Exploring Scandinavian Style

With fashion trending towards showcasing more minimalistic pieces with muted colors and emphasis on the fit and cutting of the piece, the Scandinavians seem to know how to do it best.

Although unknown to many North Americans, the Scandinavian influence has long been subtly diffusing into American society through the furniture that we buy at our favorite soft-serve frozen yogurt/Swedish meatball spot IKEA and the Nordic coffee culture we have all come to embrace. With brands, such as Acne and COS, gaining traction in the fashion industry, this Nordic dissemination has in turn translated into the closets of minimalistic style lovers and online fashion bloggers on all social media mediums.

As a strong advocate for style pieces that speak for itself through precise cutting of the fabric and less on the flashiness of color or branding, Scandinavian styling is truly something to take heed of. In contrast to American tastes, Scandinavian pieces often showcase a sense of character through the flair of simplicity and structure of the piece.

Often described to be of current taste and not necessarily trendy, the Scandinavian look remains true to its roots by accurately reflecting the similar relaxed and easy-going vibes of the people living in the Scandinavian countries. There is no frill or sense of ambiguity in its presentation - what you see is what you get - and at times, that is enough. There is nothing that makes it seem like you're-trying-too-hard but at the same time, whether it be through the tiniest of details in the pattern or material of the fabric, still gives off the perception that it's effortless chic.

On the topic of "effortless chic" - the goal of all style enthusiasts to hopefully one day obtain - where putting together an everyday ensemble becomes such a consistent and thoughtless task, I recently came across Scott Schuman's (the street-style photographer @thesartorialist) take on how even the most stylish people he has met in his lifetime has come to struggle with this issue:

"There is no such thing as effortless chic... You are fighting a no-win battle with yourself. Let me stress that this is not about how much money they have, but how attuned they are to their reality. It's an almost zen-like sense of self-awareness.

They don't obsess daily about what they wear but they all tend to be cautious shoppers. They make the tough decision in the fitting room, not in their closet. It stands to reason that if you only fill your closet with what works then just grabbing things from that closet will be a million times easier... hence the perception of effortlessness."

With Spring/Summer fast approaching, the Scandinavian look is perfect in welcoming the new season. Add some statement pieces to your closet that best complement your body shape, give you a sense of confidence and character when you put it on, and lastly, own the piece (not the other way around) like it was made just for you.

Here's a look at some of my favorite looks and must-own pieces for Spring/Summer from the Scandinavian brand Filippa K. Be sure to check out Acne and COS as well for more Scandinavian looks!

Filippa K:

Spring tailoring at its finest: Sharp double-breasted blazer paired with suede slip-on shoes

The go-to Spring-to-Summer transition outfit: Classic light merino wool sweater paired with pleated shorts

Monochrome outfits are easy to work with and best to throw on when in a rush. Here's the perfect example of it done right: Classic double-breasted peacoat in navy blue paired with slim fitted navy blue slacks and a contrasting lighter tone for shoes.

You really can't go wrong with tonal shading from black-grey-white: Crewneck pullover paired with slightly cropped twill pants (to give some interesting texture detailing to an otherwise casual look)

Another monochrome outfit, but this time for a more casual work-wear look: Indigo dyed casual button-down shirt with a subtle diamond pattern paired with similar indigo dyed pants and suede derby shoes

A perfect light luxe look for those cooler Spring days: Knitted ivory sweater in a padded check pattern (a great textured feature that gives you added warmth at the same time!) paired with ivory chinos and tan suede slip on shoes

Keeping it spring/summer simple: Slim-fit short sleeve polo shirt (with hidden details - like literally - hidden buttons, no-stitch collar and small breast-pocket) paired with slim-fit dark indigo dyed jeans

Splash of summer color: The staple light-knit summer cardigan with a notable rounded front hem (subtle but key feature!) and two button front paired with a warm yellow crewneck tee and cooler ivory slacks