Wonderful And Warm.

In the last month, due to the very cold weather we are experiencing, I have been very happy for three items of clothing, which have made it possible for me to function in the freezing temperatures.

The first one is a pair of incredibly warm boots. They are not just comfortable, they are so very cute and so very me. I fell in love with them as soon as I saw them and simply had to have them. I bought them even though the cost was slightly more than I really could afford. Eventually it became a Christmas gift to myself. We are allowed those. The style seems to be inspired by the Inuit attire from Greenland, even though the fur is fake, they are incredibly cosy and warm.

The second is my H&M hat. So warm and perfectly matching my boots. It cost about $3; a real bargain and I love it.

The last - but not least - is my white fake fur coat, one of the most comfortable, warm and incredibly beautiful coats I have ever own. And the best part is that it was a gift from the Irishman. He brought it with him on his last visits and I yet have to understand how it could fit it in his carry-on luggage. He is an expert when it comes to packing.
I truly would have not been able to go through the winter without it.

Just Jeans.

I am experiencing a fashion crises again. I have those once in while, often when the seasons change. As a typical woman, I love clothes and I love the idea of putting together outfits that just work, because they are unusual in colours and style. Well, these days all I can decide on wearing with certainty each morning are my jeans. I wonder how many people out there do not own at least one pair of jeans. Even more interesting would be to know, how many do. This must be by far the most successful piece of attire ever created. Sturdy, durable, comfortable and endlessly fashionable.

The word "jeans" comes from the French phrase bleu de Gênes, literally meaning the blue of Genoa. Jeans fabric, or denim, originated independently in two places: the French town of Nîmes, which denim owes its name to; and in India, where trousers made of denim material were worn by the sailors of Dhunga, which came to be known as dungarees.

Traditionally, jeans are dyed to a blue color using indigo dye. Initially, blue jeans were work trousers worn by factory workers during World War II. Popularized by Hollywood and movies such as the Rebel Without a Cause, blue jeans became a symbol of youth rebellion during the 1950s. As the decade passed, the relaxed atmosphere of the 60's made wearing of blue jeans more acceptable and by the 70's, they became a general fashion, at least for informal wear.

I myself have owned many pairs of jeans in my life and many different brands and types as well. Even today I wear them almost every day. When I was in my early twenties, with the arrival of Cable TV to Scandinavia in the 80's, Levi's sultry and sensual commercials made jeans an absolutely sought after item. These adds even launched carriers of young actors and performers, such as Brad Pitt and Nick Kamen.

The below is a favorite Levi's commercial of mine from that decade. Featuring a Levi's classic with a classic tune and sensual theme, it feels as timeless as a pair of jeans.

"Bohemian Style".

Considering that I have mentioned the word Bohemian in my yesterday post, I though I would elaborate a little bit on the term Bohemian Style, which is a favorite style of mine.
Or I guess, the only style of mine.

I love everything about it, particularly in the more modern form, where it - at least to me - embraces the free thinking of unconventional living, in harmony with nature, focused on an artistic mindset. Both in fashion and home decoration, it is the design that appeals to all my senses of a romantic dreamer, with its incredible colours, natural fabrics and an eclectic, sensual femininity in every aspect.

I bet most of you are very familiar with the term Bohemian, but few of you know its origins. Initially a French word, the term bohémien was a common term for the Romani people of France, who had reached Western Europe via Bohemia, the country of my origin. It became a term used in the early 19th century when artists and creators began to concentrate in the lower-rent, lower class gypsy neighborhoods. The alternative lifestyle of Gypsies inspired a movement, that later came to encompass almost an adventurous existence, with at times eccentric thinking of like-minded people, such as artist, actors, musicians or writers.

Of course, today the term Bohemian or Boho has been adapted to be used in describing almost anything that defines a laid back, unhampered style, such as fashion (with the term Boho-chic), interior design, jewelry making, art, crafts, literary works or music. In the past, it has been associated with writers and numerous artist, such as the Pre-Raphaelites, my favorite art movement of all.

As for my own affection for this carefree style, I guess it started early on, when I already as a child became fascinated by the vivid multitude of colours of the flaring fabrics of long dresses of the seventies. I have always been allured by anything that was aesthetically pleasing and I guess, tried to also convey that into the romantic pictures I drew as a young teenager. They became a hit among my peers and I drew countless images of ethereal looking girls with flowing wild hair and dreamy expression, all of which I gave away as gifts to my friends.

As I grew older, I was drawn to almost anything eclectic and while living in the US, my personal style developed in the direction of almost a hippie like fashion. Coincidentally, the nineties brought a revival of the 60's style, with wide pants and loose tunics with flower-power patterns. I enjoyed immensely the travels I did in the Four Corners states, where the crafts and jewelry of the Native Americans was readily available. To this day I wear rings, earrings and bracelets that are hand made in this part of the world.

My home is filled with colours and patterns as well. The style is wild and free, very much like my personal outlook. I like to think of my home as a safe heaven, always cosy and inviting, perhaps never stylish or modern and rarely organized. My visitors often tell me, that they experience a feeling of well being and relaxation, when staying at the house. The airy space and the wide windows, with mesmerizing views of nature might have much to do with that. But perhaps some of it can be attributed to the vivid colours and the unrestricted freedom of the Bohemian Style.

H&M.

Since I became fashion conscious, that is since my early teens, I have loved the fashion of the H&M. The full name is Hennes & Mauritz AB and it is a Swedish clothing company. In Sweden we refer to the store as "Hennes", but I believe in the rest of the world it is know by the H&M initials.
Hennes is a Swedish word that actually means "hers" in translation, as it was originally selling exclusively women's apparel.

“Fashion and quality at the best price” is the company slogan and I have to admit that it lives up fully to this mission.
In all those years that I have been their faithful customer, they have manged to supply me with fashion that is not just hip, stylish and fun, but is possible to obtain to incredibly reasonable prices. No matter the age, one can find plenty of interesting clothes and jewelry in their stocks.
During the 90's, while living in North Carolina, I truly missed the fashion and style of my favorite store. Since my return back to Scandinavia about a decade ago, I am again a devoted fan and today my purchases are made solely on-line. Even though I occasionally visit the multitude of store in the city, the internet store is still my favorite place to shop.

This year, H&M introduced a new branch in their on-line shop, entitled "Home". Now, besides clothes, I can also purchase everything from sheets and towels to cutlery and china and decorations. Just like their fashion, the design for the home is anything from stylish, simple and elegant to items that are bursting with colours, with eclectic feel and patterns.
Soon, I indeed will find no more reasons to leave the house.

Vintage Stores and BookCrossing.

I have never been much for shopping at second hand stores. I always found them a bit creepy. The thought of wearing clothes that others have worn or even handling items that someone else has used was very distant to me. However, this all changed, when I met a book loving Irishman that introduced me to a new way of living, where recycling is an every day occurrence. He recently brought my attention to a delightful site perfect for anyone that loves books, called BookCrossing. Here members can share books freely, by leaving them at particular points in a city where they live, or in a foreign city to which they travel, for that matter, for someone else to pick them up. Making connection with people all over the world through books is such a very captivating idea.
Therefore today, anything vintage is intriguing to me. Of course, I have a somewhat romantic and very bohemian style, which makes it a bit easier. But nevertheless, I cannot wait to visit flea markets or any kind of stores dealing with re-used merchandise. Re-cycling things seems now so rewarding to me. Instead of throwing something away, I like the thought of it becoming useful in someone's hands or home.