You’ll see people rocking their raw-hem denim and boyfriend shirts tucked on one side. You’ll see women showing off their legs and their long hair. You’ll see peep-toe stilettos matched with black jumpsuits and velvet blazers. Athleisure? Not so much.
Global Trends
Want to blend in? Wear a neon. Backpacks and cross-body bags seem to be the fashion-forward, attention-grabbing accessory of the season. Also trending are tiny purses, just like in many places around the world. In St. Petersburg, I even found some sold in a bookstore.
You think Crocs have outlived their days? Not on a rainy day in St. Petersburg they haven’t. Somehow most locals I know own a bright pair of the brand’s rainboots and wear it to the office as well as the dacha. Oftentimes they pair with a packable down jacket.
Local Flavors
You can shop many global brands at the department stores here, but wouldn’t it be more fun to buy something local? You can find unique – and reasonably priced – designer collections in creative spaces, including Golitsyn Loft and Berthold Center. My new favorite t-shirt, bought at a tiny brick-walled store, features a rocket launch and says “Bye, Losers!”
If you’re thinking roomy dresses in soft prints, grainy jackets, and cotton purses, you might like Usta K Ustam, a boutique brand with a store in New Holland. They like to juxtapose their flowy silhouettes against industrial concrete dotting pastoral views and somehow manage to blend the feminine with the hip.
Statement socks are making a fortune for another St. Petersburg brand. St. Friday Socks inches in splashes of color, and words of wisdom, between your favorite jeans and sneakers, or suit pants and shoes, for that matter. Whether you want to wear an acid print or the visage of Peter the Great on your ankle, you’ll find your pair.
Don’t Sweat It
You’ll find that while many locals pay attention to what they wear and try to incorporate what they consider “elements of fashion,” most people dress relatively conservatively. You can’t go wrong with what you’d wear in any large city, as in dark on black, or neutral with a splash of color. Layers, a light wool sweater, a nice outfit for the theater, and a waterproof jacket will pretty much get you covered.
As my friend put it, “There’s no bad weather. There’re only bad wardrobe choices."
