2 October 2009 , originally uploaded by academichic.Sources:
All remixed:
- Yellow ruffle top - Sam & Max, via TJMaxx
- Navy blazer – J.Crew
- Jean skirt – Urban Outfitters
- Knee socks – J.Crew
- Boots – Banana Republic
Endnotes:
This is what I wore last night when I met up with a childhood friend for drinks at a local Karaoke bar (If you think Karaoke is great in the US, just imagine English songs being sung by Romanian native speakers amidst disco lighting and fake smoke – it was awesome!).
Anyway, the moment I stepped out of my cab to greet said friend, she started laughing at me. She was not only laughing at me, but laughing at my outfit to be precise. Apparently, boots worn in October (when there’s no snow on the ground) with knee-high socks is not at the height of fall trends in Romania. This was confirmed when she made me show my legs to a friend of hers and they were met with a similarly bemused yet confused expression.
So I guess style isn’t always universal and knee-high socks with boots is not exactly a “timeless” combination. But I still stand by it and think it’s a great transitional weather go-to.
Later, when I returned home and checked our site, I felt oddly relieved to see E.’s post and know that somewhere in the world my Fall look made sense.
I guess some trends are just lost in translation… S.
Well, I’m happy to report that knee length boots have made several appearances in suburbs of Greater Tokyo starting a month ago. I mean to make you feel less lost. Do I succeed?
My friend was quite confused about my knee socks and boots combo the other day as well, but only because she had thought about it a few times and decided it probably wouldn’t work.
Well I think you look great!
Well, it definitely makes sense stateside. Looks wonderful!
How funny that a perfectly chic look in the States is giggle-worthy over in Romania!
Your story made _me_ giggle. I had a similar response from my cousin when I wore a layered outfit (short sleeves over long) on a visit to Brasov several years ago. Like your friend, she was puzzled mainly over its practicality: wouldn’t you now have to wash two shirts instead of one? It reminded me — and still does — to think through my fashion choices from more than just the “look” angle. It hasn’t stopped me from wearing layers, but I do try to layer in such a way as to get the most wear out of each before they go into the laundry, for instance.
Interesting, I always figured it was a classic look, too. I love the outfit! I wore high boots with knee socks the first chilly day in Chicago :)
Great outfit! I love the yellow shirt with the jacket and the boots and socks.
I am gla dyou stuck to your guns – the outfit looks great. Maybe you coudl start a trend in Romania. Someone has to be first!
Love your look, your travel diary, and the site in general…
Now to the reaction you got on the latest outfit, and speaking as a Romanian who lived for 6 years in the US and currently lives in Munich: I think the most giggle-worth factor for practical Romanians would be wearing the boots with no tights! If it is cold enough to feel comfortable wearing boots in non-AC buildings, it is usually too cold to go tightless :P. I guess the bareleg look during fall and winter months is less common generally in continental Europe than in the US. May have to do with walking/biking and depending on public transportation more… Or with trying to squeeze in as much sandal wear as possible (especially in Transilvania, where summers never seem warm enough or long enough). Looking forward to reading your future adventures in Romania and Germany.
So was it just because of the socks that they found it odd? If you’d worn the boots with socks that were shorter and not visible, would that have been fine by their standards?
I think it looks great and so funny that they thought otherwise! It’s going to be fun for you to see how many times that happens over the year. Do you think your style will start adapting to German standards while you’re there?
You look wonderful, to my stateside eyes. How odd that boots would be considered only winter wear- is that the idea there? I’m always fascinated by the little cultural differences and the ideas behind them. If you get a chance, I hope you can explore this more with Romanians- exactly when is it “ok” to bring out boots? Can they only be worn with tights (no bare legs)?
I think it would be fun to show them some fashion blogs and get more reactions to our clothes. And- if you find a fashion blogger in that part of the world, please let us know!
Thank you for posting- so interesting!
Your look makes 100% sense to me too :0)
That’s so interesting! I was just thinking how great you looked, especially the socks peeking out. I would have worn a similar outfit in Romania and I would have been similarly surprised at anyone thinking it was so hilarious!
Thanks for your feedback, everyone!
@Stefi, you got it quite right! I think the problem is in the incongruity of boots (for cold weather) and bare legs (sign of warm weather) and for some reason this paradoxical approach to dressing is lost on my friends here.
I can’t speak for all of Romania, I’m in a relatively small town and trends/styles do vary between urban and more rural settings. I’d be curious to see if people in Brasov or Bucharest would have the same reaction to this trend. S.
Some trends are definitely lost in translation. In my case is sandals with tights/socks. Here it makes no sense at all, but I keep being weirded out at how much it is done in the northern hemisphere. I find it completely impractical.
Sometimes I feel that way in the states! A look I see that works so well in one part of the country, when I attempt it back home just seems to go flop. That’s the joy of fashion. It is so Interpretative.
I love the lighting in these photos! The background looks shadowless and surreal, like a stage backdrop. I hope your friends are beloved enough for them to be able to get away with such unmannerly behaviour! I’m neither in Europe nor America, and I think you look great – I am especially diggin’ on your skirt.
I’m glad you posted about this “lost in translation” problem. I’m spending the year in Barcelona, which has its own, very particular, hippy dippy trippy style. The other day I tried wearing a fitted, button-up/collared short sleeve striped shirt, with structured black knee-length shorts, and completely stood out. People here like very loose, flowing, and of course very colorful/multi-patterned fabrics. And that’s just not my style…
I would definitely wear a look like that here in New Zealand!
Cute story about the boots sans tights. Just for the record, here in Holland in spring and fall the boots-with-bare-legs-look crops up, but then the women here wear boots almost all year round since the climate is on the cooler side.
Ksenia, we should trade places, lol. I find that Dutch women generally like more structured, streamlined clothes in neutral colors and my American wardrobe, with a fair number of girly Anthropolgie-heavy embroidered and beaded tops in stronger colors stand out here.