Denmark is a small and flat country – the highest point is situated 172 meters above sea levels, this means that everything feels very within reach, small and cosy. With the big nordic countries surrounding us and protecting us to the East, England to the West and the rest of Europe to the South it makes this place feel like a cosy oasis.
t will take you less than 1 hour to reach the shore, no matter where you are. It is especially noticable how small the country feels after being in a country with mountains. Not being able to see that far, gives you a feeling of comfort – everything you need is within close reach and I think that is why in the olden days community feeling with those living close to us, was strong.
Our argiculture has always been a part of our country, with 60% of the land being used for crop fields but we also have a lot of forest – about 625.000 hectare.
Nature is a big part of our culture and when you look into poetry, novels and songs it is a recurring theme along with a love for our country and our language, which is not spoken anywhere else.
Hygge – the Danish word for having a cosy, warm and/or social time can also be transferred to your fashion style. Especially using crochet items for comfort and unique self-expression as well as some tips you’ll learn how to incorporate the hygge lifestyle into your life. It’s all about being comfortable, down-to-earth and minimalistic, however that feels to you.
A great thing about Denmark and fashion is that even though many go for simple styles, it is not unusual to see someone with their own unique style expression. Even though we are known for our clean, minimalistic furniture, fashion and architecture and even though we Danes can be reserved you still see many different styles in the streets and there is this part of our culture – hygge – that is still so deep in our veins and lifestyle, that we will always have this element of a cosy, old-timey and warm feeling. No matter if you go for neutral or colorful clothes – hygge can always be a part of it. So let’s get into it!
More cosy loungewear can be found here.
Click image to go to crochet pattern.
All the sweaters: Neutral, colorful, ribbed, mesh or oversized
Danes are often seen in timeless, neutral pieces, minimalistic clothing and often looking both comfortable and stylish. You’ll see families going for walks in the city with practical boots, puffer jackets or Nordic sweaters, fleece jackets or long or big coats are also quite common. Sweaters are an important stable as it keeps you warm and can go with jeans, skirts or over a dress.
Blue, denim & rib
Denim is timeless and goes with everything and ribbed clothes is also classy and timeless. Pair a ribbed neutral top with an oversized blazer in dark blue or black (look in the Men’s section at a secondhand shop) or a comfy cardigan in another blue shade. Go for simple jewelry like silver or gold, a simple chain or two around the neck or some elegant earrings or studs.
A splash of color
Pink is rarely seen in the streets, most people – especially in Copenhagen – wear black or beige. But if you are into colors go for a simple short or long sleeved top, a skirt or a pair of flared leggings, then add a colorful crochet rose on the top or throw a colorful crochet poncho over the outfit – comfy and easy while still being very stylish. Choosing 1 color or just 1 colorful item with an otherwise neutral outfit keeps it looking simple and not overdone.
You don’t see much crochet clothes out in public (mostly it’s crochet bags)– here is where I come in. I focus on adding that unique element to an otherwise often genderless and a bland palette. So if you’re someone who wants to stand out, like dressing uniquely and in your own style then combining crochet with Danish style is right up your alley.
Materials & fabrics
Danes love quality. So in terms of clothing, go for comfy and natural fabrics: wool, cotton, viscose .- so your skin can breathe. Something you see a lot is when someone haves a child, what the child wears becomes extremely important. Many babies sleep in their strollers in the garden, on the terasse, backward or outside a café (even in winter) so it’s crucial that the baby is warm but not gets overheated (polyester is the worst for this!). Many will use cotton and wool has natural both warming and cooling effects as well.
1 blue item, 1 white top, 1 neutral tote
Pair a blue item (could be denim) with a tank top, sweater or t-shirt and a beige colored tote to carry your belongings. I think blue is also a quite neutral color, it leads your thoughts to denim – a durable and practical fabric that in style and color goes with anything. Here you can keep the color palette neutral without looking to beige-ish.
