Call me old fashioned, but I find myself missing the classic Christmas tradition of giving a physical gift, wrapped beautifully — something that comes as a total surprise to whoever is on the receiving end of my love incarnate. Yet, I don’t want to give another sweater or candle or something else that they don’t really need (or want). We can’t afford to give bad gifts, not in this economy! So this year, I’m aiming for gifts that deserve a place in my loved ones’ everyday lives. Things that are genuinely useful but feel a bit more personal than anything I could Add To Cart. And these beginner sewing projects seem to hit that sweet spot of being meaningful, lovely to unwrap, and appreciated long after the tree has been taken down.

Something wearable

Japanese knot bag

This bag is everywhere, and for good reason. It’s compact but phone friendly, it’s soft but has a unique shape. And as far as a beginner sewing project goes, it’s a simple construction that has the potential to result in a luxury look. I linked to this specific pattern above for those who might want a bit of extra instruction around adding fringe, and because Mirabell Patterns offers a few other very cute purse patterns that are worth checking out. But truthfully, I don’t think you really need to buy a pattern for this project. There are a hundred+ instructional videos, from extensive tutorials on YouTube to quick guides on IG. I like this one from @bripark in leather and I think the instructions in this video from @wiredtomake are really thorough. Whichever approach you choose, the endless combinations you can create with the fabric and the beads or fringe or feathers of your choosing is sure to make some lady in your life very happy this Christmas.

Bala Hat

If you live somewhere with a serious winter, you know that pulling a knit beanie on every morning gets real old, real quick. But falling somewhere between a beanie and a shearling cap, this soft pull-on hat from Allotment Clothing seems much more interesting to me. The simple shape and cheeky little top loop give it the versatility to pair just as nicely with a puffer at the playground as it would a wool coat on the way to wine. I’ve been following Allotment Clothing for a while now because their designs seem specifically created for the discerning beginner sewist. And this hat in particular feels like Cawley Studio taste on a thrift store budget. So, me. But they have a whole collection of simple, practical designs cut in modern silhouettes with just a touch of something special.

ROO Pocket

Okay, I know this looks very Trad, but hear me out. Imagine this in an ecru cotton canvas or a rusty brown linen. Envision it holding a tape measure and fabric pen and whatever other craft supplies your creative bestie often needs to have on hand mid-project. Is she like me and forgets where she puts her scissors every time she lays them down? She could also wear it when picking up rocks and shells or herbs from the garden, or as a stylish carry-all for her dog walks. The opportunities are endless, really. It’s for anyone who needs an easily accessible storage unit on their person and isn’t ready to go full utility belt. This is something I’d never think to buy for myself but would be thrilled to have around. Which is the best kind of gift, is it not?

Something useful

Utility Pouch Book Sleeve

If you’re on Substack you probably have at least one journal ecosystem freak on your Christmas gifting list. Or maybe you’re the freak and you just yearn for your mom or partner or teenager to get hyperorganized. Whatever the reason, this utility book cover could be the right gift. There are a bunch of patterns out there like this, but after much time and consideration, this one is the only one I found that has a ton of pockets and looks like it was designed by an actual human being. I think that filling this with a small journal and a few cute pens or some sticker sheets would make a complete and incredibly thoughtful gift for anyone entering a new chapter in life: a degree program, a Big Girl Job, an exciting move, or finally taking that passion project seriously. Anything that might mean it’s time to get organized. In my opinion, that shouldn’t mean you can’t also be cute.

Wine & Tumbler Bottle Bag

I will be making this for my mother-in-law, filling it with a tasty red, and cementing my place as the favorite in the family. In addition to the gift from her wishlist, obviously. Not only is this a dream of a hostess gift, it’s also ideal for someone who you aren’t that close to, yet somehow need to exchange gifts with around the holidays. Instead of simply handing over the obligatory bottle of wine or Ghia or fancy kombucha, this makes it feel infinitely more considered. Imagine showing up with something like this for your boss. Ooh, she’s creative, she’s thoughtful, she’s going above and beyond. Instant raise. That friend you haven’t seen in a long time? Boom! Friendship restored. But it doesn’t end there, either. Whoever should be so lucky to receive this can go on to use it to transport their own wine, water bottles, and whatnot wherever they go for the rest of the season and beyond. You could even make the handle longer for cross-body ease. Just an idea, though. You do you.

Roll case

I’m definitely going to make one of these this year, and I cannot say anything more because the intended recipient sometimes reads this newsletter. What I can say is that when I stumbled across this pattern, I was surprised to realize just how versatile this thing really is. Does your father paint? This is perfect. Does he do drag in a full beat? It works for those brushes, too. But it could just as easily hold picnic utensils, crochet hooks, or those sticks he brings home from every hike. I’ll probably make mine in this raw cotton canvas because that seems very professional and painterly, but check out the photos added to the reviews to see what other successful results look like.

Something kid-friendly

Quilted play mat

I don’t know about you, but I’m at a very All-My-Friends-Have-Babies time in my life. For now, I’m trying to just be the village until these little ones can speak English and realize that I’m the coolest auntie in the neighborhood. As such, I’m starting to sew for them. They’re the least judgemental audience, which is what I need at this stage in my sewing career. Anyway, this tutorial for an adorable portable play mat is actually tweaked from Sydney’s pattern for a Christmas tree skirt. So if you buy it from her, you can make both! And if you give it to your friends with babies, it’s basically an invitation to spend more afternoons sprawled out together in the park, which is another good way to be the village they need right now. I think I’ve gushed about Sydney Graham in every post I’ve written about sewing, but she’s genuinely the cutest crafty girl on the internet, so why not mention it again?

Quiet Book

If the child in your life has moved beyond sucking their own toes and requires a bit more stimulation to find inner peace, I suggest one of these adorable, soft contraptions they call a “Quiet Book”. Again, this is just one example of the hundreds that are out there, and you may want to look around and get some ideas before making one that is custom fit to the kid you’re trying to impress. The concept is simple: a handful of colorful, plush pages full of pockets or zippers or velcro and felt pieces that tiny hands can explore for hours. I liked this one in particular because of this precious mouse that gets to play house throughout each page (including a few outfit changes, of course). But Warm House Sewing Patterns has other options for a range of ages, in addition to their sweet stuffed animals and other goodies that might just become someone’s lifelong keepsake.

Hand Pillow

I think these are just funky enough that older kids with a budding sense of individuality (and perhaps a bedroom they’re desperate to redecorate) would actually, genuinely like them. They’re a little strange, quite impractical, but obviously cool in the way kids don’t expect adults to understand. One of these could also work for your fun, maximalist auntie, or whoever holds that title in your life. These are straight up zany. And yet, they don’t seem super complicated to make. Get creative with the nails, give her a fun cuff, maybe a ring or two. Go crazy. Some gifts are useful, some are exactly what you asked for, but some are special simply because no one else has one. A giant hand pillow definitely falls into that last category.

Something pretty

Nordic Flowers Needle Turn Appliqué

Since moving into our new apartment, I’m over all of the art on our walls coming in the form of prints or paintings in some type of frame. I’m craving dimension and texture and the tiny visible imperfections that remind me that two hands created the objects that surround me. So when I saw this appliqué in one of Sydney Graham’s videos (I know, I know), I immediately investigated. Turns out, this pattern is from another adorable creative I’m happy to learn about: Kira of It's All in the Stitch, who offers a few other sweet appliqué designs like this. Syd shows us a lot of the process here, but appliqué is basically a fabric collage that you can sew by hand. Do you absolutely need a pattern? Nah. But if you want to make something foolproof and Christmas-worthy, this pattern bridges the worlds of minimalism and fun that a lot of modern homes aspire to embody. Even better — if the receiver of this gift is a crafter, Kira sells DIY kits with everything they need to do one themselves. And that’s both an experience and something to unwrap on Christmas morning. Win, win.

Pojagi inspired curtains

Now, you may be thinking that giving someone a pair of curtains for Christmas is weird. And sure, that could be true. But what if you only made one of these curtains and hung it from a nice wooden dowel? Then you’ve made someone a textile wall hanging for Christmas, and that’s not weird at all. Pojagi patchwork has been having quite a surge in popularity in the last few years, despite being a centuries-old Korean tradition. Korean women typically pieced together their leftover scraps of fabric to make cloths that covered food, protected items in storage, and even wrapped gifts! So even though using this patchwork for curtains is more of a modern adaptation, it feels quite fitting to bring it full circle. Also, I just found Lauren Makes now while searching for a good tutorial on YouTube and I have promptly fallen in love. She’s funny, she’s creative, she’s making things look cool in a way that feels approachable and that’s what I’m all about.

Hemp cloth fabric vase

Finally, one more Korean treat for you! I think this vase is stunning. It’s a subtle but elegant objet d’art that is sure to stand out amongst the chintzy, glitzy holiday noise. I love that it’s so simple while still giving me everything I want at home: utility, beauty, and a bit of personality. And it also works for just about anyone. It’s packable for your sister who needs to fit all of her gifts into a suitcase for the flight home. It’s customizable for your mom who’s been looking for a vase in just the right shape and size for her windowsill. Or you can pair it with a bouquet of amaryllis for your Christmas gift exchange where the spending limit is a challenging but necessary $25. The video linked above makes the whole thing look surprisingly easy. The real trick is finding the right type of fabric. You’ll need a hemp cloth, called sambae in Korean. Or something similar where the stiffness of the fabric gives the vase a sculptural shape. But oh look! I found it for you. Have fun!

As I wrote about these gifts, imagining the hypothetical person who might receive them, I realized something. The real appeal of handmade gifts isn’t that they’re affordable or unique or even handmade. It’s that they require us to pay attention. And they show that we have been. It’s noticing that your friend is always journaling when she’s waiting for you at the coffee shop. It’s knowing your nephew’s sense of humor well enough to know that a giant hand pillow would light him up. It’s remembering that your post-partum cousin deserves a sparkly little bag that helps her feel gorgeous again. And the more our relationships become shaped by double taps and one-clicks and conversations stretched thin over week-long text chains, that kind of attention feels like a gift in its own right.

There’s more where that came from…

Always a student, I’ve been paying attention to what people are wearing to keep warm while staying stylish. The coats may be doing a lot of the talking these days, but lighter jackets, quality knits and memorable accessories still have plenty to say. Here’s my report from the streets of Oslo.

mad for plaid

I love that plaid is having a moment this year, but am I the only one who’s thinking, plaid for autumn? groundbreaking. I don’t really know why plaid is the pattern that symbolizes this time of year — I leave that for one of you fashion historians. But it’s everywhere in Oslo and the variety is incredible. We’ve got oversized, muted plaids softening structured jackets, and sharper contrast versions that stand out in a crowd of black and beige. Some interpretations are mellow, offering a bit of visual interest without being too loud. While others demand that the outfit be built around them. The type of plaid you reach for can say a lot, actually. I mean, on paper, power clashing with pinstriped trousers sounds like way too much, but pairing these traditional (and dare I say, masculine?) patterns brings both of them to a much more playful place. Plaid may seem predictable this time of year, but the way we reimagine it never is.

effortless ensembles

Now, this is how I aim to dress. There’s a sense of ease in each of these looks that we’ve come to associate with well-dressed Scandinavian women. With a local uniform of comfortable trousers and serious knits protected by structured outerwear when needed, these outfits all have one thing in common: they were built to last all day. Right down to the shoes that can handle 10k steps on the cobblestone streets of Oslo. What stands out to me is that nothing stands out, it just goes. Nothing is too much or too little. Everything feels lived in and approachable. Tiny touches like blue suede flats to brighten up an otherwise tonal look, or a sweater around the shoulders because it will genuinely be used later — this is what makes these beautiful ensembles hold real weight. The best looks are aspirational not because they’re unattainable, but because they make getting dressed seem as uncomplicated as it should be.

big bag babes

Each of these gals is dressed impeccably, head to toe. But their ludicrously capacious bags are what caught my eye. With many autumn layers comes the occasional need to stuff one in your bag and keep it moving. Between gloves or an umbrella or a spontaneous flea market purchase, gorgeous autumn days often call for a bag that can schlep it all. So why not have some fun with it? I like that the bags above add a little something that kicks the entire look up a level. Some are neutral, even basic upon first glance, but a tiny detail brings me in for a closer look and I’m in love. And then there’s the bright red plaid top handle that absolutely lights up her classic suede and denim combo. That’s autumn in an outfit. Whether it stands out in a crowd or the interest is only obvious to those looking closely, the value of a big beautiful bag is in the way it extends each look beyond style and into utility.

aging gracefully

Someday I will dedicate an entire style report to the older ladies of Oslo because goddamn! They’re cool. They’ve had their whole lives to define their taste and refine their wardrobes, why wouldn’t they have show-stopping pieces and cohesive styling? I count four different patterns on the woman on top, harmonized with just the right density and tones. And that red leather cut out jacket is insane, full stop. But wearing it with her bright gray crop just makes it pop all the more. But then, there’s my idol. I would never think of this pairing: a bright yellow quilted jacket with a taupe velvet skirt and the iconic Prada bowling bag. So glam in such a fun way. The late afternoon sun caught her skirt and sent glimmers all along her loose, graying braid, giving me a new level of hotness to aspire to as I age.

animal instincts

Fur, shearling and animal print seem be the favorite way for typically understated Norwegian gals to strike out into something a bit flashy. This calm, quiet community of subtly stylish gals LOVE a nod to the animal within. And there’s just so many ways to get involved. From full-length suede with just a hint of fur, to full blown cowhide jackets and faux fur bombers, there’s truly something for everyone, isn’t there? Knowing Norwegians, most of these are likely vintage or handed down from bestemor. And that only adds to the charm. Styling lush and luxurious pieces as casually as they do here, they never feel overdone or costume-y. And then there’s that Saks Potts beauty on the bike. I’ve never seen that coat in such a deep brown, but it’s the perfect example of why this category of outerwear works so well: the inherent neutral earthiness of it makes even the most glamorous pieces wearable for the everyday. That’s the easy win we need going into darker days.

making a statement

Anytime I see a gal (or gentleman, to be fair) pulling off a statement piece, I genuinely want to applaud them right there on the street. That is how much these looks stand out amongst the sea of pragmatic black wool and neutral gorp. No one in these photos is abandoning practicality in their pursuit of personality, they’re just going a few steps further to make their look unique to them. With something as simple as an unexpected color combination or a high contrast print, these outfits all stuck with me long after seeing them. And that’s exactly what a statement piece is supposed to do. Standing out anywhere can take a bit of courage. But in a city like Oslo, blending in can often feel like the only way to go. Whether they meant to catch my eye or not, that makes it even cooler that they did.

We’ve come a long way from my assumption that Norwegian women are largely anti-fashion.

Oops, sorry!

I guess I just had to look a bit closer and broaden my definition of what it means to be fashionable. I was so accustomed to the overt exquisiteness of New York, I missed what Oslo is about entirely. But three years in, I’m appreciating the details with fresh eyes. Thoughtful layering that comes together in just the right way, the juxtaposition of a statement piece against a neutral foundation, the delicious perfection of an expertly tailored coat — none of these tried-and-true techniques of the well-dressed women in Oslo are lost on me anymore. Is Oslo the shy, quiet sister of the Scandinavian fashion scene? For sure. But good style in Norway isn’t performative, it’s practical. And Norwegian women might not demand attention, but their outfits reward it. Once you start noticing it, it’s hard to look away.

As my income and body and priorities have shifted, I’ve made room in my wardrobe for new things like a stack of my favorite white t-shirts and wool trousers that hang exquisitely. But there are still some items that I’ll never buy new.

1. Leather jackets

I have 8 leather jackets — all of them gorgeous, all of them secondhand. Mostly because leather jackets only get better with age. I will always choose one with a bit of patina over something that looks too pristine. With the right search terms and a bit of patience, you can undoubtedly find some version of whatever cut, shape, style, size, texture, and color you’re after. It also doesn’t hurt that all of my jackets were under $100. A price that even the fastest of fashion can’t match. Considering all that, and the poor cows, this is, unfortunately, a hill I’m willing to die on.

Mine:

Yours:

2. Button-down shirts

Have you seen how many Prada button-down shirts are on eBay alone? Now, consider Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss, or even Land’s End. Set your max price at $30 and tell me you couldn’t find one just like this or this. There are countless variations of men’s button down shirts that promise a decently oversized fit that reads easy, effortless and Olsen. And if you know your exact measurements and how you want it to fit, you can achieve something more tailored, too. Last month, I realized my button-down collection was lacking in the darker shades I wear throughout autumn and winter. And with little effort, I went out and found a few. Each one touches on an emerging trend I’ve wanted to play with — a faded purplish-pinky plaid ($10), a drapey teal corduroy ($20), even a navy suede ($25). Not only do they exude that lived in look I’m usually going for, but these shirts also let me dip a toe into the current trends while keeping my entire other foot planted safely in my comfort zone.

A word to the wise: don’t let a Men’s L or XL tag scare you off. Ask for measurements, try things on when possible. Often times, they aren’t as big as it seems.

The button-downs I’ll be wearing for the rest of this year:

And some you might want to wear:

3. White cotton dresses

Don’t get me started with DÔEN, okay? I don’t even really know her, but I know I don’t care about her in the slightest. If I’m going to pay upwards of $300 for a white cotton dress, it’s going to be a real Victorian-era nightgown with the hand-embroidered initials of someone’s great-great-grandmother. Not a mass-produced replica of one. The delicate details of these modern frocks never quite capture the romance, the yearning, the painstaking handiwork of the originals — garments that have seen women through long winters and longer wars. You can replicate crochet trim, but you can’t reproduce the innocently risqué nature of cotton that’s worn sheer with time.

My cotton dresses have been in storage for over a month, but here are some for you:

4. Trendy footwear

Two of my most popular posts are on this specific topic, so I won’t belabor the point too much here. But just in case you’re reading this first: I love This Year’s Shoe just as much as the next sartorially savvy gal. But I also gag (derogatory) at the thought of wearing the exact same shoe as a thousand others of my own kind. I want to get right up close to the trend, close enough that I can see its stitching and sniff its lining and then walk away in search of something that is same same but slightly different. Fashion is so iterative, everything we Must Have This Season has already had a successful run. Or two. I’m far more keen to search for the source material. Even if that means clicking through to page 32 of my Poshmark search for those just-right slim leather sneakers instead of splurging on Celine (or, let’s be honest, a Celine dupe).

I’ve already shared a ton, here:

5. Purses

Bags are my personality purchases. Highly interchangeable, playful tools for me to experiment with form and material and express my many varied moods against an otherwise pared down, minimalist backdrop. So what better way to access the real goods than scouring the used market? The cowhide, the bamboo, the kilim, the mesh— all fabulously fun options available in far more variety on the secondhand market than there could ever be on the runway or high street. Some of the funky favorites in my collection include an all-white leather patchwork number, some wooden contraption likely made somewhere tropical, and a perfect PVC and mesh tote that hasn’t left my side since I found it in April.

You want a tiny antique beaded pouch? You’ll find a thousand. A zebra print cowhide baguette? They’re out there in genuine leather. Or maybe you’re more interested in a minimalist, structured work bag? Uh, yeah, they’re easily accessible in every shape and size you could imagine. Even if you’re set on designer, you can get it secondhand. Why shop one season’s worth of bags when the last seventy are sitting right there?

The one’s I’ve got:

What you could have:

Who knows, maybe I shouldn’t say never. But any brand new items competing for a spot in my wardrobe are up against a few decades of garments that are likely more unique, better made, and have some kind of story. So I think it’s safe to say that I’ll be sticking to mostly secondhand.

