clothing” (Modemakt – 300 år av kläder) at the Nordic Museum (Nordiska Museet) in Stockholm displaying clothing from the 1760s, 1860s and 1960s. The decades were chosen because of the strong influence of technology and economics on fashion as well as the general spirit of change.

I think the exhibition sounds very exciting because it doesn’t only focus on clothes as garments but also as art pieces that show identity and status. There is also a very diverse range of fashion on display including August Strindberg’s dressing gown and modern pieces by Sweden’s must successful labels such as Cheap Monday or Camilla Norrback.

All clothes are real and have been worn by people living in Sweden. Most clothes have even been tailored here.

I really would like to go to that exhibition but I live in Lund, which is 650km far away from Stockholm. This is one of the great disadvantages of living in a country with a low population density. All exciting exhibitions and events take place in the capital.

Anyway, click here to find out more about the exhibition (in Swedish).

Photos: Mats Landin/Nordiska museet

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Sweden needs people like Alexander McQueen!

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

Every fashionista was shocked when the news about Alexander McQueen’s suicide came out. The fashion world has definitely lost one of its greatest talents.

McQueen was known as the bad boy and rebellion in the fashion industry as he was able to interpret often antique themes in a futuristic way like no one else. Always one step ahead! Always next level! Always provocative!

When it comes to trends, McQueen is currently most influential with the pattern houndstooth, which he brought back in his autumn/winter collection 2009. You see it everywhere in every size. I have for instance a coat in houndstooth.

I think rebellions are important in every kind of group, society and system as they question traditional ways of thinking and show alternatives.

Sweden’s most successful designers are no rebellions. Compared with McQueen, they are almost a little bit boring. I don’t want that every Swedish designer becomes totally avant-garde but shouldn’t there be one who is wild and crazy? Swedish designers are fantastic but I think they are shy in an international comparison. Very Swedish somehow! Or as they say in Swedish “lagom är bäst”, which means something like “moderation is best”.

The saying is linked to the idea of equality. Everybody is supposed to be equal. Don’t think that you are better than the other ones! Equality is important and should be one of the major aims of a society but sometimes I have the feeling that the aspect of diversity is getting lost in Sweden. As if the saying was: don’t think that you are different than the other ones!

When I was new in Sweden we discussed in my film class that many Swedes consider it is cool to be unswedish (osvensk). At that time I couldn’t understand at all why. Not because I thought that everything in Sweden was so fantastic but I was wondering how a culture could be cool or not cool. Today I understand what my classmates and teacher meant. People who want to be unswedish are tired of sameness and monotony.

Regarding fashion, I think Sweden really needs a rebellion or bad boy/girl who dares to be different and unique: someone like McQueen. Such a rebellion would contribute alternative fashion and also alternative ways of thinking, which could increase diversity in other areas, too.

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Stockholm Fashion Week. Part Två.

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Sorry for the late Stockholm fashion week update but I am in the north of Sweden and internet is not working very well. Anyway, I think Minimarket presented as usual the most interesting collection at fashion week. I am obviously not the only one who loves the clean and comic-like style of Minimarket as the label was awarded the prize for “best designer” in Swedish ELLE magazine this year.

The three designers Sofie, Pernilla and Jennifer Elvestedt pick up elements from the 1960s and transform them in a very modern and unique way. Vintage with a twist! What I like most about their autumn/winter collection 2010 is the focus on yellow, my new favourite colour. It is not surprising that my favourite piece is the yellow coat though I am not sure if it looks strange with my platinum blonde hair.

Interesting are also the overalls presented by Helena Quist or Acne. I think one-piece clothes such overalls and dungarees will become one of this year’s great trends. Fantastic is also the autumn-coloured collection of The Local Firm. Not only the name but also the colours match The Local now. I think it’s time for some office uniforms

Minimarket

The Local Firm

Acne

Carin Wester

Helena Quist

Lovisa Burfitt

Photos: Kristian Löveborg

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Stockholm Fashion Week. Part Ett.

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

Sweden’s greatest designers present their autumn/winter 2010 collections in Stockholm this week. So far it has been so much black, grey and dark that I am wondering how I will survive next winter without becoming depressed. Black is beautiful but just black is a little bit boring, isn’t it? Even the hair of the Cheap Monday models is grey.

I almost felt relieved when I finally saw some more colourful clothes in the collections of Vita and Fillipa K. Most experimental are as usual the pieces of the Beckman design students.

Especially interesting is the collection of Ewa i Walla whose focus is the meeting between the hard working market women and the faded dancer. Inspired by different centuries, the result is a pirate theme without looking childish or ridiculous.

Here are some of the most interesting pieces that I have seen so far:

Cheap Monday

Dr. Denim

Beckman College of Design

Ewa i Walla

Hope

Stylein

Filippa K.

Vita

Whired

Diana Orving

Photos: Kristian Löveborg

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Robyn: Sweden’s No1 style icon

Monday, February 1st, 2010

Robyn is not only known for being one of Sweden’s greatest and most successful musicians at the moment but also for her unique style. Last weekend she even got the prize for style icon of the decade at the ELLE awards.

I think she really deserves the prize because she is always a step ahead and creates trends. In particular her short and platinum blond haircut has been copied by many girls and also guys. I also think that her gender-neutral style is very representative for the 00 decade in Sweden where women with boyish bodies and hairless men have ruled the runways and nightclubs.

Regarding Sweden’s most fashionable men, The Hives should have been awarded. I think their style is like a Macbook… black and white, iconic, simple and always up to date.