style – nina melin

Budget Buy – Beige Buddies

Let me introduce my new favourite soft work uniform for SS 19. Comfy as can be and casual it works just as well for a lazy sofa Sunday or a stroll in the park.

The set comes from Zara’s younger label TRF. It’s made of comfy ribbed cotton in a beige fabric. The joggers has an elastic drawstring waistband, cuffed hems and, thank God – side pockets!

The matching long sleeve top has a V-neckline and front button fastening. I took one size up on both for a more loose fit.

I will wear the pants with an oversized sweatshirt when chilly. And maybe I’ll try them in a combo with a long dress or tunic.

Textured button-up cardigan, £12.99, Zara. Textured joggers, £12.99, Zara

Dream Ticket – The Cover star Coat

As you know by now, I love a good bargain as long as it’s ticks my style and sustainable boxes. But on the other side of the spectrum you have the investment pieces that comes with a sometimes sky high pricetag, but has all the specs of a long-term key investment.

So now I’m introducing a new weekly category. Got to have something to dream about and get inspired by, right?

Photos Acne Studios

The off-white trenchcoat from Acne Studios are just the kind of garment that my coat dreams are made of.

It has a wonderful town scene print. It’s made from a sumptuous silk blend. It’s oversized. And the colour combo with off-white and the brown pattern fits my palette just perfect.

I would wear it just like in the pics, accompanied by an all low-key white assembly to let the coat be the cover star.

Whatever the mood. Whatever the day. This has you covered.

Printed Oversized Trenchcoat, £2335, Browns.

Budget Buy Serpentine Sandals

The latest design collab from the folks at H&M was one that instantly caught my interest. This time they’ve teamed up with the new, also Swedish, shoe brand Eytys. Its been on my ( and many others) radars for a while. Theirs chunky sneakers has turned into a success and last year they opend a store here in London.

The unisex collection’s highlights for me are the jeans and trousers. And these sandals, a fun take on the Eytys aesthetics. The padded foot strap is made of leather with an embossed snake pattern. The soles are slightly higher and has a textured-patterned rim and the inside is moulded so it’s more comfy than a flat sandal.

One of my sons, who also happens to loves cool packaging wants to put the shoe box on his so called “Nerd shelf” together with his other finds like Japanese soft drink cans and candy boxes.

Always a nice little bonus when the package can be re-used.

Sandals, Eytys x H&M, £17.99, H&M.

Think Pink, Valentine

First I want to say it’s not that I don’t like to give or receive gifts. But I never been a big fan of general gifting days when you supposed to give presents. Christmas, Fathers, Mothers, Valentine’s days and so on.

On a given day the social etiquette dictates that you must give a present. So you run around trying to find something. It’s a little bit crazy, don’t you think?

I really enjoy giving people I love gifts. Birthdays and anniversaries I’m all in.

But isn’t it also a wonderful thing to give someone a little something when they least expect so? That expression of genuine surprise and joy on his or her face is worth it alone I think.

Instead of a mandatory gift. What about an unexpected present on a gloomy, dark winter Wednesday?

That said I’m seeing the colour pink everywhere right now. And I quite like it. There’s something fresh, youthful and springish to it that is most welcomed this time of the year.

And as it happens it’s also the perfect colour for Valentine.

Pink and the sink. Kitchen cabinet maker Devol’s showroom in London.

Photo credits: 3/4/5/6/7/8/9. Other photos my own.

Mood Board – Winter Whites

Winter whites never goes out of style. It’s timelessness is part of it’s appeal. But for me it’s also about adding a contrast to the dark default setting of winter.

And going out head to toe in white on a greyish and wet winter day almost makes you feel like the queen of light. The untouchable one that just don’t care about wordly things as dirty spots, puddles or ongoing fashion trends.

And when not going head to toe, just a dollop of white like a pair of boots or a chunky sweater brightens a dull winter day.

Knits from Esteban Cortazar, Matchesfashion.

Cover photo Laurel knit, Goop. Gallery one: From top left: Kimono coat, Rodebjer. Ceramics, Naomi Bikis. Jewelry, Renasala. Handbag, Loewe. Gallery two: Sweater and skirt, Raey, Matchesfashion. Sculpure Britt Ignell, The Modern Scandi. Shoes, Jill Sander, Matchesfashion. Tuxedo, Arket. Coat Laureen Manoogian, Alex Eagle. Vase, Malgorzata Bany, The New Craftsmen.

