Fashion & Emotional Advisor - Sofia Wean

Creative Inspiration from Udaipur, India

My latest days in Udaipur I have found some new creative inspiration throw people, music and art.

Lots of Love / Sofia Wean <3<3<3

  

My Spiritual Home - Udaipur, India.

Right now I´m in Udapir, India. My spiritual home were I loud my inner and outer battery so I can function to be a better person rest of my year. I started to transform my outer life the last year, where I decided that I want to live abroad under the cold wintertime in a warm kind country. And I feel that I have found many of this things in the small charming city called Udaipur. Udaipur is located in the middle of India and they call Udaipur as the venice of East. And I agree with that. It´s a magical city were I feel very very creative. I have been starting to do some new kaftans design with embrodiery that I always wanted to do but never have the time to do that when I´m in Scandinavia. I´m also try to finish my philosophic book  "MoonFlowers, small adventures, that I was writing in 2005/2006. It´s a book about becoming Enlighten as a modern person that living in a modern time of living. I hope that I can be finish with my book this year in India but everything takes time as you know. Send you some pictures from my Daily life right now in India. Take a peek & Enjoy!

Lots of Love Sofia Wean

My temporary office in the Morning. Enjoying the Sun with my guide Pintu.

Spending great weekendtime with my dear friend Prathams small indian sisters.

Indian Make-Over with Heena tatooes and the result is becoming an Indian bride.

Enjoying love and kindness from Pratham and his sisters on Our way to the MoonSoon Palace.

View from the MoonSoon Palace over the Magic City Udaipur, India.

All pictures and text (C) rights Sofia Wean, 2012. 

Update your Wardrobe for Less Money!

My Personal Key-items for A/W 2011.

Every Season I start to do a quick little wardrobe-check in my own wardrobe, to update and see if I can still mix it with new things in my already existed wardrobe. See if I can use my wardrobe a bit longer for the coming years and be the Woman I have be-come today. Are my clothes still suitable for this season, fitting the person and the body I´m today?

So this is my new personal Key-Items for A/W 2011 for this season that I have been updating for less money. I have been shopping on budget, doing some good trade bargains with friends in my size (who doesn´t use their clothes anymore), Put some clothes for sale on the second-hand market and give away some clothes for charity that I don´t wear anymore. Kept things from last seasons and customized some old styles to a new version. - I will describe my personal style to be more casual-chic. Most of my clothes have small little details but in a up-dated classic version that is timeless.  - Sofia Wean

Ps. this Autumn I have been inspired by the Male contra Feminin world.

COATS

Black coat from Zara, 1199;- DKR    Male Tweed Coat from Topshop, 999;- DKR

TOPS

Lace-top from H&M, 129;- DKR            Beige Poncho from JC, 449;- SEK

KNIT-WEAR

Grey wool knitwear from COS, 499;- DKR

 
Last Seasons:. knit-wear from Joseph, Mango and Frk./Åhlens.

TROUSER                                                                SKIRT

Trouser from Topshop, 549;- SEK, Costumized velvet 70´trouser, Pencilskirt from Topshop, 449;- SEK.

DRESS

Black chiffong layer-on-layer dress from H&M Trend, 599;- DKR

ACCESSOIRES

Knit-hat from Topshop, 229:- DKR, Red lipstick from Chanel, nr.58, 249;- SEK.

Beigewhite tubescarf from Lindex, 199;-, Petroleumblue knitted scarf - Old Season.

 
Nailpolish from Topshop, 59;- DKR, Silver earrings from Glitter, 89;- SEK, Bracelet from Gina Tricot, 199;- SEK.

SHOES

Swopt over this velvet shoes with studs from my same-size friend Sofia. Perfect to use this shoes mixed with my black slim-fit jeans from Won Hundred that I also switched over with her . My other jaquard shoes is some years old but they still suit my and I love them a lot. I will wear this shoes to my 70´s trouser and a knitted top. The black ancle-boots, Zara and the brown riding boots, Gucci - last seasons. - I feel I can still use this boots even this season. That´s great! I have fixed a new up-dated autumn/winter wardrobe 2011 for Less Money then I could wish for!

