The art of suitable fashion…

What is suitable to wear?

In principle, I don’t care what other people are wearing, although I imagine I would find it a bit unsettling if one of my colleagues showed up at work wearing only a pair of knickers…

Boringly stylish

I live in Sweden, a lovely country with basically open-minded people. We have quite a few famous and skilled designers. But the aesthetic is, in my very personal opinion, very monotonous. Everything from shoes to hats is the same in every store. There are few designers and various influencers (who all look the same way anyway) that seem to dictate how we dress, style our home, eat, think…and god knows what.
I’m a very creative person by nature. I frequently walk through the streets of Stockholm to find inspiration, whether for a painting, a photograph, or something to wear or write. It’s a blessing in some ways but also a problem, as I’m never really finished. There is always a new project.
From my perspective, everybody seems to dress the same way. They wear the same type of pants or skirt, jacket, and top, low-key so as not to appear different from everybody else. We have several stores of the same brand on the same street. We have the same brands in the bigger department stores. It’s silly, really. No wonder everybody dresses the same.

The fashionista’s say

On top of all this, we have influencers who write articles in various blogs, newspapers, magazines, etc., stating; This is what to wear. This is not how to dress. Out of, or in fashion. Boring things everybody has in their wardrobes that they should get rid of or Love this item will keep it forever!
First of all, who are these people? Where do they get all these ideas? What made them experts? Ok, they know what’s hip to wear, but do they know what’s going on with the people they are communicating with? Knowing what goes on in the fashion industry doesn’t take a genius. I’m amazed. Who are they writing to? 20-25-year-old women? No, I’m not being sarcastic, but I’m honestly curious. I mean, what fashion boils down to is taste and to express yourself.

Self-proclaimed experts

There was an article in one of the tabloids in Sweden.
The essence was something like: These are the ugly things in your wardrobe that you must throw out like, NOW.
Out of curiosity, I clicked on the link and lore and behold, a long article about clothes that everybody has and simply must throw away because ”everybody else has them and if you want to be successful and better than everybody, you simply have to move on”. The author obsessed over things ”sooo last month” that she wouldn’t even touch them with a set of pliers. Typically, no option or inspiration is offered for these kinds of articles. The author’s work here was done. And apparently, it was to make a statement.

Dictating fashion

So, let us ponder on that for a second…
Out of an environmental perspective: Shut up. Just shut up.
From a financial perspective, shut up – you don’t throw a perfectly nice jacket away because it’s five months old…
This list could continue forever, but let’s keep it simple: Just. Shut. Up.
A few days after, yours truly found an article about how middle-aged women should dress and what makes them look dowdy, a hot mama, fat, skinny or appear pathetic and needy for attention. Dear me. Thank you, but no…

You do You, ok?

Apparently, there is a need for this stuff. There are women out there not knowing how to dress. Well, let me give you some advice: If it’s cold, wear a coat, decent boots and maybe even a scarf. If it’s warm, don’t walk around in the nude among people.
Have fun with colours, silhouettes – and fabrics. Play. Live. It’s only clothes, for heaven’s sake!
One more piece of advice: If you are rocking the same hairdo that made you look smashing in the 1980s, it’s ok to keep it if you feel pretty. But if you are wondering why you get long looks that make you a bit uncomfortable, go to the hairdresser and let them work their magic.

Well, I wish you a good day.