Belgrade Fashion and a Bespoke Lifestyle
Let’s explore what this means
Here I am…just a girl that has developed a slight….but noticeable problem. Custom made every thing. Custom fitted pants, custom made purses, hand made shoes, custom perfume….this is becoming a real problem. I need to find a support group. Ever heard of Bespoke Anonymous? I need to find one pronto. buwahahaha ❤️
So why do I love the Balkans?
Well we can add this to the list…
It is liberating to be someplace you can be YOU! Not that it has ever stopped me before, but it is exhausting being YOU in some places and here it’s just a breathe of fresh air.
People keep asking me why I love the Balkans so much. I think I finally have figured out exactly the reason why….aside from the obviously answers that include: the people, the scenery, the food, the history, the cultures of generosity. I think the biggest draw is the feeling of belonging even though clearly I am not from here.
The feeling of belonging holds a lot of things wrapped into this little package. It is just so peaceful and freeing and a person can really just be whoever the heck they want to be without judgement. (At least not surface level visible judgement LOL)
Especially when it comes to fashion
I am from Vancouver, a fashion forward and very modern city
While I do typically do whatever I want when it comes to fashion…combining colours to see how bold I can go without being too over the top, while maintaining the fashion rules set forth by a slew of people I don’t know. No matter what…if you don’t blend into your surroundings there are always prying eyes gazing/glaring…whatever you want to call it.
But here….here in the Balkans, fashion is truly a liberating experience.
- Jogging suits classed up with epic jewelry and high heels and it looks damn fine.
- Bell bottoms that would seemingly be so faux pas in Vancouver are stylish more than ever before…and it looks damn fine.
Bespoke Fashion here…Ateliers there…
The road to the point of no return
Step 1) When I was in Belgrade in the summer, I started following a local designer’s social channels. Her eclectic style was so rad, but I never made it to her shop in the summer. For my Vancouver friends…it’s a blend of Main street boutique style with Commercial Drive flair. But I did make it to this shoe store I have also been keeping my eye on and purchased a pair of the raddest sandals I ever did see. Plus let’s not forget that I made my own custom perfume when I was here in the summer…
Step 2) I was back in Belgrade for a weekend trip about 3 weeks ago. I accidently on purpose strolled past the shoe store again to see what delicious styles they had in store for the fall season. Of course there was a pair of boots I instantly was coveting but the price tag made me cry so I walked away.
Step 3) I am back in Belgrade for two weeks and literally the first thing I did after I settled into my apartment, I went to that damn shoe store and bought the damn boots because I have thought about them every day for 3 weeks. I need them, that much is painfully clear. Sigh! when I got there…sitting next to the boots was a purse that has now also got me drooling. But I couldn’t palate the price tag of both the boots AND the purse…so I walked out with the boots and decided to hum and haw over it for a week and if I was still dreaming of the purse I would go back. Spoiler alert…I did and I bought it too.
Step 4) The fashion designer…well she has been posting some pretty rad stuff so I decided that I needed to go visit her shop to see if she still had this cool pair of pants she posted about in September. Guess what? She did…we made a few alterations and incorporated this yellow strip down the sides and now I am the owner of a one of a kind custom pair of pants. Not only are the pants really cool but the story of this designer makes them even better. First, let’s be clear about one thing…she is brilliant in her own right…but is a legacy as well. She is the daughter of a famous wedding dress designer here in Belgrade. Her father made wedding dresses for famous people when Serbia was Yugoslavia…and her mother was his assistant. He taught her mother and together they taught her all about fashion. Epic!!!!
And here I am…just a girl that has developed a slight….but noticeable problem. ❤️
Please note that I have not received these products for free or at a discounted price in exchange for my opinion. There may be links that are affiliate links but at the time of posting this review, I have not received any monetary kickbacks.