Being the lucky lady that I am, I was fortunate enough to live in both the United Kingdom and Sweden within the same year. And given my sweet tooth for all things fashionable and glamorous, I have picked up on some of the European fashion trends from both the Brits and the Scandis. As it turns out, these two fashion cultures could not be more different except when it comes to ridiculously high-waisted trousers.
European Fashion Trends – The Brits
Introducing LONDON – the birthplace of Burberry, Hunter, and of course; the Spice Girls. One of the world’s biggest fashion capitals, London is filled with everything from vintage looks, fantastic fur coats, new hipsters, and of course, the fabulous lives of the Chelsea and Kensington folks. With nearby upscale stores like Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Liberty, and all the glamorous shops at Oxford circus… who can go wrong? Oh to live in London again, and be spoiled by the fashion gods.
But of course, you can’t forget the rest of England. Once you leave London and enter the British countryside, let me tell you… it is simply fabulous. It is everything popular culture has led you to believe: small villages, cottages, green pastures, Hogwarts-like architecture. British Village folks have a look of their own. A much more relaxed-vintage look you can’t find anywhere else.
Finally, who can forget the classic look for typical British rainy days – the Hunter Wellingtons and the power trench. Oh Blimey, that’s just splendid!
European Fashion Trends – The Scandis
Swedish fashion mimics the Swedish lifestyle to its core, and at times this can be anything but ordinary. Walking through the streets of Stockholm, three thoughts will undoubtedly cross your mind. The style is either: (1) extremely high fashion that screams of designer labels, (2) so different that it can be only called “fashion” in certain situations, or (3) just plain weird and disastrous.
Sweden is home to some of the biggest names in fashion, such as Acne, Filippa K, Gant, Tiger of Sweden, J. Lindeberg, Nudie Jeans, and the ever popular H&M.
Given the variety of different home-grown styles, you can’t blame the Swedes for mixing, matching and incorporating chic, hipster and classy all into a single outfit. In essence, I would claim that Swedish fashion is the definition of European fashion – weird, classy, and just plain strange. Come to think of it, it’s not just the clothes that make Swedes a hybrid of fashion and controversy; it’s also the hair. Oh the Swedish hair, just look at the man in yellow pictured below. These guys use more hair products than Heidi Klum at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Enough said.
While exploring the posh Stockholm neighbourhoods of Stureplan or Kungsträdgården, you will notice women in classy outfits with perfectly polished nails and designer shades, alongside men in colourful pieces of attire.
Don’t forget Converse Chuck Taylors. Those seem to be just as popular here with the woman as with the men. But then again, who can blame them? After all, Stockholm’s most luxurious store, Nordiska Compagniet, sells everything from stationary, Nike trainers, crystals vases and even uncle Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel collection. Let’s not forget the Hermes boutique on the main floor. I have had my eye on a certain Hermes bracelet since I learned how to say “Hej, jag heter Sthephany. Jag kommer från Kanada”.