What are your must-have secondhand items? I’d love to know.

If you couldn’t tell by my sometimes painfully earnest writing, I’m a Scorpio. A Scorpio-Sagittarius cusp to be more specific; my sun is in Scorpio, but both my moon and ascendant are in Sagittarius. Scorpio is associated with the spiritual nature of autumn, deep and dark and a little twisted, which may be why so much of the season’s mythology has always felt familiar to me. I’m comfortable with, even activated by, the shadowy parts of human nature. My instinct is to go deep and deeper and deeper still. Yet Sagittarius offers a counterweight: optimism, curiosity, a lightness that keeps moving me forward. I don’t get stuck in the depths. I come back up for air, renewed after shedding a previous self.

The point I’m getting at here is that I’m made for this season. I relish the tension of autumn. Days that alternate between warm, golden light and dense gray clouds. Saturdays spent under brilliant blue skies only to come home smelling of crisp air and damp soil, seeking comfort and closeness. My favorite knits against the chill in the air, flickering candlelight in the looming darkness. Autumn is a season of opposing forces, constantly asking you to hold two things at once. It’s a balancing act that I’m drawn to.

Now that I live in a place where the seasonal shift is undeniable, I can see that play out in the clothes I wear, too. There are a thousand ways to get dressed for autumn, full of contradictions that somehow make sense. Sandals with a trench, all white punctuated with black leather, a wool skirt with a cap-sleeved top. So here’s what I’ve been wearing in transition. See, I told you this was still about fashion.

left:

• Arket relaxed longsleeve tshirt

• Arket oversized tshirt

• thrifted charcoal wool-knit column skirt (similar)

• Sleepers flip flops

• thrifted perfume pendant necklace (similar)

• vintage leather baguette bag (similar)

• handmade beaded bag charm (inspired by Magnetism Store)

right:

• taupe Arket tshirt

• vintage Prada men’s pinstripe button down (similar)

• ecru COS canvas jeans

• old Once Untold cotton car coat (very similar)

• Vagabond Izzy sandals (sold out in brown, here in black)

• same vintage leather baguette bag

left:

• Arket pendant earrings

• secondhand men’s Filippa K button down (new here)

• Levi’s 501 90’s ankle

• vintage kukui necklace (similar)

• secondhand Arket leather flats (similar from this season)

• my trusty vintage leather work tote (very similar)

right:

• same Arket pendant earrings

• thrifted burgundy men’s plaid button down (similar)

• Arket Shore boyfriend jeans (black is sold out, here in blue)

• vintage square toe loafers (similar)

• burgundy wool socks from COS

• thrifted navy car coat (similar)

• same leather tote

left:

• secondhand Issey Miyake knit turtleneck

• thrifted maxi suit skirt (similar)

• thrifted snakeskin belt (similar)

• Arket pointed toe boots

• vintage Coach bag (similar)

right:

• thrifted teal men’s corduroy button down (similar)

• COS straight-leg corduroy jeans

• Studio Nicholson Holin coat

• Vagabond Izzy sandals (here in black)

• vintage kilim purse (very similar)

left:

• Uniqlo baby tee

• thrifted merino vneck sweater (similar)

• same thrifted maxi suit skirt

• COS leather cord belt

• Arket pointed toe boots

• same leather tote

right:

• secondhand Acne Studios knit turtle neck

• same vintage Prada men’s pinstripe button down

• chocolate brown Filippa K Darcey wool trousers

• thrifted burgundy pointed toe loafers (similar, similar)

• thrifted snake embossed purse (same, same in RED!)

Getting dressed over the past few months has been a creative negotiation of proportion and contrast; the fun is in finding that sweet spot where two feelings meet. A funky bag against menswear. An extra layer with a bit of skin. A little severity when I’m otherwise easy. Maybe that’s why I feel so at home in these clothes and in this season: they let me be several things at once. I can recognize myself in that tension. And I feel most myself when I embrace my own contradictions and wear them head to toe.

At the tail end of transitioning into our new home, I still find myself feeling unmoored. I’m highly sensitive to my surroundings, a skittish bird in her nest. And as I’m still figuring out our physical space, I also find myself questioning how I live in it, who I am in it, and who I might become next. I’ve yet to ease back into the patterns and routines that ground me, but I’m inching closer every day. So this is where you find me: a bit mixed up, midflight, still drifting within a months-long transition. But I’m slowly, softly landing. Which at the very least is seasonally appropriate. I take solace in knowing my life cycles align so well with autumn — a poetic kind of ending to begin again, a humble regeneration. Very Scorpio of me, I know.

Meanwhile, I’ve been running out into the last lingering days of warmer weather. Oslo is brimming with festivals and exhibitions this time of year, as if we’re all saying goodbye before our collective hibernation. And while it has been a convenient way to avoid the strange energy I’m feeling in my home, I’m also physically and spiritually soaking up every last bit of sun before our descent into the colder, darker Nordic months I still can’t help but loathe. But that’s a problem for a later day. For now — onward and into everything else.

things I’ve done

• Oslo Pix Film Festival is one of the many wonderful arts festivals in Oslo’s cultural calendar, and it happened at the end of August. We giggled through a screening of John Wilson’s debut feature-length documentary, The History of Concrete (2026). It was as oddly informative and deeply touching as I expected; essentially just a full 200 minutes of the endearingly awkward tone I love from his How To series. I also caught an outdoor screening of The Truman Show (1998) with a picnic dinner on what ended up being the last truly hot day in August. If you haven’t watched this film, lately or ever, I can’t recommend it enough. It was wildly prescient in imagining a world in which we’re increasingly worried about being watched while constantly volunteering to be seen.

• Every year on the Thursday closest to the autumn equinox, Oslo holds Elvelangs. The city turns off all of the lights that line Akerselva, the river that runs through Oslo; in their place, 4,500 candles stretch across 8km, lighting the path for tens of thousands of people to mark the seasonal passage from light to darkness. As we wander along the water, we stumble across musicians and art installations emerging from the darkness. We usually attend with friends, warming our hands with paper cups of coffee and one another. But even though we live right next to the river now, we completely forgot until the music seeped through our windows during dinner. I decided to go at the last minute, despite the fact that most of our friends forgot or were busy putting kids to bed. And amidst young families and cuddly couples and gangs of friends having a cheeky cider, walking the river on my own was surprisingly, achingly lonely. I tried my best to focus on the benefit of going at my own pace and vowed to take the darker season, with its slowing social calendar, into my own hands. Loneliness can be motivation, if nothing else.

• For almost 140 years, the Høstutstillingen (Autumn Exhibition) at Kunstnernes Hus has highlighted a wide array of contemporary visual artists from around Norway. And this year may have been my favorite of the few I’ve seen. I’m a sucker for textile art, which was very well represented this year. All of my favorite work was woven or sewn or embroidered or felted in dreamy colors and a variety of materials.

  • Anne Karine Thorbjørnsen, Untitled. Textile on concrete sculptures.

  • Trine Mauritz, Soft stripe. Tapestry of hand dyed wool.

  • Siren Dahle, Randsone (Strandgata). Jacquard woven textile on scaffolding.

  • Tove Starfelt, Hold and Brace 1. A sculpture made of marble, linen and cotton.

  • Liilian Saksi, Double horizon (green). Weaving of hand-spun wool yarn.

  • Ragnhild Monsen, Introspection. A wool, nylon and hemp weaving.

  • Anna Aniksdal, Sindre Wam and Jonas Løland, 120 kilograms. A massive curtain made of discarded bed linen from hospices.

  But the best part was wandering the gallery with my husband and local bestie, Ingvild. Both artists in their own right, they opened up techniques and cultural context for me in a way I couldn’t have found on my own as we tossed around questions of form and meaning, laughing or wrinkling our noses wherever necessary. Few things feel quite as good as someone you love pointing to very good art while saying, that’s so you.

  

things I’ve made

• To my own egg-hating surprise, my current hyperfixation meal is the once-viral chili oil and feta fried egg. I put it on buttered sourdough bread instead of the tortilla and avocado shown in the video linked. But either way, it’s a lovely little inflation-friendly dish that I can’t stop eating. That is, until I get the egg-ick again.

• I found these ostrich feather cuffs secondhand last year, right after Leandra shared her gorgeous, feathery brooch for what certainly was not the first or last time. But then, they sat around in my TBDIY’d pile for a little over a year until my favorite crafty gal @with__lana brought the idea back to the front of my mind with her lush fringe brooch project. I finally got the old hot glue out and made myself a pin that satisfies my autumnal cravings for texture and color, alike.

• No exaggeration, Norway grows the best apples I’ve ever tasted in my life. Something something something about long summer days and high altitude. Every autumn, I make and eat everything I can with them. A few weeks back, it was an apple galette! My mom has been on a galette kick lately, and copying what she does in the kitchen is one of the things I do to feel close to her when I’m not. I’ve always been partial to American-style apple pies, but this is the first time I made my own crust — I can’t believe I’ve been putting it off for so long. It’s so easy. In fact, the entire galette took half the time and effort of a pie and was just as good. Consider me converted.

  

things I’ve loved

• It’s dugnad season — one of my favorite Norwegian traditions! “Dugnad” literally translates to “volunteer work”. But the concept dates back centuries, when remote communities relied on one another to tackle big projects like building homes or harvesting crops. These days, dugnads happen in just about every space people share: schools, apartment buildings, sports clubs, and so on. And earlier this month, I joined some of Benjamin’s family at their shared cabin for a day of clipping grass, pulling weeds, and preparing the road for this year’s snow. It’s a rare opportunity to connect with our extended family while relishing that utterly satisfying exhaustion one only gets from working outside.

• The AppleTV show Dark Matter is a trip! Set against a backdrop of quantum physics and the multiverse, it’s got me totally engrossed in the possibilities of other worlds. Who would I have been with a few different choices? Who could I still be? Check it out if you want to get heady or have to watch TV with a man.

• Famously, I rarely buy new shoes. But I’ve had a few disappointing experiences lately and I’m starting to get tired of the unpredictable, unreturnable nature of secondhand shoes. In need of a sure bet for close-toed season, I managed to snag a pair of the perpetually sold-out Massimo Dutti ballet pumps and I must say — I get it. They are, in fact, supple as hell and worth the hype. That said, if I were in the U.S. where Everlane Day Pumps are all over Poshmark, I would likely have gone that route.

• Every single time I put my artsy girl pants on and decide to watch a movie on Mubi, I’m rewarded. This time, I watched The Color of Pomegranates (1969) and was stunned from the first frame. It’s an avant-garde portrayal of the life of Armenian poet Sayat-Nova. But instead of being a straightforward biopic, director Sergei Parajanov attempts to depict his internal world, from childhood to the end of his life. Apparently it’s a cult classic, but I’m not all that well-versed in Soviet-era film. Either way, it’s a feast. Every frame could be a painting. Even without the cultural context, I followed along decently and was absolutely buzzing with inspiration at the end. Which is enough for me, sometimes. If you’re a fan of Szilveszter Makó’s flattened perspectives and surreal arrangements, I think you’ll eat this up.

• Two fascinating podcasts I’ve heard in the last few days:

things I’ve been thinking about

• Was anyone going to tell me that I should be buying pants according to my hip measurements and taking in the waist? I now wear a large in anything that goes across my hips. A 40 in some brands and a 42 in others. And while this means I now have to bring every pair of pants I buy to my tailor, it’s worth it. This is the curviest my curves have ever been and yet, I’ve never been more comfortable. There’s something remarkably freeing about simply sizing up. Feeling confident in clothes that fit properly matters far more than some number printed on them. I think this is part of the getting older and not giving a shit thing, which is a development that I welcome. Of course, my version of getting older also comes with varicose veins and bunions and a bit of baby botox. Not my favorite. But I mostly love this little gal. And I’ve been spending more time appreciating everything my body does for me — every way she works, all the ways she carries me through this world and allows me to see and smell and touch its beauty. I attribute this healthy headspace to my mom, an all-natural woman who instilled an easy sense of self into me from an early age. And more recently, I give thanks to Joseph Pilates. Not in a culty way, I swear. But the stronger my body gets, the stronger my spirit is. And every moving teaser reminds me that this body and mind are one truly formidable team.

• At the end of August, Norway’s King Harald V passed away at the age of 89. Most of my friends here have never known a Norway without King Harald, and as I witnessed their collective mourning, I wondered what it would be like to admire and appreciate a national leader for your whole life. And a monarch at that. I don’t know enough about him to claim that he was all wonderful all the time. But for my friends and family here, King Harald’s legacy will be one of unity, inclusivity, and love for all Norwegians — no matter their race, religion, sexuality, or country of origin. If you’d like to hear the seminal speech that’s been circulating since his passing, you can find it here.

  

one quick thing

• Growing tired of the psychic weight that was accumulating from a slew of small administrative things looming over me, I sat down and scheduled five appointments: the dog’s vaccination, a bikini wax, an eye exam, a visit to the OBGYN, and the first dentist appointment I’ve had in years. Ah, the agony and ecstasy of a band-aid ripped off. Might I suggest you do the same? You can reward yourself with a sweet treat or trip to the thrift, but silencing the nagging voice in your head will be its own reward, too.

one last thing

• I highly recommend being a part of an IRL book club. Around this time last year, I was craving a way to get together with people that didn’t revolve around drinking. I’d met two women my age who I knew were both big readers looking to meet more people in Oslo, and I lightheartedly threw around the idea of starting a book club with each of them. On one particularly lonely November day, the group chat was formed, and we decided we should actually go for it after the holidays. Now, there are six of us (give or take) who meet monthly to discuss a novel that one of us has suggested. We rotate through everyone’s book suggestions and homes on cozy Sunday afternoons; someone usually bakes or makes a fancy cheeseboard. I provide a list of discussion questions, and we follow it very loosely while meandering into current events or our lives as international ladies assimilating in Oslo. It’s a lovely way to spend a few hours. I think that one thing that stops us from making new friends as adults is the pressure we put on every new friendship to become something deep and lasting. But that’s not realistic. And those relationships take time to form. As you wait patiently for them to develop, pick up a book and chat about it. Simple as that.

But wait, there’s more…

But rating books is so subjective. Each time I do it, the same constellation could mean something different based on how I’m feeling, what I wanted from the book, and what else I’ve read lately. This time around, my grading system means:

★ I wish I never met you
★★ Sorta meh but not offensively so
★★★ Good in its own way
★★★★ Truly loved it but I have notes
★★★★★ Why do I bother writing when this author exists?

And with that, here are my honest reviews for the books I read from July - September.

The End of the World is a Cul de sac by Louise Kennedy ★★

Unfortunately, I only got about a third of the way through before I realized that I didn’t need to subject myself any further to its unrelenting drag. Not during my summer holiday, at least. It’s not that Kennedy seemed determined to be a bummer just for the sake of it, but it was dark in that uniquely Irish way. The writing itself is beautiful, and she portrays nuanced women in complex domestic situations with the ease and wisdom of someone who has lived a lot of life. Weaving together politics, gender norms, class and the lingering influence of Ireland’s tumultuous history, the collection offers snapshots of Irish women living drastically different lives yet grappling with some of the same universal truths. I didn’t finish it, but I think I’ll return someday when I’m in the mood to be devastated.

Endling by Maria Reva ★★★★

Now this was exactly what I was craving. Endling offers readers a wild ride through Ukraine on the eve of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Reva brings us along as the burgeoning war interrupts her searing satire of Ukraine’s romance tourism industry and the archaic gender norms that made way for it. Yet, somehow, she also manages to weave in environmentalism in a way that made me care about snails?? Together, these seemingly disparate pieces tell a story of survival, extinction and the torturous necessity of deciding what’s worth saving. It was strange and hilarious, the type of book that expects its reader to keep up. And most interestingly, it was sprinkled with meta-interruptions that pull the real-life circumstances of the author onto the page. Each time she twisted the characters in a new direction, I was with her, wondering where she’d take me next but never quite predicting it. This was like nothing else I’ve ever read, and I love Reva for that.

Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ ★★★

Oh, Taiwan Travelogue! What to do about you? I wanted to love this book so much more than I did. As the winner of this year’s International Booker Prize, I had high expectations that just weren’t quite met. But I think that’s more about my personal taste than any fault of Shuāng-zǐ. Because this woman didn’t just build us a story, she created fictional lore around that story. Once I wrapped my head around it, the subtlety of the story impressed me. With page after page of sumptuous descriptions of Taiwanese and Japanese food, you can easily forget that this is a book about Japanese colonialism and the complicated dynamics between a colonizer who doesn’t see herself that way and a colonial subject who will never forget it. The premise is quite intriguing, and I respect the effort intellectually, but I found it too slow for my own preferences and often felt the descriptions of the food were too detailed, while the focus on language and translation just wasn’t for me. Even if this book made my mouth water, I didn’t find myself eager to pick it back up.

Moderation by Elaine Castillo ★★★★

Now this was much more my speed. I tore through Moderation, a book that manages to turn the dark world of Silicon Valley excess into something funny, sexy and refreshingly human. Castillo’s writing is a hypnotizing balance of intellectual sharpness and the type of real but witty dialogue that makes me feel like I would be (and kind of already am) friends with her characters. She uses a classic Bay Area Filipino family to illuminate the absurdities of the tech industry while examining the temptations of money, risks of intimacy, and pressures felt by first generation immigrants. But for all its Big Ideas, Moderation never felt like a Big Ideas Book. Instead, I was hooked on the delicious moral, virtual, and sexual tension. I recognized its people and the world they inhabited, and I happily followed them through all the messiness that came with it.

On the Calculation of Volume IV by Solvej Balle ★★★★★

This series gets better with each installment. I’m so impressed with the way Balle manages to expand this recurring day into so much more than a time-loop narrative. In this iteration, she explores the very meaning of society, poking at the way we understand ourselves through language, handicraft, agriculture, and even bureaucracy. Who are we when all of it is up for grabs? What would we be if we were given the opportunity to create something new? I’ve not only grown more comfortable with Balle’s sparse approach to writing, I’ve come to find it meditative. Calming. And that’s a blessing considering she’s otherwise spinning my head out about the meaning of space, time, and human nature.

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata ★★★

What a weird and wonderful book this was! In a completely different context, from a completely different perspective, Convenience Store Woman also offered an examination of the rules our society is built on and how we treat those who refuse to, or simply cannot, adhere to them. Murata depicts this world with such precision, I felt like I was in that convenience store alongside its bustling customers and hustling staff. As the story unfolds, she gives readers no choice but to root for this strange little bird, even if we are allowed a giggle or two as she struggles to figure out where she belongs. And whether she should want to belong there at all. Altogether, this is a bittersweet story about finding your calling even when no one else understands it. And all the while, we’re asked to consider why society places such a high value on being normal when none of us got to decide what normal looks like in the first place.

On the Greenwich Line by Shady Lewis ★★★

I really had no idea what to expect from this book; I bought it during a late afternoon buzz while staying with friends in Greenwich earlier this year. I had no context, but I’m so glad I finally plucked it from my shelf. On the Greenwich Line is an emotionally honest snapshot of a few distressing days in the life of an underpaid, exhausted Egyptian immigrant who works as a council housing officer in London. As he balances the bureaucratic and emotional demands of his career, the lonely shambles of his personal life, and a uniquely tragic request from friends back in Cairo, he is forced to confront the parallels between himself and the people he works to support. Lewis draws from his own life and career, asking readers to witness the inhumanity of the U.K. systems that claim to help the most vulnerable people in their society. And in doing so, we must stare straight at the anguish of those caught between the lives they left behind and the lives they hoped to build. It may sound bleak, but somehow, Lewis strikes a delicate balance between heartache and humor that is totally believable, utterly relatable, and completely human.

