Do you live in fashion Siberia?

[Iva]

I do definately,i just live in a small town with a butchers and bakers and stuff,absolutely no clothes shop to speak of really.
I don't think i particularly stand out in a major way but i like to think i have an edge over most of the generic kids in my school haha. I enjoy clothes but having to go to school and being skint kind of limits my wardrobe right now.

 

[lola belle]

I live in fricken Stouffville, Ontario where my fellow high schoolers hobbies are driving their pickup trucks to cow fields in the middle of the night where they go cow tipping and gathering the magic mushrooms that grow in sh*t. I live in worse than fashion Siberia. I live in fashion Alcatraz, isolated from anyone who doesn't consider flannels and Sorel boots to be high fashion. I basically live in a Jeff Foxworthy routine. Someone asked me once if I got my bag (which happens to be a Balenciaga) at the mall, and when I said no, she asked me, I swear to god, "well where else could you have bought it?" And when I said Holt Renfrew they had NO IDEA what I was talking about. Thinking about it practically reduces me to tears.

 

[OpheliaLives]

Well, New Zealand has it's good moments and designers etc etc

But we seem to like trailer trash/paris hilton dressing FAR too much. Supre is not helping the matter.

I try my best, I really do (well, usually) but on my budget, and with my options, it gets a bit tricky sometimes.

I want London to move here. Since the chances of me moving there in the forseeable future are depressingly low

 

[uliart]

I live in Bowie, Maryland. Not much style going on here. Standard stuff like american eagle and old navy. I try to be original by shopping at small unknown stores and thrift shops. I also only wear jewelry from other countries, mainly west africa, so I can look a little different,

 

[uliart]

I live in Bowie, Maryland. Not much style going on here. Standard stuff like american eagle and old navy. I try to be original by shopping at small unknown stores and thrift shops. I also only wear jewelry from other countries, mainly west africa, so I can look a little different,

 

[aerin]

I have been living in "Siberia" for 3 years now! I come from San Francisco but went to the boonies of Davis for college so I definitely know what you are talking about!

I love dressing fashionably and watching people stare. But there are times when I feel like I shouldn't wear something because it's too impractical and even though no one is actually going to say anything, I can *feel* what they're thinking and I just don't want to deal with it and let that get me down. At the same time, it's kind of nice sometimes, especially when schoolwork gets me so busy that I have no time or energy to be fashionable. I can do the jeans and t-shirt uniform everyday and no one would care because they are all dressed that way!

 

[Joyeux]

Oh I live in absolute fashion Siberia. I hate it. I still dress in clothing that I find beautiful and always try to do my best,because I do it mainly for myself.

but the comments I get.... "You must spend a lot of money on clothes" "How do you walk in those shoes?" "You are always wearing something new" "YOU are smart today!". "I don't know anyone else who has so many bags".

I totally agree!!! Everyone is so boring in the Netherlands: jeans, shirt and flat shoes. Everything has to be functional over here. I'm considered weird because I never look like that. I never tell people about the clothes, shoes and bags I scored, simply because they don't understand. I once bought a brilliant pair of Marc Jacobs boots on eBay and told my best friend about it, her reaction was: Who is Marc Jacobs?

Anyway, I get those same questions, and my reaction is always that I rather spent my money on original clothes and shoes than things like a car or a new kitchen...

I try to survive fashion Siberia by buying lots of intenational fashion magazines (for inspiration) and once in a while I go to London or New York.

 

[Dark Princess]

Reykjavik is fashion siberia although it's moving closer to hotter places. There are lots of (well comparatively considering the size of the city) little designer shops. And shops that sell interesting used clothing are multiplying fast. But closer to the upper end of the scale there is not much to choose from, there's prada, max mara, then there is hugo boss and a shop just opened selling gucci and fendi bags. That's about it though. Most fashionable people here shop in London though.

Unfortunately I can't afford frequent shopping trips to London so I do the best I can mixing Zara and the like with used stuff.

 

[Erin]

I sometimes think it's better to be in fashion siberia

I can't agree.

I grew up in Iowa (state in the U.S., for those unfamiliar...), and the state is highly touted for having farms and growing corn. In fact, those assumptions get a little tiring...

Though it's true that you can stand out better among the unfashionable if you choose to be fashionable... I grew up NOT learning about fashion, as a daughter to parents who grew up in the area as well (unconcerned with fashion, but of course, still had a desire for nice appearance). In a place where AE and Gap ruled, that look became acceptable and looked good to me and everybody else. In high school I had my Docs and AE jeans and whatnot. But once I started visiting Chicago later in high school, I became interested in fashion. It took shipping out from fashion siberia to realize that I had a passion for fashion (excuse the rhyme), and that there were other places where people dressed nicely, creatively...

But I have to admit, going home to Iowa for the Holidays and whatnot is a breath of fresh air. Where a place isn't concerned so much with fashion, it shows you that there are other things in life to focus on... and that feels nice sometimes. Because the fashion world can almost feel somewhat competitive, even if it is to be good-natured...

