Remembering Avicii: Musical Pioneer and Swedish Fashion Icon

Although known for his music, as a Swede, Avicii offers a window into distinct cultural style that fans can channel as they celebrate and remember his art.

The sudden death of Swedish DJ, Avicii, at 28-years-old on April 20 has stirred his international fan base, ensuing a wake of rememberance for his music. According to Billboard, on the day of Avicii’s death, 25,000 songs were downloaded in comparison to 1,000 the previous day— a 6,000 percent sales increase. In addition, his album sales saw a 12,000 percent increase.

For many, hearing an Avicii song transports them to specific moment in their young adulthood. Whenever I hear “Levels,” I remember my middle school days on Tumblr, where virtually every page played the song as visitors scrolled through their feed. “The Days” brings me back to my final year of summer camp, causing me to unconsciously replay the dance my friends and I choreographed for the talent show.

However, Avicii fans can not only find inspiration and solace from repeatedly listening to his energizing rhythms, catchy choruses, and feel-good beats, but they can also look to his iconic outfits as means of aesthetic guidance.  His style can not only be embraced through finding inspiration in his outfits, but as a famous Swedish artist, he serves as window into Swedish style.

Avicii’s signature look consisted of a backwards flat cap, tight and dark colored jeans, leather jackets, hoodies, plain t-shirt and v-necks, varsity-style bomber jackets, and plaid/checkered button downs. His look was the epitome of bad boy and edgy style, but also a reflection of his Swedish background.

Although I personally do not support Avicii’s backwards hat look as much as his other  trends, I do believe that more people should look to the hat, like he did, as a fashion statement-- especially during the springtime when the sun finally comes out, but the breeze (which is really just pure wind here in Evanston) ravages your hair. Whether it is a solid color, a unique fabric, or a graphic, any hat can pull together the everyday off-to-class look by adding a bit of personality. It will even make your sweatshirt and  leggings-- the straight-out-of-bed look-- a bit more trendy.

For a more high-end hat, Vianel New York, an online brand, sells solid color leather, suede, velvet, denim, and canvas baseball caps. The simplicity of their hats are perfect for a color-blocking based outfit or for accentuating a poignant color in patterned pants or a graphic t-shirt. On the other hand, if you are using the hat to add style to an outfit rather than to complement it, wear a hat from your favorite sports team or one of the many emblem embroidered hats on Forever21.

Exception to my backwards hat opinion: Cara Delevingne 

Avicii’s flannel button downs are essential to the spring look because they are perfect for layering. Whether worn open with a plain t-shirt (extremely Avicii-esque) or worn with a graphic t-shirt. The flannel and checkered button downs become a refined street-style look. On the walk to your destination you can sport the flannel tied around your waist, however, when you hit the Kresge AC, slip it back on to cozy up.
 

With his leather and dark jeans, Avicii encapsulate Swedish fashion which can be defined by its minimalistic style, color-blocking focus (mostly with neutral colors), clean-cut geometric forms, and layering. Because Swedish style is very conceptual, much of the staple designs are gender-neutral, androgynous even, with their simple, form-follows-function shapes.

Despite the fact that H&M started as a Swedish brand and its headquarters are in Stockholm, because of its international success, the company caters to all styles. However, COS, a brand part of the H&M group, truly embodies  Swedish style with its focus on “timeless design; clean silhouettes, innovative techniques and functional details inspired by art, technology and architecture.” Even COS’s website, with its negative space and severe candid model shots, perfectly captures their simplistic, clean-cut aesthetic. COS’s boxy shirts, leather sneakers, and color-blocking outfits are great start for an effortless yet chic look that mirrors the fresh air and restorative nature of spring.

ACNE Studios is another Stockholm-based brand. I highly recommend scrolling through their website which feels like a piece of art itself between the clothes, the model looks, and the runway videos. The images of their stores in Los Angeles, with their large glass windows, open space, and abstract color blocking decor, show off the brand’s Swedish couture.

Cheap Monday is a more mainstream Swedish brand that keeps in touch with the core edgy yet simplistic Swedish style. Sold at Urban Outfitters, Free People and on ShopBop, Cheap Monday is known for their great denim collection, which focuses on dark washes. The simplicity of the company’s jeans and dark tones are emblematic of Stockholm style.

Despite how clearly stylish these Swedish stores look,you do not need to shop at only these brands, however, to channel a authentic Swedish look or even to celebrate Avicii’s legacy. A pair of tight jeans, sneakers or black boots, a t-shirt, leather jacket, and thin scarf can often suffice. Truly the best part about Swedish style is that it transcends the clothes, and acts both as an a way of life and artistic aesthetic through its conceptualism