Friction. Chill. Modern. Classic. Me.

A blazer girl’s journey through slouch, structure, and the art of dressing with intention

What makes an outfit stick in your mind?
Not just look good, but feel good. Memorable. A little bit clever.

Lately, I’ve been circling back to one answer: friction. The kind that shows up when a piece resists being too obvious. A slouchy Liam blazer that looks polished but never stiff. A nylon jogger with ankle zips that brings unexpected sharpness to a “lazy day” silhouette. A fabric like crispy nylon that instantly adds dimension and depth to even the simplest look - that slight rustle, the light structure, the subtle sheen. Pure styling magic.

Both Asta’s (from Fit Happens) recent post and Kelly Williams’ (from Midimalist) latest post on color reminded me that this kind of creative tension is often what makes a look feel truly mine. When things are just a bit off - in the best possible way.

I’ve said it before: I came to Tibi for the Liam blazer, but I stayed for the friction.

Because beautiful is easy. Clever is harder. Memorable? That’s in the friction; the quiet play of fabric and cut and feel that makes someone turn their head and think: wait a second. That’s not just another nice outfit. That’s something else.

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The voluminous nature of the Stella pant. The ease and unexpected texture of the crispy nylon Wilt pull-on jogger. The slouchiness of the Liam blazer. These are the pieces that first pulled me in and kept me there. Each one plays with contradiction in the smartest ways. Structured but slouchy. Classic but with an edge. Fabrics that take familiar shapes and make them new.

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I lean on Tibi’s Chill Modern and Classic style adjectives. They’re easy to keep in mind - and after watching and reading pretty much everything Tibi has ever put out, I know exactly what those words translate to in actual clothes. I can spot them in my own closet, and I know what to look for when adding something new. So why mess with a good thing? 😏

So, yes, I lean on Tibi’s Chill, Modern, and Classic framework when building my wardrobe. But friction? That’s the secret ingredient.

For reference - I work in a technical field - software and data-driven solutions for the renewable energy industry. My background? Commercial engineering.
Outside of that (and fashion), you’ll usually find me at the gym. I’m into heavy lifting, with the help of my PT.
Home is Copenhagen these days, Poland was my first home though.

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Let’s take a look at some of my crispy nylon pieces from Tibi with a good dose of friction in-built in their DNA:

Crispy Nylon Liam Blazer

I’m a blazer girl. A blazer is part of my uniform. It was the military heritage, the tailoring, the sharpness - and that instant business look vibe - that drew me to it back in my early teens. Even then, I think I subconsciously sensed the power of clothes to project authority. You could become that person, simply by what you wore.

Fast forward to one of the first Tibi Style Classes I ever watched - completely mesmerized - and there it was: the Liam blazer. I can’t quite remember who was wearing it (probably Amy herself), or even the exact model. But I’m almost certain it was the classic black Liam in tropical wool.

What I do remember is this: I wanted it.

I wanted it for all the reasons I’d never previously associated with a blazer. Liam is slouchy. Liam is oversized. Liam has unstructured shoulders. Liam is long.

I think it was during a conversation about the Mario square-toe boot when I first heard Amy talk about “an eye that needs to adjust.”
And adjust it did.

I already owned 2 different Liams in wool. But for summer, I was craving something thinner, airier, and just easier to wear. The nylon Liam turned out to be a true revelation - it’s such a summer go-to, but it layers beautifully through the colder months too.

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Crispy Nylon Jogger

As with so many Tibi pieces, the brand loves to play with well-established concepts. The Crispy Nylon Pull On Wilt Jogger is a perfect example of the subtle irony woven into Tibi’s DNA.

The idea of using a technical, sporty fabric like nylon - typically associated with activewear and function - in a utilitarian jogger silhouette, complete with ankle zippers, is genius. Yes, other brands may have done it too, but this version only truly landed on my fashion radar when I discovered Tibi.

And again - just like with nearly any Liam blazer - the nylon jogger is an embodiment of the brand’s Creative Pragmatism approach. It’s the personification (or perhaps, itemification) of Chill, Modern, and Classic - all in one.

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Crispy Nylon Stella Pant

Stella is the volume and slouchiness I hadn’t known I needed - until I entered the world of Tibi. And again, as I recently wrote in ‘The Tibi Effect’, the brand has mostly been about the learning for me: a workout for my styling brain, a creative outlet.

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Honestly, I don’t think I’d enjoy wearing anything from Tibi if it weren’t for the Style Classes, the Tibi book, and the knowledge section on their website.

You almost need a kind of initiation - like joining a sect, a loge, or a wizard’s circle - to start seeing what they see. At least that’s how it’s been for me.

The more I’ve learned to look for friction in clothes - structured vs. slouchy, polished vs. playful - the more I’ve come to crave it. It’s a lens that reshapes how you see your own closet, and the world outside it. Because sometimes the best style isn’t seamless. It’s the tiny, clever tension that makes it feel alive.

The grey Stella pant was actually the first piece I bought new - via NAP.

I was lucky to find the nylon Stellas in a beautiful shade of khaki via Tibi.fans (now Cleowave). My tropical wool Stellas are already wonderfully slouchy, so I wasn’t expecting much difference in fit or feel. I’d originally bought the nylon pair for the color and the material - that subtle, almost luxurious rustle.

But they completely exceeded my expectations. The fluidity, the lightness, the way they move and sound - they’re in a category of their own. I reach for them again and again, especially on warmer days when I want that effortless, cool ease.

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In the end, that’s what keeps me coming back to these pieces—and to this way of dressing. The friction. The quiet play between materials, shapes, and moods. The sense that an outfit can be both intentional and just a little bit unexpected.

Because when you start seeing clothes through that lens, even something as simple as a blazer or a pair of joggers becomes a new kind of creative playground.

Are there other nylon pieces from Tibi I love and reach for?

Definitely!

I really love the Italian Sporty Nylon Shirred Sleeve Top:

Here’s a little close-up of its texture:

I’m curious to hear about what kinds of friction you lean into in your own wardrobe?

Let me know in the comments. I’d love to expand my horizons and learn from you guys.

With love,

Ewelina