As a vow to myself this year to give more time to Scandinavia, I went to Gothenburg on the weekend.
We shopped, and in doing so, mingled and mixed with the local population. So convincingly that this Asian & blonde friend got mistaken for Swedes, multiple times. OK OK, it was the blonde friend!
I've got to say, the Swedes are REALLY nice! Very helpful in the shops, bars and restaurants. Unfortunately that was the extent of the tourist-to-local interaction.
But without having to engage, we did well in the observation stakes. This winter, guys in Goteborg are doing "Captain Haddock meets Steve Zissou".
It's a seafaring theme but no so obvious as the whole anchor-navy-esque-Breton-stripe-top business as seen in the women?s arena.
The key item is the small woollen beanie sitting tight on the head. I wondered how it stayed on as it was small, cap-like.
Usually this look calls for the navy double breasted pea-coat. I love this classic.
There's 5 day stubble but you can get away with clean shaven, like you?ve spent months at sea and have just gotten back to civilization and cleaned-up.
Essential is neat hair underneath, side part, short back and sides. I seemed to be able to see this under the beanie, maybe not the part, but back and sides.
A lovely warm thick knit jumper or cardigan. I love this on guys.
Slightly rolled up trousers to the ankle. I can't remember specifically what trouser, but I would suggest deepest darkest jeans, or dark brown trousers. (I quite like dark brown with navy!)
There's good use of glasses - med thick frames, not thick, not wire thin.
Comfy woolly socks peeking out from desert boots. (You're thinking boat shoes? Hell no.)
A pipe would be great but guys don't seem to smoke pipes these days.
