I’m back, ladies.
After about two months in Sweden, I’m definitely starting to see my sense of style combine with the Swedes’ (good thing for my wardrobe, bad thing for my wallet). But I realized Swedish style is something I initially had no background knowledge on: what do they wear, what don’t they wear, where do they shop? So I committed to some hardcore investigation to figure out what makes up the essence of Swedish style.
Where else do you find out about the heart of a culture than through a dating app? Thanks to Bumble BFF, I could avoid the slightly creepy, “heyyyyy wyd in Stockholm?” messages and find out what my Swedish sistas thought about true Swedish style. I simply asked if anyone I matched with (I swiped right on everyone) had any thoughts at all on Swedish fashion. With such an open-ended question, I got a huge variety of answers. Here’s a synopsis of the common themes from everyone, just in case you’ve been looking to add a little Stockholm to your South Carolina repertoire.
(Gif Courtesy of GIPHY)
Minimalist
Minimalism and basics are definitely the essentials of Swedish fashion. This can refer to colors or the pieces that Swedes actually choose to wear. Neutrals and earth tones are probably a part of every Swedish style connoisseur’s closet, and I’ve encountered multiple references to the popularity of “summer white” year-round. Though its minimalist, Swedish style is anything but boring. They make an effort to dress up their jeans and tees with trench coats, some pop of color in a hat or scarf, and always, always the statement jacket (which can be faux fur, nylon, metallic, you name it). What at first glance seems like a pared down version of the beige section at H&M, is actually a fun and versatile way of building the Swede’s closet.
Sporty and Flirty
Streamlines, sneakers, and simplicity can be seen everywhere you look on the street. A blazer, grunge tee, a pair of jeans, and chunky sneakers is probably one of my favorite street styles, and masculine suit pants are a must for any day out in Stockholm. But where does the flirty come in? Rarely will you see a flowy mini dress or a cute floral pattern (granted, it’s winter, but my Bumble informants tell me its a year-round trend). Instead, flirty short hairstyles, plunge-neck tops, and heeled booties bring a little femininity to the structured looks. Bringing sporty and flirty together creates a relationship between masculinity and femininity that, again, makes Swedish style versatile, exciting and different.
(Gif Courtesy of GIPHY)
Thrifty
Vintage shopping and thrifting prove to be another trend that the Swedes take advantage of. According to my Bumble BFFs, Swedish style doesn’t rely on brand names like Gucci or Chanel (though believe me, there’s no shortage of designer accessorizing). Instead, they look for the deals to pair with their street styles and the higher-end pieces. Thrifting is also a way for people to add their own flair to their basics–and I’m sure a way to survive in the expensive lifestyle that Sweden demands, as well. At least that’s why I’ve been hitting the thrift stores.
Comfort
On par with their openness to recycling wardrobes, it seems that Swedes see no need to put comfort aside in the name of style. All those athleisure sneaks speak to the importance of comfort, and you can see Converse, Adidas, or some chunky AF1s on any given person walking down the street. Age, gender, and career are nonfactors—cool moms and stylish preteens can be found rocking the same wide leg pants or joggers. That said, I’ve definitely seen heels in the purses of businesswomen on the metro; sometimes the sneakers just don’t cut it.
I’ve tried to get a good overview of Swedish style from the Swedes themselves. After a couple weeks of rigorous investigation (that led to some really fun conversations with some cool Swedish gals), and taking my own impressions into account, I think I have a pretty good catalogue of the highlights of Swedish fashion.
That said, each and every person I spoke to said that Swedish style is truly what the individual makes it. I may say that neutrals are everywhere, but check out @zacarrive on Instagram to see a Swede ROCK color in a way that is fashion-forward, yet curated; patterns may be ‘out,’ but @lisa.olssens has the coolest floral two-piece suit that fits perfectly in her fun and flirty wardrobe; meanwhile, @carolineblomst is actually a great example of the style that I’ve described here. The list goes on and on, but what’s important to take away from this and from any Swedish style blogs you come across is that, just like in the states, each person here in Sweden is unique and can express themselves through their style. Hopefully, if I’m lucky, some of that really does rub off on me and I bring some Swedish flair back to the states!