style

The Link Between Freedom and Style

Expressing Identity Through Fashion


Style is a powerful means of expressing one’s freedom. Take, for instance, the latest phase of Jane Birkin’s style, meaning the Doillon phase, when she intentionally stopped being the sexy doll. Her effortless looks have become synonymous with women’s empowerment and liberation. Through her iconic fashion choices, she demonstrated how personal style can transcend societal norms and convey individuality and confidence. Whether a pair of oversized jeans or a mannish blazer, Birkin’s fashion sense speaks volumes about her unique identity and spirit.

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” – said Coco Chanel.

Through fashion and personal style, individuals can convey their unique identities, preferences, and emotions without the need for words. From the brands we buy – which, by doing so, we endorse and champion their values – to our consumption habits and preferences, the way we dress speaks volumes about us.

Style, self-expression and freedom


In fact, style functions as a form of self-expression and freedom. But how does this happen? Here are a few ways:

  1. Individuality: Style allows people to showcase their unique tastes and personalities. Choosing what to wear and how to wear, it reflects personal choices and independence from societal norms.

  2. Cultural Identity: Through clothing and accessories, individuals can celebrate their heritage and cultural backgrounds. Traditional garments and modern interpretations of cultural attire are both powerful expressions of cultural pride and freedom.

  3. Creative Expression: Fashion is an art form. Mixing and matching different pieces, experimenting with colours, patterns, and textures. But even DIY modifications of clothes are ways to unleash creativity and break free from conventional fashion rules.

  4. Mood and Emotion: What you wear can reflect or influence your mood. Bright colours might express joy or energy, while darker tones could reflect a more subdued or contemplative state. Style is a dynamic way to communicate feelings.

  5. Rebellion and Resistance: Throughout history, fashion has been used to challenge the status quo and make political statements. For example, during the 1960s and 1970s, the punk movement emerged as a rebellious counter-culture, with its fashion characterised by ripped clothing, safety pins, and provocative slogans. This style was a direct challenge to mainstream aesthetics and a form of resistance against social and political norms. Similarly, the black beret and leather jacket became symbols of the Black Panther Party, representing their fight for civil rights and social justice.

  6. Empowerment: Dressing in a way that makes one feel confident and comfortable is empowering. It’s a declaration of self-acceptance and confidence, free from the need to conform to others’ expectations. For instance, the 1980s saw the rise of power dressing among women, characterised by tailored suits with padded shoulders. Power dressing helped women assert their authority and competence in male-dominated environments, making a strong statement about gender equality and self-empowerment.

Style, the essence of fashion


In essence, style is a multifaceted tool of personal expression and a celebration of freedom. It allows individuals to showcase their individuality, celebrate cultural identity, unleash creativity, reflect moods and emotions, challenge societal norms, and feel empowered. Each choice in fashion tells a unique story, making personal style a powerful means of communication.

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Reaffirming the Cultural Narrative of Fashion

Exploring the Threads of Identity, Style, and Societal Evolution

Reaffirming the cultural narrative of fashion helps in understanding its true essence and value, which goes way beyond the social media-generated fluff. In fact, that is not the style we like.

Fashion is culture, the culture of our times.
In other words, fashion serves as a reflection of culture – contemporary culture or any given one – offering insights into societal norms, values, and behaviours. From the style people wear, we can perceive women’s freedom or to what degree patriarchy rules. 

Identity, Style, and Societal Evolution: The Cultural Narrative Beyond Fashion

The way we dress speaks volumes about us. From the brands we buy – which, by doing so, we endorse, championing their values; to our consumption habits and preferences. It encompasses our quest for specific fabrics, our discernment of quality and materials. And even extends to the lifespan of our purchases; the amount of waste we discard;  our regard for both the labour of others and the well-being of our planet. So, through the style people wear, it is possible to read their identities and values. 

The work of a designer, creating and putting out more stuff in our contemporary context, is particularly challenging. Their task is not talking sustainability but creating an exceptional design, beautiful pieces made to last and worth buying. Good design #formodernhumans intrinsically means for brands to make garments in respect of people and the planet. Less noise, more facts. And the proof of their intentions is that they are willing to make clothes in small batches. Quality, not quantity.

Reaffirming the cultural narrative of fashion aims to highlight that fashion is not merely about clothing but also about the deeper cultural currents shaping our world. 

All these details and information can tell us who we are and where we are heading as a society.
Fashion is culture, the culture of our times.

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About The White Shirt

Wardrobe staples vs fashion trends

The White Shirt: mannish cut, well-tailored, slightly oversized to oversized, pristine go-with-everything garment. Button-down or ribbon collar, it’s perfect for any occasion. And any weather too!
So, is it a trend, as magazines say, or a wardrobe staple?

The White Shirt

Fashion, we all know it, is one of the most inconsistent fields where people say one thing and, the day after, change their minds. Perhaps this behaviour could work in times of abundance when we could carry on our activities while unconsciously ignoring what we were about to expect in the future. But now that the good times are gone, we need to get serious. These aren’t times for joking.

