Notes about Turkish Style

For those who know me, style is an essential part of travel, and well … life in general.

And Turkish people do it exceedingly well. Whenever I walk the sidewalks of İstanbul, particularly the fancy neighborhoods of Nişantaşı and Bebek or trendy Cihangir and Kadıköy, I can't help but ogle and take a mental polaroid of outfits. Barbershops and hair salons can be found on every block and are sometimes more numerous than groceries. To be Turkish almost seems synonymous with looking decent and splashing on kolonya before even walking out the door.

If you weren't aware, Turkey is a textile and apparel haven, and ranked fifth largest exporter of all textiles in the world. Due to COVID-19, major brands such as Zara, Berksha, H&M and Ralph Lauren (all already popular here) are diverting production here from China. Turkish brands such as Koton, DeFacto, Mavi and LC Waikiki (even though they’re homophobic apparently) and Trendyol, the megagod of online shopping in the country, make it super easy and affordable for Turks to look really good.

But beyond being a major hub for shopping and retail, you can spot an interesting mix of fashions, especially in the cosmopolitan oasis of İstanbul. When you combine Turkey's Southern European, West Asian and Middle Eastern influences along with trends and cues Gen Z folks and millennials are taking from their peers around the world, it makes for a real-life fashion magazine.

So what do I notice?

Universally:

• Tighter / slimmer fitting clothes

• Oversized shirts (Gen Z)

• Nike, Adidas, U.S. Polo Association, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, H&M, ZARA, D&G are popular brands

• Slim fit and tapered leather jackets

• Puffy coats (usually black)

• Varieties of sandals

• Motorcycle jackets and boots

Men-identifying:

• Loose-fitting shirts, usually unbuttoned revealing chest and/or chest hair

• Velcose shirts

• Super skinny black plants

• Cropped or ankle length pants

• Ultra skinny jeans

• Skinny jeans shorts (usually frayed)

• Skinny white jeans

• Rolled up jeans & colorful socks

• Turtle necks

• Polo shirts (sometimes patterned or with a zipper)

• Fake (or real) gold and silver chains

• White or multicolored sneakers and hightop

• Black zip-up boots

• Face: Beards and five o'clock shadows, sometimes moustaches

• Hair: Typically a faded, short haircut. Sometimes in a pouf or parted. Men almost never dye their hair here. Rarely do I see long-haired men either, unless it's in a ponytail.

Female-identifying

• Tight, midriff showing shirts

• Above-knee length dresses

• Short, tighter skirts

• High-waisted pants

• Wider leg pants, sometimes cropped

• Rolled up jeans and colorful socks

• Puffy, colorful jackets and coats

• Long, flowing trench coats

• Black ankle and knee-length boots

• High heels

• Fake (or real) rings with gemstones

• For those who identify as Muslim: Solid tone, bright headscarves. Usually white, black or tan attire with flowing clothes

• Face: Minimal makeup, but typically light or nude with bright lipstick

• Hair: Generally long hair, rarely in a ponytail or in updos. Sometimes dyed blonde with roots showing or blonde highlights

For places to shop, see my Places guide for İstanbul!