The Scandinavians are preternaturally gifted at getting dressed. Italians might come up trumps in the kitchen (though the Swedes know a thing or two about meatballs), and the English give good game in the crime dramas department (I’ll see The Bridge and raise you Line of Duty), but resistance is futile—when it comes to style, the Scandis are in a league of their own.
From Denmark to Sweden to Norway, there is no shortage of influential new faces (and wardrobes) to join bloggers like Pernille Teisbaek or Elin Kling who you’ve followed from day dot. Take model Caroline Brasch Nielsen, for example. She hails from Copenhagen and was scouted in a pizza bar; three weeks later, she found herself treading the boards in Dries Van Noten’s Paris show and has the kind of perfectly mashed-up but never OTT style that Scandis seem to achieve with zero effort.
Spend two minutes on Caroline’s Instagram feed and you’ll immediately think twice about the Scandi fashion sense being “minimalist” and “pared back.” Instead, you’ll find the geeky (tie-dye bucket hats, scrunchies and thick-soled trainers) expertly combined with the classic (quilted Chanel bags, an impressive collection of Dries coats) and tempered with just a bit of bad taste (plastic flower earrings and ’80s hair barrettes, anyone?). Some of her outfits are like Anne of Green Gables dressed by Carrie Bradshaw—in a good way.
This kind of style might be genetic, sadly, but you can give yourself a helping hand by bookmarking these Scandi labels: Baum und Pferdgarten, Ganni, Rodebjer, By Malene Birger, Designers Remix and Filippa K, and making a note to swing by the Weekday shop when it opens on Regent Street later this summer. While you wait, here are the other Scandis to keep a closely trained eye on.
Carolina Storm
Style Notes: You can take the girl out of Sweden, but you can’t take Sweden out of the girl. Carolina Storm might be based in New York, but her sleek way with flared trousers, studded boots and statement outerwear is straight-up Scandi.
Elina Olofsson
Style Notes: Elina Olofsson looks like your average ridiculously gorgeous Swedish waif who could wear a sack and look divine, but she’s one of the best in the business at mixing high street and high end. She gets earrings from H&M, shoes from Mango and coats from Monki. Heck, she’s (almost) one of us.
Tine Andrea
Style Notes: Norwegian blogger Tine Andrea describes herself as a “style schizo,” and she’s not far off. She’s your go-to if you like your turtleneck with a side of DVF kimono or your paperbag-waist trousers with some spiky Vetements booties.
Darja Barannik
Style Notes: This Norwegian loves a bit of vinyl—trousers, boots, coats, you name it—as well as being an expert at cool layering and making white shoes go with everything. She’s also inherently polished, so she’s an excellent source of workwear inspiration, should you be searching.
Barbara Potts
Style Notes: Barbara Potts is part of the design team behind Danish label Saks Potts—you’ll have seen its candy-coloured faux-fur creations on Eva Chen, Leandra Medine, Emily Weiss et al—and has a taste for acid-bright hues, grandma florals and seriously groovy shoes (Perspex sandals, furry slides… you get the picture).
Marie Hindkaer
Style Notes: Copenhagen-based Marie Hindkaer has an enviable vase collection and knows a thing or two about working colour clashes. Witness this Weekday skate top with a Notes du Nord flamenco skirt and tell us you don’t agree.
Babba Canales
Style Notes: This Swede lives Stateside but is still a Scandi at heart. Favourite labels include Ganni, Samsoe & Samsoe and sunnies by Bagar & Glas.
Hege Aurelie
Style Notes: We’re big fans of Hege Aurelie’s summer uniform. No one works a ruffled skirt, slogan tee, and headscarf quite like her.
Hanna Mw
Style Notes: Hanna Mw always aces the high-low mix. Case in point? This Zara kimono, Celine pumps and frilled Ganni trousers combo.
Hanna Stefansson
Style Notes: If you’re wondering how to wear millennial pink, then Swede Hanna Stefansson has the answer. A Pepto-coloured suede skirt + strawberry bonbon silk shirt = heaven.
Annabel Rosendahl
Style Notes: This Norwegian buyer is big on It accessories—Gucci sunnies, check. J.W.Anderson Pierce bag, check!—and the master of tonal dressing.
Irina Lakicevic
Style Notes: A dentist-turned–street styler e
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