10/06/2026
”I could never wear that. It’s so beautiful, but I’d never dare to stand out that much.” 💔
That is what several brilliant, high-performing women whispered to me at the event. And honestly? It broke my heart a little. Because just a few weeks ago, I had the exact same doubt.
When this turn-of-the-century costume was being personally sewn for me, my own inner critic chimed in: “Where will you even use this? Are you really going to dare to take up that much space?”
Let’s clear one thing up:
It is not a landscape costume, folk costume or folk dance costume.
This is inspired by the first woman to ride a bicycle in Helsingborg
[Nanny Palmkvist (1862–1940): The Swedish elementary school teacher and suffrage campaigner was one of the first women to use the bicycle as a regular means of transportation. She attracted much attention when she cycled long distances in the early 1890s, including all the way to Norway, wearing trousers.]
I fell in love with this design during a theatre play in Helsingborg before our move. It’s modeled after a turn-of-the-century rebel. A woman who fought for women’s rights, stood up for unmarried mothers, and was the first woman in the area to ride a bicycle—hence the pant-skirt 🚲🔥
This dress wakes up the fire within me. It connects me to the ultimate fighter, my grandmother Anna Nyberg. It was tailored to fit my body, my power, and exactly who I am.
Yet, so many women look at it and think that power is reserved for ”someone else.”
Why do we do that? Why do we midlife women—who have survived, built, healed, and achieved so much—still shrink at the thought of truly shining? Why are we terrified of standing out?
The positive response I got was overwhelming. But my dream for you reading this isn’t that you admire my dress. It’s that you find your own version of it. Whatever makes you feel powerful, fierce, wild and unapologetically you -
Wear it.
Speak it.
Live it.
Stop waiting for permission to take up space. The world is waiting for your fire ❤️🔥
Best photos 📸 .boden