Want to read more book reports?

I want to make clothes that feel akin to my other, nicer clothes — interesting tops and tailor-made trousers that could be from a made-to-order indie brand in Brooklyn, not scarred with wonky stitching like the home ec1 pieces of my past. And that meant I had to find patterns for clothes I’d actually want to wear — nothing too cutesy or cottage-core. That’s not me. So at the start of summer, I shared 10 beginner-friendly sewing patterns for tops I would actually wear:

And then didn’t make any of them! I cut out some patterns and even some fabric, and then I put my sewing machine away, moved apartments, enjoyed a summer outdoors, and forgot about my determination entirely. But! Now that summer is undeniably over, I’m slowly settling into the rhythms of autumn. That means more time spent at home toiling over my “inside hobbies”. I’m making my way back to my sewing machine, wiping off the dust, and rededicating myself to becoming the seamstress my grandmothers always wanted me to be. So I thought I’d share some of the sewing patterns that I’ve been collecting (as if the half-finished and never-started projects tucked away in my drawers aren’t faintly calling my name). Last time I focused on tops, so this time, it’s all about the skirts, shorts, pants, and trousers that you can strut around in as you proudly tell everyone, it’s homemade.

Skirts and Shorts

Mini Midi Skirt

I feel like I shouldn’t need a pattern to make this skirt and yet, at this stage in my sewing journey, I just feel much better having it. You may not; there are plenty of video tutorials to watch if you just need a bit of reassurance because this is, essentially, a few rectangles and elastic. But personally, I’ve yet to make a freestyle elastic casing that looks good, so I wanted a little extra care and instruction. Which is exactly what Kate, an independent Australian designer at the helm of the now out-of-production slow fashion brand Palytte, is doing with Palytte Patterns. The pattern includes options to sew both a mini skirt and a midi skirt, advice on further customization, and even teaches you a few different types of seams. I’ve made two of them since finding this pattern earlier this month and can confirm that it’s the easiest entry point to get into making clothes that will fit seamlessly (sorry) into your wardrobe.

DIY Drawstring skirt

What is it with these adorable Aussie gals making the skirts of my dreams? This is what I’ve been needing to scratch that Brooke Callahan itch. This one’s so easy that Daisy Braid, aka DIY Daisy, doesn’t even make you a pattern, but rather gives a step-by-step tutorial that will have you this simple drawstring skirt in no time. For free. Very generous of her. This is next on my list and I cannot wait. And in the meantime, I’ve followed this absolutely delightful gal on Instagram for further inspiration in sewing, beading, and styling color because she’s clearly a master of each craft.

AXIS skirt

If you’re ready to move up from elastic waistbands, give the AXIS skirt a try. Labelled as an “Advanced Beginner” pattern, the South Korean designer behind MUUNARCHIVE reassures us that the construction is mostly beginner friendly, with a few steps that require care and accuracy. But beginners can do anything with enough time and patience, right? I love this design, and the reviews agree. I’ll be saving this for when I’m ready, but I can’t wait to create something so professional and sharp. And until then, I’ll be keeping an eye on MUUNARCHIVE. Her contemporary patterns are giving DIY Sandy Liang in the best possible way, complete with YouTube tutorials her reviewers rave about.

Avenue Shorts

Truthfully, the Donni track pants were one of the pieces that were so simply constructed yet far too expensive-to-me that I was immediately pushed over the edge and into a sewing practice. Determined as I was to recreate them, out of spite more than real necessity, I didn’t have the confidence to try without a specific pattern. But then, I saw that cutie Syd Graham released these shorts and I snatched it up quick quick quick. There are 24 variations within this pattern and once I’m finished with my drawstring skirt, I’m finally getting my track pants on.

Bermuda shorts

I don’t know about you, but finding the right pair of bermuda shorts has been difficult for me. I’m a short gal with a big bum and that comes with a certain set of proportional challenges. So when I found this pattern from Christina Albeck, an independent designer in Denmark, I knew I had to try it. These tailored bermuda shorts seem to give just the right amount of movement for a summer day spent biking around. Of course, I’ll save these for next spring, because we’re already well past shorts weather here in Oslo. But all of Christina’s designs are exactly what you’d expect from a Danish gal with great taste — they’re timeless, refined, and yet still maintain that casual cool the Danes are so damn good at. Follow along on YouTube for plenty of tutorials, both for her sewing patterns and just helpful tips she’s generous enough to share with us.

Pants and Trousers

The Everyday Pants

These pants are very aptly named; as soon as I made mine, I wanted to wear them every single day. I found the pattern so easy to follow, I feel like I’ll be able to make another pair all on my own next time, no peeking. And I will, because I want these in every color. With options for different inseams and drawstring placement, they’re the Brook Callahan dupes of my short but curvy dreams. And if I haven’t made it abundently clear already, Brooke is the #1 inspiration behind my newfound interest in sewing. But Haley Ivers, the designer and creator behind this pattern, is a multi-talented creative who is inspiring me in her own right. She’s a fun follow on all platforms, and of course, offers YouTube tutorials for a variety of crafty activities. I will say, however, that although she is a very creative gal, she is not a professional pattern maker; some reviewers have had issues with these pants, but I think if you use your own measurements and common sense, you’ll be fine.

The Awl Trousers

Imagine showing up in this outfit and being able to say you made it? Are you kidding me?! Remember The Pleat Top from the first batch of beginner patterns I shared? This is her now. Paired with a stunning pair of trousers that are somehow suitable for a confident beginner. But after making The Pleat Top with relative ease, I trust U.K. based Alamain Studios when they say a pattern is within my reach. I love the subtle barrel of these trousers, and even better — the pattern comes with an option for bermuda shorts, too. These are so high on my list, I might as well make them tomorrow. But alas, there’s a queue at the sewing machine. But if you haven’t checked out Alamain Studios yet, do yourself a favor and dive into Alexia’s world for a reminder that handmade garments can be this refined.

Versa Pants

Tell me these wouldn’t be perfect airport pants. Or cycling to lunch with cute friends pants. Or anything, everywhere, all the time pants. My fave Danes at Puff & Pencil have created their own sophisticated version of cargo pants for city girls and I love them. Even better, after downloading the pattern and reading the instructions, I actually think I can make them. These gals know what they’re doing when it comes to inclusive, instructive pattern making. In fact, I had a difficult time choosing just one of their patterns to include in this list, so be sure to check out SKIRTY pants if you’re into Paloma Wool’s Alexia pants. But really all of their patterns are so current and thoughtfully designed, I have no doubt that you’d love them all if you tried them. They’re for confident beginners and I believe in you.

Tapioca Trousers

Look at the #tapiocatrousers tag on Instagram and you will see how many people are happy with both the tailored version and the elasticated waistband version of these trousers. I love the soft pleating on both, and the ability to start with the elastic and work my way up to the belt loops and fly if — no, when — I feel ready. They look like exactly the type of high waisted, relaxed trousers a wide-hipped gal like me needs to swish around comfortably. And if you don’t already follow Jess, she’s a great source of patterns, tips, and inspiration on every platform.

Balloon Barrel Legs Nikka Pants

Last but certainly not least, a little something for those looking for drama. Or at least a pronounced barrel leg. These oversized balloon pants have a gentle but still architectural shape to them with beautiful gathering at the waist. Sewists in the reviews are thrilled with this pattern and its accompanying YouTube tutorial. It’s really shocking how different these pants look in the white poplin cotton or lightweight indigo denim that users have showed in their review — all different, all stunning. The darling designer, Isa, is based in Paris and is steadily sharing new designs and ideas across all platforms.

Just putting this list together has sparked something in me. Something that actually has me looking forward to this week’s rainy forecast. I think I’ll actually finish a few of these (once I can print out the patterns at my office). So now, I’ll leave you with a promise to come back real soon with more beginner sewing patterns. Maybe for accessories next time.

As I sat here relishing my good fortune and what is possibly the last of this summer’s sun1, I found myself thinking of all the ways my life is different because I work in Norway for a Norwegian company with a very Norwegian work culture. And I had a difficult time even wrapping my thoughts around it because, well, it’s changed me fundamentally. Biologically. Simply put, the work culture here is incredibly humane. Working in Norway has surely added years back to my life.

But before I dive into the details, it should be noted that I have only held one role here: for the last three years, I’ve worked at a large corporation which has provided me with my only personal opinions on the work culture in Norway. However, I know a lot of people who have similar experiences in both the public and private sector. I also know that my friends working in specifically intense industries or as independent contractors wouldn’t necessarily agree with everything I’ve written here. With that important caveat, here are some of the foundational lessons I’ve learned while working in Norway: the good, the bad, and the slightly confusing.

1. Life outside of work is the most important thing. For everyone.

In Norway, your job is simply not your identity. Your hours at work are not the most important part of your day, and everyone from the CEO to the cashier at Circle K understands that and acts accordingly.

The upside to this includes but is surely not limited to: absolutely no communication from work after 5pm or on weekends, five weeks of holiday that is mostly taken during July, unlimited sick days2, a shared understanding that everyone will use every single hour of PTO and then some, flexibility for parents, flexibility for personal appointments, flexihours3, other types of PTO than simply holidays and sick days4, an emphasis on low-stress working environments … the list goes on. And that’s not even considering the other types of policies like parental leave and sick leave.

But it also comes with aspects that can complicate life, whether you’re at work or not. Those include but are definitely not limited to: not being able to reach most companies after 5pm or on weekends, everything is closed on Sundays, everything closes early, many places close in July, colleagues who leave for weeks and leave projects at a standstill, customer service here absolutely sucks, colleagues who blatantly abuse the system, public services slow way down in the summer… and on and on, I’m sure.

Norwegians expect a work-life balance that is heavy on the side of life. It’s a value that goes so unquestioned, it should be mentioned in the same breath as universal education and healthcare. It is both a codified building block of their social democracy and a fundamental reason Norwegians have such a high quality of life. And what I appreciate about it most is that this protection of personal time is not just for the elite or professional classes. It’s for everyone. Every person in Norway, regardless of their job, is seen as worthy of rest. Sure, it can be inconvenient. Caring for other people sometimes is. But as with all aspects of a social democracy, it’s a system that relies on trust. The deeply rooted sense of trust at the center of Norwegian culture is an incredible, palpable thing. But it also leaves room for a range of downsides, from inefficiency to straight up exploitation. And as both a colleague and a consumer, I can feel that too.

2. It is actually possible to be too egalitarian.

Mirroring Norwegian society itself, Norwegian workplaces pride themselves on being egalitarian. And most of the time, I truly appreciate that. I can easily, casually, and constructively speak to people who are several levels more senior than me in the structure of our organisation without a single concern for being viewed as unprofessional or out of line. In our company, and I assume this is true across Norway, competence matters infinitely more than status. Boss is treated like a curse word; our leaders sit amongst us in the open plan office and if any of them dare to seek preferential treatment, they get serious side-eye if not fully scandalized. As a junior employee, I genuinely feel appreciated on the same level as anyone else working at any higher level — we simply have different tasks and pay grades5.

However! Sometimes, a decision simply needs to be made. Sometimes, a deadline must be set. Sometimes, someone deserves to be fired. But in Norway, that’s often a very tall order. Norway’s obsession with consensus can easily stifle progress if it’s not paired with strong leadership. Yet, many leaders here seem cautious about being too directive without consulting every single stakeholder that might have an opinion. Deadlines are easily moved because no one is expected to bend and break for them, or perhaps one of those stakeholders piped up later than expected. And ironclad worker’s rights make it nearly impossible to fire anyone unless they’ve broken the law with undeniable evidence. It does make for a kinder, gentler, more collaborative workplace. It also drags on productivity, but that’s a trade off Norwegians seem willing to make. Don’t get me wrong, I generally like it, too. But sometimes, I miss the American tradition of a big bad boss simply calling the shots.

3. With great sick leave comes great numbers of sick people.

I want to be incredibly careful here and clearly state from the start that I think that Norway’s sick leave policy is a miracle on this rapidly declining Earth. Employees who get sick can receive 100% of their salary, up to an income cap, for as long as a year6. If you’re able to work partially, you can also take graded sick leave, working as much as your health allows while receiving sick pay for the rest. There are requirements and follow-ups along the way, and there’s much more to it if you remain sick after that first year. But that veers into different territory.

As such, Norway also has the highest percentage of people on long term sick leave of any country that measures such a statistic7. Coming from the U.S., this is, like, unbelievable. And I can’t tell if it’s the hardwired Capitalist in me or an honest observation, but it feels like a Field of Dreams type situation: if you build it, they will come. Because in my small network alone, I’ve heard a variety of stories about sick leave from friends I’d otherwise considered healthy: one doctor readily suggested a month off as preventative mental health care, another reluctantly gave a few months to a young mother trying her best to juggle it all, and one easily approved just over six months for a friend experiencing a chronic illness flare up. And I think those are all fantastic examples of the system working, but I have also heard persistent rumors8 of abuse. I’ve been told that it can be relatively straightforward to get the permission required to take long term sick leave, even if there are some doctors who are more discerning. And as a result, there has been a push to tighten the system9 because paying for this policy is projected to cost the Norwegian government 67B NOK (7.19B USD) this year alone.10

On one hand, it’s amazing that anyone who is truly sick doesn’t have to compound that illness by worrying about their economic wellbeing, too. On the other hand, a system this generous inevitably raises questions about where use may blur into abuse. And somewhere in between those two ends of the spectrum, I struggle to differentiate between a healthier attitude towards illness and a lower tolerance for discomfort. How do we define resilience when a society has removed much of the necessity to be resilient in the first place? Maybe we don’t have to. Maybe there’s no merit in pushing through, overcoming, hardening. Maybe Norway is simply one of the few places where people are allowed to take the time to recover that we’ve all needed all along. If we all had rest this readily available, the world might be a softer place.

The American work ethic is a coping mechanism we’ve been taught to call a virtue. It’s impossible for me to see this without the lens of the toxic culture I was raised in. So I’m wary of passing any judgement on a culture whose baseline is so different from my own. I really don’t know. But I also can’t ignore the data.

4. Fitting in means more than you might think.

Anyone from Oslo will tell you how much the city has changed in the last ten to fifteen years. How many different types of food they can get. How many languages they hear in the streets. It’s one of Europe’s fastest growing cities, becoming more and more diverse every year. This is a source of pride or tension, depending on who you ask. And I have no doubt that they’re right, but it’s still not easy to be international here. In fact, in a recent survey by Internations, the world’s largest expat (barf) network, Norway came in dead last as the worst place to live11. Now, I take that survey with a grain of salt. That sample population is highly questionable to me, a factor that Youtuber Meg duPer outlines quite nicely. But there is some real truth in those answers.

In the realm of professional life, it is very difficult to get a job here as a foreigner. Which is fair enough; most companies, large and small, work in Norwegian and most foreigners do not (yet) speak Norwegian when they arrive. But even companies that formally work in English seem to grit their teeth at the idea of hiring people who don’t speak Norwegian. Even though most Norwegians, especially those working professionally in Oslo, speak near perfect English. In my experience, it’s not just about the language. It’s about the culture. The real question is: will you fit in here?

Despite having a resume full of international experience, it took me over a year to find a job here. And when I did, it was thanks to a friend of a friend and my willingness to take a job far outside of my desired field. In the process, I learned to add Norwegian sounding hobbies to what I now call my CV, and to be quieter in interviews while citing my team’s accomplishments instead of me, me, me. And I’m not alone in this, I have friends with even more impressive experience than mine who have struggled for far longer. At the beginning of my job search, someone told me that I should jump at any offer because once I had a single Norwegian company under my belt, others wouldn’t feel I was such a risk. And that’s the root of the issue: in Norway, where social norms are held tightly and conformity is highly valued, foreigners are still a bit risky. Even if they think we’re cool.

5. Your colleagues don’t have to be your friends for you to enjoy them.

By this point, we’ve all grown wary of companies that claim to be your family. Or tech startups that blur the boundaries between our work and personal lives, with all of the workplace drama that ensues. But we also deserve more than cold corporate climates in which leaders who barely know our names treat us like a rat in the race. Those offices are breeding grounds for cutthroat competition and generally bad vibes. The good news is, Norway has this secret third option in which the people you work with and for are a friendly group of would-be strangers you hang out with as you solve problems, collaborate on projects and reach goals together. It’s lovely.

At first, I was perplexed and a bit disappointed at the rarity of the work-bestie-to-real-bestie pipeline. In California, it felt normal to grab drinks after work, attend birthday parties, and meet someone’s partner or university friends until you found yourself woven into the tapestry of their whole life. I’ve made some of my dearest friends that way. But in Norway, the boundaries are drawn far more clearly. My colleagues know all about my hobbies, my husband, and my weekend plans. One of them even reads this Substack — hi, Khai! But despite their genuine warmth, there is no need to go further. Colleague is its own valid category.

That being said, we’re expected to eat lunch together. Every single day. And our company has a robust network of social clubs that revolve around shared hobbies: hiking, swimming, photography, etc. I’ve taken my cross-country ski courses through the ski club and met plenty of kind people there. In my experience, however, these clubs aren’t a bridge to friendship so much as a way to strengthen our connections at work. And that’s okay. There is something deeply relaxing about enjoying people without an expectation of emotional intimacy. We don’t need to have one another over for dinner, Norwegians don’t want their work lives to bleed into personal time, remember? We just need to trust one another and work well together. There’s clarity in that definition.

Perhaps my observations about Norwegian work culture say just as much about me as they do about Norwegians themselves. Coming from a highly individualistic, achievement-oriented culture obsessed with maxing out potential and profits, it’s been tricky adjusting to a society organized around trust, consensus, boundaries and wellbeing. Living here has taught me that every culture is a collection of trade-offs. There is no utopia, socialist or otherwise. I genuinely find myself missing some aspects of the American working environments I knew back home. Not many, but I like to think that there’s some place out there that strikes an ideal cultural balance between Norway and America and I’d love to find it. Maybe Germany?

But many of you who did walk my way saw my offer to return after summer with more weird little shoes for the colder months, and said yes, please! And it just so happens that I’m on the hunt myself. So, the time is right and here I am, ready to share a closed-toe collection with you so that together, we can keep it cute and cozy as we head into the back half of the year.

Truthfully, I’ve exhausted my personal cadre of niche brands. I’m no expert or archivist, just a chronic online shopper. So rather than waxing poetic about my favorite deep cuts, I’ve organized this around a few different themes with a wide variety of brands. Collectively, they may not all be as oddly hybrid or fabulously fugly as the shoes I highlighted last time. But in my book, the real value of weird little shoes is in their ability to provide a space for sartorial experimentation in my otherwise classic closet. And each pair linked below would undoubtedly allow me to test ideas and play with trends and expand my own taste without busting my budget. And with that, I think it’s time to shut up and share the links to 169 weird little shoes for FW26.

Color therapy

So, I heard y’all are into color now? It seems everyone’s been dressing a lot more vibrantly this summer, but with the past many years of our mass overconsumption of neutrals, the pendulum is surely swinging into the fall. I’m not sure where I personally stand on the subject yet; I’ve been a neutral lover long before the Quiet Luxury Clean Girls proliferated the pallet to oblivion. If anything, I like a gem tone. However, when I do crave a bit of color, I tend to add it through accessories. If you’re like me, figuring out the right tones and shades takes a bit of time. But in this economy? Dipping your literal toes into the teals and purples and pinks that are piquing collective interest this year might be most easily accomplished through a low-stakes second hand shoe.

