My Style: Tine Andrea Storlos
Portrait: Courtesy of Tine Andrea Storlos
Which city has the best-dressed women?
That depends on what you are looking for. If you want minimalism, Stockholm is the winner. If you want colour, Milan is the place to go. Berlin is great when it comes to creativity and new approaches to fashion, while New York is best if you want to spot a trend.
Please describe your style in three words.
Classic, sporty and black.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
Following trends too literally. A lot of them do not suit everyone and it is important to choose your trends wisely.
Do you believe in role models?
Absolutely. While I don't share the same sense of style with everyone, I often get inspired and intrigued by the different expressions and personalities of other people. However, there is a fine line between being motivated and inspired by role models, and getting jealous and obsessed. Always focus on what you have at hand, not what others have. Role models are not supposed to make you feel bad.
What are your favourite fabrics?
Oh, that is a though one. I don't think I can choose between fabrics because all of them depend on how they are used in a garment. A minimalistic silk dress can look really nice in one way, but catastrophic in another. So I always go for what I think looks nice on me and feels good on my skin, even if it is a wool dress from Helmut Lang or a cotton top from H&M.
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
A bit of both I guess. I can be conservative in many ways; for example when it comes to dresses, I always choose to expose either my legs or arms, never both at the same time. In another sense, I can be bold using a great Dolce & Gabbana peplum dress with a pair of sneakers.
What are the rules in the way you dress?
Always feel comfortable; I never understood the point in wearing something that does not allow you to move around freely. If you want to stand out a little, pair your outfit with a more detailed accessory, like an interesting belt or shoes.
Celebrities and style...
Is something that needs to be discussed. Many celebrities have great style, but for a lot of others it's overrated. More often than not, a stylist often selects their outfits, and although they look exquisite, it's not their personal style anymore (even if they end up winning awards for being best-dressed). While celebrities and trends go hand in hand, we must not forget that real style is all about personal expression.
Name one garment that you can never have enough of?
Black trousers. I seriously have an issue.
A woman should always look like...
She just put something on casually. If you work too much on your outfit, you never feel good and it looks overworked. Since human beings are not telepathic, we usually check out a person's outfit first in order to assess who we are about to meet. Being comfortable is the key to confidence and confidence is the key to happiness.
Who taught you what you know about style?
I really don't know. But I did have a thing for shoes since I was little and I always wanted to play with shoes, not toys. I would cry for hours if I had to visit a toy store, but I'd be happy and silent if I could see some shoes. I know it sounds weird, but I found shoes relaxing in a way. Growing up, I always used my monthly salary on way too big shoes, just to expand the shoe collection I had in my room. It didn't take long for me to become the family's stylist. I could easily create three different outfits from the same skirt or top, even though some of them did not look that good.
How do you select your clothing every morning?
I wake up and drink my morning coffee. I then start to feel what kind of mood I'm in and select my outfit based on that feeling. There are days that I feel like I just want to wear a comfortable sweater and a pair of jeans and others where I am full of energy and wanting to be more edgy, so I might wear a nice dress with some heels. It's essential that I dress based on my mood.
What is your biggest regret?
Fashion regret? Not buying the Mulberry Lily bag in exotic tweed that was on sale in Copenhagen three years ago. And now it is impossible to get my hands on it. I still hate myself.
The three essential things a woman should know about style are...
Only buy something if you can wear it for the next two years. Never wear something if you really don't like it. Trends may be for everyone, but style is yours to keep. That pretty much sums up my shopping habits as well.
We will never see you wearing...
Nude stockings or white leggings.
Which new designers do you admire and why?
I think we should follow closely the Swedish brand Carin Wester; cool and masculine silhouettes, clean cuts and creative shapes. Very inspiring. I also admire the Norwegian brand Tom Wood for their raw aesthetics and minimalistic point of view.
Who is the most stylish person you have ever seen?
Brigitte Bardot and Hanneli Mustaparta.
What is the first thing you notice on a woman?
Her shoes. If the shoes are clean and in shape, I think of the person as structured. If the shoes are way over-used and should have been thrown out a year ago, I see it as a sign of laziness. And it's not about the price of the shoes; I have a pair of cool boots that I bought from the Salvation Army for almost nothing, but they are still in great shape. Just know the limits of usage.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
My Bally bag, a pair of velvet laced Givenchy heels, a camel coat with gold buttons which I got from my best friend's grandmother, and a perfect, pleated second hand skirt.
Which designer never fails to impress you?I am always impressed by Nicolas Ghesquiere's aesthetics. He never fails. And Dries Van Noten. Always fashion forward.
One article of clothing that a woman needs to pay close attention to is...
A fitted, long and belted coat. It was and it still is a true fashion piece.
Is comfort an enemy of style?
If you choose to only go for comfort, I think it is a fine line between great and disaster. If you add the casual in the mix, it can be a trust worthy friend.
Who would you like to recommend for My Style?
My friend Laberiane from the blog The Blab, a gorgeous French girl. Lucy De Boer from Lovely By Lucy. Inspiring and true to her style. And Marianne Theodorsen from The Styledevil. Her style is always so awesome.
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
A life without exploring the world is like reading a book with only one page.