 

[susie_bubble]

^Point taken. That's why I used the word SOMETIMES!

Obviously...it's harder to nurture a passion for fashion in 'fashion siberia' but it is also true that you woulden't become consumed by fashion there.

At least you have the best of both worlds! Going back and forth between fashion central and fashion siberia definitely has it's appeal for me.

 

[twilight fairy]

Mm..I see the appeal of fashion siberia but trust me, you get frustrated from not having the ability to express yourself much more than the frustration of not standing out enough.
When I go London shopping, it's amazing..I can actually buy what I want..not what I am obliged to buy because there's no other choice. I can actually develop and experiment and not follow the trends. I could barely duck past the boho trend this Summer because there's what - 4 shops here? - and they're all trendy.

 

[eternity]

i live on a small island state and even if i could afford high fashion i wouldn't be able to buy it. high end brands are simply not sold here we have a few chain stores stocked with mass produced, done to death 'looks' (this summer has been awash with gypsy skirts etc). you can get higher end cosmetics such as Chanel, Dior and Lancome but that's about it. to give you an idea, my town only just got Supre and it's considered by many as a fashion mecca if you are selective you can craft together a few half-decent looks from this store, but ONLY if you're selective [ Supre.com look for yourself]

luckily i'm currently holidaying in the UK and the shopping here is blowing my mind *wishes for more money*

 

[Erin]

At least you have the best of both worlds! Going back and forth between fashion central and fashion siberia definitely has it's appeal for me.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[DENiSSA]

my town doesnt even have a mall but that's besides the point..i go to a school where no one really appreciates fashion and ALMOST EVERY girl is wearing abercrombie or hollister..it's hard for me to sometimes wear what i want but i always find that comfort when i go to the city/ny or just to the mall

 

[lumy_]

Reykjavik is fashion siberia although it's moving closer to hotter places.

the last years I've kept seeing articles on how hot reykjavik is, how trendy all the ppl are, and how designers "try out" a trend there, as it's so small and ppl are so fashionable that you can easily (and quickly) see if a trend will catch on.... or something like that!

 

[ultramarine]

I self-declare the winner -or looser- of this thread ...

I live in San Jose, Costa Rica (Actually Alajuela...but its close to San Jose).

Reasons why:

*I live on a frikking third world country ... the odds of seeing a person sport even fake LV on main street are the same to see a Concorde jet land in any part of the whole country.

*We're so poor, we mostly manufacture ... ie, Abercrombie and Old Navy and some of the NOT-Upscale brands have their factories here ... and even tho we manufacture .. there isnt a single GAP or American Eagle or H&M in this country ...

*Once I bumped into a girl who wore a Pucci skirt and another time I saw a guy on a gay bar wearing an Hermes twilly ... that's as close as I've gotten to any designer anything on this God-forsaker land ...

*With the average costarican making $200 a month .. cna you imagine the clothes people wear?

Ok ... now the PRO's ....

*Because of tFS and solely of tFS ... I've developed a reputation as a "connoisseur de la mode" .. and actually, I've been payed as a personal shooper and have helped set up bussiness and contribute on articles as well as campaigns ...

*Stop the BS! You know it if you live in fashion siberia ... you're THE trendsetter ... people are so behind they can not believe how light-years ahead are you from everyone ... you're adored and envied

*Inspiration comes from the weirdest of places ... I made my friend an obi sash out of this gorgeous upholstery fabric we saw ... inspiration? A cab with original seats from the 70's ... another great inspiration is history ... you'll go mad on the museums and native american ones are FABULOUS for jewelry

*You're confident ... people who are tourists will immediately approach you because you obviously stand out ... and SHOCK! ... thanks to tFS you're even ahead of inhabitants of major fashion cities.

So smile, people!

There's a cure!

PS . The trendsetter thing .. can be a headache ... people whoa re not familiar with new trends always find a way to f*ck things up

 

[electricladyland]

no, i don't...oh wait yes i do...

 

[QuirkyCool]

I totally agree!!! Everyone is so boring in the Netherlands: jeans, shirt and flat shoes. Everything has to be functional over here. I'm considered weird because I never look like that. I never tell people about the clothes, shoes and bags I scored, simply because they don't understand. I once bought a brilliant pair of Marc Jacobs boots on eBay and told my best friend about it, her reaction was: Who is Marc Jacobs?

Anyway, I get those same questions, and my reaction is always that I rather spent my money on original clothes and shoes than things like a car or a new kitchen...

I try to survive fashion Siberia by buying lots of intenational fashion magazines (for inspiration) and once in a while I go to London or New York.

I love it when I read Dutch Elle or Marie Claire's assessment of the new season looks,and the question is posed: "Could you wear it on a bicycle?" "Het wordt moeilijk fietsen!"

Too cute!

 

[folami]

I live in place, where different clothes or style is not accept. In my country the most of people wear pink, short skirts, are made in solar, and loves tips etc. And when you don't wear like other people you are totally freak (??)

 

[Joyeux]

"Could you wear it on a bicycle?" "Het wordt moeilijk fietsen!"