Swedish Style Trends -2nd Edition

This is my second edition to the Swedish Style Trends since the first one seemed to be popular among my friends and family. Now I have had a little more time in the country and have been able to see even more!

This edition is based on not only the fashion trends that I have noticed  but also the trends that I have liked so much that I have made purchases!

Here are all trends that have made me bring out my wallet (Or Rob's):

1. Leather! 

My guess is that when you hear leather at first you think of a more dark and "hardcore" look, but, here, this is not the case. People wear leather pants casually, dressed up, with dark colors and with brights.

It is all about what you pair with leather that makes the look. But something to keep in mind is that leather is a look of confidence. When I was shopping, I looked for something that I knew I could feel comfortable wearing in Sweden and when I am back in the States. 

I went with a pair of leggings from H&M that is made out of normal stretch material in the front and back but  have a slimming leather strip along the side. (Similar to the ones shown here) I can wear these with a tee or pair them with a blazer for a more dressy look, which I love! 

2. Skirts & Dresses

As I mentioned with the leather trend, clothing is all about confidence and I think the Swedish women have tons of it. Women aren't afraid to wear skirts and dresses during all seasons, always paired with tights though in the cold months. They also aren't afraid to show off their curves with form hugging pieces. (Although I think most women here are fit because of all the walking they do!) 

I literally bought this whole outfit from H&M before I saw it on the website! I love the black skirt which again I can wear dressy or causally, like here with the stripped tee. It was also all purchased for a bargain at about $20 for the whole outfit!

The dress below was one of my first buys in Sweden and my husband definitely approved. The front has a high neckline but the low cut in the back is just sexy enough! If I want to cover up, once again, I can pair it with my black staple blazer. Don't forget to wear it with tights in the fall and winter!

3. Crop Tops and Open Necks

Another fun trend has to do with the top! While shopping in a jeans&clothes store (Yes, jeans&clothes is the name of the store), Rob and I noticed a lot of cropped and angled women's tops. I love this trend because I think it shows off just enough waist, which I think is one of my best features. It also creates an easy, almost boho, feeling.

The trend also includes open necklines for both women and men. Rob tried on a lot of really cool graphic tees with unique cuts and stitching on the back and side. We decided on a wide neckline with bright print work because it was like nothing he has at home.

Shopping has been a lot of fun while here in Sweden with different trends to explore! Many items are priced higher though, so we've found that if you are patient and look in the right places you can always find a good sale!

More to come the more I see!

The Pace of Time

There is the hustle of bustle of the United States and then there is the pace of the Europeans, who seem to value time in a different way.

Many Americans agree with the statement, "Time is money." At work, I completely agree. I am type A personality working in a time sensitive position. I work more hours because, to me, you work until the job is done. But one thing we, as Americans, struggle with is realizing that when you leave work, the pace of time should change. We need to cherish the time after work so that we can enjoy family and friends, take part in hobbies, and just love life in general.

What I see in Sweden is that time moves more slowly. No one here is ever rushing; they move at their own pace. At lunch, we dine at the Hotel and see many business lunches there. I've noticed that no one seems stressed in these occasions and no one is consistently checking their watches. Yes, most people here have smart phones, especially the iPhone, but it isn't their lifeline to the world as it is in the States.

Now, on the other side, when time is passing at your own pace, being prompt might not always happen. Rob and I have noticed in Sweden that if a person is suppose to be somewhere at a certain time, plan on them being there exactly as the clock changes or being late. For example, for Rob's basketball away games they have to be at the gym at say 8:00am because that is when the bus is suppose to leave. A majority will show up at 8:00am exactly, while in the States if we have an 8:00am leaving time for a game day bus, I'd be there at 7:40am.

As a final note and something to keep in mind: when time is all about productively, it isn't always appreciated. We need to remember to slow down and enjoy life whether it is at work, after hours, or on the weekend. Take a break for coffee and relax. Some of your best ideas could come from it!

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The Staring Contest

Does everyone remember when you were younger and playing the staring game? Either you had to stare at someone until one of you blinks and lose, they look away and lose, or start to laugh and lose.

Well I hate to admit it, but Rob and I often feel like the Swedish people are in a constant staring contest!

Both of us have noticed numerous times that people are staring at us. I don't mean this in a vain way, although if you asked my husband I am sure that he would quote something from Zoolander about being really, really, ridiculously good looking.

I know that people naturally look at others passing by, and Rob and I do happen to be more than a foot apart in size while speaking English in another country. Honestly, I understand curiosity.

BUT, and this is where the awkwardness lies, when you catch someone looking at you, you expect them to look away. That is not how it works here! They just keep staring.

You can see the height difference!

The other day in the grocery line a woman was standing in front of us. When Rob began to have a conversation with someone else, the woman turned around and began to stare at me. I was still looking forward and caught her. She continued to stare. I couldn't keep looking at her so I looked away. A minute later I look again, and she is still staring! Rob saw the whole thing happen.

