TWWP had a late summer rendezvous with & Other Stories designer Frida Billegren at her place – a 1970 house with a wishlist pool and flowery garden – located south of Stockholm. We enjoyed a chat about fashion between pasta and family time.
Hello Frida, nice to talk to you a bit, what trends would you like to list as the hottest this fall?
– Ok, big soft 80’s shoulders, leather garments and denim with many details and seams. This fall I move away from all the minimalist stuff. I want to stand out even more than usual, dare to be a little cocky perhaps. In general, my tip is to choose clothes and accessories that make you feel good. Ask yourself, what suits you, and your unique feeling right now? Simply go more with your gut, what makes you feel happy. Don’t mind the musts and others expectations.
You’re the designer for & Other Stories capsule collection Savoir. Tell us about it.
– Savoir are limited editions of small unique drops that celebrate the know-how in design from our various design ateliers. Statement styles that push fashion forward. Treasure pieces to save and love. Unexpected and timeless garments that you will want to wear to parties or a special everyday for many years to come. Almost like furnishing details for the wardrobe, which make one happy both to look at and to wear.
Satin flounce mule sandalette, Savoir Collection.
Big volume skirt, wool blend in lime green, Savoir Collection. Straw bucket hat, & Other Stories.
Sequin maxi dress, Los Angeles Atelier, coming this fall.
How would you describe the Savoir girl?
– I design for a curious woman who does not want to go unnoticed. She just loves fashion, and wants something unique to invest in. She values the choice of materials and quality highly, and therefore only invests in durable garments to wear for many years to come. Or maybe to share with friends. Savoir stands for the-know, where we want to pay tribute to craftsmanship. The knowledge in construction, sewing and design. I personally love being able to lend and borrow from my friends’ wardrobes.
One shoulder maxi dress in dark plum, Savoir Collection, coming this fall.
‘I design for a curious woman who does not want to go unnoticed. She just loves fashion, and wants something unique to invest in. She values the choice of materials and quality highly, and therefore only invests in durable garments to wear for many years to come.’
Assymetric black flounce dress in knit and satin mix, Savoir Collection.
On the veranda, table and chairs from HAY / Länna Möbler.
Chair from Ferm Living / Länna Möbler.
How do you work with innovation around new, more sustainable materials?
– This is a subject I am really passionate about, and it’s an important mission. What I can reveal is that a lot is happening around the development of innovative materials right now – but still in a testing phase and not quite ready for production just yet. I already have some exciting collections in the works and almost bursting with excitement and wants to tell, but so far secret. You’ll see next spring.
Pale grey leather pump with metal heel, Savoir Collection, coming this fall. Table from &Tradition and metal chair from Massproductions / Länna Möbler.
What is happening this fall in your life?
– This fall, my first major collection for Savoir is launched. Only been a few small drops now during the summer, even though I started this job a whole year ago. It takes time to produce unique garments, of course. Soon I’m going to London to represent this first collection at London Fashion Week. It’s gonna be like an art exhibition, we will show all the clothes, accessories and shoes in collaboration with an artist and scenographer. So incredibly excited and expectant about this. It actually feels completely unreal. May pinch my arm a little actually.
Apart from the launch of Savoir and the autumn collection, I will probably mostly hang out here at home with my family. Alternate days at the office and creation with completely normal family life. Well, you know, school, cooking and putting the puzzle of everyday life together. But should also try to enjoy other things that inspire, such as exhibitions or concerts. Dinners at new exciting restaurants with friends, I always dream of that, although it is rarely done. Most of the time I end up exhausted on the sofa and turn on a series. A classic. Guessing it´s like that for most people. But autumn is always the best time to set new goals (Talking to myself now hehe). The possibilities are here for all of us, we just have to do it!
One shoulder maxi dress in dark plum, Savoir Collection, coming this fall.
Sunbed and striped sun umbrella by the pool from Fri form/Länna Möbler.
3 garments to invest in?
– A tailored suit in good quality. Definitely with some nice wool blend. Garment number two must be a vintage dress, perhaps a 60s one from a finer vintage shop in a beautiful material or embroidery. Timeless and unique. Metallic and brocade, yum. My last garment must be a shoe, a pointy little mule pump with a kitten heel, in black. Nice to have an opening at the back of the heel so you don’t get so many chafing wounds. And in the winter, if you don’t want to be so barefoot, nylon stockings are also fine. And then I always have a small silicone insert so you don’t lose the shoe when it slides off the material of the sock tip. Although I think bare heels work in winter too, of course!
A real treasure from Savoir…?
– Ohhh, it has to be the absolutely incredible lime green skirt that we released at the end of July. The quality and heavy weight is absolutely incredible. Must be experienced to understand. The green-shimmering flounce sandal with curved heel. Developed together with the incredibly knowledgeable designers from the & Other Stories shoe team. So proud of these! So comfortable to wear. It’s key to me that all shoes are super comfortable so you can enjoy yourself and just shine in your full personality.
Alright, last question! You’re hosting THE party. What do we do, what do we wear, what do we eat?
– What a fun question. I L O V E planning outfits for parties. More the outfit than what we do at the party and eat maybe…haha obviously less important to me. But here we go, here comes my best party fantasy. Must be a party at my own house then. Well, it must be an August party, my favorite month of the year. Love the darkness and mystery. The flowers and that everything will soon go back to sleep. All the guests are mingling in heels and other beautiful shoes against the slate floor. It is dusk and we have lit lanterns, string lights and the pool light shines like a spaceship in the middle of it all, magical! Everyone is of course very happy and holding beautiful crystal glasses in each hand. There is music and there is chatter and tingle in the air. We eat incredible cuts from beautiful antique silver platters. Can’t think of what cut it should be, but they just melt in your mouth. And soon it becomes pitch black but no one notices, the moon shines and everything feels like a fantasy. I’m wearing a big puffy A-line dress and bare legs. Big and puffy is my dress, like a green-patterned meringue. And a large bow tied around the neck. I’m sexy but also quite gorgeous. Retro-inspired but also modern. And on the feet, of course, a lovely sandal. Always a mule of some kind. Maybe like my green ones but in black! Must fix a couple of these right away, I feel now. A ruffle pouffe in black against bare feet, so nice! Possibly that outfit may become no. 2. Yes, I will have two two looks for the party. Starts the evening cool and dramatic maybe… in “summer black”. A black dress with dramatic giant sleeves maybe, and a slim straight shilluette along the body. I wear the green frilled shoe for that look then, perfect! Now I want to go at a party.
