All of us went just a little bit Danish in 2016 — snuggling up in hand-knitted blankets, lighting pine-scented candles and sipping scorching chocolate.
We have been embracing the cosiness Danes name hygge. However with a brand new 12 months comes a brand new Scandinavian buzzword: this time it's the Swedish lagom (pronounced lar-gom, which is not less than simpler to say than hygge).
Lagom doesn't have a precise translation but it surely means 'simply the correct quantity', not too little however not an excessive amount of. It's some of the regularly used phrases in Sweden — you'll eat a lagom quantity of meals, reside in a lagom home, drive a lagom automotive: in different phrases, simply ok to get pleasure from life however not over-the-top or ostentatious.
Lagom doesn't have a precise translation but it surely means 'simply the correct quantity', not too little however not an excessive amount of
Apparently it comes from the Viking idea of sharing a horn of mead across the campfire, the place you'd take simply sufficient earlier than passing it on so everybody had some.
Fashionable lagom isn't only a phrase in Sweden, it underpins an entire lifestyle: average, modest, balanced and quietly content material. And after a 12 months of political turbulence, it's wanting fairly interesting, with Vogue journal promising that 'residing lagom' will likely be an enormous pattern this 12 months.
'Lagom feels very well timed for 2017,' agrees psychologist Professor Jaime Kurtz, at James Madison College in Virginia, who runs a course in Scandinavia, analyzing why Swedes and Danes constantly high the worldwide happiness charts. 'I believe a part of the explanation it's taking off is that maybe we're prepared for that concept of steadiness and a sure modesty in our lives.'
Lagom has already crept into shopper merchandise: it's given its identify to a Bristol-based journal celebrating work-life steadiness; a London vogue label; and even a U.S. skincare vary with the slogan 'not too little, not an excessive amount of'.
As you'd count on, Swedish furnishings large Ikea can also be in on the motion (its 90-year-old founder Ingvar Kamprad is so lagom he nonetheless checks supermarkets for one of the best worth milk regardless of having a fortune of £55 billion).
As you'd count on, Swedish furnishings large Ikea can also be in on the motion (its 90-year-old founder Ingvar Kamprad is so lagom he nonetheless checks supermarkets for one of the best worth milk regardless of having a fortune of £55 billion)
Ikea is working a 'Dwelling Lagom' challenge, which this 12 months will see 180 UK and Irish households get £300 of retailer vouchers to purchase merchandise to reside extra sustainably and lower your expenses on payments. They may very well be something from LED lightbulbs to recycling bins or kits to develop salads in your kitchen.
'We have been on the lookout for a technique to describe this challenge with out utilizing the phrases eco or sustainable because it sounded too worthy — and lagom is ideal,' says Joanna Yarrow, head of sustainability at Ikea.
To comic Danny Robins, author of the present Radio four sitcom The Chilly Swedish Winter (his spouse Eva is Swedish), lagom is the essence of Swedish life. 'I believe it goes to the guts of what's so nice about Sweden — what makes it a sort, thoughtful place the place your work life is in steadiness with your loved ones life.'
The Lagom life...
Eat Goldilocks meals
Consuming not an excessive amount of and never too little is one cause the Swedes are slimmer than us, says Jonas Aurell, who got here to London from Sweden and arrange ScandiKitchen deli and on-line retailer ten years in the past.
Sweden has one of many lowest weight problems charges within the OECD checklist of developed nations — it is available in ninth out of 41, whereas the UK is 34th. 'Swedes don't usually over-eat,' he says. The final biscuit/slice of pie on a plate is called the 'Swedish piece' in Scandinavia as a Swede would by no means take it for worry of seeming impolite or over-indulgent.
Look under-styled
You not often see TOWIE-style glamour in Sweden; as an alternative, it's all about wanting as should you haven't actually tried.
'Swedish girls need a lagom steadiness of their look,' says London-based Swedish stylist Christel Lundqvist, who has labored with Ellie Goulding and Pixie Lott.
'Swedish girls do put on loads of make-up, however they need it to look pure.' Assume actress Michelle Williams at this month's Golden Globes. With hair, she suggests a low bun, neat-ish however not too good with some flyaway strands.
'Hair for 2017 is sort of undone and pure, with loads of texture and wave. 'Dry your hair utilizing your fingers as an alternative of a brush and twist-dry the hair round your finger. Attempt to keep away from straighteners.'
Be extra eco
You don't have to show into an eco-warrior: the spirit of lagom is about making small modifications.
'Via a sequence of easy on a regular basis steps you may make an actual distinction,' says Ikea's Joanna Yarrow.
'Folks on the Dwelling Lagom challenge have been chopping their payments by £1,00zero a 12 months.'
Purchase fewer garments
Swedish girls purchase much less, however consider high quality — the type of garments that you simply discover in Swedish Excessive Road model, Cos.
'The Scandinavian minimalist utility look is huge for spring/summer time 2017,' says Christel Lundqvist.
'We are likely to go for a minimalist look in black, white and monochrome colors, the place much less is extra.
'It's in our tradition to spend a bit more cash on good design and craftsmanship.'
Go away work at 5pm
There's a famously good work-life steadiness in Sweden. 'There's lagom within the enterprise tradition — they go house on time and settle for that some days go effectively and others don't, however that at 5pm it's time to get house to the household.
'That's one thing we will all be taught from,' says Professor Kurtz. 'Within the U.S. and UK you may all the time do extra, keep later and examine your work e-mail yet another time earlier than mattress.'
Eat in season
'Swedes are very aware of consuming meals in season and as a lot as doable regionally produced — so in winter we eat a variety of root greens,' says Swedish chef Anna Bonde-Mosesson, who taught Jamie Oliver to forage for mushrooms. 'It's additionally regular on the weekends to see households attempting to find mushrooms or wild berries within the woods and hedgerows.'
Don't attempt to be blissful
Self-help books inform us we now have to be blissful, however that creates a stress that makes us extra depressing, says Professor Kurtz.
'There's an obsession with attempting to be blissful that the Swedes don't have. Lagom says, what — possibly life may very well be just a little bit higher, but it surely's ok.
'There's an inner mindset of acceptance and contentment in Sweden. That's a part of the key to being blissful — don't obsess about it.
'That's a welcome message for residing your life in 2017.'
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