Opera Aesthetics

As much as I love the drama of the opera, my daily life is much more made-for-tv. Which is to say, even with the ubiquitous jeans and white tee, I’m not going to realistically wear an overly elegant opera coat. I could be that kind of girl, but Oslo just isn’t that kind of city. I will, however, slip into a satin pump or brocade mule for a night out. I’ll wear an embellished flat just about anywhere. With $50 and the patience to search Poshmark, you can find an impressive array of opera-ready shoes in any luxury fabric your little heart desires. Crushed velvet, embroidered or beaded silk, butter soft leather — it’s all there. So stop drooling over that Conner Ives-inspired coat you’ll wear twice and start scrolling for a fancy pair of flats that can take you from cardigans and coffee dates to highbrow holiday parties and everywhere in between.

Animalistic

Honestly, I’ve never been a leopard print kind of gal. No matter the quality, I can’t shake some of my own pre-established associations. Zebra is too loud for me, and deer is too fleeting, so when I think animal print, I’m thinking sassy, slithery snake print. With other animal prints, I think finding a color/texture/pattern combination that actually looks good can be quite difficult and/or expensive. But I find that a wide array of snake print meets my standards of looking high quality, a bit striking, and yet neutral enough to be a realistic addition to my weekly wardrobe cycle. I wear these GANNI loafers I found secondhand at least once a week to spice up my neutrals in the office and lately, I’ve been on the hunt to replace the more cocktail-friendly wedges I sold due to my slightly-larger-right-foot situation. Anyway! My point is, snake print — ideally embossed on leather and not real snakeskin or merely printed pattern — is a sexy sliver of animal energy suitable for day and night.

Slim sneakers

My Asics are tired and crumpled by this point. My Salomon’s are scuffed from years of trekking both in and out of the city. It’s time for a new pair of everyday sneakers, but none of the slim nylon options that are out right now are doing anything for me. After searching for months, I finally found this pair of vintage Puma’s in a dark crimson red for just $30 on Norway’s secondhand app. And my success inspired me to offer you a selection of sneakers that are sleek and slim but diffy from the Prada and Celine and Dries or their dupes that we’re being pedalled these days. When it comes to leather or canvas sneakers, there is simply no reason to be paying those prices.

Freakier sneakers

Still, for some of us, a Ked-esque leather lace up just won’t cut it in the sneaker department. As a lifelong weird shoe lover, I get it. I’m with you. We need something a little louder, chunkier, or subtly funkier, and I’ve got just the thing: dark chocolate velvet and bubble soled Bally’s, lemony leathers and perfectly hideous Prada’s. A few of these are slightly over $70, and for that, I’m truly sorry. But I wouldn’t have included them if I didn’t think they were still a great value. These shoes are the essence of a weird little shoe — a way to walk through the world wearing your tiny freak flag when it can’t be flown. So, go forth and be a bit weird.

Cutest girl in the office

Unfortunately, I cannot move through my entire life wearing my preferred footwear: kitten heeled sandals or rubber flip flops. No, I have to work in a corporate setting. And as I now live perpetually close to close-toed weather, I know the importance of looking smart, wearing a cozy sock and still looking like you (see above re: snake print loafers). By now, my colleagues know I have a thing for shoes because I clickity clack down the hallway and wear a janky pair of original Nike Rift IIs on more casual days. If your office wardrobe needs a dash of personality while maintaining a certain level of decorum, look no further than this collection of textured oxfords, sassy loafer hybrids, and vibrant kitten heels for corporate baddies.

Weird and weatherproof

Sorry if you hate this but Autumn is on the horizon. And with Oslo’s already short-lived summers, I can’t bring myself to buy anything that isn’t geared towards cooler temps. Personally, I’m searching for a pair of winterized Merrel Jungle Mocs; they may seem basic but Nordic Winters have their own requirements that sadly must be rightly balanced with my aesthetic. And all things considered, I like the look of these. But if you’re mostly dealing with rain or cabin trips or a city with quickly melting snow, you can afford the dose of strange that any of these all-weather options might bring to your look. Whether you want to wear a pointed toe rain boot (revolutionary), or a pair made of translucent plastic (my favorites), you don’t have to sacrifice your style to stay warm and cozy. I might, but I’m happy for you nonetheless.

And there you have it! The months ahead call for a slightly more practical approach to footwear. But with $30, patience, and the right search terms, you too can find your own weird little opportunities for experimentation within the confines of cooler weather. And if 169 pairs aren’t enough for you, I can come back with more ideas.

I think about this concept almost every day. Whether applied to my writing or sewing or skills in the kitchen, it’s been the light at the end of the tunnel that is my tumultuous relationship with my own creative Self. It’s offered me spiritual relief, a balm for my waning perfectionism. Because Ira promises that with enough time and dedication, the taste gap will eventually close. But lately, as my husband and I have embarked on the collaborative creative project of decorating our first home, I’ve been thinking about the always present gap between the home I’ve pinned and pined over and the one I see before me now. That gap only seems to widen.

When I conjure up my dream home, I find myself somewhere out West where natural light pours in through reclaimed windows so large you still feel like you’re outdoors2. My taste for interiors is rooted in the ease of Californian modernism and the organic warmth of Southwestern craftsmanship. Long, low shelves full of oddly glazed ceramics and funky little tchotchkes line wood paneled walls where faded textiles hang under exposed beams. Old photos and irregular sketches are dotted around, remnants of our history. I want things a little imperfect, a little sun faded, a little strange.

Of course, I’m not the only person dreaming up our space. And I don’t share my home with just any man; no, mine is a man who has a visual identity even more thoroughly developed than my own. Benjamin’s taste has been refined throughout a lifetime immersed in art: he grew up with two artists for parents and formalized his inherently strong sensibility while attending a leading Norwegian university for architecture and design before living in a handful of big, buzzing cities, each a feast for his insatiable eye. And over time, his taste became a precise and thoughtful amalgamation of each of these influences: the functional rigor of Bauhaus, the sophistication of Italian modernism and the understated warmth of Nordic minimalism. Thankfully he leans Architectural Digest and not finance bro, but if he had his way, we’d live in a concrete box with tubular chrome and conditioned leather at every turn.

Needless to say, our relationship creates a bit of a taste-gap in and of itself. Crucially, neither of us has bad taste. We navigate a gap between preferences rather than quality. At first, I assumed this gap was the chasm sitting between me and the home in my mind’s eye. It was a convenient explanation, at least. In reality, we share most of our core design principles and we’re both willing to compromise. If anything, his expertise sharpens any ineffable vision I have for our space. Our home, like our life together, is a collaboration. And it’s evolved beautifully to reflect us both. The more we discussed it, the more obvious it became that I was grappling with some vague and internal dissonance I hadn’t quite recognized yet.

So unfortunately, I couldn’t blame Benjamin. I had to get a bit more introspective.

There are other obvious factors that widen the gap, like financial limitations and market variety. We all possess imaginations willing and able to design spaces far beyond our own means. Pinterest was essentially founded on this principle. My pipe dreams are full of rarified pieces that have survived wars or exist in one specific area of southern Mexico or just cost more than our monthly mortgage for one reason or another, whether or not that reason is reasonable. However, as frustrating as financial limitations are, they can be remedied. Coveted chairs can be saved for. Enviable dining tables can be hunted down. And most importantly, it’s not all that difficult to recreate an expensive look. However, that last part requires access to a thriving secondhand market. Don’t get me wrong, Norway has one. But between a domestic market that’s smaller than the greater Los Angeles area and an import tax so high it makes online shopping feel forbidden, the options are not particularly varied. If you weren’t a conformist to begin with, shopping here can surely foist it upon you.

I know because I’m pretty sure it’s happening to me. And that’s the dissonance I was feeling: the distance between where I am and where I thought I wanted to be is growing. But I’m moving further away from it by choice. We’re all, to some extent, products of our environments, right? So it stands to reason that living amidst the clean minimalism of Nordic design, I find myself drawn to its simplicity, calmed by its restraint. I notice myself gladly choosing items that I might have previously dismissed as being too cold: steel and glass with angular details, modular furniture, sculptural lighting against an otherwise empty wall, the clean geometry of a room without much to soften it.

It’s not surprising though. Norway has changed me in a thousand ways I didn’t anticipate. How could my home look like the one I dreamt up in California if I’m no longer the person who dreamt it? I came here with an entirely different concept of what I liked and what I wanted — even what a good life looked like. And now, I still recognize myself but my edges have softened. I’m more grounded; I appreciate the quiet nature of this place, visually and otherwise. I still infuse my spaces with personality through the objects I choose to adorn a windowsill here or a nook there. But now, I’m more discerning about which objects earn that space. It feels like my innate sensibilities have been distilled rather than replaced, and although it is a bit jarring, I’m surprised by how much I like the result. But my taste has changed for the same reason I have: this place is shaping me. And I like who I am here, too.

No matter how much we work to design our space, no matter how long we spend doing it, it might not ever feel settled. But it feels like us. The vintage IKEA bookshelf that sits across the room from our bed is all metal and glass and hard angles. And it’s full of oddly glazed ceramics and funky little tchotchkes, too. A wooden vase from Uganda, a painting from Mexico, a sculpture from my dad in California among other carefully selected bits and bobs. It’s a record of my life — where I’ve been, who I am, and maybe offering clues as to who I’m becoming. Because who I am is a shapeshifting thing, expanding and contracting in response to the variables of my real life. The taste gap only widens because my taste is evolving with me.

Ira’s idea assumes that your creative output is moving towards a fixed point: a singular, developed Taste. But I don’t think it works like that. Like our lives, our taste is a moving target. Perhaps the taste gap can never really close. Instead, it just takes a different shape.

When you’re designing a home, there is no final draft. No finished product. A home changes as we do; it’s a synthesis of what we’ve been and what we want to be and what we really are when no one’s looking. Home is something we keep becoming. Our cultures, our experiences, and our instincts are actively being shaped by the world outside our walls and we’re left to interpret that as taste. My home is me. Our home is us. I don’t want to dwell on the gap and let the perfectionism creep up my spine as I wonder why it doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. Instead, I think I’ll focus on accepting a self that is still and always becoming.

Leaving our last place was unspeakably bittersweet — it was the first home Benjamin and I shared that had our names on the mailbox. It was the space I’d lived in the longest since leaving my childhood home at 18. And it was a beautiful apartment on a serene, lilac lined street that gently ushered me into life in Oslo. But this floor I have my ass on? This is MY floor. My husband and I own this apartment. That entire sentence is still wild to me! We keep walking around saying, “hey homeowner” to one another with stupid grins on our faces. I never thought I’d see this day, yet here we are.

Obviously, this has taken up most of the space in my mind for the last month as I’ve purged and packed and prepared everything for this transition, but I’ve tried my best to leave room for rest and relaxation, too. I swam my way through the heatwave, devoured copious amounts of seasonal fruit, and read a few very good books. And as time went on, we relished our final moments in the garden, treated ourselves to a lot of exquisite meals as a coping mechanism, and generally melted into our homey holiday as much as we could between boxes.

things I’ve done

• My sweet friend Specioza invited me to join her to Oslo’s annual African Food Festival at the beginning of this month. I almost cancelled after having a truly horrible day, but thankfully I didn’t because the energy of a joyful, bustling crowd of people from across Africa and Europe coming together to eat delicious food and actually dance (!!!) to some Afrobeats was exactly what I needed. My bad mood was instantly cured with one bite of fritter-adjacent bolinhos de peixe from Angola. We then went on to have sweet fried mandazi from Uganda, mouth watering plantains from Ghana called kelewele, Ghanian jollof rice and more varieties of freshly squeezed juice than I knew what to do with (not true, I drank them).

• One of my favorite things about Oslo is the incredible variety of nature that is so easily accessible for a day’s adventure. The best of these, in my humble opinion, are the scattered islands in the Oslo fjord which sit a short ferry away from the city center. A few weeks ago now, I joined my gal Ingvild on a late afternoon jaunt to Gressholmen, one of the loveliest of Oslo’s islands that boasts fewer crowds and an adorable old restaurant. We walked and walked through a scrubby patch of forest to reach a secluded rocky outcrop where we laid around and swam for hours. A deceptively long time, really. Suddenly it was late, and although we missed the kitchen service by just a few minutes, the olives and wine at Gressholmen Kro were tasty, too.

things I’ve made

• First thing’s first, I’m obsessed with the upcycled tank top I made, inspired by @with__lana. All you need is a top that’s a few sizes up from what you normally wear, some elastic thread, and 30 minutes. Her tutorial is great, but she went one step further and cut a large longsleeve into a tank top; I simply thrifted an XL tank top and quickly whipped it into shape. During the height of summer, I’m drawn to wearing white all day every day, and adding this funky textured top leveled up my outfit each time I put it on.

• Thanks to the Creative Camp hosted by apartamento 710’s Florencia Ornelas, I have actually been much craftier than I would have normally expected of myself during this big move. The accountability structure she provided for us, alongside the genuine feeling of total freedom helped me feel inspired by the framework even if I couldn’t follow that week’s craft. I used her group chat as motivation to finish this patchwork wall hanging I’ve had on my to do list for a year. But I also felt compelled to get a few small things finished in between packing boxes, if only so I could have something to show my new friends as I cheered them on, too.

• This year, I’ve challenged myself to make a new dessert with seasonal ingredients every month. Last month, after somehow failing miserably with panna cotta and strawberry compote, I asked my husband what he’d like next. To my total surprise, he asked for a key lime pie. Knowing him as I do, I thought it was a reference to his favorite Tim & Eric sketch, so I happily obliged. Dear reader, tell me why he was completely shocked when I made the aforementioned key lime pie to celebrate the start of our summer holiday? As if he’d never even heard of her! Men. Thankfully, it was incredibly easy to make and we both still thoroughly enjoyed it. Best served à la mode, I’m talkin about ice cream on the side.

things I’ve loved

• I’ll admit, back in June, I told a colleague that I wouldn’t pretend to love football just because the World Cup was on. But like many others in the U.S., I caught on. In part because of this episode of John Stewart’s The Daily Show that reminded me how much the people in our world need cultural moments like this to come together and enjoy one another while global politics feels so fraught. We stayed up late to catch matches, ran all over Oslo looking for places to view big screens in perfect weather, drank way too much beer, and learned a lot about this game, it’s best players, and the diverse countries who cherish it. However, the best part by far was watching the world fall in love with the Norwegian national team and the fans who were representing us in the U.S. Erling Haaland and the rest of the team are prime examples of the qualities I love about Norwegians: they played practically, avoided dramatics, and won with humility. Meanwhile, the fans showcased how silly and curious and loving Norwegians can be after a few (dozen) beers. Both the powerful sense of community we have here and the good will Norwegians have for those they cross paths with were on full display for the world to see and celebrate. And it made me very proud to be a bit Norwegian, if only by proxy.

• Sometimes, I’m ahead of a trend and I get annoyed when everyone catches on, effectively ruining the unique thing I was into by sheer volume. Sorry, I’m human. But in my better moments, others catch on to something I’ve been doing for ages and it makes me elated! Like, yes! See?! Isn’t this great?! That’s how I feel about the current trend of repurposing old tablecloths and linens. In Norway, these materials are plentiful, thanks to generations of women sitting inside during long, cold winters. As such, I’ve been hoarding incredible lace and crochet pieces since I first moved here, and it makes me so happy to see others finding the beauty in these pre-existing materials, too. Not only is it sustainable, but it’s inspiring people to find easily accessible moments of creativity. Just, please don’t buy from Zara what you could learn to make yourself!

things I’ve thought about

• Throughout adulthood, I’ve been someone who practices a gentle but regimented morning routine. As a fairly anxious, highly emotional person, taking a moment for myself before I let the rest of the world in has been a crucial tool for regulation. However, I’ve completely abandoned that routine this summer. I’ve allowed myself to indulge in everything I strive to rise above: I roll over and grab my phone, I lay in bed too long, I stay in pajamas, and have even snacked on a stray chocolate or potato chip if they’re laying around. And you know what? It feels great to let go. To just be a blob until 9am. The thing about a morning routine, like any self care practice, is that it takes discipline. I fight the urge to reach for my phone in the morning. I resist laying in bed. I urge myself to journal and read instead of staring into space or at a screen. But for now, while I’m on summer holiday, I’m done with all that effort. And with feeling like it’s a moral failing when I don’t adhere to some self-taught standard. I think this break will make me appreciate the feeling of structure all the more once I fit myself back into it, which I’m already looking forward to but won’t start until Monday.

• I was so overwhelmed with dread at the thought of moving, I almost forgot to look forward to our new home. But when moving day came, six strong men in Benjamin’s lifelong circle of friends came to make light work of it. Instead of struggling through it, we laughed. Rather than boiling over with stress and frustration, we shared stories inspired by the objects peeking out of our boxes. Afterwards, as they sat around on the boxes and chairs strewn across our new home, they were full of pizza and beer and I was full of gratitude. Still, days later, I am deeply moved by the way these friends showed up for us. Like it was nothing, a given. With a few hours of selfless support, they turned a potentially horrible day into one I will always look back on fondly.

one quick thing

• I had this incredible cocktail recently at a bar in our neighborhood. While the bar itself isn’t new, per se, it’s a newly redesigned section of Tranen, a multi-use space that serves my favorite baked goods by day, delicious pizza by night, and now sexy cocktails and small plates under the glow of a red light sculpture fit for a chic hotel lobby. The cocktail in question is called The Julia, love it, and it was made of gin, elderflower liqueur, lemon, cucumber, passionfruit syrup, and egg white. It instantly reminded me of this passion fruit sour I used to drink when we lived down the street from Meroma in Mexico City; that cocktail alone (and the stunning interior design) brought me to the restaurant time and time again. So I guess this is just me encouraging you to go out and get some kind of fruity gin sour in a bar near you. And report back!

one last thing

• Okay, one last thing about moving, I promise (probably). Clearly, the highlight of unpacking and settling in is lining up all of my treasures and designing our new space. Considered all together, my things are an archive of my life. I’ve collected bits and pieces from the places and people that have shaped me, and moving is a chance to get reacquainted with each artifact. Rearranging them across our home allows me to reassess, reimagine, and reiterate the self through these tangible reminders of where I’ve been and who I love. It’s my life on display. And as I’m still deep in this process, tiny vignettes of a life in transition have emerged, reminding me that moving is as beautiful as it is burdensome. Like molting feathers or shedding skin. Like emerging from a chrysalis as a new version of myself in this next phase of this life.

1. Becco

Sitting here pondering why I love Becco so much, I realized that it’s the versatility of the space that makes it such a unique and valuable addition to Oslo’s cultural landscape. Housed in a three-story former stable building from 1870, Becco is tucked away in the well-hidden courtyard of a historic building complex, making it feel like a hidden treasure even though it’s one of the most beloved places for Oslo’s wine and music lovers to spend the evening.

Their diverse selection of wines is the star of the show — new world, old world, organic, traditional — whatever you want, they’ve got it. Some, they’ve even got on tap. Yet, when I’m at Becco, the design of the space contributes to my evening nearly as much; it’s highly considered while managing to embody the uninhibited spirit of the parties they so successfully curate. Still, it’s the dedication to hosting live music and other interesting events that sets them apart from other wine bars in Oslo. Depending on when you visit, you may find a DJ set, a jazz ensemble, a tasting event, or a vintage market. And even if all you find is the normal pink-cheeked crowd of hot young Norwegians mixing and mingling, you’re guaranteed to enjoy the buzz. As I lean into wine bars as my preferred point on the nightlife spectrum, Becco hits just the right note to make me feel like I’m at the coolest party in town.