Often when walking people will stare at us from in front and when passing will actually turn to continue to look. No one tries to hide it! To them there is no shame in it! Part of me thinks it's honest, and they aren't afraid to be caught, but most of me just feels uncomfortable. Should I wave or say hello?

Just an observation that Rob and I have had a laugh about and wanted to  share!

Here Comes the Bride

Everyone who knows me knows that I am a bit wedding crazy! I love everything about weddings: what they represent, the fashions, the planning, the beauty, and the uniqueness of each wedding. When talking to my friend Paulina in Sweden, I shared the details and planning process that I went through planning my wedding and she shared some interesting details about weddings here in Sweden too!

As a event planner myself, I may have a different perspective on weddings. Mix event planner with type A personality, and I can tell you that I was on top of every detail that went into the big day. I had multiple lists, one for a countdown, one for the bridesmaids, one for purchase arrivals, and definitely a spreadsheet for my budget! Can you image not being the one in control for this momentous occasion!?

Well in Sweden, people do things a little differently. At first you may think, ok well I know wedding planners take control of weddings so the bride doesn't freak out. I think wedding planners are great! They have insight, experience with creative ideas, and vendor relationships that most people don't. But still, that is not how it works in Sweden.

Being asked to be the Maid of Honor and the Best Man holds more weight than ever in Sweden. That's right, it's not the Bride or a wedding planner that makes the couples dreams come true, it's the Bridal Party, mainly being the Maid of Honor and Best Man. The couple trusts their friends to make their wedding day come true. Of course, the Bride still has direction, but the weight of the wedding lies on the shoulders of not just family, but friends.

This is such an interesting and unique trait to me, that I was shocked! I love my friends, but putting that sort of trust in them for my wedding day would be very hard. Paulina told me about her experience as a "wedding planner/Maid of Honor." She showed me how hard she worked and about how she wanted to make the day perfect for one of her best friends. It was something that she took great pride in.

Maybe the Swedish people are on the right track. When a person is your best friend, and has nothing to lose or gain from putting on the perfect wedding, maybe they are more invested than ever. I know that if I was in charge of my best friend's wedding, I would move mountains to make it perfect for her and make sure she got everything she dreamed of! It puts even more meaning behind the decision of having your best friend and/or family member standing beside you in support of a new marriage! 

Cheers to the Maid of Honor and the Best Man!

A special congratulations to David and Paulina who just got engaged this past holiday season! No one deserves better than you two!

Return to Sweden & Blogging!

I must apologize to my readers, my friends and family, for the long interval that I have not been blogging! As my last post reported, Rob and I took a wonderful trip to Stockholm before heading home for the holidays. Since then we have returned to Sweden, have been adjusting to the time changes, and Rob has been working hard on the basketball court.

I'll first share a bit more detail on the trip that Rob and I took to Stockholm because it was fantastic! Stockholm is a vibrant city that I am glad that we got the chance to explore. The first night, we arrived late after Rob's basketball game, which the team had won! We decided to walk a little bit around the city and had dinner at a fun Italian restaurant called Vapiano. At the restaurant you would approach a bar where they would make your food in front of you. Different from anything I have experienced, they gave each of us a card to have the bar swipe all of our purchases on. When we were done for the evening, we took the cards to the cashier area in the front and they tallied the costs.

The next day Rob and I walked the popular streets for shopping. We purchased a few items and continued to Old Town. The area was very cute, with old buildings and tourist shops. There is a small town square in the area and we were lucky to visit during a Christmas market. It was fun to be a part of! We also came back to Old Town for a romantic dinner, and from here we hopped back on a train to Nassjo and then to Copenhagen to catch our flight back to the States.

It was wonderful to be back home in the States. Although we were home for two weeks the time flew by way too fast! With Christmas and New Years, our time was full with celebration. Luckily, we were able to spend a lot of time with our families and visit some friends. Before we knew it, we were heading back to Sweden!

Since we have been here, Rob and I at first struggled to get adjusted to the time. Still we find ourselves staying up very late, but I have been able to wake up early still to work in the mornings. Not usually a night owl, it makes me want to take nap before dinner time! Problem with this is that if I do take a nap, I will never be able to fall asleep at night! I found it much easier to adjust to US time during our visit than coming back to Sweden.

It feels nice to be back in Nassjo. Although it is still hard to be away from family and friends, Rob and I have discussed how the town feels like another home. We feel at ease being here and getting back into our routine in Nassjo is a thing of comfort. Rob has played very well in his last two games and will be posting highlights on his blog. Be sure to check it out!

Now that we are feeling more settled, expect more blogs during the week! I just want to thank everyone who is supporting us and making this experience possible. We continue to ask for prayers of health, safety, and adventure!