A Look into Scandi Style

In recent years, the idea of Scandinavian, or Scandi, style have become a hot topic in the worlds of fashion and interiors. In fashion, Scandi style is ruled by minimalist and high quality pieces. These pieces aren't necessarily neutral though, as bright colors are not feared in everyday basics and staples. Within architecture, according to Bridget Mallon of Apartment Therapy, the style "consists of clean lines, minimalism and a lack of clutter." The term "Scandi style" can be used with fashion and interiors interchangeably, but have different key elements and inspirations. 

Scandinavia is a region in northern Europe, predominantly sitting within the North and Baltic seas. This region includes Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. Despite covering a relatively small geographic area, their cultures and influences are vastly different. This translates into the fashions as well, as explained by Danish designer Stine Goya in a Harpers Bazzar article, Goya said, "Scandi fashion is so many things at once, but Danish style in particular is driven by gut instinct." 

Danish and Swedish styles are two of the biggest influences of the overall aesthetic of Scandinavian style, as they house the two most influential cities, Copenhagen and Stockholm. According to the Modern Dane, Danish design is made for life and longevity, whereas Swedish styles are more socially conscious. These are influenced by each country's history, but of course do not hold true for every design produced within the region.

Arguably, one of the most important events in fashion surrounding Scandi style is Copenhagen Fashion Week, abbreviated as CPHFW. The show happens bi-annually, in January and August. Scarlett Conlon of CNN Style calls Copenhagen "fashion's fifth city" as it has become a hub for contemporary and mainstream style, alongside other the well known cities of Paris, New York, London and Milan. One of the main initiatives of CPHFW is sustainability, as designers need to meet an 18-point sustainability criteria to showcase a collection. The initiatives and styles seen at CPHFW are major influences on what is considered Scandi style, and part of what makes Denmark and Copenhagen such a major decider of the trends. 

Within interiors, the style really took hold in the 1950's. Mallon's article aligns it with mid-century modern, but with some key differences. The biggest is the use of color, as mid-century modern uses darker colors and places less emphasis on lighting, whereas Scandinavian style does the reverse and values light and airy qualities within a space. They both however have a love of clean lines and clutter-free spaces, making the two align well in the design world. 

The qualities found in Scandi style have made for a modern and sleek look, one in which cares about longevity and reusability. Items are basic and interchangeable, without giving up individuality and personality.