I recently returned from Chișinău. The street style impressed me with its boldness and brilliant DIY details

When I travel to places I’ve never been before, I think about the feeling that will wash over me as I walk through unfamiliar streets. I picture the facades, restaurant terraces, and those cool spots where people grab a coffee (or a glass of prosecco) after work, and I wonder what stories will unexpectedly weave their way into my life – stories I’ll find myself retelling for months, even years to come.

And when the reason for my trip is fashion week, my curiosity about an unfamiliar city always includes its people – what they wear, what kind of aesthetics dominate the streets, what they find beautiful, and what inspires them. Is there something that binds them together like a tribe, yet still sets them apart from everyone else? Something that makes their styles different because they’ve managed to escape the dictatorship of the Instagram algorithm that pushes us to dress the same way? In a time when the internet has brought trends so close that we all end up looking alike, there are few cities that still hold on to their own distinctive vibe. Chișinău is definitely one of those cities.

I arrived in the capital of Moldova, the small Eastern European country nestled between Ukraine and Romania, for the shows and presentations scheduled as part of the Moldovan Brands Runway platform. This was MBR’s fifth edition, and in addition to Moldovan designers, they decided to welcome fashion brands from Ukraine, Romania, and Georgia to their runway. Judging by the size of the audience and the almost palpable sense of enthusiasm, it was clear from the very beginning that the platform and its events meant a great deal to a fashion scene that’s awakening – in every sense of the word. And the street style reflected that.

Looking around and observing people, I found myself telling my companions more than once that I felt as if I’d come to a familiar place – as though I’d been here before. And I wasn’t referring to some kind of spiritual journey; it was the street style’s aesthetic that felt strangely close to me, in a nostalgic way. Our societies have gone through similar developmental processes, and the influences shaping local styles still carry shared traces of the past. That vibe has been partly molded by globalization and the omnipresence of fashion trends, yet it remains noticeable, its codes still recognizable – especially to those who understand them. Because of that sense of unspoken understanding, I felt at home in Chișinău from the very first day.

Although I’m not a passionate fan of black, it suits Chișinău perfectly – just like adidas tracksuits, oversized leather jackets, long coats, and vintage blazers adorned with pins. While the city gravitates toward a dark and muted color palette, Chișinău is anything but dull or lifeless. On the contrary, its fashion lovers have a keen eye for detail and a special fondness for weaving a touch of DIY creativity into their outfits – a quality that reminded me of the golden era of subcultures, something I remember from the past but find myself deeply missing lately. During the four days I spent in Chișinău, I saw hats decorated with buttons, watches, and keys; braids interwoven with safety pins; chain necklaces; tartan and ties worn in true punk fashion – along with countless other fascinating details.

A little punk, quite dark, and infused with an underground vibe – that’s probably how I’d describe the street style in Chișinău if someone asked me to sum up my impressions in just a few words. But that in no way implies uniformity. What’s particularly interesting is that every outfit carries a personal touch – even within shared visual codes, what stands out most is the diversity and creativity. Perhaps the street style in Chișinău shouldn’t be labeled at all – because the spirit of a city, the very thing that gives a scene its authenticity, can’t really be put into words. The only thing that matters is feeling that there’s something special in the air.