Get dressed with Celine Aagaard
As a successful editor, stylist and brand consultant, Norwegian native CELINE AAGAARD has an unsurprisingly enviable sense of style. And now she’s added the role of designer to her jam-packed résumé, it’s easier than ever to inject your own closet with her singular brand of effortless elegance. This is how she does it…
FIND YOUR UNIFORM
“My style is season-less, minimal, monochrome and masculine – with a little feminine flair. Color-wise, it’s quite muted – I usually stick to cream, beige and black – but when it comes to layering, I really like to experiment. I love playing with proportions and textures to create beautiful and unexpected combinations. My go-to piece has to be an oversized blazer in black or beige, and as I swim every day, a bathing suit. All my favorite brands – Jil Sander, Bottega Veneta, The Row – have really singular, strong aesthetics. You should never wear something you feel uncomfortable in just because it’s ‘on trend’ – I know what I like and would never let someone tell me how to dress. It’s important to find your own style and identity.”
SEIZE THE DAY
“I go wild swimming almost every morning, even during the freezing Norwegian winter. When I was a kid I used to cycle to a nearby lake and go for a swim before school. I’m a morning person and when I wake up late I feel like my day has been ruined. I like having that time in the morning for myself. Plus, I swear by the restorative powers of fresh salty seawater; I can feel it doing good for my skin, body, hair and mind. My idea of exercise isn’t heading to the gym: I work it into my everyday routine through swimming, cycling and taking my dog for a walk at the end of each day.”
EMBELLISH LIBERALLY
“My wardrobe is made up of a few key pieces that I wear all the time, meaning I really rely on the power of accessories – like an amazing piece of vintage jewelry or standout shoes – to transform them. One thing I never leave the house without is a watch. I’ve built up a pretty good collection, but the styles I wear the most are my Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso and vintage Cartier Panthère. I am also obsessed with statement sunglasses and hats. I always gravitate towards head-turning styles.
CHANGE YOUR OUTLOOK
“Finding a greener way of living has been a goal of mine for many years, and it was this desire that motivated me to co-found a sustainable fashion label (along with my business partner Pia Nordskaug), Envelope1976. We’re both long-time vegetarians, we love vintage shopping, we don’t drive – biking around Oslo instead – and after working in the fashion industry for years we wanted to produce ethically made, design-driven clothing. It was really important for us to prove that environmentally friendly clothing doesn’t need to look a certain way. We’re focused on creating timeless pieces that are made to last. In the future, sustainability should be built into every brand and every industry’s DNA.”
DRESS CODES ARE OUTDATED
“I dress for my mood – I don’t think certain pieces need to be reserved for certain occasions. I’ll happily wear a maxi dress thrown over a bikini and with flip flops to go for a swim. The last thing I bought was a vintage wedding dress! Now I’m not planning a wedding, but I will find a way to wear it. After all, you should enjoy the clothes you have. I find social media very inspiring for my design work and connecting with creatives, but I also think it’s important to realize that normal people don’t live like influencers, wearing a brand-new outfit every day. I think it’s much more interesting to see how people create new and exciting outfits using their existing pieces.”
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