Ship Shape

I love ships!  If I had the choice I would spend my life at sea, eating biscuits, catching fish, wearing stripes (the entire cliché would be brilliant). I blame this fascination on my parents, who continue to enthusiastically decorate our house with a nautical theme. 
There must be something so exciting and free about having a boat, being able to set off into the horizon anytime you feel like it, having complete agency over one's own travel. The geographical possibilities are endless, as is the supply of fresh seafood.. it must be fabulous! 
It's fun to hang out by the sea in Skeppsholm in Stockholm and watch the proud owners of ships moor their boats in the sunshine, wondering where they have been and where they are headed next. The boats themselves are stunning creations, a harmony of wooden planks, steel poles and tightened ropes, they evoke the inevitable drama of the sea. I imagine the lines being pulled to adjust the wind pressure, the sails being rigged to change directions in a storm, the lifeboats prepared for the worst. There is no adventure without risk, as they say, and what could be more risky or adventurous than living life at sea! One can dream..

By the sea

It's the weekend, the salty sea air blows your hair in the wind, the sun gently warms your skin. What better opportunity then to relax by the sea, practice your hobbies, chat to your friends, go for a bike ride, jump on a boat. These private moments of carefree abandon and elation are what keeps us all going during the winter to come. As E.E Cummings surmised.. 'For whatever we lose (like a you or a me) it's always ourselves we find in the sea.'  

Crisscrossed

As I made my way across Stockholms Skeppsholms bridge, I couldn't help but check out this stylish couple. I love the splashed lines of color on her oversized jeans and how it compliments her knotted vest. He is all about a loose fit and muted colors, but his cherry-red hat ties it all together. They make a great pair. 

The bridge itself is stunning, full of crisscrossed lines and smooth wooden planks, flanked by a gilded crown. 

Let's Dance

In my opinion, the best thing about big cities is their spontaneity. The relative anonymity they provide seems to spur people to act free from the lasting judgement of social constraints and behave a little bit more compulsively.  Each day that I walk around capital cities like Stockholm or London I inevitably get approached by quirky strangers or witness amusing or carefree behaviour and I love it! If you ask me, spontaneity is the true spice of life. 

Last Sunday was no exception when I was walking around Södermalm with Nui. We spotted a jazz band consisting of three dapper gentlemen playing an infectious tune and stopped to listen for awhile.  Suddenly a couple of girls with matching outfits jumped into the centre of the crowd, twirling, waltzing and swinging to the music, laughing like school kids. I really admired their confidence and sense of fun, not to mention their stunning black jackets. 

Walks with Roma

Roma is my stockholm go-to-person. Walks around the city are perfect with him because he walks fast, knows where to find all the secret beautiful views and even where to get free coffee, he's full of little tips and tricks. We met on Sunday evening as the sun set and hot air balloons rose above the city, the perfect atmosphere to catch up on the weekend's events and stroll around our favourite spots. 

He's incredibly photogenic (must be his Russian genes!) and didn't mind me snapping a few shots while the evening light struck his face. It might be awhile before I'm back in Sweden again this year, I'm really going to miss our chats and how much he makes me laugh! 

Stockholm fishing

There's a wonderful bridge in Stockholm where fishermen and fisherwomen gather each day to try their hand at catching something delicious. Their visible camaraderie extends across all age boundaries, and it's lovely to watch them bond over one of life's simple pleasures. As I was photographing them a curious boy stepped into my frame, looking wistfully on as they reeled in their lines. 

Nui in Stockholm

This weekend was a scorcher in Stockholm. Nui and I headed down to the water to relax with absolutely no agenda for the day other than catching up on the summer's events (and eating ice cream of course). We lazed on a wooden bench in Södra Blasieholmshamnen and people watched to our hearts content while the sea breeze cooled us down. We spied eccentric tourists, elegant elderly couples, mischievous kids, to name a few. I'm pretty sure if we hadn't gotten hungry we would have stayed there all day! 

I thought she looked gorgeous so she graciously let me play paparazzi for a bit. I love her use of color-blocking, I think it works especially well when paired with neutral accessories and a fitted denim jacket. Her choice of scarlet skinny jeans and a cosy blue top was both practical and fun,  perfect for messing about in September's transitional weather! 

Substance and style

Gotta keep those ears warm.