"The first time I met Giovanna Engelbert, I was starstruck": Letter from the editor

I must admit, the first time I met Giovanna Engelbert, I was starstruck. For any fashion obsessive, she is an A-list celebrity – a woman whose singular sense of style is so iconic, it’s destined to go down in fashion history. So you can imagine my surprise when she started dating a relative of mine and suddenly we were at family functions together. I’ll never forget her first Midsummer; the weather was terrible and in came Giovanna wearing a floor-sweeping white gown with intricate embroidery. It might have even been couture.

Giovanna’s dedication to fashion in all its forms is exactly what Vogue Scandinavia is about. Watching her build a life in Stockholm – getting married, having children, taking on the role of creative director at Swarovski – whilst never compromising her sense of style (even in a world of minimalism and beige) has been a delight to behold. Shooting this cover story, in which Giovanna visits some of the Stockholm locales she finds most inspiring, was a true fashion fantasy.

Throughout this issue, we see the ways in which Scandinavia impacts and inspires creatives from all over the world. In addition to Giovanna (who is unmistakably Italian) we find American alpine superstar Mikaela Shiffrin, the most decorated competitor in the sport (she snatched the honour from Swedish legend Ingemar Stenmark). She finds solace in Norway, where she and and fiancé, fellow World Cup racer Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, recharge between races. I was immediately struck by the danger of their sport – both athletes are recovering from career-worst falls – and the beautiful way in which the couple finds unwavering support in one another.

We also feature French ballet dancer Guillaume Diop, the first Black dancer to be promoted to étoile in the history of the Paris Opera Ballet. We welcome the singular talent to Stockholm, where he brings to life the untold true story of Badin, a slave who found himself a member of the Royal Court (I must admit, it was a story I had never heard myself. I was instantly blown away by this piece of history). In our sneak peek of the ballet, called Gustavia, we showcase Diop alongside beloved Swedish designer Selam Fessahaye, who creates the performance’s extraordinary costumes. It’s a remarkable collaboration.

Meanwhile, René Redzepi, the Danish superstar chef at the helm of Noma, has found his inspiration abroad. Though he’s known as a pioneer in New Nordic cuisine, it was the flavours and techniques of Japan that took his mastery to the next level. We travel to Kyoto for an exclusive look into the upcoming Noma pop-up. This special story gives new insight into how Rene became one of our region’s most notable names by bringing far flung inspiration back home to Copenhagen.

Next, a Swedish icon that’s made an impact globally, delighting anyone and everyone who comes across it. I’m speaking of kanelbullar, perhaps the most globally recognised culinary emblem of Sweden (aside from meatballs). In an excellent story by writer Elin Unnes, we discover how the stars aligned to lift kanelbullar to where it stands today. And, in a bit of cheekiness, we bring to life a fashion story in which one of the season’s most major trends, gloves, meet the messiness of baking.

Speaking of fashion, in an issue with Giovanna on the cover, we felt extra pressure to deliver, and boy did we. Punk is back and in our story – which offers endless styling inspiration – you’ll find an elevated take on the enduring in-your-face style. On the other side of the coin is the season’s most extraordinary couture looks, the sort of gowns that fashion dreams are made of. As we move away from fast fashion and towards more sustainable, enduring alternatives, the historic craft of couture feels more relevant than ever.

Perhaps the greatest takeaway from this issue is the way in which Giovanna speaks of her new home. As any Scandinavian knows, sometimes it takes a pair of fresh eyes to really appreciate the magic we have in our backyards. It’s a magic we will continue to capture, issue by issue.