 Allrights (C) 2011 by Sofia Wean/Wean Unlimited

Transformation

Dear Readers,

I´m sorry that you haven´t heard from me for a long while. I have been studied, traveled and learned more about people, and being human in our exotic cultures. Were my deep inner philosopher have been feeding with some new updates. Since I was a child, I have been dreaming and feeling as a life philosopher of... what is the meaning of life, how to find balance, joy and inner happiness in a modern life of society.

That´s why I love the word slow as slow fashion and slow living. The word slow gives you a natural reflection of meaning and a natural flow of inner and outer expression such as timeless and ageless. Something that is sustainable! One of the things I found on my road was unique beautiful Kaftans from Kashmir. The Kaftan suits every woman and every age, and the best part is that you could wear it anytime of the year regardless to season. Be relaxed at home, wear it with flip-flop on holidays or with heels in the night. It´s one of the most flexible, comfortable and chic outfit, that never goes out of fashion. So because of that I have bought some "limited" pieces in to my ageless online-shop that I hope will enjoy and enlighten some of the great women out there in our global modern world!

My beautiful model Karina, 40+.

3 COLOUR

The kaftans are coming in three colors such as black, coralbrown and syren.

 

DETAILS

Each kaftan is unique hand-made and embroiderede by women from Kashmir.

 

FACTS

The kaftans has one size. It suits women who is a bit taller then average.

Material is 80% cotton and 20% silk.

Price: 1800,- Dkr, 245;- Euro or 350;- Usd.

 

Take care for now and we keep in touch!

 

Lots of Love

Sofia Wean

MARCH NEWSLETTER 2011

NEW SEASON, NEW POSSIBILITIES!!!

I’m back for a New Spring Season, were I will give you a lot of inspiration and possibilities for your Ageless living. I look so forward to that! As you already now I have been away for some months in India and I have found so much inspiration in my inner and outer journey that I want to start to share with you.

Some of the new things I will share with you regarding my motto “Ageless Fashion” is that I have open my first Ageless online shop, were I have 3 main focusing; One focus is to handpick chic limited styles and life-style products from both unknown brand and known brand that are timeless ageless in their expression and you can were it for a long time. The second focus I have is on sustainable fashion such as modern second hand luxury clothes and shoes were I have found some good pieces for you to reasonable prices. The last and third focus I have is on small sizes such as 2 to 4, 32/34 or XXS to XS. So if you know anyone who is very petit and have some problems to find small sizes for her you are more then welcome to recommend my online shop so they know for the next time were to look. http://shop.sofiawean.com/

I have also been meeting a lovely Danish woman called Trine Højgaard that works both with wellness and interior, and she is also the founder of Shantiroom in Denmark. She has found some beautiful colorful carpets in the Rajasthan area in India. We will do some events together in spring and you are more then welcome to join us. If you want to know more about Trine; www.shantiroom.dk

I will hold some lectures in spring 2011 regarding Self-Value, that I think is a very important subject for all ages. I believe in a balance and a harmony both in your inner self and at the same time also in your outer self. - “Why shouldn’t you look and feel good at the same time!” That is also one of my other mottos!

3% of my shops profits goes to global projects, which supports to strengthen Woman’s self-consciousness in their inner and outer self-value worldwide.

 

XXX Lots Of Love

Sofia Wean ;0)

INDIA 2010

This year have been one of my busiest year, (and its still very busy for me) I meet a lot of new people everyday and thats one of the reasons why you haven´t heard from me until now...sorry for that! Right now I´m in India and I have been here since mid november to explore and enjoy both business and the pleasure of being human after a very very busy year with lots of hard work. So I thought it was time for me to take a time out in my life, just to enjoy our wonderful world, outside my daily window and be in the moment of LIFE.

