Stockholm Notes: Spring is Trying
Hamnet tears, a muddy toddler, Toteme racks, and a few Scandi style observations.
How is March treating you? Is it full-blown spring where you are?
I don’t want to jinx it, but it does feel like spring might finally be settling here in Stockholm. We’re still very much dressing for the in-between, but people seem quietly optimistic. Nine degrees on the 13th (freaky Friday) of March feels like a good sign.
The past few weeks have been lovely. I’ve found my way back into a few routines I’d been missing and reconnected with people I hadn’t seen all winter. For me, the start of spring often feels even more energizing than the new year in January. I can’t be the only one who feels this way.
Another thing to knock on wood for: it’s been a fairly mild season for colds so far, and I’m starting to think my flu shot actually did its job this year. That said, we’re definitely not out of the woods yet. With one of three still in preschool, it feels safe to assume there are plenty more viruses ahead, regardless of the season.
The format below is something I do quite frequently when I’ve accumulated a small brain dump of things I’ve saved, seen, or experienced in our little Stockholm bubble. I’m thinking of calling it Stockholm Notes from now on, but we’ll see. There is no clear strategy for how I run this Substack. It’s a bit gung-ho, and honestly that’s exactly how I like it.
It’s a long one… so hang in there.
Life lately
This past Sunday, on International Women’s Day, I joined a small group for exactly that: arts and tea, hosted by Julia Hichens and Carolina Storm. Though really, it happened the other way around. We started with a long tea and conversation at Carolina’s beautiful Galerie Storm, and then went together to see Hamnet.
When I say I was wrecked by Hamnet, I’m not exaggerating. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a theatre where the entire audience is sniffling or sitting in complete silence after the credits the way we were. It felt a bit like group therapy to cry together like that.
The book has been on my reading list for some time, but the film absolutely cracked open my heart in a way a movie hasn’t in years. Seeing it on the big screen made it even more powerful. The details were exquisite, and Jessie Buckley’s performance was extraordinary (as was everyone’s, truly). And music by Max Richter?! I’m still thinking about it. I’ve watched every interview and clip I can find, and I’ve probably rewatched the trailer five times already, crying each time.
While I’m very much an introvert and have been something of a hermit for months, I loved this afternoon of small conversations and easy chats. It was lovely to catch up with old friends like Mathilda of Mathilda Brusewitz Communication (do check her out), my dear chiccolina , and to finally meet fellow Substackers Martina Bode, Julia Norberg and Alina Brane.
Please, please, please, if you can, go see Hamnet on the big screen. It will take your breath away.
Scenes from the week
To say the contrast of the past week has been big is an understatement, and it’s exactly how I like my life. Between work and everyday logistics, I read two books (one in Swedish and one in English) to my daughter’s preschool class, stopped by Toteme to peek at their latest spring pieces, wrestled a very muddy toddler, biked through said mud, met friends for fika, spent Sunday morning in a hockey rink, and carved out a small solo moment for myself with a treat at Djurgårdsbrunn.
This rack at Toteme was speaking my language – navy, denim, light blue and a pop of red.
Since the sun was out, the inside at Djurgårdsbrunn was very quiet and cozy
I’m a person of habit and wore my favorite sweater three times last week. To compensate, I added a scarf.
Thank god for great Danish outerwear for kids. Yes, she jumped in a puddle right before this photo was taken.
Peace and quiet and no puddles at Toteme.
A friend’s son had surgery, so I popped into to Karla Frukt — an old candy shop originally opened in 1960 — to grab him some goodies. The brains behind restoring Karla Frukt to its former glory is Ebba Kleberg von Sydow.
I mean, how cute is this place.
A friend once brought our eldest a little kit of goodies after a complicated surgery. It meant so much to us, and it’s something I’ve always remembered. I’ve tried to pass that kindness on ever since.
I had to stop by my favorite Bruun Blommor as its next door and ogle at the spring flowers.
I love my new Toteme Bezel in Navy, a gift from my sweet parents for my 40th. As you probably already know, I love navy. Trench is by Bite Studios. Still so cringe on being in photos.
My eight-year-old son is my current style guru. He walks out of his room every morning in laid-back combinations like this, completely unbothered. He also loves wearing a cardigan over his Ed Sheeran concert tee. The whole vibe feels very Kelly Klein-esque, no?
Sunny mornings at home bring me an immeasurable amount of joy.
Other things on my mind
Four ARKET finds that have been on my mind lately, plus one that actually made it into my home (Axel, please ignore this. I absolutely did not buy another pair of new jeans).
Is it a shirt? Is it a jacket? I’m not sure what we’re calling it, but I love this top. It comes in white too.
This delicate little necklace available in black and white is so good and a play on Toteme’s Infinity Bead Necklace. Alina Brane also told us to grab it in both colors, so we should probably listen, right? It’s the perfect addition to a simple t-shirt-and-jeans look.
Speaking of jeans, the Lupine pair made it into my closet, and they’re long. Finally! I often find Arket jeans a bit too short for me (I’m 1.78), but this style fits perfectly, and I love the shape and the wash. But the white ran small, and no one likes too tight white jeans, so I had to return.
A pair of barrel legged chinos were not on my bingo card for spring, but now they definitely are. Now, the question is, will the length do?
I can’t quite stop thinking about these leather trousers from Massimo Dutti, or these or these ones from ARKET. I worry however they are all too short.
Anna Newton went on a cookie crawl in London recently, and I am deeply jealous. If you know me, you know there are very few things I love more than a chocolate chip cookie. Possibly my children. Possibly my husband. But the cookie ranks very high.