2. Fat City

Fat City has quickly become my go-to spot when I want to share sensational small plates with a friend as we swap stories and giggle over generous pours. Located in the midst of Grünerløkka’s busy Thorvald Meyers gate, you can grab a spot out front for prime people watching or tuck away in the tiny back room for a more intimate experience (my personal favorite). Obviously they have an impeccable wine menu, deliciously funky organic and natural wine included, but the food is what brings me back time and time and time again. The beet salad, the anchovy toast, even the humble brød & saus leaves me contemplating a second round. To be fair, they may technically be considered a restaurant, but they have big wine bar energy. My experiences there have always been grounded in a desire for a glass of something interesting. And between their selection and the knowledge of their top tier (so wise, so kind, so cute) servers, they never disappoint.

3. Nektar Vinbar

Nektar is charming. Unreasonably charming. So charming that it is quite difficult to get a spot there, which is the only reason it’s not higher on the list. But with good reason! Situated within one of Oslo’s famous old wooden houses on a small, colorful street, Nektar is everything you want in a Scandinavian wine bar. The interior is cozy enough to while away a long winter night with a heartwarming glass of something deep and red. But when it’s the season of the midnight sun, their outdoor seating is alive with beautiful people sipping crisp glasses of Champagne or Chardonnay while flowing out into the otherwise quiet street. Like Fat City, it’s got the menu of a restaurant with the heart of a wine bar. Their extensive wine list leans heavily French, and they specialize in organic and biodynamic selections. I’ve never known Nektar to be anything less than excellent: wine, food, and atmosphere alike.

4. Café Rouleur

I almost feel like not putting Rouleur at the top of my list is a betrayal. It is, after all, my neighborhood spot and most frequented bar on this list. By far. If they served food, it would be a totally different story. But instead, they focus on other things, like offering incredible organic wine to their vibrant community and acting as a “club house” for athletes and artists in the neighborhood. In fact, the adjacent space used to be a cycle repair and retail shop owned by the same people, but when the business outgrew that space last year, they created Atelier Rouleur to host more gatherings centered around sports and culture. Needless to say, this place is a magnet for an easy, warm crowd of all ages — all sipping happily on mouthwatering wine.

5. Eff Eff Oyster and Wine Bar

Some days, I just need to be served a dozen oysters and a glass of something crisp enough to make me close my eyes and bask in the present moment. On those days, I go to Eff Eff. For me, Eff Eff feels like a place of celebration. Even if that celebration is simply the first warm day of spring or seeing friends after it’s been too long. With an air of casual refinement, their perfectly briny oysters and signature hot sauce are served alongside potato chips with roe and sour cream. Understandably, the wine list is dominated by mineral-forward natural wines and bubbles from all over. And with a staff that is not only supremely knowledgeable but wonderfully approachable, I've never been steered wrong by their recommendations.

It feels like the sort of place you’d stumble upon down a quiet side street in Copenhagen or Paris. But thankfully, Eff Eff’s sunny outdoor tables and artfully minimal interior are right here in Oslo, tucked into a buzzing little corner of St. Hanshaugen that seems to grow more lively each season.

Honorable mentions:

• Juret

  Cool space that is simultaneously cozy, bright and airy. Lovely staff and crowd. Large, sunny patio in a downtown area that developers are trying to make cool. Which means it’s the perfect location for a glass after swimming at Tjuvholmen, wandering around The National Museum / Astrup Fearnley, or any other downtown activities you may find yourself doing.

• Gapet

  Quiet little neighborhood spot that gets everything right. Lovely interior, quiet but vibey crowd. Small but mighty selection of wine, cocktails, and snacks. Super sexy lighting and flawless music. Really good for a date night or that friend you haven’t seen in forever.

• Territoriet

  Perhaps the most impressive wine selection of this entire list, especially by the glass. Vibe leans mellow and fully adult (great for a visit with parents) and the sommeliers are top of their class. Outdoor seating back in the patio and a few small tables on bustling Markveien for people watching. Really world class wine bar, but can be next to impossible to find a seat.

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6 months ago · 7 likes · Katy Gaines

the people's passport

katy's guide: oslo norway

this is a guest post on the people’s passport. for more local travel guides…

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9 months ago · 65 likes · 20 comments · Katy Gaines and amber parlow

Maybe you’re a shoulder season traveler, or you’re exercising financial restraint, or maybe it’s because you procrastinated submitting your work visa renewal and are legally required to stay put. Oh, that’s just me? My bad. Lord knows I need a silver lining, so I’m focusing on the fact that during this summer’s heat wave, Oslo is a pretty ideal place to be. And selfishly, I’m thrilled to get a much-needed dose of my own natural environment. In other words, real summer weather. A Norwegian rarity.

Sadly, despite how glorious it’s been for us up here, I’m still working. And up until this past Friday, I was still going into the office. Which consisted of commuting in the brisk morning air before sitting in an air-conditioned office and then emerging to a warm afternoon to go swimming or have a picnic in the park. Dressing for a Nordic heatwave means still being prepared with a considered layer. Dressing for the office requires professionalism. And yet, I still want to take part in the fun of summer styling — it’s my favorite! So, June became a month of experimentation as I tried to find that sweet spot where hot days, a casual corporate dress code and my personal style could coexist in peace.

the fit:

• Paloma Wool Olympia top

• old Everlane pleated wide leg cotton blend trousers (here on eBay)

• thrifted double zip suede jacket (similar)

• earrings from Arket

• thrifted skinny snakeskin belt from Filippa K (similar)

• vintage silver rings (similar, similar)

• thrifted mesh and PVC tote bag from United Colors of Benneton (similar)

• Miista kitten heel thongs (similar with a block heel; obsessed with these)

I bought this top on my trip to London earlier this year, and although I adore it (and visited the PW store specifically to buy it), I’ve struggled to style it for work. The high neckline was throwing me off. I usually pair it with something playful or a little sexy to keep it from feeling too buttoned-up, but that’s not exactly office attire. Then sandal season arrived, and suddenly it all clicked. The ease of these cotton trousers softened the structure of the top, while a bit of skin peeking out from strappy sandals kept the whole thing from feeling too serious. Altogether, it felt tidy and polished without being stuffy. And while I originally chose this tote for its ability to carry me seamlessly from work to Pilates, the playfulness and visual levity of the material lightens everything up even further. And despite still needing a light jacket at the start of June, I was finally leaning into the summer mood.

the fit:

• thrifted Hugo Boss men’s cotton button down (similar)

• Shore boyfriend jeans from Arket (sold out in black, still available in blue)

• thrifted lightweight car coat (similar)

• same earrings from Arket

• handmade beaded kilt pin (inspired by Magnetism Store)

• same vintage silver rings (similar, similar)

• vintage leather bag (similar)

• thrifted ponyhair slingback kitten heels (similar, similar)

Each year, as the days get longer and lighter, I feel an ambiguous pressure to wear more color. And as those days turn warmer, I’m somehow obligated to expose as much skin as the temperature will allow. But I felt so sexy and stylish in this. And, for a brief moment, a little like Sarah Linh-Tran. This modest, monochrome look revealed to me that I’ve truly outgrown the ideas I once held about how to dress this time of year. Everything was loose and barely touching my body, which felt both slightly sensual and ideal for the muggy, wet weather that day. By showing skin strategically rather than generously, the outfit felt both work-appropriate and aligned with my evolving understanding of what makes me feel truly hot: texture, movement, and a bit of mystique. All of which are only amplified by this slightly swingy car coat — just enough coverage for a light summer rain. And the pin I made, adorned with a few stone and freshwater pearl beads, adds just enough fun to bring this otherwise serious combination into coastal art teacher territory. Needless to say, this one has earned a spot in the regular rotation.

the fit:

• thrifted linen button down from Eileen Fisher (similar with a mandarin collar)

• thrifted Chico’s traveler’s pants (here on eBay)

• same thrifted car coat (similar)

• silver hoops from Justine Clenquet (similar but smaller)

• vintage chain belt (similar)

• same vintage leather bag (similar)

• Izzy sandals from Vagabond (sold out in brown, here in black)

I loved the previous outfit so much, I found myself looking to replicate it immediately. Realizing that it had more to do with the silhouette than the pieces themselves, I swapped out the all-black for a brown and navy pairing, making the entire look even softer. And this Eileen Fisher top never lets me down when I want to feel comfortable but look elevated. Vintage Eileen Fisher is basically The Row for the proletariat. So don’t sleep on finding pieces from this timeless brand on resale sites everywhere.

The belt is doing more than her fair share of the work here, not only ensuring that I don’t get swallowed whole by all of that fluid fabric, but also adding some hard angles and hardware to bring structure to the otherwise supremely relaxed look. I like that the whole thing reads elegant (or at least that’s what my colleague told me!) but then the nearly bare feet balancing out the volume and bringing me back down to Earth.

the fit:

• vintage striped cotton button down (similar vibe)

• vintage Men’s Diesel cotton trousers (here in blue)

• cotton car coat from Once Untold (similar, similar)

• same silver hoops (similar but smaller)

• thrifted chain necklace (similar)

• secondhand Furla tote (similarish)

• thrifted paisley silk scarf from Liz Claiborne (similar)

• same silver rings (similar, similar)

• thrifted slingback kitten heels (similar, similar)

By this point in the month, it was really warming up. After an afternoon loitering around meijā vintage with a few beers in the sun, I left with this vintage Italian button-down in the most deliciously crisp yet weightless cotton. Naturally, I had to wear it right away. So I finally felt motivated to steam these gray Diesel trousers, which were handed down from my husband. Y’all can have your 6’5” finance bros, I’ll take a short king I can share vintage clothes with any day.

Between the oversized shirt, relaxed trousers, and the car coat I still needed for my morning commute, the whole thing skewed quite masculine. I’m not mad at it, but I opted for these precious green kitten heels to femme it up. Clearly, I was really starting to settle into a rhythm with these easy silhouettes. A bit of skin in the right places, a touch of silver here and there, one piece that the eye gravitates towards. The success of this recipe feels like proof that I’ve leveled up in the clarity and definition of my own personal style: relaxed and unfussy with just a touch of polish. Nothing more, nothing less.

fit #1:

• secondhand COS top (similarish vibe, similar look)

• secondhand leather midi skirt (similar)

• same earrings from Arket

• same silver rings (similar, similar)

• same vintage leather bag (similar)

• same Miista sandals (similar with a block heel; obsessed with these)

Eventually, my legs were tan enough that I couldn’t not wear a skirt. And I needed to change it up, lest I get prematurely bored with my new favorite uniform. I usually reserve this one for the fall and winter months, but I’d always wondered about styling it for Summer and thought it would be a good way to protect myself from the aircon in the office. The clean lines of the skirt let the asymmetrical, slightly architectural top do all the talking. And while I decided to keep it simple with the accessories so as not to overdue it, in hindsight, I’d probably wear a long pendant like I usually do.

fit #2:

• same vintage Hugo boss shirt (similar)

• thrifted silk taffeta trousers (here on eBay)

• same silver hoops (similar but smaller)

• same thrifted chain necklace (similar)

• same vintage leather bag

• same Miista sandals

I’d been swimming in the fjord the evening before and was going back directly after work, so I decided on a dirty little slicked back bun for the day. The problem is, I never really like myself with slicked-back hair. It always feels a little too tight, too stern, too serious. It's a need, not a want. But since it was needed, I knew the outfit had to soften it. That's what brought me back to an oversized shirt and easy trousers. This time, the trousers were gorgeous silk taffeta tapered trousers I thrifted in California last year. Over the course of the month, this had became a combination I trusted to help me feel cool and sophisticated. And while I didn’t define my waist at all, I let the bun provide the structure for the entire look; with the rest of my outfit feeling loose and free, I was confident that I leaned more Copenhagen than Trunchbull.

The real star of both outfits, though, are these kitten heel thong sandals. I’ve worn them for a few summers now and they are the most comfortable version of this style of sandal that I could imagine. Because the leather top is wide and buttery soft, it hugs my foot instead of cutting into it. And that’s what us working gals really need.

fit #1:

• cotton mini t-shirt from Uniqlo

• thrifted upcycled side-tie skirt (similar, similar, maybe most similar)

• thrifted kukui nut necklace (similar)

• vintage Prada kitten heel sandals (similar vibe in white)

• same vintage leather bag (similar)

After a few weeks of happily swimming in oversized Olsen-esque proportions, I found myself craving something slimmer, which made it the perfect time to debut my upcycled skirt. Since the belted detail provides most of the visual interest, I went with a fitted tee that sits right at the waistline. To add a little warmth and texture, I grabbed my trusty kukui nut necklace — its natural finish was exactly what this otherwise pared-back outfit needed. And while I could have chosen almost any shoe to go with it, I liked the contrast between the angel baby energy of the outfit and these bitchy little metallic Prada kitten heels. Frankly, they're uncomfortable, but somehow still worth it.

fit #2:

• cotton Oxford shirtdress from JW Anderson x Uniqlo

• thrifted Chico’s travelers pants (in black this time)

• same earrings from Arket

• thrifted fringe scarf (similar in blue)

• same sandals from Vagabond (sold out in brown, here in black)

• same vintage leather bag (similar)

By the end of June, I'd grown attached to the oversized shirt and easy trouser combination that had carried me through most of the month. But I was looking for a way to wear this scarf I’d thrifted a few weeks earlier that was still sitting in my closet unworn. So rather than abandoning my new uniform altogether, I wanted to see how I could tweak it.

When an outfit is built around an accessory, a simple foundation is essential. Most importantly, I wanted my trousers to move with the scarf, so I reached for my favorite: Chico's Travelers pants. These easily thriftable classics beat Paloma Wool's cupro pieces in my book. I’m not a visible elastic waistband girly, so I wore this Oxford shirtdress from the JW Anderson x Uniqlo collection. It gave me the length of an oversized shirt without the extra bulk that would have disrupted the way the scarf draped. I love how this came together because it allowed me to maintain the comfort and ease of the formula I’d come to love while slimming down the silhouette for a welcome change. The swish of the scarf around my hips gave me a sense of summer all day as I sashayed from meeting to meeting.

A few realizations from getting dressed in June

• As I’m inching closer and closer to a consistently reliable sense of what feels good within this tricky duality of dressing for summer at the office, what I notice helps this process along is the fact that I don’t have “work clothes”, I have clothes that work for most of my lifestyle, dependent on the way I style them. This helps harmonize my work and personal identity and ensure that I feel fun and summery even when I’m actually in a Teams call.

• Both the black leather sandals and silk taffeta trousers are my reminder to you that finding a way to participate in a trend while remaining honest to your lifestyle is the most sustainable way to feel current without dressing exactly like everyone else. Do I wish these sandals were like the sleek little thongs we’re seeing everywhere right now? Sometimes! But I already had these, and they’re actually comfortable. Would I ever really wear pink drawstring silk pants? Absolutely not. But I find that not buying The Thing but rather, An Approximation of The Thing, is entirely more satisfying anyway. And it stays in my closet a hell of a lot longer.

• After noting how good this month of getting dressed felt, I no longer feel pressured to wear color for the sake of it. I’m one of many who are feeling monochrome and generally neutral dressing. Not just as a trend, but as a point of view. I could say a lot about monochrome dressing, but honestly, I have a World Cup match to go watch so I’ll leave you with others who have already said it better than I could ever:

New Slang

Monochrome Is Having A Moment – Here’s Why

People often ask me how I find the topics for New Slang, and I always give the same answer: I don’t really find them. They find me. Just as monochrome has found me. It has become the essence of how I want to get dressed these days, and I started wondering why. What is the appeal of it right now? Why does a muted tonal world feel so smart, so grounding, …

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5 months ago · 33 likes · 6 comments

New Slang

How To Wear Monochrome Like The Most Interesting Person In The Room

It seems like the easiest styling formula imaginable: simply wear black-and-white or one color from head to toe and you’re done. But in reality, monochrome can easily fall flat, even look boring, when handled without intention. The absence of color means fabric, proportion, fit, texture, and silhouette matter more. A monochrome outfit can look exciting or lifeless, often with only minor differences separating the two…

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4 months ago · 41 likes · 2 comments

Scandi Delights

Black & White Scandinavian Summer

You’ve probably noticed by now that I usually choose navy over black. This may come as surprising news considering the length of the piece you’re about to read…

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5 months ago · 221 likes · 31 comments · Antonia

★ Can’t help but mourn the time wasted
★★ Just okay for me but could love it for thee
★★★ Mostly good with some undeniable flaw(s)
★★★★ Really loved this but something was missing
★★★★★ Makes me want to be a better writer but how dare I try?

And with that, here are my honest thoughts on the books I read from April - June.

Heart the Lover by Lily King ★★★★

I’m not usually one for love stories. I’ve also grown a tad skeptical of books whose covers I’ve seen littered all over my feed due to the influence an aesthetically pleasing cover can have on the general perception of what’s worth reading. Still, when my book club chose Heart the Lover for our April read, I was glad for the encouragement to grab the buzzy title I’d might not otherwise have felt compelled to pick up; but I made sure to keep my expectations in check.

Wellllllll, jokes on me because this one had me fully snot-faced on the couch after inhaling the entire thing within a 24-hour period. The story follows a narrator who we only know by the nickname “Jordan” — a name that is bestowed upon her as she begins a friendship-turned-love-triangle that would soon change everything. We go on to meet Jordan at different points of her life, hopping between phases of heartbreak and uncertainty in her twenties, and her present-day life as a 40-something writer, wife and mother of two. We watch her grow into an incredible woman, self-affirmed and dreams achieved, and it makes the painful moments of her youth hurt all the more. But when her unsettled past clashes with her current life in an aching crescendo, she’s forced to face the secrets and misunderstandings that led her away from the path she never took.

Yes, the storyline and character development are compelling. Yes, the writing is stylistically sharp. But what really hooked me in was the way King gracefully explores the two beautiful and incomparable types of love that are often felt by those of us lucky enough to experience it twice: the fast, hot engulfing fire of first love and the steady, safe, grounding love that is enshrined in good marriages. Much to my surprise, Heart the Lover isn’t just a “love story”. It’s a story about Love. Young love, lasting love, and the ways we love ourselves as our best and worst experiences fill us out and show us who we are. But I think that even more importantly than all of that, it’s about the choices we make when we’re too young to know better, and how they end up shaping the rest of our lives.

I’m a Fan by Sheena Patel ★★

The coolest girl I know recommended this book to me years ago and when I finally stumbled upon it in the wild, I snatched it up immediately. Fittingly, I read it on the way to London and finished it not far from the neighborhoods it describes. Which, in it’s own stalkerish way, felt appropriate.

I’m a Fan is an obsessive mess of class, race, power, and desire told from the perspective of an unnamed narrator who we only know to be a young, maybe lower-middle class South Asian woman living in London. She is working at the bottom rungs of the art world, and although she is both barely and tragically involved with a married, somewhat famous artist she calls “The Man I Want to Be With”, our delusional narrator centers her entire life around him and his other part-time lover, an effortlessly beautiful nepo baby influencer we know as “The Woman I’m Obsessed With”. Throughout the story, the narrator’s desperate fixation drives her to a deep and creepy state of social media surveillance, ruins her self-worth and ultimately upends her world.

At it’s core, I’m A Fan is an intense exploration of how intimacy is intertwined with structures of power. We watch the narrator come undone amidst her obsession over wealthy, white people who oscillate between using and ignoring her. The writing is raw and fragmented, abrupt in a way that gives her questionable sanity a realistic depth. Some pages felt like righteously rageful poems, and I liked those bits best. Knowing my friend, both Asian and an artist herself, I can see why she liked it so much, but I finished it feeling uncertain what I’d just experienced. This book was uncomfortable. And frustrating. Not necessarily in a bad way, but in a way I rarely subject myself to. In a way that made me feel that, although I didn’t necessarily enjoy it, I did learn from it. But ultimately, it was a bit too painful to not only witness but feel stuck in the self-harm cycle of a young woman of color submitting to the hierarchies that oppress her without any salvation in sight.

