I thought I would pass  along this invitation I just received for a film which will probably appeal to all hardcore denim-addicts living in or near Stockholm.

Note: You have  to RSVP to info@americanvintage.com  to see the film.

Check out the arranger’s website  for exotica like Boy Scout shirts, Pendeltons and Western-style shirts (for your inner Cowboy).

Swedish brand Acne, which as usual boycotted Stockholm and presented its new collection in London, has a fine sense of what’s hot, and what’s not.  Metallic and padded fabrics, neon green and brilliant red, padded fabrics and a high waist are some of the features of it’s autumn/winter ready-to-wear women’s collection. (click twice to see larger image).

She did a clothing exchange at the art fair

 There was so much to see and experience at “Supermarket: The Stockholm International Art Fair— that one could easily suffer from sensory overload. Clever ideas, colorful and engaging conceptual art projects provided great entertainment value, but not necessarily a big emotional impact.

One clever idea was the “Foreign Exchange” project presented by the QWERTY art collective of Denmark.

A variety of garments were hanging on racks, some of which were created by the artists.  They don’t cost money: Instead, you exchange your own clothing for the object of your desires. That is what Stockholm performance artist Tora Botwid did, shortly before I accosted her with my phone camera.

New Nordic Man: Photo: Martin Svalander/imagebank.sweden.se

The first-ever “Strut: The Fashionable Mom Show” took place earlier this week at Lincoln Center in New York City near the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week’s tents. Moms walked down the catwalk pushing strollers or proudly showing off the swelling bellies of pregnancy, according to a news story about the event by wire service AP.

To stage a runway show using Mom-models wearing garments suitable for every day or for a cocktail party strikes me as a step in the right direction, away from the cult of celebrity and elitist notions of fashion as something  reserved only for people of the “right” age, with the “right” bodies.

Why not take the New York City example one step further, with a Fashionable Dad Show? Mothers  and fathers in Sweden can share up to 16 (!) months of paid parental leave.  In Sweden and elsewhere in the Nordic region,  many young men think taking care of a kid full-time is cool.  Therefore, this is the ideal place to put Dads on the catwalk, putting a positive spotlight on the notion of the New Nordic Man.

Dads of the World—lets unite, be proud and strut down the runway with our strollers.

I like fashion brands which take pride in their roots.

 Erik and Emilia,  a pair of designers based in Umeå—about an eight-hour drive  north of Stockholm–  name their  E&E sunglasses after the villages, towns and beaches which inspire them.  That’s why some of their frames are called Dorotea, Boden and Jokkmokk. 

The idea of giving products Swedish names worked pretty well for master-entrepreneur Ingvar Kamprad, the dude who furnished the whole world with IKEA furniture.

Here is a peek at the new E&E collection, which will be hitting store shelves in May. 

A linguistic note:  Wicked Swedish slang for the cords some people attach to eyeglasses which hang around the neck to prevent glasses from getting lost is “senilsnören,” which literally means “senile strings.”

"Winter Threads" exhbit, Timo Hedberg

There is, to recycle the title of an old Led Zeppelin tune,  a whole lotta art going on.  This weekend art lovers in the Swedish capital can gorge themselves on not one but TWO huge art extravaganzas.  One is called Market, and takes place at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts.  The second is called Supermarket, and takes place in the House of Culture.

Both charge entry fees, unfortunately, so be warned.  At MARKET, located at Fredsgatan 12, one can see selections from 42 of the leading art galleries in the Nordic region.  The Supermarket art fair held at House of Culture (Kulturhuset) has an even broader geographical base, with art from 70 art galleries from all over the world.

If you visit Kulturhuset, you might want to check out a free exhibit next door in the Lava gallery called  “Winter Threads.”

 To enter the contest and have a chance to win a free trip to Ibizia, all you have do is click on the website http://www.nn07.com/ and answer eight simple questions. 

NN. 07 is a fashion label created by  Danish lads  Ulrik Pedersen and Victor Lindh.  The NN stands for No Nationality.

The Pussy-a-Go-Go club, based in Stockholm’s Nalen music venue, was the host Friday to a kick-ass performance by Katla, a young unsigned Stockholm rock band.   Alex and I had a great time at the concert.  Check out our video!

Mobile phones a common accessory

Stockholmers took advantage of a much-appreciated sunny day on Sunday for  a pilgrimage to the frozen lakes.  

The clothing style in favor on Liljeholmen Lake was more functional than fashionable, though some nifty retro-baby carriages could be viewed.   Insulated pants in dark blue or black are not necessary, but quite wonderful.

Popular means of locamotion included cross-country skis, skates, and  strolling.   Safety-minded Swedes typically had their kids in helmets.

Photo essay: Alexander Farnsworth

Photo: Dmitry Valberg

Burgandy and black were some of the colors featured in the Fall 2012 shoe collection of Helene Westbye in a showing held Thursday during Oslo Fashion Week. 

Westbye, who defines her look as “rock n’ roll with a feminine twist,  presented different styles of pumps, ankle boots and boots.  “The pumps look skillfully crafted,” noted writer Silje Sjulstad,  “and they seem sturdy and easy to walk in– which is a must here in Norway.”