After the pandemic, a debate on how to rewire fashion to current times opened up an evolved set of possibilities: shift towards a timeless style and privileging conscious fashion. That stated the end of fashion trends.

The white shirt: fashion trend or staple

However, after Milano and Paris Fashion Weeks, fashion magazines refocused on trends. Again, we repeat it: the fashion industry is inconsistent. People talk about one thing just to take it back as soon as the new thing comes.

Among the unmissable trends, magazines list the white shirt. And here, the inconsistency is peaking.
What is a trend? A trend is what’s popular in a specific season and which will die soon. Do you think that’s the case for a white shirt? Does it make sense to put among trends an item that is the quintessential representation of timelessness?

Wardrobe staples #formodernhumans

The White Shirt has some of the most stunning style features:
Genderless: anyone can wear it.
Comfortable: it allows the movement of your body.
Seasonless: it’s perfect throughout the year. Underneath a cardi or jacket in winter, rolled up sleeves in summer.
Also, it’s versatile and adds an elegant and classy touch even to your casual outfits. All these features make it a staple for our wardrobe of meaningful garments. So, it’s timeless: never out of fashion. Not a trend!

We are sorry that fashion experts still intend to make fashion a game of transient clothing. That doesn’t work anymore. And, undeniably, that’s not the case with the white shirt.

WhatsApp directly from here to check out our GoodNeighbors Shirts selection!

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Patti Smith & “The infinite”

How to make sense of our world and recharge our spirit

Art helps us make sense of the world. It is beauty, in essence. So, we search for it in any form. Patti Smith & “The Infinite” is one of those forms.

You know life is unpredictable. You make your plans, but life makes its own. And so, because of covid, on the 1st of August, we had to miss Patti Smith’s concert in Milano. 

Her music and poetry are a potent blend. And we are sure her performance would have been so beneficial for our souls.

Also, we really appreciate how she redefined the role of female representation in rock music. Indeed, her androgynous outfits are a big inspiration in fashion. Mannish white shirt and blazer, loose necktie, never pretty but pure coolness. Her style is so iconic that she has created a unique aesthetic. 

By the way, as a homage to Italy in Pompei, Rome and Milan, Patti Smith recited the poem: “The infinite” – by Giacomo Leopardi.

Patti Smith reading Giacomo Leopardi

This is the poem in Italian, but you can listen to the English version directly from Patti Smith’s voice – here

L’infinito

«Sempre caro mi fu quest’ermo colle,
e questa siepe, che da tanta parte
dell’ultimo orizzonte il guardo esclude.
Ma sedendo e mirando, interminati
spazi di là da quella, e sovrumani
silenzi, e profondissima quiete
io nel pensier mi fingo, ove per poco
il cor non si spaura. E come il vento
odo stormir tra queste piante, io quello
infinito silenzio a questa voce
vo comparando: e mi sovvien l’eterno,
e le morte stagioni, e la presente
e viva, e il suon di lei. Così tra questa
immensità s’annega il pensier mio:
e il naufragar m’è dolce in questo mare.»

Art, music, and poetry reflect a certain mindset and a specific style. Most importantly, they bring in the beauty we need to make sense of our world. And the peace of mind to get by with life.

In the end, art, music, and poetry are beauty. 
Beauty that heals our souls. 

Hope “L’infinito” will recharge your spirit!

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Style and fashion

The question is: do they overlap?

Style and fashion are not equivalent concepts, they do not perfectly overlap, yet they may intersect sometimes. Fashion is about trends, so it changes frequently and involves your wallet. In contrast, style is timeless and goes deeper than money.

We happen to hear people say: “I’m not interested in fashion.” And the funny thing is that they say it with a deprecatory tone of voice, perhaps willing to show a kind of superiority.

Maybe those people ignore that everything that surrounds them relates to fashion. And not only clothing or shoes. But also furniture, food, music, technology and so on. Fashion is everywhere.

On the one hand, considering how the fashion industry presents itself these days, that disgusted reaction can be understandable. Yes, they aren’t entirely wrong. But, on the other hand, if we dig deeper and see how they present themselves in detail, in most cases, that attitude just reveals a total lack of style.

You don’t need to follow fashion, but style is another thing.

Style, not fashion

And so, style is the concept to explore, to value more.
Style may have something to do with fashion, but you cannot identify it with fashion. Both are not equivalent concepts, yet they may intersect. Where fashion flaunts, style whispers. By the way, they cross each other less and less frequently.

Style is about gestures and manners. How you speak, how you live and what you wear. It’s about taste, dignity, and choices made with an effortless posture. It’s an elegance of thought reflected outside. In the end, style is about who you are.

Cool style is doing things when other people don’t. Those unconventional choices that your attitude puts into place with ease.

Most importantly, you can buy fashion, but you cannot buy style.

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