Note 03 - The Scandinavian Wardrobe
Wearing a secondhand Ganni dress I found in Copenhagen
According to the Digital Wardrobe app Indyx, 60% of my wardrobe is made up of Scandinavian brands, so it feels only right to dedicate an entire note to my love for Nordic style. What I love most about Scandinavian fashion is its balance: the clean lines of minimalism paired with thoughtful, unexpected details. There’s also a strong commitment to quality and sustainability. For instance, brands that want to show at Copenhagen Fashion Week must meet strict sustainability standards, including using at least 60% certified or preferred materials, incorporating circular design principles, eliminating single-use plastics in show production, and committing to zero-waste set design.
Secondhand Scandi finds
In line with the spirit of sustainability, one of the ways I love to shop for Scandinavian brands is secondhand. It’s more economical, there’s the thrill of tracking down pieces I loved from past collections, and it makes for a wardrobe that feels unique and personal. In fact, many of the pieces I own came to me this way.
When I’m in Scandinavia, I love going to the different Arkivet locations to see what I can find, but at home, I rely on alerts I’ve set up through The RealReal and Vestiaire Collective to keep an eye out for specific items. If you’re building a more sustainable wardrobe, I encourage you to do the same and search for pieces with intention rather than focusing on quantity.
Some highlight secondhand pieces I have include this Totême crinkled silk dress that flows beautifully with every movement, the crocheted Gwenevere top from By Malene Birger that features delicate butterflies, and the Marillase trench coat from the same brand I had long coveted for its striking leather collar.
Scandi Beauty
My friend Martine introduced me to Mantle for my birthday this year, and I’ve been a fan of them since. I also got to try most of the products during a stay at Ett Hem in Stockholm, where the bathrooms were stocked with Mantle products. The Swedish-based brand is quickly becoming a leader in clean skincare, with products that are not only effective but also beautifully packaged (there’s something so satisfying about a container that feels weighty and luxurious in hand). My current go-tos are the Rose Balm, the Eye Smoother, and the Barrier Cream moisturizer.
What I wore this week
I leaned into the theme of Scandinavian secondhand dressing this week with a more casual look: classic jeans and black boots (my fall staple), paired with a ribbed Totême cardigan and a double-faced cashmere & wool jacket from Filippa K. Both pieces are pre-owned finds I’ve cherished in my wardrobe for years. To finish it off, I added another Nordic touch: my Aesther Ekme half-moon shoulder bag.
Follow me on Instagram @effortlessedited for more outfits.
The Scandi Edit
Carolina Storm was one of the first bloggers I followed in the 2010s. Even as her style has evolved, she’s remained one of my go-to fashion inspirations. My recommendation today is her weekly newsletter, Storm Journal, a thoughtful curation of beautiful finds, interviews with interesting people, and plenty of Scandi outfit inspiration. Every so often, she also does closet clear-out sales on Instagram, and this is where I found the beautiful crocheted By Malene Birger top I mentioned above, a treasure!
Totême SS26 Fashion Show & Elin Kling’s Outfit
Totême has to be my all-time favourite brand. No one does elevated basics quite like them. Their Spring/Summer 2026 collection recently debuted at New York Fashion Week, and what really caught my eye was the designer Elin Kling’s closing look. She wore a tonal black outfit that managed to feel both flowy and impossibly elegant, a perfect example of Swedish minimalism done right.
Dress Scandinavian, Pernille Teisbaek
An oldie but still a classic! I bought this book nearly ten years ago, and it remains one of my main references for Scandinavian style. Pernille perfectly balances minimal elegance with playful details, both in her wardrobe and her home. I still find myself flipping through its pages whenever I need inspiration. On the cover, she’s wearing a T-shirt from one of Ganni’s most iconic early collections (after Ditte and Nicolaj Reffstrup first took the helm of the brand) with the banana printed on the graphic T-shirt, which I remember wanting so bad back then!
House of Dagmar Stockholm Store
Another gem from Stockholm. House of Dagmar, known for their incredible wool jackets and sculptural tops, recently revamped their flagship store with the help of designer Alyssa Kapito. The result is a beautiful space that blends art, architecture, and fashion. I can’t wait to visit on my next trip to Stockholm!
Love, S.