Neutral tones and ribbed clothes
Add one item of color to break the palette a bit or keep it completely neutral if you prefer. Crochet clothes in rib stitches is great for both comfort and style and it goes with almost anything. You can also try arib crochet skirt.
Hygge – A Danish concept
Hygge, both a noun and an adjective, doesn’t have a direct translation but is a very Danish thing that is used not only in terms of our lifestyle but just as much our food, clothes and interior. It can translate to feeling cosy, warm, comfortable and relaxed. All in all it’s about bringing that cosiness, warmth and light into your life, specially the darker months (it seems dark in the North like half of the year).
Here’s how you can bring some hygge into your life:
- light a candle or use warm lighting
- drink something warm
- eat something comfy and delicious
- bake or cook some comfort food
- be with loved ones or hug a pet or a teddy
- put plans on hold and take time to just be
- watch something you really enjoy
- cosy up under blankets or a duvet
- wear something comfortable
- crochet something – or use your hands for a cosy craft
Beaches in Denmark
You can’t say Danish or Denmark without saying beaches.. Cause there is something so magical about the Danish beaches – they are very cosy and realxing, often with natural surroundings like sand dunes, rose hip bushes and small cliffs where swallows fly low before the rains. On these natural beaches you’ll often find snarls and reeds and many beaches I have gone to also have a forest nearby. When you go into the dark forest after being in the sun all day, it feels very dream-like and a special kind of peace is found in there, a contrast to the open, bright and sunny beach. You go from constant sound of waves to complete quietness.
In the summer, when I was a child, me and my family would take trips to the beach – often for (what felt like) an entire day. In the morning we would prep a big Danish lunch (smørrebrød with fresh toppings like cooked potato, mayo, onion, radishes, cherry tomatoes, carrot sticks, fresh chives etc) to take with us, and eat on a big blanket on the sand in our bathing suits with wet hair and the sun on our skin. I remember that I would always exfoliate my skin with the sand while in the water or float fon my back with ears under water and listen to the sound of water trickeling on the small rocks beneath. It’s not just a swim, it’s taking care of body and mind and existing in an envioronment where you can let go, not have to do anything other than let the water carry you, the sun charge you, the food nourish you and the sound of the waves calm you. It’s a holistic health practise. And it doesn’t stop at beaches, many Danes love nature – whether it be parks or woods or going to one of the many cemeteries to chill on the grass.
Going to the beach as a Dane is something that many people not only do in summer but in winter too. Some will swim in the harbour and do cold plunges to keep their health in check. So no matter what kind of beach-goer you are, it is an ingrained part of Danish culture and a way for us to wind down and take a break and care for ourselves.
Beaches in Denmark to me smells like fresh salt water, rose hip and warm sand.
Danish nature
We love nature and nature is a part of our daily life – even when living in the cities. Many bike through parks and cemeteries and we even have a bike path called “the green path” in Copenhagen that leads you quickly and effectively away from traffic and through the city, past trees and kolonihavehuse.
Nature is a part of our health and well-being, both in terms of exercising outdoors in summer and winter, going for walks in the weekends with a to-go coffee, going camping or sitting by the ocean or the lakes and looking at the water. It is not only about movement in nature but also about relaxing, getting natural stimuli from the colors and sounds and sensations of walking or sitting on the earth. If you want a more hygge vibe in nature, make a picnic with a blanket and some light food, you could also bring a deck of card or your crochet project.
Denmarks romanticism
In both art and arciteture romanticism lives on in Denmark – from the famous Skagen Painters (Skagemalerne) to the beautiful old houses that you’ll find in all towns and cities, there is this cosy and old-time-vibe. Just go for a stroll in the oldest part of Copenhagen and be mesmerized by the crooked and colorful houses, used for living or as shops or go to Bakkehuset – an old museum house where some of the most famous Danish writers and poets used to visit, take a trip to Søndermarken or to our two amusement parks – Bakken and Tivoli – number 1 and 2 oldest amusement parks in the world, and you’ll get the idea of how much Danes appreciate history, tradition, cosiness and… well, fun!