Slags by Emma Jane Unsworth ★

While we were in London, my friend and I took our afternoon buzz into a local bookshop and I came out with Slags because I had a vague memory that it was meant to be funny. Which I found to be wildly untrue. Look, humor is subjective, and maybe a slightly older audience would have appreciated it more than I did. Because it’s been a while since I found a book so difficult to get into. Or through. And I recall smiling to myself exactly twice.

Slags is another story split between two points of time in the same protagonist’s life. In the present day, Sarah is a 40-something putting the “fun” in functioning alcoholic. Having thrown herself into her career and away from her family or any potential romantic partner, she is now embarking on a roadtrip to reconnect with the only person who could possibly understand why she turned out the way she did — her seemingly antithetical younger sister, Juliette. In every other chapter, we get a peek into the diary of Sarah’s 15-year-old self as she details her life as a delusional and dangerously autonomous student at an all-girls school in the suburbs of Manchester. In those entries, we’re transported back to a time when the sisters had an inimitable bond and eventually witness the events that changed the course of her life and her ability to love freely.

I’m not sure how else to put this: the present-day storyline was terribly boring. It could have been a deep dive into sisterhood or surviving sexual assault or addiction or so many other things that Sarah struggled with, but Unsworth lazily scratched the surface of each topic, and chose to describe the Scottish countryside instead. Towards the end, I found myself skimming pages until I reached younger Sarah again. Adult Sarah was just annoying, and I wasn’t convinced of her motivation to do most of the dumb shit that she did. The writing certainly had funny moments, but overall I thought it’s humor was oversold. I guess the lesson here is don’t buy books buzzed.

Termush by Sven Holm ★★★

My work bestie (remember, Gary?) shared this with me because he thought this was just the type of weird shit I would like. And he was right! As soon as I started reading it, I realized he thought of me because I gushed to him about I Who Have Never Known Men. Because if you were to imagine a writing class that received an assignment to write about a post-apocalyptic society crawling out of a bunker and into a mysterious and possibly dangerous environment only to find more questions than answers, the quietly cool artsy girl in the corner would have written IWHNKM while her rebellious softboy crush wrote Termush. Does that paint the picture?

Termush takes place after a nuclear disaster of some kind. In an unidentified coastal area, a luxury hotel has provided shelter for a select group of wealthy survivors who paid big bucks to secure a certain standard of care during and after the fall of civilization. Readers witness the hotel guests melting down, clashing with management amidst a confusing new power structure, and ultimately forming a new type of social order. Meanwhile, there are burned, bleeding, and starving survivors in the villages surrounding the hotel. And they’re getting closer and closer every day. What unfolds is a type of timeless social commentary that sadly feels more relevant than ever in our capitalist, xenophobic hellscape.

In Holm’s dystopia, we’re forced to watch an all too relatable shift, a slow erosion of the narrator’s values as the harsh reality of survival sets in. How thin can resources be spread? How often can empathy be extended? As Termush’s guests begin to realize that their privilege can only protect them so much, our own global mess is mirrored back to us, forcing us to face unsettling truths and important moral questions.

The Trees by Percival Everett ★★★★★

I first heard high praise for The Trees on one of my absolute favorite podcasts:

The Culture Study Podcast

Dozens of New-To-You Books for Your TBR Pile

Over on the newsletter, our book concierge threads — when people ask for specific book recommendations, and readers then offer their suggestions — regularly top 1500 comments. We wanted to bring the same energy to the podcast, and Maris Kreizman, author of…

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a year ago · 50 likes · 48 comments · Anne Helen Petersen and Maris Kreizman

And I’m at a loss to describe how entranced I was by this story. I thoroughly enjoyed every page, but it also horrified me, it made me angry, and still, it made me laugh. Percival Everett provided me a space to experience an inclusive range of human emotion and did so with writing so precisely, skilfully and artfully crafted, I’m pissed that I haven’t heard about him before this. This man should be a household name.

But perhaps, this ghoulish mystery about racism in America and modern-day retribution for the shameful lynchings of our past is an indicator of why he’s not. I’m wary of giving away too much because it’s a story that simply must be read, but The Trees takes us to small Southern town for a series of gruesome killings that are historically motivated but also pretty funny? As the murders continue, we get to know the mostly racist local community through the families of the “victims” and their police force who can barely hide their pointy white hoods, even in the presence of the three Black Special Investigators who come from state and federal forces to solve the case. But these murders are not typical murders — there’s something spooky going on. Disappearing bodies, mobs of ghostly Black men, and an archive of every lynching in the last 100 years of American history are all clues to the mystery of what the hell is going on in Money, Mississippi.

Straight up, this book made me smarter. Because it takes an immense intelligence to be able to tell such a fascinating, genre-bending story that feels both timely and historically vital. To do so in a darkly, absurdly comical way that has you laughing through the pain is an entirely different level. And by reading it, I feel like I soaked in one tiny drop of Everett’s genius. The Trees is about racial injustice and the historical reckoning that is surely coming our way, yes. But it’s also a story of the power of collective memory and the importance of individualizing the masses who have suffered under the oppression of personal and systemic white supremacy. And a reminder that ultimately, racism is self-defeating and ugly. I want this book to be required reading. I will it to be considered an American Classic.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin ★★★★★

Back-to-back 5-star books?! Be still, my heart! Obviously, I’m a bit late to the hype here but after seeing this book everywhere for the last few years, I was thrilled when my book club chose it for this month’s read. Even moreso when someone at my local book swap wanted to trade it for Bunny (yes, please). I didn’t know anything about it, only that it was meant to be brilliant. And I couldn’t agree more.

Spanning the late 1980s to late 2010s, Zevin tells the story of two friends brought together by their love of gaming and intermittently torn apart by life’s tragedies. Sam and Sadie first meet as kids in a hospital; after a childish betrayal, they lose touch, only to run into one another in a subway station years later.. When Sadie and Sam realize that they’re both still as enamored with games as they were as kids, they quickly get to work making them. What follows is a story about creative partnership and how success changes us for better and worse. But it’s also about chronic pain and miscommunication and grief and so many other vital threads of the human experience, woven together over three decades. Games are made, love blooms, death scars, and relationships are tested; and for readers, the passion and tension and frustration and joy is palpable through it all.

Like many others who loved this book, I couldn’t believe I was so swiftly and thoroughly absorbed by a book about gaming. Like, it’s nearly 500 pages and I ripped through it in a few days. That’s how magnetic this story is. That’s how lovable and complicated and real these characters felt to me. Throughout the book, Zevin often highlighted the importance of play in our emotional landscape. Play as hope, play as connection, play as transformation. Within the worlds of the games they made, political injustice was corrected, deep healing happened, and physical pain ceased to exist. But still, gaming mostly seemed like the backdrop to a gorgeously nuanced commentary on platonic soulmates and creativity and what we must do for friendship to survive in this often brutal real world.

Strange Pictures by Uketsu ★

The pendulum always swings, I guess. Mystery is not really my genre of choice, but given that I am a True Crime Girly and tend to be intrigued by most things paranormal, I thought I’d give it a shot. I’d seen it on all of the Best Seller tables at my local book shops, so when I found it at a flea market, it felt kismet. HA! This was a hard DNF1 for me, which never happens. But after the first story (of three), I thought better of wasting any more of my wild and precious life on this elementary attempt at mystery. Honestly, if I would have even done so much as flip through the book, I would have known. Uketsu, a Youtuber turned author, fumbles through supposedly creepy stories using bits and pieces of badly drawn images and poorly written text. I couldn’t believe this was so well received, but I guess it just hit different in Japan. Good for them. As for me, I’m not even including it in the cover image of this post. And I refuse to make it a cute little collage. Next!

On the Calculation of Volume (Book 3) by Solvej Balle ★★★★

This series just keeps getting better and better. After I finished Book 1, I was intruiged but tentatively so; while the concept grabbed me right away, I felt the pace was a touch too slow to enjoy. But I’m so glad that I’ve kept with it because Book 3 took a turn I truly enjoyed.

This 7 part series is about a woman named Tara Selter who is, unfortunately, stuck in a time-loop. Infinitely repeating November 18th, she navigates her perplexing world the best she can while trying to understand how she may be able to scape it. While Book 1 and Book 2 explore the inherent isolation of a situation like Tara’s, Book 3 is imbued with hope, possibility, and even a bit of agency. I don’t want to say too much for fear of spoiling the fantastic and surprising plot developments, but as Tara is finally encouraged to question why she ended up in her predicament, she finds her own ways to live beyond aimless wandering and finding meaning in her repeating day.

Throughout this series, I’ve come to find the slower pace quite meditative and calming. While so many other aspects of life strive to rile me up in order to keep my attention, these books are a balm. They quietly invite readers to interrogate what we know of time within this physical realm as we peek into the cyclical days of Tara Selter. Days when she’s adventurous. Days when she’s sullen and lost. Days where not much often happens. Until something big does.

The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi ★★★★★

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it many more times, I’m sure, but Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is hands down my favorite author. A LIVING LEGEND. This was one of the two books of hers that I had yet to read, so imagine my utter glee at finding it in a Little Free Library! All hail the Little Free Library! It’s a no-skip collection of juicy short stories; it’s Adichie distilled to her essence. She seems to have always stayed true to the themes she likes to work within, and I’m endlessly impressed by how many widely varied stories and perspectives she finds within them. This is a writer who deeply believes that every individual person, imagined or otherwise, has a unique and compelling story to share, and she weaves beauty and clear-eyed cultural critique into every last detail of the ones she conjures up for us.

For those unfamiliar, Adichie’s sweet spot is a Venn diagram of Nigerian culture, migration, transnational identity, racism, academia and gender politics. Did I miss anything? Probably, the woman contains goddamn multitudes. And these stories move gracefully through them all. From marriages spread thin by the complications of immigration, to enduring racism from smiling faces who think they mean well, The Thing Around Your Neck explores interracial relationships and interfaith friendships, grief and ghosts, isolation and corruption, and just about everything else in some way or another. These characters, written with such empathy and realism, all live in the same unfair but hopeful universe. And it’s clearly ours, too.

Reading Adichie’s work always makes me like people more. She sees them so wholly, with enduring patience for the ones who try and bold condemnation for the ones who deserve it. And it forces me to admit that there are far more of the former than the latter at a time when the rest of the world seems to be trying to convince me otherwise. Her characters, like all of us reading and all of us living, are complex and imperfect and striving towards some semblance of peace. And any writer who can remind me of how absolutely non-negotiable it is to care about humanity, not just as an abstract concept but as real individuals who share streets and cafes and offices with me, is one that is worth returning to, every time.

Looking for more recommendations?

So this summer, I’m finally doing it. I’ve scoured the internet for beginner friendly patterns that I actually want to wear. Things that remind me of Brooke Callahan or Deiji Studios or any of the other elevated basics I’ve been living in or coveting. And I’ve found a treasure trove of patterns that will surely keep me busy throughout this next year of being a novice.

In fact, I found so many that when I tried to organize the best ones, I realized that there were too many hot women making cute, contemporary patterns to fit into one post. Therefore, I’m only going to include tops here today and will follow up with other garments in the future. In full transparency, I have only made one of these tops, but every pattern included here is rated highly with positive feedback from reviews or sewing content creators I trust. So let’s try them out together, shall we?

Upcycled baby tee

This pattern started it all for me. I had a growing pile of graphic tshirts that weren’t oversized but weren’t fitted but weren’t cropped and weren’t being worn. So when I came across this video, I decided to give it a go and breathe new life into two beloved tshirts. This isn’t what I typically wear anymore, so the stakes were low and I knew I’d just be using them to lounge or work out. And now I feel much cuter while doing both. It was incredibly easy to make, and you can more or less figure out the steps from watching one of her many tutorials on Instagram.

The Pleat top

This top is next on my personal to-do list. The pattern has been assembled, the fabric is in the wash. For me, this is the ideal elevated basic — something with an interesting detail that otherwise maintains simplicity. Not only does this pattern from Àlamain Studio remind me so much of this Róhe top I’ve been drooling over, but they recommend using lightweight woven fabrics with little to no stretch, which is the easiest fabric to start with. There are no buttons or zipper, so this should be straightforward while still offering a chance to practice simple pleating. I promise to share my results!

Philo top

This pattern caught my eye a long time ago and now that I’m feeling up to the challenge, I can’t wait to get started. It feels very Monikh to me. But Jules, the designer and model shown here, is an adorable Aussie who basically lives in her own breezy linen creations, like this top (and two others I’ve got my eye on). With it’s straight lines and simple construction, this is an ideal beginner project. Plus, it’s something that you can throw on any day — work or play — which really helps with motivation to finish! I also imagine that it would be easy enough to make a few small tweaks and go full Brooke Callahan with it.

Chloe top (and dress)

This pattern is a bit more expensive than most, but considering how many views you’re getting (views are types of modifications — sleeves or no sleeves, buttons or drawstring, mini or maxi, etc), I think it’s fair. You can do so much with it, but I’ll likely start with a tank top like the one shown on the left before trying my hand at a shift dress that reminds me of this one from Deiji Studios. Above all, I want to perfect that drawstring neckline because then, my options are limitless.

Drop top

Looking at their designs, it’s no surprise that Puff and Pencil are a very cool pair of Copenhagen-based sewists. I want to make every pattern they produce, but this is one of the more beginner friendly pieces, so I’ll start here. In one way or another, this asymmetrical, rouched top has been everywhere for the last few years, which means that there are also quite a few patterns out there for similar styles. But I’m going to sew this one because out of every single one of them that I looked at, it seems like the most thoughtfully made. And I think it will guide me/you/us to sew a very high quality top that I/you/we will wear for a long time to come.

Asymetrical one shoulder top with a twist

Take one look at the reviews of this twisted one-shoulder tank and you will be convinced that you can make this, too. There are so many happy beginner sewists looking hot in their new tops! I love that it looks casually twisted, like you’re just throwing it on after a beach day, all sexy and nonchalant. Very Grecian. This designer, a German gal named Marie, has a handful of other interesting twisty tanks and tops like this; I had a difficult time choosing which to include, so definitely check her out.

The Scarf top

I actually had this design saved long before Paloma Wool came out with this season’s Ali top. Which just goes to show you that new ideas are rare. Basics feel good because they’re simple, but that also means they can be easily replicated. So whenever possible, I’d rather support someone like Ann-Sophie, this lovely sewist and designer. In addition to the thorough instructions in the pattern, you can sew along with her during this 30-minute tutorial. I adore this top, and I think I will make my scarf even longer than pictured for an extra bit of drama. Maybe even add a bit of fringe?

Sommar camisole

Why spend hours and hundreds of dollars looking for the perfect white tank when you can make one custom fit? Even though this is designed for jersey knits (scary!), it is truly made for beginners. In the pattern and on Instagram, Sanna of Paradise Patterns gives clear instructions and helpful advice for working with stretchy material for the first time. Just be sure to look into everything you need to approach knit jersey successfully (needle size, tension, all of the details), and give yourself some scrap pieces of your fabric choice to practice on, and you’ll be golden. Extra points for being able to wear the top with either neckline at the front!

Apron top

I love an upcycle pattern because this is where I’m at in my *~sewing journey~*. I just stumbled upon Tem Patterns, a newly launch circular fashion project based somewhere in Sweden and I’m loving their whole vibe. This top is exactly what I’m thinking of when I look at a gorgeous, airy cotton top with gathered or drawstring details and feel inspired rather than spendy. So while I strive to be comfortable self-drafting some day, I’m so glad to have found this in the meantime. There are certainly a few button downs in our household that have a new life ahead of them, so

Edie Camisole

Last but definitely not least is this modern take on an Edwardian corset cover. From the reviews and comments on Instagram, I’d suggest that it’s suited for a confident or advanced beginner because of the panel of buttons down the front. So maybe try a few others on this list before you attempt it. But I am of the belief that beginners can make anything if we’re just willing to slow down and take the time to follow directions and focus. And if you’re going to get into sewing, you need to learn how to do buttons eventually. So why not start now?

Looking for more sewing inspiration and expert tips? Here’s who I follow on Substack:

The Weekend Project

The ultimate free sewing pattern guide

Sewing can be an expensive hobby! But one small way to make it cheaper is to use the many free resources that fellow sewists have kindly shared online…

Read more

a year ago · 3901 likes · 32 comments · Sarah Gulley

Craft Club

Bode on a Budget Part 2: Button Jacket

As a crafter, I know how to appreciate craftsmanship, dedication to materiality and the endless hours of skill and handiwork that go into creating a garment…

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5 months ago · 58 likes · 15 comments · Sarah Isenberg

But as far as I can tell, the gals are crafting much more on other platforms. There are so many deeply inspiring people sewing and making and doing and sharing it all online, but the few that pop into my mind first are:

Sydney Graham — She’s on a few platforms but I mostly watch her on YouTube and she’s just the sweetest thing. Our styles are quite different but I love her approach to sewing and her general way of sharing. She makes sewing feel approachable, like I can actually make the items I want to make. Isn’t that what influencers should be doing?

with__lana — I don’t say this lightly, but what a bad bitch. She’s a multifaceted crafter after my own heart, thrifting and sewing and beading and DIYing her way into having an incredible style with a unique but current look that I totally drool over.

voilafiona — Fiona is making a ton of garments like the ones on this list, both self-drafting and sharing free patterns all the time. I love that she is still relatively new to sewing, but she started sharing while learning and has just given it everything. So even though she’s quite advanced now, it makes progress feel possible for me too!

jessilous_closet — I find a ton of resources and information through Jess, from patterns and techniques to other sewists she loves. She also talks about feelings, ie: the relationship she has to making, fashion, creativity, etc. and I’m here for it all.

Okay, that’s it from me. I’m off to work on my current project: what I hope turns out to be my perfect pair of drawstring trousers. I’ve done a lot of digging around Etsy and Instagram in search of a pattern I really loved, so if this goes well, I’ll follow up with a list of pants next. Now get offline and go make something!

A few years back, I tried my hand at TikTok, editing snappy videos of sartorially stimulating people all over Oslo. As a whole, the city is not fashion forward, so it was my way of showing appreciation for those who wrestled themselves free from Janteloven long enough to dress in an interesting way. It went well immediately; the account grew and grew until it reached all the wrong people. While many of the comments were the Oohs and Ahhs I was hoping for, TikTok is a cursed place and some of the comments were so cruel, I stopped posting. Not for my own sake, but for the gals and guys I surreptitiously snapped. Can you imagine finding a video of yourself1 and reading a hateful comment about your body or personal style? I couldn’t do that to them, I admired them too much.

But thanks to our gal Frosso and the supportive space that is the Substack fashion world, I’ve been inspired to give it another try. Starting with a few days ago, when I made my way to Piknik i Parken (meaning “Picnic in the Park”, go figure), one of the handful of music festivals that transform Oslo parks throughout the summer. My friend couldn’t make it until later in the evening, so I spent a few hours on my own, determined to document the well-dressed women I saw in the crowd. In part because it was something to do during my solo mission, but also because there’s no better place to see the outfits that Norwegian women are capable of putting together, even if they usually stick to the Scandi uniform. Music festivals give us permission to step outside of the style norms defined by ourselves and our societies; they’re fantastical, playful spaces where we’re invited — begged, really — to suspend our judgements and be free in our bodies. So when we dress with this freedom in mind, I think our truest selves show up. And Lord knows, Norway needs a bit of that.

