Swedish Architect fashion!

[BillBaileysBum]

Someone used this phrase on a S&B thread the other day and it made me laugh, but it’s exactly what I’ve been looking for.

I’ve lost two stone so far in lockdown and I’m hoping to lose one more before returning to the office. I’ll need to buy some new work outfits so I want to start thinking about that now to inspire me through the final stone.

My work style is “aspiring Swedish architect”! - what I mean by that is fairly classic/smart shapes with an “edge” somehow- an asymmetry or something else. I generally wear blacks/greys/navys to work but now I’m lighter I’m willing to embrace other colours. It’s a corporate workplace- no jeans, trainers or hoodies etc.

Anyone got any ideas of brands I can start watching?

I do like a resin necklace but then I've not watched GBBO in the Prue era! Oliver Bonas has a lot of that kind of necklace as well as Cos (as if that needs saying).

Re: shoes, I mostly wear trainers/Birkenstocks etc but if Vagabond did women's shoes in my size I'd buy all my smarter stuff there. It's Swedish, obviously.

@BillBaileysBum You've been to the world's coolest public library in Helsinki then?

How about Marimekko? Not just the collaborations with Uniqlo, but their own clothes: www.marimekko.com/eu_en/ this might not give the UK page, but there is one.
They are not cheap, but the shapes and colour combinations are quite interesting and it’s not all the unikko print (the one with the flowers).

@LoeliaPonsonby

I know what you mean but to paraphrase a poster on here, it’s a fine line between Swedish architect and Soviet bloc dental nurse

A PP has already covered the good shops.

The collection labelled Stockholm in Other Stories has some very Acne Studios like items. The collections labelled Paris and LA less what you are looking for 🤣

cos, arket, and check out Monki for boxy shirts and oversized shirt dresses. they look fab over some straight leg ankle grazing trousers and very reasonable ££.

I’m a Monki fan and you’re absolutely right about the way to style it @MrDarcysMa. I’m currently wearing a pink and back striped Monki T-shirt, it’s well cut, really nice weight cotton and cost a tenner. They do good sales too.

@botemp

Architect here, not Swedish though, although I must say I find the Swedish bit odd as they're not considered to be all that interesting in the world of architecture. Denmark is more the scandi country when it comes to renowned architecture. Sorry, not relevant, I know.

Anyhow, those that wear the stereotypical 'architect' look tend to wear mostly Cos, Uniqlo, some arket and monki. Filippa K, Theory and Vince if they want to spend a bit more. Usually camper shoes, the last conspiracy boots or vans/vejas. It's generally those that don't want to stand out for their clothing all that much and blend in with giant headphones on their head.

Architects with a love of fashion tend to have a basic collection from the above and wear choice pieces and/or accessories from the following brands:

Studio Nicholson
Margaret Howell
Jil Sander
Marni (often from at least ten years ago)
(Old) Céline
Helmut Lang
Acne Studios
Proenza Schouler
Rick Owens
Ann Demeulemeester
Haider Ackermann
Comme des Garçons
Yohji Yamamoto
Issey Miyake Pleats Please
Armani suits (especially those who are petite)
Raf Simons
Maison Margiela

I'm probably forgetting quite a few, but essentially the designers that are conceptual/foreward thinking and/or very technical and craft focused. Cut, form, material, innovation, they're the overlapping principles between the disciplines and esssentially what catches the eye.

Having worked for Fritz Hansen for a time, I will say this is all absolutely spot on!

It’s rather remarkable that out of Scandinavia, Sweden is the least interesting country for architecture, fashion and furniture. However, thank so to IKEA, everyone thinks they’re more design-led than they are! (Also, and fittingly, a Swede, Yngve Ekstrom, did ‘invent’ flat pack furniture so it’s only right that Sweden leads on this!)

@Alsohuman I also wear one of the monki oversized denim shirt dresses open as my summer coat. It started off as a dress but then I got too fat to comfortably fasten it !

someone was asking for an insta example upthread..... try Alexis Foreman (formerly stylememos)

[quote MrDarcysMa]@Alsohuman I also wear one of the monki oversized denim shirt dresses open as my summer coat. It started off as a dress but then I got too fat to comfortably fasten it ![/quote]
I do that with a Kin denim dress. I can still do it up though - sorry! Kin’s a really good shout for the unstructured, slightly Japanese look.

