SUE GIERS: "FOR ME, FASHION IS A WAY OF EXPRESSING YOURSELF, TO TRANSPORT THE LIFESTYLE. "
Sue Giers is well known in the German fashion industry. For many years, she worked as the PR manager for the fashion brand Closed. Today, she is the owner of Hamburgs luxury boutique Linette, and founder of the online magazine SoSue. A woman that is well versed in such topics as fashion and style.
We visit her at her nice apartment in Hamburg and ask a few questions, naturally about fashion and style.
What does fashion mean for you?
I have always been interested in fashion and following the trends. For me, fashion is a way of expressing yourself, to transport the lifestyle.
I always find it exciting to try the new trends. Whereby I don’t follow every trend, I do think about if it suits me. Luckily, there isn’t just one trend per season nowadays, but many. And I usually decide impulsively if I like a trend or if I don’t.
How would you describe the clothing style of women in Germany?
Well, I find it very diverse regionally. I noticed that women in Munich wear high-heels much more naturally. But in Hamburg you don’t see high-heels on the streets, rather at evening events. I guess, it depends where you live. Here in Eppendorf, for example, women like it more comfortable. There are many young women that have children. Who maybe took a break from work and are simply glad to leave all that business-stuff behind them. They want to simply feel good at their evening walks around the Alster. Whereas in Munich, you still dress up, no matter if you have kids or not. That is an attitude towards life. Maybe in Hamburg, it’s the influence of the harbour and the Reeperbahn. Therefore, women over here are tougher. There is a rough wind blowing, and the clothing is accordingly. There is a lot of Kashmir, much dark blue, much denim. Even if a woman occasionally wears a blouse, she will wear denim along with it, and not a tight skirt.
The majority of women in Germany dresses rather pragmatic and discreet: Wolfskin jacket, jeans, sneakers, … What do you think about that?
The German woman wants to function, we have a great control mechanism. We can’t really and let got, we want always to optimize ourselves. Of course, this reflects in clothing style. Nobody wants to be considered a fashion doll, doesn’t want to give the impression of putting too much thought into the clothes. If you buy a coloured top, then you already have to think about how to combine it. And that gets complicated. It is just more about the function and here the function wins over the feeling. When a woman tries something on, she doesn’t ask herself “How do I feel with this?” or “What does this piece of clothing do with me?” These questions are asked way too rarely by women. The personality could be so much more underlined by colors or styles.
What do you miss the most about the style of German women?
I miss the aesthetics, but most of all also this savoir vivre, this nonchalance. If you asked me which women in Europe I find cool, I would say, the French. I like how they jump out of bed into something great. They have a great body awareness and know what suits them. Their outfits might be nonchalant and casual, but there is always something special about it. If it is the red shoe, or another interesting accessory. And that’s how they go and master their day and look feminine and sexy.
Did your style of fashion change over the time?
For a while, when I was in New York, I only bought vintage clothes. Later, during my pregnancy, I couldn’t do that anymore, solely because of the smell. And after my childrens births my style also changed, the functionality had won. For a while I adjusted my clothing to my lifestyle and wore jeans and a T-Shirt or a sweatshirt a lot. A was afraid of wearing pretty blouses, because I simply didn’t want to have to clean them all the time. When this phase was over and the kids got bigger, I was glad that I could live out my fashion again. I made many bad buys, because I had a picture of myself that wasn’t correct anymore. But that’s the good thing about this process, that after a while you know what suits you and what doesn’t.
Does a woman feel different when she wears a dress?
I love wearing dresses, and I have many long dresses in my wardrobe. When I wear a dress, I feel as if I was floating on air. I find this feeling beautiful. It does have to fit to the situation and my mood, though.
Which type of woman do you find particularly interesting? In your opinion, when is a woman feminine? Are there women you look up to?
There is no certain type for me. I find every woman fascinating. When I see a interesting woman, I like to look at her. In my head, there is always a film in my mind, I then wonder where she might come from and who she is. And if I like what she is wearing, I don’t hesitate to ask her about it. I learned this in America and it feels nice to both.
I admire women that manage to present their individuality and personality in such a way that it looks authentic and not like a mask.
I find Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore great. These women are great examples for me, that show that true beauty comes with age.
I also like “weird” women, as for example, Leandra Medine from Man Repeller. She has a great sense of humour. And there is something special about her face. She doesn’t look so “smooth” and this certain something makes her exciting. And I like how she combines clothes. These are the women that come to my mind spontaneously.
What is important on a bag for you? Functionality, aesthetics, or both?
The bag must be pretty in any case, but it also must feel great. That is what’s most important for me. Of course, I have different bags, but I am not someone who switches them daily. Every now and then I have a bag that I can wear for weeks, until I notice that I feel like using another one. When I go out in the evening, though, I only take a small wallet and bag. That is not necessarily functionality, but I want to enjoy the feeling of lightness. And the bag must be so light that you don’t really feel it when you wear it.
Text: Jana Rat
Bild: Sophia Mahnert