Whenever this comes up, Stockholmers immediately say, “Oh! Just go to Krumel!” And listen, no offense to Krümel — I have been a customer for years — but it’s not what I’m after. It’s not the same. What I want is that perfect gooey, chewy chocolate chip cookie. Crisp edges, soft center, slightly underbaked in the best way. The kind that ruins all other cookies for you. And I simply cannot find it here.
If you’ve followed my life chronicles on Notes for a while, you might remember the cookie incident this Christmas, when I tried baking them with limited ingredients and things… did not go well. You can read about that meltdown here. The craving has remained unresolved ever since.
So I’m asking you all: Does anyone know where to find a proper chocolate chip cookie in Stockholm? Or perhaps more realistically — does anyone have a recipe that actually works with Swedish ingredients? American recipes always seem slightly off when I try them here. For reference, I also love a soft cookie like the ones from Pinch of Yum or a big NYC-Levain like cookie. Please help. 🍪
Yesterday, Linda Tol posted a photo of her wearing a light pink shirt under a grey crewneck with white jeans, a black belt, and red nails and I have not stopped thinking about it. Are you kidding me? Yes please. Thank you. Vinted gods, I am now officially searching for a pink shirt. I regularly nerd out over Linda’s styling like I did here because she has that rare ability to make the simplest combinations feel incredibly intentional.
Speaking of the ever lovely, brilliant, and kind Linda — don’t miss her Small Talk with The Way We Play, which appeared in their recent print issue. It’s well worth reading.
Scandi style watch
I’m by no means a trend forecaster, but from browsing Scandinavian sites lately, a few things feel likely to keep showing up across Scandi style this spring and summer.
Preppy rugby shirts seem set to stick around (I usually hunt for them secondhand in the men’s section on Vinted, and Gant Rugger tends to be the best to search for).
Polo shirts also feel like they’ll keep rolling on, ideally old-school or a bit faded, like vintage Lacoste.
Baseball tees seem to be creeping in everywhere.
And balloon trousers are gaining momentum too. Interestingly, they haven’t quite peaked here yet the way they have in some other fashion cities. Jeanerica is even experimenting with a hybrid between cargo and balloon silhouettes, which feels very Scandinavian in its practicality.
Notes from the Scandinavian bubble
Tretorn’s Court Shoe
Tretorn’s Classic Court Shoe is back, and it seems the brand clearly got the memo: plimsolls are about to be everywhere this spring. The Swedish company actually launched its first sport shoes as early as 1900 (most people think they only do rain boots), making it one of the earliest brands in the world to produce sneakers, and it later cemented its tennis legacy with court styles like the Nylite in 1967. With the rise of preppy dressing again, the clean tennis silhouette feels right on time.
Byredo x Iitaala
Few brands approach collaborations with the same creativity and clarity as Byredo. Having worked with their team over the years, I’ve always been impressed by how thoughtful they are about partnerships. Their latest collaboration, Ljus, brings the Swedish fragrance house together with Finnish heritage glassmaker Iittala. The result is a limited collection of glass vessels designed to hold candles and incense — simple, beautiful objects that sit somewhere between fragrance and design. The collection will debut at Matter and Shape in Paris before launching globally in October.
Skultuna × Studio Escapist
Studio Escapist has done it again. Their interiors for the renovated Skultuna store elevate the historic Swedish brand to new heights while still respecting its heritage.
The space was photographed by Ludovic Balay, whose work I cannot get enough of. If his name sounds familiar, it’s because he also photographed the Toteme store I mentioned here previously. His portfolio is exceptional. Also love the images he did for @neptune_papers, capturing @nikirollof’s interiors in Stockholm are exquisite. And if you haven’t checked out here: do so.
Selume
Selume is a new Danish cashmere label promising high-quality knitwear at unusually low prices through a digital-first, direct-to-consumer model — while pledging at least 25% of its profits to its own charitable foundation.
Veja x Baserange
The collab between Veja and the Danish brand Baserange is now live. I am really into the laces?
Forét
Are you familiar with the Danish brand Forét? I really love their imagery and branding. The Copenhagen-based label was founded by Jeppe Rindom and Jesper Damsgaard and focuses on relaxed menswear inspired by nature and outdoor life, with simple, functional pieces designed to last rather than chase trends. From what I can tell, they have a great base range of clothing for men (and for girls like me who don’t mind shopping the men’s section), like this classic rugby shirt. I’m also weak for a branded Nalgene, so this one obviously caught my eye. And honestly, any brand with a cool playlist automatically wins me over.
Skall Studio x Liberty
And the last thing on my list for today is this terribly blurry screenshot of Skall Studios new Liberty fabrics drop. I adore this styling with the fisherman knit.
And as always, I leave you with some words.
Wishing you a lovely weekend!
XA
This post is so chock full of inspiration for the week ahead. I love your beautiful writing and attention to detail. I’m saving that look with the pink shirt for sure, and I also love your note on baseball tees (to which I’ll add the ringer). Rugby shirts are such a good spring layer. Thank you for starting Sunday right!
Hi Antonia. I started following your blog recently and am really enjoying it. I’m an American who lives in France, and something that has really helped my American baking recipes turn out better is to change up the flour. Basically, I learned that standard American flour is less refined than what is sold as standard / everyday use flour in France- which is closer to American cake or pastry flour. By using French bread flour (T65) in my cookies and coffee cakes etc. I get much better results. Of course things could be completely different in Sweden, but it might be worth experimenting with.