January 25, 2026
Her style is bold, expressive, almost theatrical. Yet behind the visual impact lies something deeper than fashion for fashion’s sake — it is a personal choice. Alina brings together office codes, punk, romanticism, and avant-garde within one wardrobe — and does so as if dress code and self-expression were never opposites.
We spoke with Alina about style as performance, about living between the office and the runway, about the fear of other people’s opinions, and about how clothing can become a way of choosing yourself.
IG: @alinarolling
Then the office entered my life. And with it — the need to conform. Especially when you’re a young professional and you want to be taken seriously, to build a career. I quickly realized that clothing can function as a tool. Glasses meant intelligent. A строгий silhouette meant professional. I fit into that stereotype with precision.
But eventually I understood that I no longer wanted to meet someone else’s standards or keep postponing my life. I didn’t want to wear clothes that brought me no joy. And that was the first time I chose myself — and started dressing not “the way I should,” but the way I truly wanted to.
I always think about an outfit in terms of composition. Every time I get dressed, I approach it the same way I would build a painting: balance, color, rhythm, accents. When I studied design, I was trained in the fundamentals of composition and color, and now I use that knowledge intuitively — almost unconsciously.
Another important word for me is rebellious. There is a sense of challenge in my style; it is feminist in the most direct sense. I believe a woman owes nothing to anyone and does not have to look a certain way. Through clothing, I assert that right.
My style is avant-garde and deeply emotional. I dress according to the state I am in here and now. For me, clothing is about support — a way to remind myself who I am and to stay connected to myself.
HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR STYLE DIRECTION?
I’ve never had just one direction — rather several, and they contrast quite strongly with one another. I’ve always loved florals, ruffles, something soft and romantic. But it was important to me that the look never became entirely sweet or infantilized — I simply don’t feel like myself that way.
At sixteen, I was a punk. I listened to alternative music, and I loved the state it gave me. Later, when the office entered my life, I understood that I needed to introduce something more structured and "professional." That’s when trousers and blazers became staples in my wardrobe — and I began mixing office severity with punk and romanticism.
Trousers are a key piece for me. I love them because everything can be layered onto them, like paint on a canvas. They are my anchor — the starting point from which each look begins.
That’s why the first thing I always recommend is simply to look around and learn to accept beauty without immediately trying to dissect it. But if you want to understand the principles behind that feeling, I suggest the book Design Fundamentals: Notes on Visual Elements & Composition. It clearly explains the basic principles of visual perception, composition, and proportion — the very things we often sense intuitively but struggle to articulate.
ARE THERE BLOGGERS, DESIGNERS, OR STYLE ICONS WHO INSPIRE YOU?
I’m most inspired by artists. First and foremost, Pablo Picasso — for his boldness. He began in a very traditional manner, then shocked everyone with his Blue Period, and later in life created highly unconventional works. Many call those late pieces "lazy": some consider them his best, others his worst. But that’s precisely what matters to me — he didn’t care what people thought.
I’m also deeply inspired by Vincent van Gogh — by the way he followed his emotions. His relationship with color, with paint, with the process itself — it was absolute honesty. He was a rebel who simply moved with his feelings rather than adapting to expectations.
And of course, Claude Monet — for his pastels, for his softness, for the tenderness with which he saw the world.
I feel much closer to painters than to traditional style icons. Since I don’t paint, I live out my emotions through clothing instead — creating looks, almost like costumes, that convey my mood, my state of mind, and my character.
I don't think my style would change that much. What people find interesting isn’t so much where I am — in an office or outside of it — but the process itself. They enjoy watching how I get dressed, how a look comes together.
MANY OF MY CLIENTS, ESPECIALLY IN IT, BRING VERY BOLD REFERENCES, BUT IN REAL LIFE THEY CHOOSE MORE CAUTIOUS OUTFITS. HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO OVERCOME THE FEAR OF BEING JUDGED BY YOUR COLLEAGUES AND START DRESSING SO FREELY IN THE OFFICE?
To dress the way I do, you truly need an inner core. For a long time, I was someone who depended heavily on other people’s approval. And it was through style that I worked my way past that barrier. Now my self-worth is no longer built on how others look at me. Yes, I notice the glances — sometimes curious, sometimes judgmental.
But I consciously choose to express myself. I choose myself.
I once reached a point where I was so disconnected from who I truly was that it led me into depression. I have no desire to return to that dark, frightening place. At some point, I simply decided: from now on, I will choose myself — in life, and in the way I dress.
WOW, THAT’S REALLY INSPIRING. TELL US — WHAT IS WORKING WITH BRANDS DURING FASHION WEEKS ACTUALLY LIKE? HOW DO BLOGGERS GET DRESSED FOR SHOWS? DO YOU CHOOSE YOUR LOOKS YOURSELF?
In Copenhagen, the process is usually online: you select the pieces in advance, and they’re delivered directly to your hotel. Milan is different — you go to the showroom, where a stylist works with you, brings options, you try everything on, build the look, take it, and head to the show. Afterward, the pieces are returned to the brand: they’re sent to dry cleaning and later used for shoots. In Copenhagen, mid-range brands sometimes gift the pieces; luxury brands almost never do.
That said, in any look, I still feel like myself because I style the clothing in my own way. The brands that invite me to shows understand who they’re inviting, and our aesthetics usually align. I’ve never felt like I was betraying myself or dressing unnaturally.
AND WHAT ABOUT LOOKS THAT AREN’T PROVIDED BY BRANDS, BUT YOUR OWN? HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR FASHION WEEKS?
Honestly, that’s the biggest source of stress. In the past, it felt justified — I invested a lot in preparation for the sake of publications. But now I have enough of those, and I feel I’m no longer willing to give so much of my energy to it.
So my approach has changed. If a brand invites me to a show, I prefer working with Finnish designers and choosing one signature look or one strong statement piece. That way, I don’t have to create everything from scratch. It allows me to preserve my energy and time — instead of turning Fashion Week preparation into a survival marathon.
