A newsstand, a night suite, and a surprise serenade: This is everything you might have missed at our 5th anniversary party

Last Tuesday marked a significant moment in Vogue Scandinavia's history, as the magazine gathered friends, partners, contributors, supporters and an array of special guests to commemorate the five years since the magazine’s launch.

To celebrate half a decade, celebrations took over Sköldungagatan – the street that houses Vogue Scandinavia’s ‘forever home’, as well as the close friends, neighbours, and unparalleled hosts of the evening: Ett Hem.

Having released 31 issues over the past five years, the Vogue Scandinavia anniversary edition was, in itself, a cause for celebration: HRH Princess Madeleine of Sweden graces the cover of the special issue, in which she shares rare insights into her royal life and lifelong love of horses.

Under a late summer evening sky, guests were welcomed to the Garden Gala through a custom-built, Vogue Scandinavia x Ett Hem newsstand archway by Roder Sthlm, leaving passers by with no doubt who was behind the night’s festivities. Not merely decorative, the newsstand also offered guests the chance to purchase the magazine’s anniversary issue, encased in its exclusive Collector's Box by Svenskt Tenn – a limited edition draped in Lars Nilsson's iconic Anacapri print.

As Editor-in-Chief Martina Bonnier greeted the flurry of arrivals, guests shared their favourite Vogue Scandinavia memories from the past five years. Against the backdrop of Lärkstan’s dark brick walls and polished stone, another special guest stood out – the all-new Mercedes-Benz GLA, on display for the first time in Sweden ahead of its Swedish market introduction later this year.

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Inside the gates, the festivities spilled out across Ett Hem’s grounds, where Ett Hem's founder and owner, Jeanette Mix, and Martina Bonnier took to the balcony to kick off the festivities in a joint speech that highlighted their friendship and neighbourhood.

The evening saw the boutique hotel transformed into the most stylish of multi-storeyed theme parks, with each floor offering unprecedented access and unexpected delights. Invitees were given the rare thrill of roaming through Ett Hem's corridors, to not only peek behind doors, but even stumble upon sights as rare as a supermodel mid-action on a cover shoot.

It was in the hotel’s sky-high Residence Lounge that supermodel and Estée Lauder global ambassador Paulina Porizkova shot her *Vogue Scandinavia *Digital Cover on the night. Guests were able to walk through the suite, witnessing the magic of the magazine's first ever live cover shoot – a true behind the scenes moment.

Guests could then continue up a flight of stairs to the Lounge’s upper level suite, where Estée Lauder had transformed Ett Hem’s lofty Room 25 into the Estée Lauder Night Suite. The site turned into a sophisticated slumber party, where guests could even have their Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair bottles personally engraved.

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A few floors up, the exquisitely painted, vaulted ceilings of Ett Hem’s Attic suite were the site of Björn Axén’s Dream State Masterclass. Johan Hellström of Björn Axén introduced the Overnight Miracle Treatment as a means to making both hair and scalp have sweet dreams, and writer and dream interpreter Kajsa Ingemarsson delivered brain food in the form of a PHD-worthy lecture about dreams.

On the first floor, the Drawing Salon was converted into the Vogue Café, offering a cosy atmosphere for exclusive talks, and music. Vogue Scandinavia’s EIC welcomed guests to the stage, drawing out stories and personal reflections from the magazine's first five years. Photographer Mattias Klum shared his recollections of shooting the inaugural Vogue Scandinavia issue, featuring Greta Thunberg on the cover in 2021, and Swedish writer Louise Boije af Gennäs not only heralded the Scandinavian values of the magazine, but vocalised them in her renditions of songs by Beyoncé and Taylor Swift.

A hush travelled from the Vogue Café through Ett Hem’s hallways as Bonnier welcomed Paulina Porizkova to the stage, fresh from her cover shoot upstairs. With her trademark candour and charisma, the recently-wed Porizkova delighted the crowd by imparting wisdom about her career and life, encompassing thoughts on womanhood, sex, and ageing.

In yet another exclusive first for the evening, Benjamin Ingrosso was next to take to the stage, speaking with Bonnier about his long-awaited new album, before singing his hit Kite, and giving the packed crowd a singular preview of one of his upcoming songs, Kliché.

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Throughout the night, garden party-appropriate drinks flowed, freshly chilled to perfection from Asko fridges. Signature cocktails served as both nightcap and energy drink, with espresso martinis accompanied by bespoke Vogue Scandinavia-topped, tiramisu flavoured choux au craquelin from Stockholm-based pastry chefs @cuisinedepauline.

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A seafood bar held court on one balcony, canapés coursed through the crowds, and guests gathered around the feasts turned out from both a blazing barbecue, and a pizza oven. Of course, as is with the heart of every home, Ett Hem’s country-style, open kitchen (its highly acclaimed culinary centre, often rated as one of Stockholm's best dining experiences), was encircled by delighted guests. From its hearth poured out carefully crafted platefuls, from seasonal salads, to fresh pasta with chanterelles.

Echoing the buzz inside the hotel, the night even had its own, multi-level soundtrack, with DJ Suzy streaming sets from her balcony booth, folk rock duo Siri Karlsson transfixing the Garden Stage with costumes as well as sound, and soprano Clarice Granado and pianist John Nalan gracing the crowds with operatic tones. And delivering the ultimate surprise guest appearance of the evening, First Aid Kit enticed all guests to the garden with their band's singular sound – bringing the evening to a fittingly magical close, as their voices echoed far over the rooftops of Lärkstaden.