The Scando Files: Oh Land and Other Gifts

Rainbow by Oh Land from Big Ugly Yellow Couch on Vimeo.

  They are the lands that keep on giving. Beyond burgeoning street-style and a bike culture to dream about, the Scandinavian countries deliver music of their own guise. When Bjork emerged in the early 90s as a solo artist (wafting and dreamlike) her sound and risks struck a nerve with a global audience.

   In recent years, artists like The Knife, Sigur Ros, Lykki Li, and Robyn have achieved huge success on the Western front. Stylistically varied and defined amongst themselves, there is a commonality to the Scando sound that's incredibly visceral. It is the power of giving pop music a soul; interlacing music and new methods with, perhaps, a more curious approach to both life and art. Sounds are provided with atmosphere to linger long after the song has played out.

  Oh Land is the latest wonder to trickle from across the pond. Singer/ song-writer, Nanna Øland Fabricius, builds herself with a sense of play, mixing boisterous moods and a gentility that works. From outskirts of Copenhagen, she's a trained ballet dancer raised by a family of creatives. An upbringing  both disciplined and free (Ok, I'm making assumptions, but its pretty likely), and such spirit translated into music is one to enjoy. And impossible not to crush on. Great selection of capes and apparel in general. For more about Oh Land, visit her website here.

The Scando-Files: Acne

              

 Swedish intentions are grafting momentum, and the lo-fi of fashion labels is making its London debut. Acne yields to alternative style ethics–– subtle quirks, modern grunge, and understated; they've evolved beyond providers of denim, and have the masses embracing the Scando gold.

  With the inter-world all 'a twitter, its not hard to imagine why. The Dover Street address is the brand's largest store to date, and the 4 floor concept 'studio' design not only features clothing-- but furniture, a roof terrace, gallery and a garden as well. Nothing like floral backscapes to secure the serenity of a final purchase. With such atmospheric grandeur, I think... this is where I'll go to die. (and hopefully before that too)

  Ambition to Create Novel Expressions. Acne–– your expressions are profound and ideal. Time has allowed the brand an anti-fashion mentality and the mainstreaming of a new wave. As London's premiere opening gives hope to further international queries, I'll just say that the Olga Shearling Hat would be a perfect way to weather a Canadian winter. Hint, hint.

The Scando Files

A new component of the blog, The Scando Files, will dote on the conversations of Scandinavian fashion and style. And with that, CIFF's trendshow back in February seems like a good place to start. I observe the general Scando style as having its own ideas of what entails a staple wardrobe piece. Not so much the Little-Black-Dress, Nordic necessities are more apt to include cocooning sweater tops, a loose fit pant and everlooping scarves.

This show is a depiction of such romantic moods between fabric. Standard street-style is accented with adjacent subtleties that make for less than obvious fashions. I adore the bouffant hairdos featured with the vintage clutch-turned-fanny pack. Purses hang as off-centered ornaments, and elongated gloves float amongst thick layers and earthly tones.

Take a peek for yourself, and enjoy the range of both street-style and formal wears.