Apertivo with a famous Melin

Best time of the week, that first hour of weekend. Add sun, a glass, good company and let Apertivo O’ Clock begin!

The glass, by the way, is a vintage find from Swedish glassworks Boda Nova. The woman behind it is Signe Persson Melin, a famous Swedish designer that also happens to be one of my all time favourites.

Born 1925 and active from the 1950s, Signe designed everyday homeware for many famous Swedish brands like Boda Nova (mix of materials), Höganäs Keramik (pottery), Rörstrand (porcelain) and Kosta Boda (glass).

In our vintage design shop The Modern Scandi that will open soon (!) we’ll of course be offering handpicked gems by her.

And no, we’re not related. We just happens to have the same last name:-)

Clutch by Matine, a small American accessories brand. Outfit a mix of old time favourites: Shirt by Acne Studios. Shorts and platform sandals by COS.

The Sicily Market Dress

It caught my eye when rushing down Regent street early May.

Seeing the simple shirt dress in the shop window I just loved how it draped around the body of the mannequin and visuals of slow-life vacations with me at a Sicilian market buying fresh groceries and sipping on a glass of Gavi wine at a decadently long lunch flashed by.

For a couple of weeks when the weather was still unstable it had wait-and-see status. Was it maybe a little bit to sweet or prim for me? Was it even on the dull side of the dress spectrum?

Then, one of the first days of summer I decided to give it a try.

Fast forward. Two-three months later The Genre Dress from Weekday has turned into a real keeper that people always compliments me on and the standard question is “Where did you get it?”.

It’s quite thick cotton weave and the airy fit is just perfect for hot summer days. I’m thinking that it works a little bit like a bedouin outfit. Keeping the heat out – at least to a certain point. The heat on Bakerloo Line is a tough one though.

The Genre dress is a perfect throw-on- and-go summer piece. I’m also using it as a caftan over a pair of shorts and a tank top. And my new, handmade macramé bag The Carly (named after singer Carly Simon) follows the summer-in-Sicily-theme.

When wearing it as a dress, I’m styling it with a handmade rope belt from Ibiza. (When I had a store in Sweden it was part of the summer collections.) My two decades old super comfy Birkenstock are the perfect companions.

Just need to get to that Sicilian market anytime soon.

But a glass of Gavi in our garden will do for now.

Genre dress, £55 at Weekday. Carly bag, $125 at Dharma Door.

Monday Mint

For this week’s Monday Motivation when the Mercury is hitting +30C on a regular bases mint feels like the perfect cooling colour. Like the swimsuit Attila from Three Graces. Just add a pool and a glass full of clinking ice cubes and liquid of choice.

The old renovated shoe box factory in Shoreditch, London follows today’s theme. It has been transformed into a modern home with some fresh looking features like the mint coloured walls that works surprisingly well with the concrete grey.The built-in bench under the windows is the perfect way to add both siting and shelf Just space. And take a closer look at the details, like the big ceramic urn and the lighting.

The colour reminds me of Prada stores back in the late 90s. At that time they always had a pale mint green as a major interior feature.Holding on to that shoe thing with mules from Swedish Acne. They will spice up almost any outfit.

And then it’s that little detail. The pink tip of the heel.

Mint with a hint of pink. My kind of Monday candy.

P.s. Just discovered long-time favourite designer Carin Rodebjer’s first drop for AW18. She apparently has mint on her mind as well. The versatile tunic dress will work with or without pants. D.s.

Jade green pointed toe mule, £330 by Acne. Swimsuit Attila, £170 by Three Graces. Tunic dress Trisola, €325, by Rodebjer. Perfumes $125, by Coqui Coqui.

Ready-to-work

The camel colour pants from Raey is the perfect everyday work wear. Depending on mood, weather and work tasks it can easily be dressed down or up. When warehouse or photo session day in the webbshop, I pair it with an well-worn t-shirt. Add a white shirt and the work meeting outfit is sorted.

Raey is the in-house brand from fashion online success Matchesfashion.com that I find myself returning to over and over again. With clean, crisp silhouettes and a masculine touch it’s timeless aesthetics it’s what I want as the back bone in my wardrobe.

Wide-leg chino trousers, £225, Matchesfashion.