First, let’s get a look at yours truly, reporting from the scene:

What does one wear as a 35-year-old trying to be hot at a music festival these days? What fit does one throw when embarking on a sneaky mission to view other folk’s fits? I wanted to take advantage of the good weather and looser inhibitions but also wanted be stealth. So I put on the season’s first sexy summer top and a dark, tonal look that felt just right for a nice day outside in a city that could turn cold at any minute. Oslo is typically quite a modest place, and the nipple is not necessarily free here. But if I can’t show titty at a music festival, what hope do we have as a society?

• Paloma Wool Dominica top, no longer sold (very similar from St. Agni)

• vintage orange tab Levi’s 505 (similar)

• thrifted GAP longsleeve (new here)

• Vagabond Izzy sandals (here in black)

• vintage suede jacket (similar)

• vintage agnès b crossbody (similar)
  

I loved it, will be repeating it (most likely with a bandeau), 10/10. Now, on to my findings; I’ll highlight my #1 favorite outfit at the end.

Skirts, skirts and more skirts

Tis the season, girls! I saw so many great skirts yesterday because what’s more freeing than swaying and swishing and giving those legs some space to breathe?!

Top left: loved how she layered this skirt and lace apron, so romantic! And toning it down with a vintage graphic tee balanced it out nicely. I hope she was comfy in those shoes, because they grounded the whole modern folksy look perfectly.

Top right: when I got closer, her skirt seemed handmade (complimentary). From the v-neck tank to the suede slides, she looked easy breezy beautiful and I love that for her.

Bottom left: I was thrilled to see another gorgeous gal going for a sheer moment! You can’t really tell, but her skirt was a light knit with a bit of sparkle to it, so pairing it with a gray jersey tshirt and sneakers made it really wearable. Her styling sparked some ideas for my own sheer skirt that I’ve had trouble reaching for since living here.

Bottom right: just adorable, from a sexy shoulder moment to the lace socks with her slingbacks! Also, this photo doesn’t do her purse any justice, but it was like a large, soft diamond shape in worn-in leather and I’ve never seen anything like it.

More skirts, but over pants this time

Norwegian girlies have been loving the skirts-over-pants thing for years now and they’re not showing any signs of straying now. My theory? Norwegian weather forces us to spend so much of the year in pants that throwing a skirt over not only shakes the silhouette up a bit, but it allows for much more use of each skirt throughout the course of the year. Why save your favorite mini for the rare warm day when it can also add dimension to your daily denim?

Left: top tier hot girl shit. Netted ballet flats, lace skirt overlay — she had a lot going on here, but keeping it all black simplified, unified and harmonized everything, allowing each piece to function as a shape or texture instead.

Center: this is the type of outfit I would wear. And often do. The colors in her windbreaker are mirrored in the skirt and denim combo without matching too obviously. Throw on some interesting sneakers I couldn’t quite place and she looks ready for wherever the day may take her.

Right: there are few things I love seeing in the world more than two stunning besties looking great together. Even their hair colors complement eachother’s look! Friend on the left is technically wearing a dress, but the tall suede boots still give that delicious contrast between the softness of a skirt and rigidity of pants.

Scandinavians in great outerwear? Shocking.

As I’m sure is a surprise to absolutely no one, their jacket game in summer is as strong as their coat game has to be in winter. We don’t get many days in each year that allow for a completely jacket-free existence. Therefore, we tend to have a lot to choose from. There is a jacket for every occasion — especially an 18C (64F) degree day-to-night festival where we can let a bit of personality shine through.

Top left: excuse me? A weirdly distressed pinky-orange cotton trench with a blonde bob? Don’t mind if you do, you little sunset! Also good to note that I saw these Adidas taekwondo mai ballet flats everywhere! As a lover of weird shoes myself, I’ve been tempted by them for a while and I might have been pushed over the edge now.

Top right: this lady was a total zaddy. Polished and fun at the same time; I love the single button on the collarless blazer. Together with the rolled-up sleeves and purely decorative bolo tie, she looks like she just got home from work and was ready to unwind. But like, in a hot way.

Bottom left: obviously the embroidered quilted jacket is the star of this show. But I do love the woven hat that offers a different texture without competing at al. Her leather backpack was giving high quality Italian leather, too.

Bottom right: admittedly, I can’t remember if this was a jacket or a shirt but whatever it was, it was raw silk with beaded stripes and it was delicious. The cowhide tote really made it young and fresh when it could have skewed older à la Chico’s

Light layers

As is typical in Scandinavia, I saw tons of hot, comfortable ladies in light, flowy layers. Cottons and linens, opened button downs and drawstring pants. You know the vibe.

Left: ugh, this color alone stopped me in my tracks. Her oversized two piece linen set was wrinkled and effortless and juxtaposed against the structure and hardware of her bag and strappy Tevas in a look that gives off major confidence and ease. Plus, her braids were piled on top of her head in just the right, messy way. I want to know her!!!

Center: I had to include the classic Scandi uniform and they made it look so easy. Babe in the red had a great oversized button down over flowy black trousers that you can’t really see. I also love the soft but not too slouchy bag. One with a tight bun, one with a prestinely coiffed claw clip; one with the shirt open, one with a single button and nothing underneath — all coordinated perfectly without matching and that’s called being smokin hot besties.

Right: okay this shirt/jacket situation was very cute and the entire outfit felt light and crisp and airy. Right down to the clear jellies! She also had insane chain/beaded drop earrings that fit so well; all very cohesive. I really admire Nordic blondes for their ability to wear these types of pastels, my skin tone could never.

Black and white forever and ever, amen

It’s common knowledge at this point that Scandinavians love a good monochrome moment. Whether it’s all black in the winter, all white in the summer, or an everyday mix of both, they’ve stuck to this pillar of styling religiously and yet, it rarely feels stale.

Left: I gravitated towards the friend on the left, I loved the simplicity of her dress over a white tee. And of course that evening’s jacket was tied at the waist in a genuinely functional way but of course it also adds a nice shape into the mix. But as I got closer, I realized her friend had similarly layered a strapless, slightly more formal dress over a white tee with very cute results!

Right: I cannot say for certain but based on what we can see from her top, I believe I found another nipple enthusiast and I love her approach. I assume this is a vintage crochet cardigan worn backwards?! Amazing. And toughening up the angelic white with a simple black belt and black sneakers was a fantastic idea. I wish I knew them so I could share this photo, because this is happiness in a single frame.

My #1 favorite gal of the day:

I saw her throughout the day and finally ended up telling her how great she looked in the line to wash our hands. Classic drunk girl behavior. But that is not a very Norwegian thing to do, so she beamed back at me with a huge, surprised smile that reminded me how much I love being a woman among women. But come on — look at her! The texture and sea foamy color of her jacket paired with the slightly sheer polkadot balloon pants?! They clash in just the right way, but their similar softness makes perfect sense together. Meanwhile, the Adidas mary janes provide the sporty contrast while her bag adds just a bit of structure in a deliciously complementary merlot color. She hit that sweet spot between ease and polish and funk that I strive to live in. Kudos to you, girl! And to your friend on the left for providing an impeccable foil to your dreamy, playful fit that brought me joy all throughout the day.

See? Those were lovely! Who ever said Norwegians don’t dress well?

Oops! Well, maybe they’re proving me wrong. I’d be fine with that. Or maybe especially for reserved and somewhat modest Norweigns, music festivals are truly the most generous environments to power clash and put on our flirtiest skirts or our most colorful coats or whatever else makes us feel comfortable and free to simply dance.

Looking for more street style reporting? No one’s doing it better than Frosso, reporting living from Paris with her newsletter Stylé. In the unlikely event that she hasn’t already come across your desk, check her out:

Stylé - The Paris Edit

15 Parisian things that inspired me this week #9

Bonjour everyone! Parisian weather has been especially capricious these past two weeks, with chilly winds, rain, and temperatures barely exceeding 20°C (68°F), making trench coats and closed-toe shoes almost obligatoire. The city is certainly très romantique…

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5 months ago · 9 likes · 1 comment · Frosso

Stylé - The Paris Edit

Paris Street Report 10: The sandals Parisians are wearing this summer

Booonjour everyone! On your plat du jour today is something that has been occupying an unreasonable amount of my brain space ever since I realized that my Jacquemus Moon Shoes, the most lightweight pair of sneakers I currently own, are too much for my non-ballerina feet on a hot summer day walking around Paris. As it turns out, they're incredibly stubbo…

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5 months ago · 201 likes · 46 comments · Frosso

things I’ve done

• Biggest news first: we bought an apartment! As a millennial growing up in California, I genuinely wasn’t sure I would ever be able to say that. But as it turns out, my American dream is coming true in Norway. It’s a tad bittersweet as our current apartment has served as a soft and spacious landing pad for my first few years in Oslo, and our neighborhood is simply stunning. But our new place is a different kind of gorgeous and not far from here. Plus, it’s ours. So, we’re thrilled! I will, of course, share all about moving in and making the place feel like home.

• In other news: this past weekend was Oslo Art Weekend, one of many events on the arts & culture calendar this time of year but by far Norway’s largest contemporary arts festival. The program consists of a huge variety of speakers, tours, opening parties, and all types of activities for kids and families. We saw:

  • Shifting Coordinates at Kunstnerforbundet, an artist-run gallery founded in 1910. Curated by Peer Review, an African and diasporic collective in Oslo, the exhibition explored ritual, resistance and imagination in Black storytelling across the Nordics. We went for the opening party, which was a very buzzy vibe — especially since this group show is the culmination of two years of Peer Review activity. Some of my favorite pieces were Ayan Abdi’s gorgeous portraits, Young man from Rocinha (2025) and My Heroes (2025), as well as Nadra Hassan’s video installation Qabridahar (2026). My father-in-law also had a handful of pieces in the show and while I am certainly biased, his sculptures and paintings were featured in almost every room and I think they wove the show together beautifully. If you’re in Oslo, Peer Review is hosting a series of events related to the show throughout the entire month of June.

  • Cecilia Vicuña’s solo exhibition, Minga for havet (Minga for the sea), at Kunstnernes Hus, yet another historic artist run institution founded in 1930. Vicuña is an iconic Chilean poet, multimedia artist and eco-feminist and this show was a gorgeous encapsulation of her entire ethos. Connecting an indigenous women’s environmentalist group in Chile with the Sami people of Norway, two massive woolen quipus are suspended in the gallery. According to Kunstnernes Hus, “Quipu means “knot” in Quechua and is an advanced pre-Columbian communication system in which knowledge was encoded through knots along strings. […] Here, the quipu is understood as a collective, transnational medium that links together struggles across geographies in a common defense of the ocean, the origin of life”. The wave-like tapestries brought messages from Chile to Norway, imploring us to protect our oceans and fjords. I went with a friend and her daughters for a children’s tour and it was so lovely to watch kids understand and engage with this concept on their own level. We finished by writing our own letter of appreciation to the ocean. A good exercise for us all, really.

    

things I’ve made

• Lavendar syrup. I found myself craving the iced lavender matcha latte I used to treat myself to whenever I ventured into my old office in downtown Manhattan. Norwegians tend to be puritanical when it comes to coffee and tea, and this is the type of niche thing that you just cannot find here, so I thought that this itch would not be easily scratched. But, it turns out that making your own syrup is deceptively easy! I love it in matcha and other types of tea, but I also suspect it would be a lovely addition to a spritzy cocktail should the mood strike.

• Tailoring projects. Slowly but surely, I’m coming back to the sewing skills that both of my grandmothers and mother tried to impart on me. Sorry y’all, I’m simply not a patient student. So now, left to my own devices and a few good YouTube videos, I’ve finally begun working on the piles of clothes that have been growing beside my desk for years awaiting some type of alteration. Starting with these simple tailoring projects, I’m working my way up to sewing a list of Brooke Callahan / Deiji Studios inspired projects and I’m quite happy with my progress. Here’s hoping I can create my ideal pair of drawstring cotton trousers while the weather is still warm enough to wear them.

  

• Name day banner. Making things for the babies in my life is a great way to practice sewing. They lack any desire or ability to judge me! Some of our closest friends are having a name day party for their babygirl, Juno, so I made these letters to string together and hang. A stuffed toy is up next, species TBD.

  

things I’ve loved

• As our beloved Antonia has mentioned, it’s Lilac season here in Scandinavia and I am completely intoxicated. Oslo is absolutely heavenly in the spring with bursts of colors and blooming flowers gracing every single bit of the city. But the lilacs are my greatest obsession. Our street and the park we walk through every day are both lined with lilac trees — their scent fills the air of our entire neighborhood and wafts into our open windows every afternoon. Consider this my plea for you to quite literally stop and smell the flowers today. They’re almost gone!

  

  Scandi Delights

  Stockholm Notes: Late May

  Hello! Hope you are all well. Apologies for the radio silence here this past week. I’m currently in an intense work period, have been traveling and simply haven’t had much energy left for late-night Substack writing lately…

  Read more

  5 months ago · 113 likes · 24 comments · Antonia

• The series finale of Hacks made me sob. To me, this show is perfect. If you haven’t watched it, why not? I’m going to miss these funny ladies so damn much.

• On that note, if you are generally a fan of standup comedy, Josh Johnson’s latest special, Symphony, is a masterclass. Quite a departure from his typical style, but I love to witness an artist’s growth. I can’t help but think that gorgeous Josh and his cutie little braid are poised to become a household name.

• This vintage nightgown someone sold me for 100 NOK (apx 10 USD); she said it was her grandmothers?! I could never, but I’m glad she did. Now, the question is:

  

things I’ve been thinking about

• Speaking of Hacks, I implore you to cultivate intergenerational friendships! If you are worried about aging, go out and make an older friend who can show you how freeing and fun it is to keep evolving. My work bestie is a cheeky older English man named Gary and in our three years of working together, he has been immeasurably generous with everything he has taught me about life. From gardening and gourmet cooking to navigating immigrant life in Norway, he is my guardian angel. In turn, I help him add videos to his slide decks. And although our dynamic is (thankfully) not at all similar to Deborah and Ava, Hacks always makes me think of Gary. We all need a Gary.

• I miss my family all the time, but especially when my parents are visiting my brothers and cousins on their semi-annual road trip through the PNW. Living abroad is often romanticized, and while I mostly enjoy it, I will always be far away from home. I don’t get to watch my nephews or nieces grow up. I miss holidays and baseball games and new homes and bbq’s in the yard. It’s not that I’m homesick, but there’s a specific type of ache I feel when I think about how my own choice breaks my heart. Not to mention, theirs. I often wonder if I’ve made the right call, or at the very least, I find myself imagining what that other life might have felt like.

one quick thing

• If you’re like me and feel such an immense sense of overwhelm at the thought of doing admin, let this be a reminder to take some time this weekend to sit down and face your demons. Please just do your taxes or pay that bill or make that appointment or close that LLC you never used (oops). I promise you it will be worth it to just get it done and off of your mind. This message is brought to you by my expired work visa and the collapse of our summer holiday plans.

one last thing

• Or kind of 10 things, really. One of my very favorite people on Substack is the beautiful and artfully honest Julianna Salguero and her newsletter Keepsake. I look forward to her monthly meditations on living intentionally as an Emotional Girl, and I always wait to journal on the first day of the month until after I’ve read them. That’s because in addition to insights like, “June is the ‘girl who is going to be okay’ of months” (so true), she shares writing prompts that really get me thinking AND has the girlies making monthly lists of 10 things we aim to do that month. Groundbreaking? Not necessarily, but it feels diffy. As Julianna puts it:

  A 10 list leads with feeling instead of action. It should encompass things that bring a little joy to your life, and yes maybe sometimes there’s a goal attached, but that goal should be playful and malleable. […] There are enough voices in my head telling me to be more productive. I need more voices telling me to feel.

  keepsake

  you need to be making monthly 10 lists

  It is not groundbreaking to make little lists of things. People have been doing it for centuries. There are so many iconic variations on the form: pro and con lists, grocery lists, the classic ‘to do’. What makes a 10 list so special though, is that it isn’t something you…

  Read more

  7 months ago · 2778 likes · 71 comments · Julianna Salguero

Okay, that’s it. Go and make your list for June and do a craft and smell the flowers and finish one dreaded admin task and generally just cherish your life today. Love you!

Among other more obvious symptoms like sobbing because I thought my dog’s tooth was infected (it was not), I had a greedy, urgent desire to shop. And in that desperation, I rapid fire panic-purchased a dozen secondhand items that I cannot return. Against my better judgement and best shopping practices, my buzzing fingers flicked through my saved folder in a state of total scarcity. More than half of these purchases have not worked out. Obviously. Dread hit me almost immediately and I decided to read Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life’s Purpose by a Harvard-educated sociologist named Martha Beck1 who I’d recently heard interviewed on a podcast. Not only did it help to slow my own hummingbird heart, something else clicked:

You can call it “feeling shoppy”, but I think we might just be anxious. And whether it’s seasonal or perpetual, it’s time we talk honestly about the relationship between our collective and individual anxiety and how it impacts the ways we consume under the guise of loving fashion.

Anxious creatures in an anxious culture

Obviously, we’re living in an increasingly anxious collective culture. Climate change, geopolitical uncertainty, information overload — need I say more? And to make matters worse, anxiety is contagious; we pass it back and forth, amping one another up into a frenzy of dread. This phenomenon is called emotional contagion, and while it’s an important part of being an empathetic person, it also means that even those of you who are not typically anxious can catch it from the general environment of bad vibes2. Jud Brewer MD PhD, an addiction psychiatrist and neuroscientist specializing in anxiety and habit change, wrote this in the Harvard Business Review:

Thanks to social media, you don’t need to be in physical contact with people to catch an “emotional infection.” […] The more you read, the more you are likely to take on their worry and spread it. The problem is that these emotions keep us from being able to think straight, and when overdone, they no longer protect us from dangers. Rather, they become the danger.3

And if we’re not careful, this general anxiety from the outside world can upend our internal systems. While the left side of our brain is responsible for analytics, language, and control (among other critical tasks), it’s also susceptible to two neurological quirks that can send us spiraling into what Beck describes as an “anxiety-creation loop”:

• The negativity bias is our very human impulse to see danger everywhere. It’s what has kept us alive all these years by forcing us to stand guard against social, emotional, and physical risks. But it can quickly spur us into a delusional state.

• On top of that, the left brain also has a tendency towards what Beck calls the hall of mirrors. Have you ever felt trapped by anxious ideations of your own mind? Yeah, me too. Beck warns:

[…] in a state of anxiety, we actually stop noticing any information that tells us there’s no need to fear. We think our anxious worldview is complete and perfect, because the left hemisphere cannot believe that anything beyond its own perceptions is real. […] The anxiety-producing part of the brain magnifies its own distorted thinking while denying that anything else exists”.4

When we become aware of a perceived risk, we can quickly be convinced of it and trapped within our own exaggerated perception, whether or not we do it consciously. Even if we’re not in direct danger, our brain is on high alert as a means of protecting us from the threat.

If you’re anything like me, a spiral can look like a stereotypical anxiety attack or a few weeks in a visibly feral state. For others, it may just burrow itself quietly into the body, creating a constantly heightened sense of overwhelm. Just look around you at all of the people who are slightly worn down these days while constantly lamenting that “everything just feels so crazy right now” despite not really being at risk for immediate physical, social, or political violence. Exactly. We absorb it all. We are soft, malleable products of our environment. And when those environments feel as uncertain as they have lately, the ancient hardwiring in our brains screams at us to seek safety and control. One major way we do this is by acquiring resources5. I know I don’t have to remind you of The Great American Toilet Paper Crisis of 2020.

