"For this issue, which comes out in that bleak time of year when you yearn for winter to end, we lean into our region’s famously unpleasant weather. It would be too easy to rely on the appeal of a cosy hygge feeling"
You cannot overstate the significance of Ingmar Bergman in our region. The Swedish filmmaker is so central to our culture, his aesthetic and sensibilities have influenced virtually all Scandinavian creatives who came in his wake, both in film and beyond. So when one hears that Bergman’s grandson, Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel (whose grandmother is the iconic actress Liv Ullmann) has directed his first feature film, you’re immediately curious. What’s more, the film stars Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve, a once-in-a-generation Scandinavian talent Vogue Scandinavia has been following since her Palm d’Or-winning breakout (she was featured in our second issue – one of Renate’s first significant magazine features).
But it wasn’t until we saw the chemistry between Halfdan and Renate off-screen, as they began to promote their film, Armand (which, by the way, also premiered at Cannes, winning the Caméra d’Or for best first feature), that we knew this pair was something special. For this cover, we present Halfdan and Renate as the breakout Scandinavian film duo of their generation. In a subtle nod to Bergman, we feature Renate and Halfdan against a bleak Norwegian landscape, in the dead of winter. While we knew Renate is a natural in front of the camera, exuding a modern Hollywood glamour, I was particularly impressed by Halfdan, who would look right at home on a runway. And the chemistry between these two is undeniable.
For this issue, which comes out in that bleak time of year when you yearn for winter to end, we lean into our region’s famously unpleasant weather. It would be too easy to rely on the appeal of a cosy hygge feeling. After all, Scandinavians aren’t afraid to head outside – just ask the Vogue Scandinavia team; we hold our Monday morning meetings in our backyard, even in winter.
It wasn’t until we saw the chemistry between Halfdan and Renate off-screen, as they began to promote their film, 'Armand', that we knew this pair was something special
Martina Bonnier
Take, for instance, our story on actors Frida Gustavsson and Gustav Lindh, who just so happen to star in an adaptation of Bergman’s Faithless. We placed the duo outside, in the snow, in sharp menswear. A Bergman-esque aesthetic if there ever was one. Meanwhile, half-Danish Internet sensation Dodi El’circy also braves the cold, exposing his toned arms on the streets of Copenhagen on a day that was much colder than it looked. Even Nina Ricci creative director Harris Reed dared to go outside in Denmark, at night, in not-so-warm tailoring of his own design. With his long red hair blowing in the wind, he looks as serene as the Little Mermaid.
On the fashion side, we put our Scandi spin on some of the season’s most inescapable trends. The ballet expressions that were all over this season’s runway get a cool girl twist, met with denim or a parka for a look that can handle our weather. Meanwhile, an effortlessly pleasing story on relaxed soft suits is precisely how a modern Bergman character would dress. Finally, there’s an all-weather story, which proves the age old adage true: there is no bad weather, only bad clothing.
But it isn’t all doom and gloom. In fact, we feature one of our region’s greatest delights, the Danish flødeboller – a treat that harkens to winter snow but warms our hearts with childhood memories. And when all else fails, we turn to the master of light, Paavo Tynell, the Finnish designer who’s extraordinary (and coveted) lamps and fixtures – also featured in this issue – brighten even the darkest of days. Spring is just around the corner, but until then, we hope you enjoy this issue someplace cosy.