‘Soviet dental nurse!’ 😂

I got rid of a Cos top which was really flattering, but l felt like l was in medical scrubs. And I’m a teacher, and one kid asked me if l was going into an operation.

So it went on ebay!

She usually wears with shite tennis shoes or flat trainers.

i must clarify i actually meant WHITE trainers lol

This is also totally my look which I would also describe as "edgy gamine" - quite masculine style but with edgy shapes and details.

I get the stuff from Cos, Kin, some Jigsaw. I lust after Arket but the prices are intimidating. I have been considering some of the more structured and unusual pieces at the Fold too, although frankly god know when I'll grace an actual office again. I am 5'2" and wear an 8 so I do struggle sometimes with some pieces, especially from Kin and TOAST, completely drowning me. I've never managed to find anything from TOAST that worked for my proportions. The styling service at John Lewis has been good for digging out unexpected gems though (hopefully they'll be back soon).

I'm currently wearing a monki thick cotton oversized shirt dress and thinking of you all

Would never have thought to wear it undone as a coat! Definitely trying that.

I dream of wearing ten years ago Marni... Sadly all those designers are way past my price range. Hence the monki!

Sorry jumping on your thread to say @LoeliaPonsonby I adore your username, he should have married Lil.

Joining in...I need some style inspiration!

So having been all snooty about & Other Stories the other day I've just gone and placed an order for a dress/ blazer/ straw hat even though the sale bag I went onto the site for in the first place had sold out by the time I got to checkout. All from the Stockholm collection obviously . This is the dress - I'm a sucker for that shape. Mind you I wouldn't have bought the (sold out) pink version, sleeves are too puffy. The black one is neater across the shoulders.

The black is identical the pink. They’ve just turned the sleeve up on the black one which makes it look neater!

It’s a great dress in either colour

I thought that too. I was wondering if I was losing it. Thank you for confirming I’m not @StellaRockafella. Yes, lovely dress.

Swede here. I’m interested in the views that out of the Scandi countries Sweden is the least interesting for architecture. I’d completely disagree with this statement.
Marimekko is a Finish brand, no one in Sweden would wear that. Far too many patterns for Swedes.
If anyone would be interested in Swedish design and home interior I’d recommend svenskt tenn and royal design. Lots of beautiful Scandi interior.
In terms of clothes, think block colours and simple cuts rather than fluffy sleeves and patterns. Oh and natural but luxurious fabrics.
Finally Swedes are practical so if you want the look more than anything you need to dress right for the occasion. It means a rain coat (Didrikson/Tenson) rather than a silk shirt with an umbrella. It means walk friendly shoes on your way to a party and then swap for indoor shoes when you arrive. You don’t trip around too far in heels you can’t walk in. It means you always iron your clothes and never have bra straps or underwear on display. It also means an outdoorsy slant on things. So bronzy natural makeup rather than a full face.
I’m living in the UK so feeling pretty rebellious in my flowery gear!

Thanks @Lndnmummy - always interested to hear the native perspective! That emphasis on practicality is a key part of the appeal, I think. Mind you I love a bit of Marimekko as well but obviously technically the Finns are Nordic rather than Scandinavian. The florals are definitely at the cross-section of where that aesthetic meets the English one.

As to the Other Stories dress... spent a while studying the garment pics online and from those at least it looks like the sleeve on the pink version is more ruched and the black are flatter to the seam. Hope so, or it'll have to go back (though at least that would save me a fair bit of money!)

@Lndnmummy interesting!
Have you watched Bonus Family on Netflix? It’s Swedish - the character Lucy is very different to how you’ve described, lots of floral, ditsy prints, shows her underwear. She is an artistic / boho type so maybe that’s why the costume department have dressed her a bit different to the Swedish norm 🤔

I lived in Stockholm as a student for a year in the 90's - nothing cool about the fashion back then, they were decades behind - I was quite shocked at how square they looked. Homewares though were very cool. How times have changed.

Sorry to abandon my own thread! Work went mad.

I love love LOVE that black dress. Please report back when it arrives Zinnia!