"We’ve dreamt of having Pamela on the cover ever since we discovered she was one-quarter Finnish, but it wasn’t until I met her on the set of our cover shoot in Copenhagen that I realised just how close she felt to her Finnish heritage"
Pamela Anderson is a woman who needs no introduction. Pamela Hyytiäinen, however – that’s a different story. That would have been the superstar’s name, had her great-grandfather not changed his surname to Anderson when he moved to Canada from Finland in 1908. We’ve dreamt of having Pamela on the cover ever since we discovered she was one-quarter Finnish, but it wasn’t until I met her on the set of our cover shoot in Copenhagen that I realised just how close she felt to her Finnish heritage: so much so, that she told me she sometimes fantasises about adopting the Hyytiäinen name (imagine what a stir that would cause in Hollywood).
For this unmissable cover story, Danish photographer Casper Sejersen was inspired by novelist and poet Gertrude Stein, namely her 1913 poem ‘Sacred Emily’, which features that oh so famous line: “A rose is a rose is a rose”. It’s a reference to both Pamela’s love of literature and poetry (Stein is, in fact, one of her favourites) as well as her favourite flower. Visit Pamela’s garden at her home on Vancouver Island and you’ll find a vibrant rose garden. It was a magical day shooting in a private, tucked away garden in Copenhagen. When Pamela leaned up against the statue – a moment that resulted in this gorgeous cover – we remarked she and the marble face looked somehow like twins.
Like Pamela, this issue is full of Scandinavians who don’t quite fit the typical Nordic mould: creative renegades who aren’t afraid to live loud. Take, for instance, Swedish jewellery designer Dannie Larsson, whose brand Rare Jewelry offers awe-inspiring pieces that are unabashedly loud luxury. As a jewellery obsessive myself, I’ve long been a fan of Dannie’s fine jewellery, encrusted with diamonds and unbelievably stunning coloured gemstones (in fact, we’ve co-designed a capsule collection of cocktail rings, released just this week).
As a jewellery obsessive myself, I’ve long been a fan of Dannie’s fine jewellery, encrusted with diamonds and unbelievably stunning coloured gemstones
Martina Bonnier
Similarly, Swedish eyewear designer Anna-Karin Karlsson revels in an aesthetic that is directly at odds with what we typically consider ‘Scandinavian’. Her ‘couture for the face’ – which is as vibrant and singular as Anna-Karin herself – has found famous fans across the globe. I’ve been a champion of Anna-Karin’s designs – and her spirit – since the start. From our first meeting she dubbed me her ‘Fashion Godmother’. You’ll always catch me wearing a pair of her unique glasses whilst editing texts and finalising layouts in the Vogue Scandinavia office.
Also in this issue, we explore a phenomenon that, at first glance, seems an odd match for our region: the new crop of jet-setters. Once a more-is-more endeavour associated with monogrammed luggage and early aughts Juice Couture tracksuits, private travel is being reframed as the pinnacle of pragmatic efficiency, with Scandinavians leading the pack. It is, after all, by far the quickest way to reach the furthest corners of our region.
Speaking of the furthest corners of our region, this issue we travel to the far north of Finland, above the Arctic Circle, to meet with one of the rare figures as ubiquitously recognisable as our cover star: Santa Claus. In this instantly charming story, we tour Santa’s Village (a place that’s become a bit of a celebrity hotspot), chat with the elves and, of course, meet with Santa himself, who takes a break from answering the thousands of letters that pour through his post office to chat about the magic of the holiday season. My personal favourite fashion image in this issue is Santa’s felt slippers and his hand-knitted socks.
Finally, in time for the season’s celebrations, we spotlight a delicacy that’s mandatory for any Swedish special occasion: Kalix Löjrom. Awarded a Protected Designation of Origin by the EU, this orange gold is regarded more highly than caviar in our region: proof that we in the Nordics do love to celebrate our uniqueness after all. I’ll soon be packing up my own tins in freezer bags to travel to my family’s Christmas celebrations. May this issue inspire a bit of decadence of your own this season – you deserve it.
