What Can We Learn From the Scandinavian Style?

This semester, I didn't go to Stockholm expecting my views for lifestyle and fashion to change. I thought I would notice good style, clean streets and nice people, nothing more. Well, I was wrong. What stayed with me was not what people were wearing, but how they approached to quality and long term durability for clothes, accesories and even technological devices. Oversized logos, attention seeking brands and a visible effort for impress was minimal among the people. During few days, I assumed they were still spending a lot of money to things, they just hide them. Instead, I saw coats, shoes and any other piece looking simple, almost anonymous yet undeniably well made. The quality was always beyond the quantity, people were not trend-driven. I want to share a philosophy for better understanding: Lagom, meaning “just the right amount,” is a simple but powerful symbol in Sweden, and fits the topic well.

Wealth Without Performance

Sweden ranks high in GDP constantly, though performing wealth is almost seems rude. When financial security is constant, it doesn't need to be announced. When the "system" is working well, people don't seem interested to show off. In many places, what you wear was meant to state: "Look at me, I made it", while here it whispers: "I'm fine, just move on." Meaning a quiet confidence that doesn't need an audience.

Confidence for Local Brands

Another thing I noticed was how Swedish brands were dominant in business districts and in the country's job market. Of course, international companies were still present, but it didn't feel overwhelming or limiting. The message I took from here was the trust building culture is one of the best in the world here. People weren't using local brands out of nationalism, instead, out of confidence. Relationship between the quality and loyalty perhaps one of the most close-knitted ones in the world. 

Reflection on Architecture

This philosophy isn't limited only for fashion and product, it is applied even to the skyline of the city. Visiting during the biting cold of winter, I noticed that the architecture followed the same principle: beauty through functionality. The buildings didn't screamed for attention with golden details. Instead, they offered a modest interior and a warm base in the harsh climate. It made me realise it is not a performance for others, it is a service to the person using the space. Big and shiny chandeliers were not in sight. They used small, warm lights all over the place to create an atmospheric contrast with the winter. 

The mark that stays was not "rejecting luxury", but seeing it from another perspective. The idea of a capsule wardrobe suddenly feels less like a trend, and more like a common sense. Back home, we find ourselves caught in a cycle for visibility, where our worth is valued by the brands we display. Applying this understanding for our lives in Türkiye doesn't mean a change for our vibrant culture, it means shifting the focus from how we look to how we live. In a world full of fast-consumption we should choose to take time for what we actually want to invest in.