Happy Sunday!

My first week in Hamburg…what can I say? I’m already in love with this city! It feels like a beautiful mix between East London and Copenhagen, with gorgeous blue skies that bring the softest pastel sunrises and sunsets. The people are friendly, the waterfronts are stunning, and the houses are such a dream if you’re into architecture. I’m pretty sure this might now be my favourite city in Germany. It really feels like the perfect blend of Scandinavia and continental Europe. I’ve also been blessed with incredible weather all week, so maybe I’m a little bit biased, but I’m surprised Hamburg isn’t more on people’s radar, because it’s such a special place.

So let me recap my first week, from my outfits to some daily highlights and a few of my new favourite spots around the city. I’ll be here until the end of the month, so I’ll definitely be sharing more recommendations soon! In the meantime, you can follow along on Instagram @effortlessedited and if you have any recommendations around the city, let me know!

A Week of Outfits in Hamburg

Living out of a suitcase for an extended period can make getting dressed each day both a little tricky and a fun, creative challenge. I’ve set myself the task of making the most of what I packed and keeping my outfits feeling fresh and interesting, and documenting everything along the way. So here’s everything I wore this week! However, I do have to admit I packed a little too warmly for the weather. A trench coat would have come in very handy, but I’m working with what I have.

Most of these outfits were for a week of classes, so comfort was a priority, especially when you’re spending about five hours sitting on a chair. Still, I really enjoyed experimenting with accessories (inspired by one of my latest posts). I also find that when I’m in Europe, I feel more comfortable playing around with fashion and trying different things without feeling judged. On Friday, I wore a pillbox hat, and I must say it’s a tricky one to style so it looks elegant without falling into the ‘costume’ realm.

Everyday Delights

There were so many lovely moments this week. Every day, I felt excited to get ready and head out to explore. It’s the first time in a few years that I’ve had a commute, and I’ve actually really enjoyed it: the crisp air when the sun is out, listening to music on the S-Bahn, and greeting my classmates each morning. It’s made me realize that when I move to France this summer, I’d really like to create a more structured daily routine again, rather than working from home.

The main highlight of my week has definitely been my German immersion. It’s been a lot of work, and my brain is usually pretty tired by the end of the day, but I can feel that I’m learning a lot. There’s been a sort of switch in my brain where understanding and communicating suddenly feels a bit easier. Whenever I’m out at a café or at Pilates, I try to speak German first.

As I mentioned earlier, the sunrises and sunsets every single day have been breathtaking. I’m lucky to be staying in a top-floor flat, so I get the best view of them every morning. It’s such a simple but special moment in my day. I also think it has something to do with the quality of the light here. It reminds me so much of Scandinavia. I swear the sky looks different! The blue feels clearer, the way the sun reflects on it is softer, and it probably has something to do with Hamburg’s northern location.

Finally, on Friday, I went to what might already be my favourite café in the city: Café Notti. It’s a recently opened spot in Eppendorf. The atmosphere is calm and stylish. I had one of their delicious focaccia sandwiches and sat there for ages, first by myself and then with my friend Martine, who joined me after work. She’s here for the weekend, so I’m excited to have someone to explore the city with.

This Week’s Edit

Birtha Hiln’s YouTube comeback

Birtha is one of my comfort YouTubers, so I’m really happy she’s started posting again. Her latest video follows her moving into a new flat in Copenhagen, and it was such a cozy watch.

Unterwegs by Verifiziert und prod.suki

I’ve been trying to listen to more German music while I’m here, and this song has been on repeat all week. It’s so good!

Steamery Cirrus Lite Travel Steamer

My apartment didn’t have an iron or steamer, so I decided to get the EU travel version of the Steamery steamer I use at home. Honestly, I barely notice any difference in effectiveness, but this one is much smaller and lighter. It’s super practical, and in just a few minutes, my clothes look fresh and ready to wear.

The cardamom buns at Zeit für Bröt & Elbgold

I went to pick up some fresh bread at my local bakery, Zeit für Bröt (a chain you can find across several German and Austrian cities), and was so pleasantly surprised to see they had cardamom buns (the Scandinavian influence once again). Then the next day, I also saw that they had it at another café, Elbgold. At both places, they were incredibly soft and perfectly spiced, which is usually so hard to find outside of Scandinavia. I’ll definitely have to limit myself to one per week.

Love, S.

Note 25 - My First Week in Hamburg

Effortless & Edited

Note 25 - My First Week in Hamburg

Note 24 - March Madness

Effortless & Edited