So it finally happened, Vogue launched in Scandinavia, with its HQ in Stockholm. It’s a proud moment for all the fashion lovers living in Scandi. The first issue is a contribution to what combines all the Nordic countries together: our famous, lush, green and serene nature. With no other than environmental activist Greta Thunberg on the cover.

In 1892 the first ever Vogue was released, with a hand sketched cover of a beautiful woman wearing a long, embroidered gown with puffed shoulders. The covers and content has come a long way since the first issue but the goal of the magazine will forever stay the same – to inspire. Many may look at a fashion magazine thinking it’s just about fashion but in fact it’s a platform to communicate so much more than just the clothes the models are wearing or what’s the latest trends. A fashion magazine is in fact a gateway of the past, present and the future. In their own way they portray and shine light on important historical moments, political issues, world catastrophes and news.

The late editor in chief of Vogue Italia, Franca Sozzani, created one of the most iconic Vogue issues ever by doing just this. Through the iconic Makeover Madness-issue current events were highlighted in an almost satirical manner, sparking controversy and discussion. Martina Bonnier continues this tradition of pushing boundaries and highlighting current events with Vogue Scandinavias first issue. With thoughtful, powerful editorials and insightful, debating journalism she is mirroring our present time and addressing the current issues in the most fashionable way.

Vogue Scandinavia came out strong and bold, by having the 18 year old environmental activist gracing the cover of the first issue as well as the powerful communication of being the first sustainable magazine. This has led to some greenwashing accusations towards the most recent addition of the Conde Nast-family. Since Vogue is covering an industry that is a part of the environmental issue there has been some debate whether a fashion magazine objectively can address a subject which is such a big part of their business. But doesn’t that make Vogue the perfect outlet to talk about it? By showing the business that the environment is important to them they can inspire and put pressure on brands and stakeholders to make vital changes for a more sustainable future. If the fashion magazines don’t shed light on the current issues we are facing and take responsibility the best way they can, then really, who will.

Cherry Blossoms is Damien Hirst’s first museum exhibition in France and The Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain is proud to unveil Damien Hirst’s remarkable new series of paintings.

The Cherry Blossoms series reinterprets, with playful irony, the traditional subject of landscape painting. Hirst combines thick brushstrokes and elements of gestural painting, referencing both Impressionism and Pointillism, as well as Action Painting. The monumental canvases, which are entirely covered in dense bright colors, envelop the viewer in a vast floral landscape moving between figuration and abstraction.

“I’ve had a romance with painting all my life, even if I avoided it. As a young artist, you react to the context, your situation. In the 1980s, painting wasn’t really the way to go.” says Damien Hirst.

After studying in Leeds, Damien Hirst entered Goldsmiths College in London in 1986 and quickly became the face of the Young British Artists, a group with a taste for experimentation and creating art viewed as provocative by some. They dominated the British arts scene in the 1990s. In 1995, he was awarded the Turner Prize.

The Cherry Blossoms are at once a subversion and homage to the great artistic movements of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. They are integral to the pictorial exploration long carried out by Hirst. In his London studio, the artist describes “diving into the paintings and completely blitzing them from one end to the other”. He was working on several canvases at the same time and constantly returning to these, which he kept close by, months after their completion. After devoting three full years to the series, Damien Hirst niched the Cherry Blossoms series in November 2020

“The Cherry Blossoms are about beauty and life and death. They’re extreme—there’s something almost tacky about them. Like Jackson Pollock twisted by love. They’re decorative but taken from nature. They’re about desire and how we process the things around us and what we turn them into, but also about the insane visual transience of beauty—a tree in full crazy blossom against a clear sky. It’s been so good to make them, to be completely lost in color and in paint in my studio. They’re garish and messy and fragile and about me moving away from Minimalism and the idea of an imaginary mechanical painter and that’s so exciting for me.”

The exhibition will be shown at The Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain June 1st 2021 to January 2nd 2022.

The brand Filippa Hägg is a mix of chic Parisian style combined with Scandinavian minimalism, or as we like to call it, Frandinavian. As the Scandinavian style embodies minimalism and clean lines, the french style is all about timeless cuts and keeping it chic. Frandinavian style is the perfect mix of the two aesthetics, and together they signify true effortlessness.

The French style is about finding a balance between being dressed up and looking relaxed at the same time. The French woman loves her basics and keeping it simple. Even though having a wardrobe filled with neutrals and timeless cuts, she is never boring-looking. Instead, she lets a statement piece brighten up the outfit, like a scarf, red lip, or a fun pair of shoes. And similar to the Scandinavian woman, she is never overdone or overdressed. They look like they didn’t even try, but they sure did put a lot of effort into curating a perfect closet that makes dressing easy and fun.

While the Scandinavian woman is much like the french with a wardrobe of basics, the style is slightly more focused around the one and only color of Scandinavian fashion: black. Black is the base for everything and works as a canvas to add your own personal touch to, making everything look elegant and sleek. The elegant classic pieces are often mixed with new trends or sporty items – creating a playful look that never goes out of style.

Combining the two styles is easy as they both circle around the idea of effortless dressing with wardrobe staples. The Scandinavian look is cool and edgy, while the French add a more romantic and feminine touch.

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF FRANDINAVIAN STYLE

Balance comfort and style

Looking good is all about feeling good. Uncomfortable shoes or jeans that fit too tight are never a good look nor feel. Wear an outfit that you’ll feel comfortable in all day. Mix and match tailored pieces with casual and sporty ones to get the perfect comfy but elegant look, like our favorite oversized blazer and a pair of dad sneakers. It’s all about balance!

Opt for timeless and classic styles instead of trends

Shop quality items that are versatile and will last for a long time. To keep the overall look simple and easy to style, go for neutral tones.

Have a signature uniform

Find your perfect uniform that suits your everyday lifestyle, it makes it easier to dress in the morning, and you’ll always feel comfortable. Build the rest of your outfits around your signature look, spice it up with jewelry and other accessories. Find your own style and stick to it!

Let these fundamentals guide you in creating your perfect Frandinavian wardrobe!