I have already fall in LOVE with the indian people because of their great hospitality and warm love they show me on their indian way of adventure. If you once in your life time have the time to come to India, you should come. They have so much to offer for your heart and soul. India opens your inner heart even if you dont want to open your heart... and then the magic starts to flow throw colors, people, food and their beautiful historical architecture they have here. A lot of the ancient influences comes from the muslim/persian people that have been doing some amazing things over here such as Taj Mahal in Agra. Especially the persian people are famous for their ancient craftwork that I for example didn´t know so much about but its always good to learn something in life... It´s so beautiful over here and It feels that I´m in heaven...

Be inspired as I´m right now on my ongoing trip from my first day when I said goodbuy to my dearest friend Ines at the Copenhagen airport in mid november and I didnt know what to expect or what kind of adventure was waiting for me out there in India... I hope you could enjoy it so much I do it overhere. ;o)

Take Care for now and we keep in touch! and Lots of Love from India

Your Sincerely, Sofia ,0)

Me, not yet knowing what kind of adventure is waiting for me outhere in India. Last goodbye with my dearest friend Ines that followed with to the Copenhagen Airport 6am in the morgning. What a good friend to have, I couldn´t wish for more! Next day I was checking in at the Hotel Clark International, Karol Bagh in Delhi. The hotel is absolutely okej with resaonable prices close to the bargain streets.

 
 
My room whas clean and fresh! It´s always good to start with a nice hotel in the beginning of a journey until you know more about the city, the culture and the people. Me, preparing the first day in the hotel rooftoop of my first adventure in Delhi.

   

My first day in Delhi I decided I want to take a walk to see and feel the people and the Delhi culture but after a while I realised very quicly that the destinent between a block is so huge so I could walk for hours and not coming anywhere so the best thing for me to feel Delhi was to pick up a indian Rickshaw who took me in to the famous Delhi traffic of big caos. But even if it was caos I felt at the same time me so alive of all the things and constrast I saw on my way. So I was totally hooked of Delhis Culture.

After a while I decided me to take a break from all the hectic traffic so I went to the kolonialhotel Imperial and took a té where I enjoyed the silence and the time of being in Delhi.

 
     
After I have been taking my té I went to do some shopping. I found some indian shoes that I liked so I bought 4 pairs of shoes because I dont know when I will visit India the next time...

After my shopping I have to find a internet café because the Internet connection didnt work at all in my hotel so I felt totally handicapped and lost so finally I found in my desperate search of a café, a small basement were I shared the room with a lot of teenage guys that also seems as desperate as me.

Rest of the days in Delhi I was shopping and making saris for myself. I also meet a lots of new people were I was inviting to take both dinners and lunches such as an indian muslim lunch with the shopowner Habib and his crew in Connaught Place at Kashmir Art Gallery. I was also forecasting trends and visiting all kinds of different kind of markets and shopping mall such as Kahn market were I saw a lot of resident foregnier mixed with the middelclass Indian people.

The last day in Delhi I decided I wanted to be a bit more tourist then I been until now so I meet Mr.Noor from the Highland Travels that have a small travelagency in the small backyards of Connaught Place in Delhi. The agency is not easy to find but he is worth it! Becasue he is a very nice guy who arranged my following trip in Delhi for 1-day and the golden triangel in India for 7 days, were I visit Taj Mahal in Agra, the colorful Jaipur, the Holycity Puschka and finally the fairytale town Udaipur, were I fall totally in love with everything that has to do with Udaipur.

text and pictures copyright (c) sofiawean 2010

Behind The Scenes

We stayed at a Hotel called VinHuset (wine house) and check our funky rooms!

Right next to a church, whos bells rang EVERY!! hour, all night! :D 

We had to arrive a day earlier because we needed to check out what was in the stores and get ready to set up for the presentations I had to give twice a day!

I actually ended up buying the dress for my self :) its really hard to be in a shopping mall for 6 hours and NOT buy anything! 

