Last weekend, I had in mind to shoot some streetwear-inspired pictures, to prove that my taste stretches a bit further than pink brocade skirts, pink dresses and then maybe some black dresses for variety. But when others saw the clothes I had brought to the shoot, the universal reaction was: ‘THIS is what you call streetstyle??’

I don’t know, yes? No? Shouldn’t I? I guess my choices were surprising because many people associate street with something sporty and casual. And it certainly can be that. But for me, it’s mostly about boldness and a raw and exaggerated version of yourself. It’s who you cannot be at work or don’t even want to be all the time, because it’s intense and unpretty. There is also something about the anonymity of the streets that encourages creativity – one reason I like London so much is that no matter how I dress, there is always someone crazier, trendier, whatever-er than me. That’s liberating.

Watching the street tribes in big cities is one of my favourite things. But the last thing street style should be is copying the street style of someone else (although we are of course always borrowing things and this is how it should be). You need your own street and if you do not belong to a tribe, there is always the Tribe of You.

Looking at it like that, my see-through H&M Studio coat with what I think are golden cactuses makes perfect sense. It’s not a work-friendly piece, but I adore it and I feel it’s somehow very me. I was in fact congratulated by the staff at H&M when I bought it, as there apparently aren’t too many people who wear things like that. Astonishing.

As a side note, I do recommend checking out the Studio things by H&M (not sold in every store, though, and more expensive than the regular offerings). They have been making some really interesting things for several seasons now and in addition to the cactus-coat, I have also just bought a pair of silk shorts with pink flamingoes. These also qualify as street-wear in my book. And if you are one of those people who think proper streetwear should be sporty and comfortable, no worries – I plan to wear them with trainers.

Pictured above:
– coat by H&M studio
– bra top by H&M
– trousers by Zara
– underwear by Calvin Klein
Photo by Caroline Sada, make-up by Lana Vallo

Pictured below:
– a sheet mask by Mizon
– hair crayons in Rosé and Bruised Violet by Bleach London
– Primary Yellow eye pencil by Mac
– Illamasqua cream blusher in Laid
– Bandit by Piguet (this one is from 1944, but what this green leather scent lacks in youth, it makes up in attitude)