“Classic Barcelona style to me is easy, laid-back and fun”: Nuria Val on her top styling tips for those on the go

Nuria Val

Credit: Nuria Val

Fashion


“Classic Barcelona style to me is easy, laid-back and fun”: Nuria Val on her top styling tips for those on the go

By Lauren Cunningham

7 months ago

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3 min read

Stylist sat down with the brand founder, mother and content creator to find out how to achieve the Barcelona look with minimal effort.


Thanks to the rise in social media and our increased ability to travel, fashion inspiration is now shared across the globe in an instant, causing certain regions to become synonymous with certain styles. The French girl look has long been admired, showcasing effortless elegance: a striped jumper, straight-leg jeans and pretty ballet flats stick out as one of the more stereotypical outfits. Copenhagen style showcases more practical picks perfectly suited to cycling, and the Lisbon look has started to seep through as a fun way to clash colours and patterns. 

Adding to the European set is Barcelona: the region has been drawing a lot of fashion interest in recent years, thanks to its growing fashion week and standout brands including Loewe, Desigual and (of course) Mango. So we caught up with one of our favourite Barcelona-based style inspirations, Nuria Val (@frecklesnur to her 300,000+ Instagram followers) to find out how to achieve the look.

“Classic Barcelona style to me is easy, laid-back and fun,” she says, regularly opting for coloured co-ords, lightweight linen trousers and shirts that are functional and fashionable. “My style has always carried the ease of someone always on the go. I need my clothes to hold a function as much as form, from dropping off my daughter to school to shooting the incredible landscapes of Iceland.” And she had a couple of styling tips to share with mums, too.

Nuria Val orange dress

Credit: Nuria Val

Raising children is hard, so feeling that you need to look on-trend is something no woman needs to worry about,” says Val, whose toddler, Oli, also makes a regular appearance on her Instagram grid. “I think one’s own style is something that you carry throughout your life but it has definitely evolved since having Oli. Wearing something that is easy to throw on is ideal, but sometimes Oli and I accidentally match, which always makes me laugh.

“What I would say to mums is don’t worry too much; wear what feels good for you and remember that you are doing a great job. If there were any styling tips, remember to wear something you feel comfortable and confident in as there is nothing worse than feeling restricted when you are working, being a mum and everything in between,” she adds, stressing the importance of opting for a bag big enough to fit all of the kid’s things inside as well as your own.

Nuria Val in white trousers and beige blazer

Credit: Nuria Val

When it comes to everyday dressing, whether at home or at work – Val is a co-founder for both beauty brand Rowse and olive oil label Oli de L’Oliveta – this idea of functional fashion still stands strong. “There are so many amazing brands out there designing for people that lead active lives that I can feel spoiled for choice. Sometimes a simple Carhartt T-shirt or a pair of Blundstone boots are the best pieces to have on hand, and you can pair them with both office outfits and evening looks as well.”

If it’s classic Barcelona style you’re after, it’s airy and easy items that are the way to go. A floaty dress and vintage leather jacket or lightweight linen trousers and a shirt are some of Val’s everyday go-tos. She also gets great inspiration from other European-based designers, highlighting About Arianne, Hereu, Ganni, Aiayu and Cecilie Bahnsen alongside J Crew and Barcelona-based Mango. So it seems the perfect summer wardrobe can be shopped from across the globe, and minimal faff is the way forward. 

Images courtesy of Nura Val

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