 
 

Had to make sure all the details were looked after. The first picture is me doing my nails, with the new nail polish I had just bought in the shopping mall. By the way if you haven't already bought nail polish then nude colors are very in! and it looks very elegant, which is the new style. Less trash, more sophistication. 

Live Interview

It was so EXCITING! I had the danish radio station P4 come to my studio and interview me, LIVE! It was so intense, but a great experience as well. I got asked whom I normally style and what styling means to me and a whole bunch of other stuff I forget.

The Danish reporter/interviewer Mikkel Tofte Jørgensen also brought along Maria MacKinney Valentin, Denmark's first fashion trend forecaster who talked about the newest trends and what we can expect :) 

 

(The reporter Mikkel Tofte walking around, describing my studio, I loved the way he was so energetic the minute he came in the door)

 

 (I'm not sure why they are looking up, but the woman with the glasses is Maria MacKinney Valentin. which by the way is just a great personal name)

Picture and text by Sofia Wean (c) 2010

Getting Personal with Sofia Wean

HEY readers :) I thought it would be a good idea for you to get to know me a little better. So I made this little mini interview with my intern, hope you enjoy:) 

Tell me a little about yourself like the basics?

I’m 38 years old, I have a son who is 16 and I live in Copenhagen, where I work as a fashion adviser both to companies and private clients regarding trends, forecasting, customer experience and personal aesthetic image branding that are sustainable.

*What's your educational background? And have you used it? My background is mixed with both autodidact working experience such as my work experience in H&M were I worked in Sweden for 10 years with both press relation and public relation. H&M grounded me with a lot of global working experience that I’m so grateful to have today, such as understanding the process in image styling but also the design process from the mood-board in to the store were all kinds op people have the opportunity to look great and can afford it. Where their motto is "good design to very reasonable prices" and I like that a lot. But I have also over the years been complemented on my know-how with courses in project and business management that I like to have in my work. So I use all my educational and my autodidact background every day in my work. One day is never the same.

*What does fashion mean to you?

Fashion for me is a way to express people in their different life-stages and I love to watch and observe people and their different kind of life moods in a bigger perspective, a total holiness.

 

*How would you define your personal style?

Very classic with a touch of modern sophisticated timeless chic twist.

*What designer, famous person or actress inspires you?

I have always become a lot inspire of many French people such as Vanessa Paradis, Eva Green, Garance D´ore, Cathrine Deneuve, Charlotte Gainbourg but also Milla Jovich and Lauren Hutton.

*Who do you think is your generation biggest style icon?

My own generation I think is Madonna and Michael Jackson in the 80´s when I grew op but for myself I was very inspire of personalities such as Steve McQueen, Jeff Bridges and the movies as "love story" and "the last tango in Paris". I have always looked more in person’s expression and after that comes fashion for me. 

*Who are some of your favorite designers?

Stella McCartney, Isabel Marant, Christopher Decarnin and Phoebe Philo.

*What are some of your favorite clothing stores or websites?

 HYPERLINK "http://www.style.com" www.style.com,  HYPERLINK "http://www.garancédore.fr" www.garancédore.fr and most of my favorite clothing stores are vintage stores mixed with Colette in Paris.

*What do you believe makes a quality piece of clothing?

The Shape and the feeling of a soft fabric that feels comfortable.

*Since you grew up in Sweden, do you find there is a difference in style from Copenhagen to Sweden? Yes, Swedish people are very stylish from head to toe with a lean to the modern minimalist look. Sometimes they are so stylish so you can’t see who they are as person behind all the stylish clothes. The Danish are creative and likes a lot color and do their own mix of clothes. The middle-aged generation in Denmark is very inspired of the 50´s expression and lean to the more romantic boho look and the A-lines. But more and more younger generation in both Sweden and Denmark are very creative with colors and pattern and I like that a lot. 

*What city, in which you have been to, do you feel people had the best style?

I like Milan because both men and women are very chic, but I also like the trés chic look in Paris and the sporty chic in N.Y. But I also like the Asian style with the color scale and their exotic expression so I guess I can’t right now say one city… 

*When did you realize you wanted to become a part of the fashion world? And how did you first get into fashion?

