Evie Bradley, Social Media Editor
@ebradleycourant
Each week, I’ll be researching the current fashion trends in a new city to pop the New Canaan bubble and explore diverse styles from around the world.
São Paulo, Brasil
Fashion Intro to São Paulo
Contrary to popular belief, Rio is not the fashion hub of Brazil. It’s São Paulo! As one of the wealthier parts of Brazil, fashion is always on point. The New York Times wrote, “São Paulo seems like a hive of glamorous commerce.” In São Paulo, Brazilian teens are dressing for warm weather in a variety of ways. NCHS Courant News Editor, Aleena Nasruddin, lived in São Paulo for 10 years. Nasruddin says that layering jewelry is very popular, along with flared jeans, wide-leg pants, designer bags, and an overall bohemian yet posh style.
Current Trends
Want to know how to dress like a Brazilian teen? Stella Park, a current resident of São Paulo, says the most recent trend is surprising, the colour black! “Everything is black. For girls, leggings and a black top that would either be a v-neck or scoop. And for boys, it’s typically black jogger and a t-shirt.” Park also says that the most popular stores for teens in Sao Paulo right now are “Lojas Renner, John John Denim, Rosa Cha, Spezzato, Track and Field, and Bobo Choses.” Renner describes itself as “a fashion store for different styles,” and includes home decor as well as fashion design. John John is known mainly for their jeans, Track and Field specializes in athletic and beachwear, Bobo Choses describes their style as “creative and sustainable,” and Rosa Cha is most well known in the U.S for their swimwear. However, they also carry every day and evening looks.
Packing Your Suitcase
The best source for preparing your suitcase for São Paulo is this article, “São Paulo What to Wear While You’re There,” written by Bonnie Rakhit. In case you don’t feel like reading the whole thing, however, I’ll detail the highlights. I’m going to skip the travel basics you’ll need anywhere – battery packs, undergarments, toiletries, etc. – and get right to the good stuff. Collapsible or easily portable water bottles are a must in the hot weather, along with sunglasses. The city is shopping-central, so you should wear comfortable walking shoes and try to blend in to avoid tourist-targeting pickpockets. To avoid these pickpockets, don’t use backpacks to carry your things and make sure there is a tight zip on your bag. Light jackets are surprisingly more useful than sunglasses, as it is typically a little overcast, so light layers are key. And finally, shopping in São Paulo is to die for; be sure to leave plenty of room in your suitcase for your designer souvenirs!
Fashion History
Park says that fashion in Brazil is very class divided, making it hard to pinpoint common trends throughout Brazil. This deep-rooted class division dates back through Brazilian history, as they were the last country to abolish slavery in 1888. “The spectre of the privileged preening among poverty no longer seems to haunt a country with a fast-growing middle class, although the disparity between rich and poor is still evident,” a New York Times article said. Citizen Shirlei Rosa Arantes says that she tries to incorporate elements of her Afro-indigenous ancestry into her fashion while still trying to blend in with the middle to high class.
Further Research
To learn more about the social and economic aspects of Brazil’s fashion industry, read the New York Times article, “Exactly How Hot Is Brazil?”. If you want to learn more about what life and fashion are like for people who live in São Paulo, you should read this New York Times article where photographer Gabriela Portillo examines “Representation as Resistance,” as shown through the street style. This article exemplifies how fashion in São Paulo is not merely superficial, but an expression of “identity, culture, and strength.” To actively follow Brazilian fashion, be sure to look up @voguebrasil on Instagram.