The shoppies explained

In anxiety spirals, our left brain is dominating our psyche with intense, fearful narratives which drive us to instinctually distract and comfort ourselves. And we all cope differently — some self-sooth with food, some self-medicate with actual drugs and some obsess over habits that feel harmless, like cleaning. Or shopping. I’m not trying to demonize our shared beloved past time; there are many motivations for shopping, and some of them are perfectly fine and fun and good. Or at least neutral. However! If you even slightly suspect that your shopping tendencies stem from the anxious pit in your stomach, you certainly wouldn’t be alone.

Anxiety is like rocket fuel for consumerism. Researchers agree that anxiety-based shopping falls into one of two categories: impulsive shopping or compulsive shopping. While the two terms are often used interchangeably, the distinction is important. Most of us are guilty of impulse shopping from time to time — an unexpected treat after a bad week, an unmissable sale, a vintage gem you can’t leave behind. But whether you’re cleaning out the shelves of your local supermarket, or blacking out during The Row sample sale, shopping becomes a problem when it starts to feel like an uncontrollable urge. It doesn’t matter if it’s about the perceived scarcity of supplies in a global pandemic or a FOMO frenzy of class anxiety — if it happens often enough, you could be sliding down a slippery slope towards compulsive shopping. Like other compulsive behaviors, this persistent and excessive impulse to purchase products in a moment of intense distress or uncertainty caused by intrusive thoughts is often, as many of us know too well, used as a coping mechanism to deal with other emotions that are difficult to process.

Shopping can feel like we’re securing the armor we need to survive a world full of judgement and insecurity and classism and body shaming and everything else society throws at us. It can also feel like supporting the arts. Like archiving history. Like self-care. And it very often feels like creativity. It’s the answer to so many intersecting questions and desires and interests. That’s exactly why it can seem like such an innocuous distraction from whatever is buzzing beneath our skin.

Whether your impulse to shop is seasonal or the hamster wheel of social media has spun you into a perpetual state of Shoppy, it is essential to your mental, financial and planetary health that you consider if it’s coming from a place of anxiety. Within the context of Beck's anxiety-creation loop, problematic shopping may go a little something like this:

Our brains are constantly generating interpretations and constructing narratives about what is happening and what might happen next. No matter how relaxed and smooth brained we feel in any given moment, we are never passively absorbing the world around us. We are meaning making machines and creativity is our default mode. And while we can’t stop our brains from creating, we can redirect that energy.

Curiosity is the cure

Throughout the book, Beck reminds us that “the opposite of anxiety isn’t calm — it’s curiosity”6. Anxiety is just our imagination working overtime from a place of fear, spiraling around worst-case scenarios and perceived threats. But what happens when we redirect that same energy somewhere else entirely? Catching ourselves in the spiral and pivoting from “What if everything goes wrong?” to “What else could be true?” interrupts the threat response and nudges the mind toward curiosity instead.

And then it’s game time, baby! Once we shift from fear into curiosity, the spiral starts working in our favor. Our brains are still generating and iterating and searching, but now they’re opening us up instead of closing us in. Utilizing the same mechanisms that can drag us into endless loops of anxiety, we repurpose our brain’s natural generative energy toward seeking and experimenting and making and trying — expanding our inner lives instead of languishing within them. With an intentional moment of awareness, whether that’s meditation or journaling or just staring at yourself in the mirror, that anxiety-creation loop could look something more like:

If, like me, you find yourself feeling uncomfortable with your relationship to shopping, even if momentarily, leaning into creativity might help you shift towards behavior that feels better for your mind, body, soul and bank account. Please don’t misunderstand me — this is not meant to be psychological advice. This is not a solution for people who suffer from chronic anxiety or a destructive shopping addiction. Anxiety exists on a spectrum. And like Beyond Anxiety itself, my thoughts here should be considered merely a helpful tip for those who get hit with moments or waves or seasons of anxiety and whatever frustrating but not debilitating habits stem from them. That being said, it has absolutely worked for me.

Make art, not purchases

A few years ago, my beloved former therapist suggested that I get back into making art to work through my own anxiety, which was overwhelming at the time. I was suffering from weekly work-related panic attacks and could barely force myself to do anything creative because I was crippled by maladaptive perfectionism. So much of my self-inflicted suffering was caused by an aching desire to write and an inability to switch from fear to curiosity in order to do so.

But once I got over the genuinely agonizing hurdle of starting, the effects were immediate. I made terrible art, I wrote essays I promptly deleted, I ruined dinners by trying something weird. But project by project, my fear subsided and my curiosity grew into a deeper, sustained state of creativity. And slowly, over the years, I’ve arrived at a place where I can earnestly write and create fun little graphics and share them with you all here while learning to care more about my own process than the reception.

My life has changed a lot since then, so I can’t say that it’s the only thing that helped me, but I can say that it played and still plays a significant role. Anxiety is a much smaller feeling in my life now; so small that the aforementioned impulsive secondhand haul immediately felt wrong in my body. And even though I had a lapse in judgement, being able to take notice, be aware, and connect that misaligned action to my anxiety was incredibly helpful in breaking the cycle and not spiraling further.

It’s easy to mistake shopping for a creative act — it feels like an exercise in taste and identity-building. But to truly define your taste and build your identity, you actually just have to go out and live. We are not found or made or defined while shopping. We craft our most honest, balanced, regulated selves with bits and pieces of everything we’re interested in: every song we feel moved by, every new street we walk down, everything we notice and try. Allowing these external forces to shape us is how we come to be and know ourselves. True creativity requires participation, not just selection.

The next time restlessness or insecurity leads me to an urge to shop, I plan to treat it not as a mandate to acquire but as an invitation to engage. And I encourage you to do the same. Pause for awareness, open up the closet and start asking questions: What can I pair together to achieve the look I’m craving? What can I tailor? What can I wear the wrong way? What can I sew or bead or paint or write to connect with that quivering inner voice that’s begging me to shop my anxiety away? However you do it, stay curious and spiral into creativity instead.

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I might never get used to the way the weather in Scandinavia drags us to the depths of hibernation only to bring us back to life a few months later. It’s emotional every time; poetic despite its predictability. It’s never more obvious to me that I am just an animal. An organism responding to its environment. A creature unified with all others in my habitat as we thaw out together, reawakened by the bright promise of sun.

But in Oslo, the Winter weather lingers too long. Sure, our days get longer and slightly sunnier throughout March, but the temperatures leave me antsy and beholden to my wool. By mid-April, I’m absolutely losing it beneath my midweight knits and still socked feet. But now that it’s nearly May, I can finally say, we’re dressing for Spring here in Oslo. It’s been two weeks since I first dared to leave the house without socks. And last week was our first string of gorgeous, sunny days. So with that, I think it’s time to revive the sartorial self-examination that is a fit check.

Monday

The vibe: Monday morning was the first truly warmish day of spring. After a weekend of running around for loppemarkeder and utepils (outdoor beers), I had no energy to put together something new. I was running late, needed a sure thing, and also wanted to relish my newfound ability to wear less.

The fit: Uniqlo mini tee; secondhand Issey Miyaki cardigan (here); vintage Jill Anderson skirted pants (similar); weird little secondhand Merrell Duet Note flats (here in black); thrifted cord pendant (same same but different); vintage cropped suede bomber jacket (very similar); vintage leather bag (weirdly similar)

The verdict: This is one of those outfits that makes me feel like my favorite Self. I’ve worn this exact thing a couple dozen times, usually changing out the necklace. Sometimes the flats are black, this time I went red — I’m not typically a colorful dresser, so the real bodily desire to wear color in Spring is simultaneously a bit of a struggle for me. But red feels celebratory in all seasons, like a budding rose or flush cheeks in fresh air.

Tuesday

The vibe: This blazer arrived in the mail on Monday evening and I was so excited about it, I had to wear it right away. Don’t you love that feeling? Again, I was running a bit late (nicer mornings make it so much more tempting to linger in the park with my pup) but the limitation of time worked in my favor because I didn’t overthink this, I just went with my first instinct and ran out the door to a day full of meetings in which I wanted to look sharp but needed to feel comfortable sitting all day.

The fit: thrifted striped button down (similar); secondhand collarless blazer (similar); secondhand straight leg Levi’s (similar); thrifted court shoes (similar; similar with buckle); Studio Nicholson Holin coat; secondhand Furla tote (similiarish); vintage silk scarf (similar)

The verdict: After watching collarless outerwear pop up in lookbooks and newsletters over the last few years, I decided I’d wanted one for long enough and started relentlessly looking for a secondhand version. I’d also been looking for more light colored jackets to round out my options for this time of year. So when I found this linen/silk blend for $50, I jumped on it. It is much more yellow than in the photos, but thankfully it’s a shade that actually works with my skintone. Rare! So I welcomed the surprise addition of a soft bit of color, and I know this will be a useful addition.

Wednesday

The vibe: Another sunny Spring day, but goodbye drinks for a colleague after work called for something a bit more special than the average Wednesday. Also, at this point in the week, my hair is just past it’s prime but I hate wearing it up, so whatever style I end up with usually dictates the outfit.

The fit: vintage silk top with frog closures (kind of similar); old Everlane cotton wide leg trousers (similar); thrifted leopard print kitten heel sandals (a bit similar, not that similar but cuter tbh); sold out Once Untold car coat (here secondhand or this one is similar); secondhand Furla tote; thrifted necklace (similar)

The verdict: I’m obsessed with these shoes. I knew I struck gold when I thrifted them for $12 on my Christmas trip to California but I had no idea how comfortable they’d be right off the bat. The top is made of elastic straps that wrap the entire foot so I felt secure enough to actually walk on cobblestone streets in kitten heels. The elegance and slight structure of the top was nicely balanced with the loose, flowy nature of the trousers and I felt cute from the office to drinks which is really all I can ask for.

Thursday

The vibe: I’m doing my best to get well and fully dressed when I work from home. I’m not always successful but we all know what it does for ye ole mental health. It also helps me feel more motivated to pop out to the store or a long dog walk with a coffee from my favorite local spot which is patroned by very stylish people and admittedly avoided when I walk the dog in sweats. But a day like this? A sky like that? I couldn’t help but treat myself and Buster to a luxurious afternoon stroll.

The fit: Uniqlo mini tee; secondhand v-neck navy wool sweater (similar); COS straight leg jeans; thrifted rugby shirt (same one here); vintage Nike Rift 2 (here); Studio Nicholson Holin coat; infamous TJ’s tote

The verdict: I, too, have caught the navy blue bug. It used to remind me too much of my elementary school uniform, but the more neutral my wardrobe becomes, the more I lean into it for a necessary touch of variation. And this rugby shirt, which is tied around my waist far more often than actually worn as a shirt, has a large navy strip as well, which brings this all together perfectly in my opinion.

Friday

The vibe: Another day of home office, another day of running around for errands in between calls. Another day of post-work drinks in the sun with friends. I was far happier than I look in the photos above; I’m still figuring out what to do with my face. This was the first day that it was warm enough for flip flops and all white to feel appropriate, so I jumped at the chance to feel fully Californian again. But with the sun setting around 9pm these days, I brought this light coat along knowing we’d likely be tricked into staying out past our bedtime. Which we did. But walking home late with warm air and a still dusky sky felt absolutely incredible. Summer is so close!

The fit: COS raglan tshirt; Levi’s 501 90’s Ankle Jeans; Sleepers transparent flip flops; Once Untold car coat; vintage Tombodama bead on a leather cord (similarish); thrifted mesh and PVC tote bag from United Colors of Bennetton (like if this bag and this bag had a baby); vintage bandana (similar)

The verdict: At first thought, I wanted to add something else to this look, it felt somehow too easy. But luckily, I stopped myself from overthinking it, because with jeans that fit just right and a few other pieces I was excited to wear out for the first time, what more could I possibly need? Once I was out in the sun with a beer and friends, it felt good to be so easy.

Balance, Simplicity and The Self

The through line I see connecting the best outfits I’ve worn lately is balance. They include colors without feeling “colorful”. They are layered intentionally to account for changing weather. They are comfortable but professional. And they leave me feeling polished enough to walk confidently around my fashion-forward neighborhood while not feeling overdressed for the mundane tasks at hand.

And the more confident I feel in myself — not just with the way I look or dress, but my whole Self — the simpler my style becomes. While it seems quite revelatory when it hit me, it’s also very obvious. I have little to prove to anyone these days. I’m content, I’m self-contained. And whether you dress minimally by nature or you find yourself constantly trying and tweaking towards it, I’d argue that we’re naturally drawn to the simplicity of minimalism because the energy it gives off is one of pure, unadulterated confidence. Of someone who doesn’t require any fuss. Someone who isn’t hiding behind anything. Not everyone expresses their authenticity by dressing this way, but I think I do. At least it feels that way, which is what matters in the end. It gives a clean shape and visual embodiment to a Self I can strive towards.

As I reemerge this Spring, I’m looking for accessible paths back to my favorite Self. A version of me that is comfortable from the inside out. And the small but symbolic ritual of getting dressed offers me a way to her. Repeating favorite outfits, wearing and rewearing the same white tees and perfectly cut coats, finding visual harmony in shapes and proportions and colors that feel so simple I’m wondering if I’m missing something. But what I’m realizing is that the only thing I’m missing is the psychic weight of excess. And who needs that?

On each of these days, I’ve gotten dressed once and felt good all day. An entire week of that has left me feeling light, airy, and honest. Like myself. It’s funny how powerful this daily practice can be for those who connect to it. We wear our Selves on our sleeves. See, I told you — we’re no different than the flowers and the trees.

I hope you’re blooming, too.

Knowing how light and soft I feel afterwards, I set a goal at the end of last year to sauna with friends or by myself at least once a month. But after a few early morning solo sessions during my home office days, it has quickly become a permanent part of my weekly routine. When all goes according to plan, I ride a citibike down to the fjord in time to make the 7:30 ritual at SALT. Afterwards, I push myself to stay in the kaldculp (cold plunge) for 10, 15, 30 seconds now. I go back in the sauna for another 30 minutes or so, reading by the window and rotating between sweating and plunging and sweating and plunging. And I end it all by sitting on a bench outside, overlooking the Oslo fjord, soaking in whatever sunshine is available. I feel incredible.

The mental and physical impacts of starting your day with a sauna session are undeniable. Therefore, I’m giddy, truly, that spa and sauna culture has been on the rise in the U.S. for the last few years. In Norway, they’ve had badstue since the Viking age. But in more modern times, it’s always been common to have them in more private settings like upscale hotels or summerhouses. We even have one in my office gym. However, the saunas you see floating in the fjord now haven’t been around for too long; they’re a modern resurgence of a nearly forgotten tradition. One that has been welcomed back with open, glistening arms. So, basking in my own post-sauna glow, I thought I’d share my favorite saunas in Oslo in hopes that anyone visiting this Spring or Summer can feel as good as I do right now.

Note: I’m focusing on more casual, public saunas in this list, not saunas that are in spas at hotels. Of which there are many. Perhaps that will come later, but I’ve yet to indulge. To each their own.

1. SALT

SALT is my go-to spot for my weekly morning sessions, but it’s also a great spot for more casual meetings with a few friends where renting a private sauna isn’t necessary. There’s a real community feeling here, a warmth that goes beyond the coals, and I grow fonder and fonder of it every time I go. But that’s because it’s much more than a sauna. SALT is home to a food market, a bar, and a cultural venue that hosts a robust monthly calendar of music, standup comedy, locally produced plays and other arts events. On Friday and Saturday evenings, DJs set up inside their enormous A-frame sauna where you can sway and sweat and slurp down a beer before it gets too warm. And every weekday morning, they hold Aufguss rituals in a smaller sauna that gets quite a bit hotter than the A-frame.

There’s a good selection of cold plunges, showers, and clean but basic changing rooms. And those really set on cooling off in the fjord can just scurry around to the other side of their entrance for a quick swim. They have private saunas for rent, too. And I love their outdoor fire pit areas. It’s overall just a cool space and a wholesome way to spend time together.

2. Sukkerbitten

Far and away my sauna of choice if you want to rent for a private group; I had my bachelorette party here (see above); I host my annual birthday sessions here. Sukkerbitten is Norway’s — and possibly the world’s — largest floating sauna village. Owned and operated by Oslo Badstuforening (Oslo’s nonprofit sauna cooperative), it’s reasonably priced and well located. Each unit is wood-fired and individually designed by winners of architecture competitions, so the village has a charmingly eclectic look that feels simultaneously down-to-earth and almost mythical. And very, very stylish.

But of course, the coolest part is that it’s floating on the Oslofjord, which gives each sauna direct access to open water swimming. Whether I’m jumping in from the top deck of Albatross on a gorgeous summer day or quickly dipping off the deck of Trosten into choppy November waves, the energy of the salt water is electric.

3. Kroloftet

For something a little different, might I suggest this riverside gem? Sitting on a small river in Oslos’s east side, Kroloftet embodies what I love most about Oslo — it’s immersed in nature, yet surrounded by creativity, and blends both modern and industrial architecture in a way that feels uniquely Scandinavian. Also operated by Oslo Badstuforening, this site is home to two saunas — a yurt and an architect designed structure with a huge window looking over the river and surrounding forest, as well as showers and a cold plunge.

While the sauna and the view of the forest are beautiful, by far my favorite aspect of this location is the way it’s situated within a cozy creative community. They’re connected, both by physical space and energetically, to two other nearby establishments in what was once the site of a gun powder factory. Kroloftet, a massive shared studio for self-employed creatives, and Kruttverket, a charming cafe and bar where you can order drinks directly to the saunas. Considered all together, it’s quite the vibe. It was one of the friendliest places I’ve been in Oslo, a city not known to be a conducive environment for striking up conversations with stangers! But tucked into the quiet green of the Alna river, it felt like a different world entirely.

4. Oslo Badstuforening at Langkaia

Smaller than Sukkerbitten, larger than Kroloftet — Oslo Badstuforening’s Langkaia location is juuuust right. It uses the same floating village design but with a handful of unique units for smaller groups. Again, these have plenty of charm and direct access to the fjord for a quick dip. And on top of all that, would you look at that view! All of the visitors I’ve taken to rent their Lundefuglen unit with its’ direct view of Oslo’s famous opera house have been thrilled. If you’re not an architecture nerd, it also makes for great people watching (perhaps mutual, tbh).

5. KOK at Langkaia

The small private saunas available through KOK were the first ones I tried in Oslo. So maybe I’m a bit partial. But out of the several options for 8-10 people to do something small and contained like this, I prefer these units and this location. Now, I’ve never taken them out to sea but it looks like an absolute blast. Especially on a day like the one pictured above. Whichever you choose, these babies are ready for a party with an aux cord, a roof deck, and a skipper if you want to take it out for a spin.

Okay, I’m not sure how many more times I can write/say/think “sauna” and still feel like it’s a real word. So it’s befitting that this ends here. But I’ll leave you with one last piece of important information, inspired by a real bathing babe, Courtney Wittich at S.P.A. Here is my very own WIYSB (What’s In Your Spa Sauna Bag), a checklist to help you prepare for your next sweat:

• two towels — one for sitting, one for drying off later. This is a must. I’m really into my vintage beach towels at the moment. This one and this one would be fun.

• my Sleepers flip flops

• a giant water bottle, preferably Hydroflask or something that retains cold well

• whatever I’m reading (currently: Slags by Emma Jane Unsworth)

• a travel container of my Kiehl’s moisturizer and eye cream

• a travel size hairbrush and comb for a slicked back bun

• deodorant

• sweatpants or easy pull on pants for afterward

  

Okay, that’s it. Stay hydrated!