I think I always was fascinated with fashion unconsciously and consciously because fashion could show peoples inner dream and desire and I guess I liked that combination of expression, fashion is a balance between honesty and illusion and it fascinates me. I got in to fashion when I first studied textile mercantile in Stockholm and my first job after that was in H&M head-office in their buying department. Since then I stuck to fashion!

*What other experience do you have in the fashion industry (stylist, retail, marketing, etc.)? 

I have a very good understanding of fashion of the whole chain, from people, retail, styling and marketing but I give a lot of that experience in my years in H&M, they teach me a lot of things that I’m very grateful to have today.

*How long does it usually take you to get a real feeling of whom people are when you style them? And do you find it hard? 

About 1 to 10 minutes then I get a feeling or a hint of them. Most of the times I have the right feeling but of course sometimes it can be hard if you meet a person who is not in balance with the inner and the outer side of themselves. But it hasn’t happen so often. Most of the times my clients are in heaven to find them self after many years of having been lost in the fashion jungle.

*What are some of your accomplishments as a stylist, or what do you think your biggest achievement so far is? 

It is to help especially women to get more self-value for them self, but at the same time being able to look great. And that is a wonderful feeling when a woman leaves me with the feeling that she has grown as a person with more self-values in them selves. And it also gives them more excess and balanced to other things in their life. It’s fantastic to see and I feel honored to be in service for them. I have today helped over 2000 women to find themselves as a women and I’m very happy for that.

*How do you prepare for a client if it is for a styling session? 

I send out a questionnaire where I ask them some personal questions and depending on what they say I do some research of different style opportunities that I think could express them positively for a long-term.

*On you’re about page you write that in your free time you focus on your spiritual side, what do you do to focus on that? And why do you find it so important?

The spiritual side for me is a basic need to mark, feel my self, soul, inner heart and intuition. It’s very important for me to take time over to reflect in my everyday life otherwise I will feel not alive as a person, if I don’t know who I am as a person.

Especially today when you meet so many new people and receive a lot of different quick information I have to filter out if this is good for me as a person. The spiritual side is the side that you don’t have to perform to be accepted as a person. It’s that side that is full of love, tolerance, respect and no judgment. I like that a lot to show and live the life of respect to other human being, it makes me more happier as a person and it also give me more balance in my daily life.

*Do you use any of you spiritual knowledge in your work? 

Yes, its very natural for me, I listen a lot to my intuition and it guides my inner self to a better me as a person in many situations. I also take time everyday to reflect over my day so I can filter out things that I don’t have value in my life. All my time is like precious diamonds.

*What matters to you most as a fashion stylist?

To meet, see and feel new people and culture. I learn new things everyday about the world but also about myself.

*Where do you get your inspiration? 

From LIFE in itself!

*Where do you see yourself in 5 years, what would you like to be doing? 

I see myself spending 50% time in Scandinavia and rest of the time Global. Where I can work both with fashion for all ages as I do today but I also work with a lot with the spiritual side where I can give life inspiration of the inner values as soul, mind and heart to other people so they could find peace, joy, balance and happiness in themselves but also together with others. That’s what I want. It’s very hard today to listen to your own heart when we live in a modern world were many of our outer values is about perform. You could be a leader but it doesn't mean that you are a good leader. But work performing is not telling you who you really are as a person...

Beauty of Olive Trees

With the fashion week starting, I have organized a 3 day event where people can come and ask me styling questions and look at some of the clothes I am selling. So I thought that some flowers would be great to liven up the place, make it a little pretty. 

 Couldn't decide on what sort of flowers I should have.

   
Olive trees, easy to keep and gives my place a french feeling :) and really opens up the place.

I found this great little shop, where they had all sorts of nice random things. Its been such a long time since I found a place that really inspires me. 

  
 
But back to work, so much to do and so little time :)

Picture and text by Sofia Wean (c) 2010