INTERVIEW #45 THERESA SKJOLDEN
“It is about wearing your daily armor and feeling safe. That’s what I want to inspire and help other women with, to be themselves and feel joy.”
What’s your relationship with clothes?
That’s a big question. It’s about joy, relationship, feeling safe and happy. Expressing yourself. It is about wearing your daily armor and feeling safe. That’s what I want to inspire and help other women with, to be themselves and feel joy.
How would you describe your style?
Colorful, vintage and a bit of luxury. When I say luxury, I don’t mean brands or so on, luxury to me is a hint of gold and genuine fabrics like silk, wool and so on. My style is also rather playful, or I hope so. It’s supposed to be joyful.
How would you describe your closet?
A lot of colors! It’s tulle, silk, feathers and gold. In a practical way my closet is everywhere. My blazers are in one room, my coats and shoes are in a closet under the stairs and so on. It’s everywhere where I live! I also have my stage closet, so I have different closets.
“ In a practical way my closet is everywhere.”
But it’s organized, so it’s not messy. It’s organized by color, so first comes white, then yellow, orange, pink and so on. It’s like a rainbow. I also organized it based on category of the clothing item, so my blazers are in one area, my blouses in another, skirts, dresses and so on. I pick what item I would like to wear today, then I pick the color and the other clothes to match. It’s joyful when the closet is organized. It makes it more simple to choose your outfit.
What is a sustainable closet for you?
A sustainable closet is second hand, preloved and vintage. It’s about investing in something that you will use for 10 years to come. I don’t care about trends or so. Sustainability is about buying something you know you will use for years. I have clothes in my closet I bought 20 years ago, I can put it away for 2 years (because I’m bored) but then I bring it back, feeling like I’m wearing something new again. Sustainability is about style and when you know your style you will buy the right things because you know you are going to use it.
“Sustainability is about style and when you know your style you will buy the right things because you know you are going to use it.”
What do you think about the fashion industry?
It such a big question. I love to have a coffee and watch catwalks. I get really inspired by Chanel and so on. But isn´t it crazy that every season something new is coming? At the same time I get inspired but I also get sad. The big brands have a lot of power, they can change! I would love to see Chanel use something old and match it with something new on their catwalks. Why do they focus on several collections every season? I understand they have to keep their business somehow but its 2021, we have to be more conscious. The responsibility is divided by 50/50. Consumers have to take responsibility but also the big brands and the industry. Fashion is really about art, so for me it’s both inspiring and as i mentioned - sad in a way.
What do you believe needs to change?
I would like to see a catwalk from a big brand that are styling things from previous seasons and years. That would be awesome! I would also like to see less clothes in the collection! Pieces to match with what you already have. It’s too many things and too many collections. Why can’t we do only one or maybe two collections per year? I think we need to change the view we look at fashion. It’s not about the next trend. Is about investing in your own wardrobe, it should match and fit with what you already have. It’s about building a sustainable wardrobe. When you find something, ask yourself if you will love this in the upcoming years? Fashion is like music, it’s art. It makes people come together, like some friends I found on Instagram. It brings people together because you have something to talk about. But at the same time, a lot of things need to change.
“I would like to see a catwalk from a big brand that are styling things from previous seasons and years.”
What can one do that seeks to create a more sustainable closet?
• Clean out your closet – what are you using and what are you not using? And get help from someone if you don’t know what to do.
• Start to activate your closet, you might have that party dress you never use except on a party, match it with something and use it on a daily basis! We only use a certain amount of percentage of clothes in our closet.
• When you buy clothes, think about what you use and need. Second hand is really good, but it’s also great to buy something you really like. You need to know your style, then you can easier create your sustainable closet.
Follow Theresa on Instagram or learn more about her styling business here!