Published at: Apr 23, 2024
Last updated: Oct 20, 2024
I think it's safe to say that when it came to finding my visual identity, I was a bit of a late bloomer. Or I was just a teenager who wanted to fit in like everyone else. Like many, I have passed through a bunch of different styles and trends growing up - some with more regret than others. I haven't completely purged all the evidence off of the internet, so I was able to pull up a few examples.
In my teenage years, my style was influenced by a lot of the skate/surf/snow brands, as that was the big trend in our community at the time. There was a lot of brightly coloured t-shirts, and all of the clothes were oversized by a long shot.
I brought these colours with me into my early twenties and would usually go for a t-shirt and flat cap as my go-to outfit. I remember very well I had a very attention-grabbing pair of red pants I would wear with everything - especially with a navy blazer in formal occasions. I think it is important to mention that in my early twenties I also got quite overweight, which made oversized clothes a comfortable hiding place.
Lifestyle changes
In my mid-twenties, I began making changes to my lifestyle, which I believe marked the beginning of my journey to where I am today. At the time, I was quite overweight and unhealthy. I drank large amounts of sugary drinks, ate whatever greasy food was available, and was also a heavy nicotine user. Working as a DJ on weekends resulted in an unnecessary amount of alcohol consumption, on top of the already frequent student parties.
I was well aware of my weight. I had been quite heavy as a child, and I’ve struggled with food and body image for as long as I can remember. At some point during my late teens, I suppose I simply stopped caring. Eventually, I was motivated to join some friends in weightlifting, and I absolutely loved it. It gave me a sense of accomplishment, and, as with most things, consistency produced results. I became more active in my day-to-day life as I gained more energy from these changes.
When I moved out of my parents' house after university, I really began to make progress. I developed a much greater interest in nutrition and training, which eventually resulted in my wardrobe needing to be replaced more than once. This is when I first started exploring changes to the types of clothes I was wearing.
I have always been working in an office environment, but when you work as a developer, you can get out of any work uniform requirements, leaving it extremely casual compared to other office environments. It's not uncommon for people to wear t-shirts and jeans, and I often did the same. When I first started looking into upgrading my clothes, it was with the intention of wearing them at celebratory events or potential job interviews. I remember walking around in the various stores in Bergen, motivated to look my best for the upcoming Independence Day, which was my first mission to find an outfit for.
I might have made some interesting and strange stylistic choices here and there, but the main point is that I started caring. I upgraded my formal wardrobe as well as my day-to-day wardrobe. I started wearing more shirts at the office and all in all looked more professional at work. I had my usual three stores in Bergen that I frequented: Bertoni, Riccovero and Volt. I think these are still nice entry stores if you are looking for something off the rack for a relatively low price. We can talk brands and pricing in another post, but my point is that they have a big selection of standard office attire.
New city and a clean slate
My first steps towards dressing up for the office
I moved to Oslo late summer of 2019, and it was here things really started changing. It's a lot easier to "start over" when changing cities, and I felt ready to approach a more adult and professional look. First I went to the barber and finally got rid of my long and tired-looking man bun. I once again went through my wardrobe to adjust for both weight changes and the wish for a better look look.
Not so long after COVID hit Norway. We were locked inside our homes, and I think many will agree that styles and hobbies changed during this period. I, like many others, was stuck in my home offices and didn't need to dress up at all anymore. It was relaxing at first, I'll admit that, but over time it became incredibly difficult to distinguish between work time and off-time. I therefore reintroduced the routine of putting on a shirt in the morning just to feel prepared for a day of work. I also started reading a lot about fashion on a more detailed level, getting lost in Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration. I started introducing different types of patterns, colours, and textures, as well as accessories.
Little by little, I began finding my style and settling on something I felt comfortable with. I think "comfortable" is a key word here. I noticed how I started feeling more confident and more in tune with myself. The more I read, the more I understood how clothing can complement—or clash with—your body shape, how pairing colours can make or break an outfit, and how different fabrics work together not just in design, but also functionally. It became very exciting, but there was one thing I always struggled with: my body is not built for off-the-rack clothes.
I am 190 cm tall and, at the time of writing, I usually weigh around 82-86 kg. After spending a lot of time lifting weights to get to this point, I’ve developed broad shoulders and a fairly large chest. This makes it challenging to find clothes that fit my proportions. When I try off-the-rack shirts that fit my chest and shoulders, they usually drape like a poncho. They don't complement my figure at all, making it look like I'm wearing oversized clothes again, often with sleeves that aren’t even long enough. My body simply doesn’t fit the "standard" sizes that most brands offer.
So, I started exploring tailoring. My first step was a simple one. I bought a pair of trousers from Cavour that came in a raw length, meaning the length had to be adjusted to my exact size. As a first-timer getting clothes tailored this way, I was blown away that I only needed to consider the fit of the waist and hips, as the length would be adjusted accordingly. This was also my introduction to trousers with a higher rise, which is now my go-to for all trousers.
In 2022, I was lucky enough to be the best man at my mate's wedding, and we decided to get our first made-to-measure (MTM) suits, which completely changed my perception of what a good fit feels like. After that, things really took off, and I ended up becoming a regular at Mond Oslo. I began building my formal wardrobe, designing suits with specific details in mind—something that might deserve a dedicated post at some point.
And with that, we’ve arrived at the present. I plan to dive further into topics like tailoring, office attire, and style tips, but if you’ve made it this far, you now have a sense of where I come from. I am no expert and I have no formal education in the field, it is simply an interest and something I have spent a lot of time learning about myself. Fashion has been a way for me to feel more confident and at ease in social settings. I genuinely believe it has had a subtle impact on my career, my social life, and my overall well-being. Most importantly, it has grown into a major passion of mine. I’m excited to continue exploring it, hopefully alongside others who share this interest.
If you look good, you feel good, and if you feel good, you do good.
Cheers!
