Sunday, November 11, 2007

The Swedish Fanny Pack is Back

I have bad news from Stockholm, Sweden. The fanny pack is coming back. (By the way, does anyone have a correct spelling on fanny pack. Fannypack? Fanny-pack? Anyone?) Which means I might move. I don’t know if I can live in a country that sees the fanny pack as a fashion accessory. It’s just not right. Now, I’m not usually one to pay much attention to fashion fads. But I do notice things. Especially ridiculous things. And today was no different.

I was walking around central Stockholm, near Sergels Torg where you can’t walk more than a block without running into at least one H&M. I’m not kidding, within about a mile radius, or hell, even a kilometer (we are in Europe), there are at least 5 H&M stores. It’s amazing. Like Starbucks but with clothes. Anyway, as I walked by one of the stores I took a peek in the window. And there, staring back at me, were numerous mannequins sporting the H&M clothes along with fanny packs.

This wasn’t just one lone dummy with a fanny pack because some kid in the back wanted to have a little fun at the expense of the company. No no. This was deliberate. Fanny packs were being touted as a fashion accessory. I was dumbfounded. Appalled. Shocked. Scared even. The Swedes have no shame. Fanny packs are for old men on vacation not for anyone under 40. I’m pretty sure that is written down as law somewhere. I don’t care how practical DCP might think a fanny pack is. I just don’t. It’s not right for anyone under 40.

I can deal with the tight pants despite my grumblings about them. I can deal with scarves being worn in winter. Sort of. I can even deal with some guy wearing his girlfriend’s shirts and admitting that to a journalist in Stockholm. I’m not sure I can deal with a company that considers itself fashionable to be marketing and selling fanny packs.

I can only hope that this is some sort of weird design thing that I just don’t understand. Let’s hope Dr. David Knightfish can clue us in to the world of the designers. Hopefully. For the sake of all designers the world over. Swedish fashion has hit a new low. Fanny pack low.

10 comments:

  1. Marcus I agree with you a hundred percent on this issue. Under 40= No fanny pack. I can however see the connection tight pants = no room for the essentials wallet & car keys, thus fanny pack is the answer.

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  2. I never saw it. But you're right. It's really just Swedish design focusing on the efficency rather than the aesthetics. Mohammed has brought enlightenment to Sweden.

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  3. Knightfish here. Sorry for the long delay in response. Internet here isn't as ubiquitous as it is in Sweden. So I have to agree with the 'no fanny pack under 40 rule'. I would also like to extend this rule to include 'no fanny pack over 40' as well. There's just no need. I think there are certain styles that seem to get picked up in the name of irony, say, leather pants. There are probably only a handful of guys in the world that can really pull off leather pants (see david bowie; beck). But somehow average guys convince themselves that they can, that it would be cool, and at the same time okay under the guise that their mocking the style. I think fanny packs fall into this realm.
    Also, it should be noted that in Britain, they call them bum bags. Over there, fanny is synonymous with vagina.

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  4. It's nice to see the good doctor chime in. We now have it from an expert that even the Swedes are prone to the occasional fashion faux pas. And the venerable H&M has shown itself to be human.

    Your British fact for the day has been duly noted.

    Thank you.

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  5. I go with the NO FANNYPACK rule. we should design a photo with that circle and slash through the fannypack.

    Scarves? Aren't ppl supposed to wear scarves in the winter? I don't see ppl without them.

    Tight pants- yes...if you are hot guy. Sorry, I am going to be openly sexist on this issue.

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  6. some things just aren't meant to be worn. ever. fannypacks included.

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  7. Sadly the fanny pack has even come back in the world of fashion, of course the design has been revised but I still think they're hideous! Check out style.com and look at some of the runway photos and you will see the fanny pack.
    P.S. I live in America and they're here too!

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  8. shocked and appalled. and disgusted really. and saddened. Im just filled with emotion. its a fanny pack... come on people.

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  9. The fannypack is probably necessary because of all the tight pants...can't even get keys in there. Whenever I move, I'll stubbornly keep dressing as if I was in the Midwest.

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