THIS Is Where All the Next Big Fashion It Girls Are Coming From
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@brietolina1/6“Icelandic girls do, wear and say whatever they want — without caring about what others think,” states Brynja Jónbjarnardóttir, one of Rekyjavik’s coolest on-the-rise models. As natives of the first European country to elect a female president — predicted by many, in fact, to also be the first to one day close its gender gap entirely — it’s not so surprising to learn that women quite literally run their world. And yet, fascinating as Icelandic culture is, it remains unknown territory to almost everyone except those who call it their own. From annual music festivals energized by the island nation’s ethereal landscapes to nature-inspired unisex fashion (before it was de rigeur), get the low-down on all you need to know from four It girls currently killing the game.
Photo: Courtesy of Kolfinna Kristófersdóttir2/6Kolfinna Kristófersdóttir, 23
Following her breakout in 2013 walking in shows like Chanel, Marc Jacobs, and Fendi, former model-turned-artist Kolfinna Kristófersdóttir caught the fashion world’s attention for her stark resemblance to The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’s Lisbeth Salander, with her choppy, jet black hair and edgy look. These days, she’s working as one of Reykjavik’s aspiring artists. “Making art has always been a big part of me,” she notes. “But it wasn’t till I started traveling and spending a lot of time on my own in foreign countries that I started expressing myself regularly through drawing, painting, and writing poetry. Now it feels as necessary as brushing my teeth.” With her creative eye, she names Gudmunder Jor, known for his tailoring and color palette sourced from Iceland’s natural world, as the designer everyone needs to know about: “He’s probably the top designer in Iceland right now and does suiting like no one else — he has a way of bringing out femininity in whatever form it comes in,” she notes. Of her own style, she calls it, “fluid” and “not really a style” — fittingly, as an artist, it varies, depending on “how I feel and what I’m going through.”
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@brynjajon3/6Brynja Jónbjarnardóttir, 21
Economics student and model Brynja Jónbjarndóttir, most recognized for her campaigns for Apple and Carven, was signed by Next models when she was just 13 and living in Reykjavik. “I modeled in New York and Paris for a while, and then moved back to Iceland where I model and study economics,” she says. “I had the time of my life living abroad, and being able to travel the world was priceless. But I wanted to go to university, so I moved back home.” Not that modeling in Reykjavik doesn’t come with perks of its own: “I love shooting in the summertime!” Brynja notes. “The shoots usually take place outside, and the waterfalls, glaciers, and geysers are amazing. Iceland’s nature is definitely my favorite part about the country and I’m always finding beautiful places that I’ve never seen before, even though I’ve traveled all over.” (Fun fact: Also known for its coffee culture, Reykjavik natives spend a significant amount of the season hanging out in the city’s outdoor cafes — which double as stunning shoot locations.) Unlike most Icelandic girls who prescribe to a strict style code of neutral colors and minimalism, Brynja takes her inspiration from the ‘50s. “That period has always inspired me — the music, the fashion,” she says. “To name a few of my muses: Audrey Hepburn, Marlene Dietrich, and Fiona Campbell-Walter.”
Photo: Courtesy of Anna Jia4/6Anna Jia, 22
“I’m a much bigger geek than people think,” says Chinese-Icelandic model and science student, Anna Jia. A frequent face in Iceland’s commercials and local magazine editorials, Anna spends her time between modeling in Reykjavik and working in China during her year off school, where she’s also studying to take exams to get into med school. “Med school has always been the goal, but lately I’m intrigued by the idea of biomedical engineering — how cool would it be to make robotic arms and legs?” raves the dark-haired beauty. Her Iceland culture must-see? “Airwaves in November,” she says of the music festival that draws the European masses to Reykjavik each winter. “Iceland is obsessed with music. You should definitely check out local bands Dream Wife and Kiasmos.” When asked how she describes the average Icelandic girl, her response is exactly what we’ve come to love and expect: “She’s nice, humble, a feminist — and a total girl boss.”
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@brietolina5/6Briet Olina, 20
Globetrotter and model-cum-stylist ingénue Briet Olina grew up between Reykjavik, California, and London before moving, at just 18, to New York where she now works as both a — self-made! — stylist and model, posing most recently for Issey Miyake, Spotify, and i-D magazine (for which she was tapped by friend and Hood by Air casting director Walter Pearce). “I assist several stylists and recently got to work on a Vogue Italia shoot,” she shares. When it comes to mastering the Reykavik look, Briet says the city’s chicest keep it low-key, but with a twist. “Icelandic girls love white sneakers, jeans, a big fur in the wintertime… and fanny packs! Seriously, a fanny pack worn across your shoulder is probably the biggest year-round trend.” Like many young creatives, vintage also plays a big role in shaping her sartorial sensibility. “I’m so inspired by what my friends are wearing; everything is thrifted. I don’t have a lot of money to spend on expensive clothes,” she says, laughing. “So it’s about being inventive.” The tradeoff, however, for Briet, who describes New York as “the perfect city”, is worth it. “I love New York — the seasons, the hustle and bustle of it. I like it all.”
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