Christmas window at Helsinki’s Harrods

The picture windows of Stockmann, the “Harrods” of Finland, are illuminated by Christmas lights every year and the crowd of curious adults and children in front of its windows seems to get bigger every day. The most fascinating department store window is the one at the corner: A quartet of smiling puppets plays and sings traditional Christmas songs, while a Christmas tree in the background lights up rhythmically to the sound of the songs. Santa’s companions, the legendary Finnish reindeer, also play a part in the traditional displays, which include everything from squirrels to sled dogs. Text and photos: Flaminia Vannozzi

A new planet in the night sky

Performers Julia and Olga

A new celestial body was sited in the night sky on Tuesday, not the club named Pluto where people go to dance and hang out, but a brand new venue for alternative culture also called Klubb Pluto There wasn’t any sign out front, just a series of candles burning in the snow which guided one in a roundabout way into a factory-like interior in an industrial neighborhood.

Student show at Bruno Gallerian

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One of Stockholm’s main greenhouses for fashion students, Tillskrädarakademin, held a runway show Monday evening at Bruno Gallerian on the south side of Stockholm. Some of the school’s former students are behind popular labels like The Local Firm, Patouf, Noir et Blanc and The Shirt Factory.

Stockholm Street Fashion—Sture Gallerian

Armin and Tatiana

Maria

Dario and Donatella

The mall

This has been the coldest winter in Sweden in 150 years. One place to thaw out in Stockholm is in the Sture Gallerian shopping mall in the Ostermalm district. That is where I met the couple Donatella and Dario, who recently moved to Sweden from Italy. They were both dressed in different shades of black.

Sitting at a juice bar, I spotted Lasse Stahre, a friend and former journalist

Counting the months with Fräulein Frauke

Fräulein Frauke

Pippi Nordenstam

Ruby Luscious

Time passes quickly when you’re having fun. One way to keep track of the days, weeks and months is with the Swedish Burlesque Calendar 2011. The calendar featuring 12 well-known performers, a collaboration between artist/photographer John Paul Bichard and performer Fräulein Frauke, may find its way into many Xmas stockings this year. It is being sold at Berns Hotel.
As newspaper Dagens Nyheter reported this morning, another Stockholm hotel also has a “naked” story to tell. Swedish designer Made by Noemi has ceated a collection of sexy hand-sewn underwear that is available exclusively to guests of the bohemian chic Story Hotel. The “Hotel Treasures” collection can also be ordered with room service by guests. Photos: John Paul Bichard

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Scandinavian fashion calendar Spring 2011

One of the Icelandic labels: Mundi Vondi

As soft snowflakes blanket much of Scandinavia, the idea of springtime seems like a pleasant fantasy. Nevertheless, stylists, designers and clothing firms are already busy finalizing collections for the next round of fashion weeks during late winter/early spring..
Leading the field will be the Merces-Benz Fashion Week in Stockholm. From January 31-February 3 brands like Ida Sjöstedt, Filippa K, Carin Wester, and Camilla Norrback will show their collections.
Copenhagen will host its massive fashion bash earlier than usual, from February 2-6. Before we have time to catch our breathe, the other Stockholm Fashion Week hosted by the Fashion Council will blast off from February 7-13.
Oslo has grandiose plans and isn’t content to hold a single fashion week. They have announced a “fashion month” during all of February. However, the Norwegian designer shows will take place February 15-18.
Iceland won’t be left out in the cold either. The Reykyavik Fashion Festival will take place from 31.March – 3.April 2011, at the Reykyavik Art Museum.
Finland seems to be slow off the mark; they still haven’t announced the official date of the Helsinki Fashion week. Might we suggest February 20 or thereabouts? That would suit me, in any event.

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Oslo Fashion Week first in world to ban fur

Out of style in Oslo: Fake fur is OK

When the models tramp down the runway at the Oslo Fashion Week in February they will be wearing cotton, silk, velour, knitwear and many other materials. But one thing they won’t be wearing is fur. The Norwegians are first in the world to prohibit clothing made from fur during a fashion week.

Merry Christmas from Finland

This cheerful holiday greeting found its way into my in-box. Minna Parikka will be showing her collection at Premiere Classe in Paris, Porte de Versailles between January 22-25 and at Gallery in Copenhagen Febrary 3-5.

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With Henrik Vibskov and other art lovers

I didn’t meet Henrik Vibskov on Thrusday evening, but in a sense I did. A new issue of a new magazine had a release party at Riche, hosted by a gentleman in a Santa Claus costume. The magazine Art Lover contains an in-depth interview with Vibskov, the brilliant Danish fashion designer who surprises and delights with fashion shows similar to art performances.

Vibskov explains in Art Lover why the theatrical fashion shows he stages in Copenhagen are open to the general public: “It provides an important mix of real people. That means you not only get VIPs, but also young students, old people and people who just happen to be in the area by accident, people who are jogging or out with their dog. To have only invited people attend would be like having a concert only for music critics, rather boring,” Vibskov tells interviewer Sanna Samuelsson.

All Tomorrow’s Parties

Ronald Nameth

Mi Märak

Christopher Makos

Miriam Pemberton

Part of Makos exhibit

Pia Högberg and David

Andy Warhol, Lou Reed, Nico and Edith “Edie” Sedgwick. The names of the people who were part of New York’s Factory scene of the 1960’s are legendary, thanks to countless films, books and photographs.
On Wednesday, those names came alive for me as two of Andy Warhol’s former associates paid a visit to Stockholm’s Fotografiska museum for the press opening of the “Lady Warhol exhibit.”