How to Live Like a Scandi by Pernille Teisbaek

How to Live Like a Scandi by Pernille Teisbaek



No
one masters simplicity quite like the Scandinavians. Today, it’s all hej, Scandi-cool
and à bientôt, French chic, as their timeless, confident style has
everyone from New York to Berlin
looking north for inspiration.

With their less-is-more approach, reinvention of androgyny and
mix of materials, the Scandinavians are the modern-day muses. And
while the UK has Alexa Chung and the US Leandra Medine as their
fashion poster girls, Denmark’s is Pernille Teisbaek.

Teisbaek is a textbook example of a self-made influencer. With
almost 500k followers on Instagram, front-row tickets to every
major show, a wedding feature in Vogue and the recent launch of her
first book, Dress Scandinavian, the 33-year-old seems to have it
all. Teisbaek entered the fashion world as a model, which was
followed by stints as a stylist and fashion editor before starting
her wildly successful blog, Look de Pernille, which brought
designers knocking on her Copenhagen
door. Today, she is the creative director of Social Zoo, an agency
supporting influencers-to-be on their journey to social media
fame.

In her style handbook, Pernille dispels the myth that her
seemingly effortless style is accidental – if anything, every
detail is carefully considered. Discussing attention to detail,
layering, dos and don’ts, she assures us there’s no quick
thrown-on-and-done about it. Her top tip? If in doubt, go for a
plain white shirt – “any woman’s best friend” – which can be styled
in a hundred different ways without losing its classic appeal.

Scandi-style may be understated, but our obsession with all
things Danish certainly isn’t (remember when we discovered Hygge?). To find
out what it’s really all about, we sat down with Teisbaek to talk
culture, fashion and lifestyle.



Why do you think everyone is so hooked on Nordic style?

There were times when everyone wanted to look French, and now
Scandinavia is having its moment. Scandi style is something people
can relate to; it’s both understated and understandable.
Interior-wise, it’s all about “Hygge”, meaning a mix of both clean
and cosy; something that makes you feel at home. That goes hand in
hand with the way we dress, which isn’t necessarily the norm. I
guess it’s more about the whole lifestyle here.

How does it feel to publish a book about your own style?

I was so fortunate when the opportunity arose and I’m very
grateful now that it’s out – and in so many different places. I am
very proud of being a representative for Scandinavian style; it’s
truly an honour. I had an international reader in mind, and it’s
exciting how interested people are globally. We find that
fascination with our style interesting because it’s quite personal,
but it’s always fun to give tips.

What do you think makes your culture different from
others?

Due to the weather, we’re inside for eight to nine months of the
year – I think we spend more time at home than any other culture! I
have friends in New York who find it weird to host dinners at home.
They meet at restaurants and bars, but we like inviting people over
and making things more intimate.



Is that why your style is much more casual compared to other
cultures?

The weather definitely affects our wardrobes, and it’s why we do
so much layering. We buy items to wear year-round, because
otherwise you’d have too many clothes or you wouldn’t be able to
wear some of your favourites.

Can you give us an example?

You can team a chunky knit with trousers and boots in winter, or
over a dress in the summer. We save up for classics and go-to
pieces that we keep for years, and perhaps even decades.

Have you always lived in Copenhagen?

I grew up close to Copenhagen – north of the city, by the beach.
But everything is close in Denmark so it only took me about 20
minutes to get to the centre.

Where do you live now?

I live in Frederiksberg, a more residential area of Copenhagen.
There are only about 150 houses, which is quite unique. It’s about
10 minutes from the centre and is my favourite area, especially for
eating – new things are constantly popping up there.

Where should we stay in Copenhagen?

Sanders
opens next month – it will be the new “it” place.



Do you have a favourite spot for breakfast?

Granola do
the best coffee and Atelier September is also really good.

What about lunch and dinner?

In my neighbourhood there are two great Italians; Mangia and Spaghetteria. In
the centre, I like Apollo, which is owned by a popular local chef called
Frederik Bille Brahe. If I’m in the mood for something healthy it’s
got to be WeDoFood. You should definitely check out La Banchina too
– a small café which you sail out to then sit at the dock drinking
coffee or wine. It’s really lovely.

And for traditional Scandi food?

Both Apollo and Sankt Annae serve typical dishes. A very Danish
thing to eat is a rye-bread sandwich, or open sandwich as we call
it. Get one of them and wash it down with a local beer or
schnapps.

Tell us about your favourite things to do on a day off.

I love spending time at the Frederiksberg Gardens, close to
where I live. There’s a small lake there which you can sail around
in rowing boats – it’s gorgeous in summer. I also like the Louisiana Museum
because it’s so peaceful, and that’s quite rare. Boat tours around
the canals are lovely too, especially with a Danish ice cream in
hand (served with homemade waffles). I would definitely visit some
interior design stores – The Apartment is one of my favourites – then finish
the day with a glass of wine at Beau Marche (where you can also buy furniture)
and pasta at Spaghetteria.



Where do you go to buy clothes and jewellery?

I often go to an area called Indre By. There’s Another Nué there
where you can buy one of my favourite labels, Nué Notes. Holly
Golightly
and Storm are also there, but for something more high-end,
head to the very chic department store Illum.

What Scandinavian brands could you not live without?

Probably Acne Studios and Ganni. But also high-street brands,
such as H&M, who do amazing cashmere and sustainable cotton. It
doesn’t only need to be Céline or Gucci; mixing both is an art form
in itself. It’s about the overall look.

What do you think the future holds for Scandi style?

I hope that we get even better at embracing upcoming brands, as
there is so much potential in Scandinavia. Hopefully, it’s also
becoming more of a go-to place during the fashion weeks. But we
have so much more to offer than that – food, art, interior design –
so to make the experience of visiting a more holistic one would be
great.

The Lowdown

Dress Scandinavian by Pernille Teisbaek is published by
Ebury Press, £16.99.

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