Friendship Book: 9 Quick-fire Questions w/ Anne Wintlev, 37, Creative Producer

In the shower the other day, it hit me: while I’m finding my feet in this new city, why don’t I interview some of the people in my life who inspire me and in the process, get to know them a bit better? A perfect opportunity to share tips and acquired wisdom with anyone who’s as curious about people as I am.

Now I used to have a friendship book, or ‘vennebog’ as it’s called in Danish, that I would bring with me to school. I would get friends to fill in fascinating information about their music preferences, favourite food, crushes and what not. So much fun we had during breaks and in between classes, one of my all-time favourite memories from those long days spent in the school playground.

To set the scene, I’ve been staying with my older sister Anne and her family of 4 in their cosy apartment in Vesterbro; a very hip and happening part of Copenhagen. Each street corner has a restaurant more trendy than the next serving scandified world cuisines, artsy hangouts and uber chic sustainable fashion boutiques - everything a bona fide hipster could wish for and more!

Anne, her English husband and their two perfectly bilingual kids moved over here last year to start a new life together in Denmark. After 15 years of living and working in wonderfully cultural albeit chaotic London, they decided juggling family life with two careers might bring more balance in a smaller, more community-minded metropolis.

So to kick things off, I asked my sister the following 9 quick-fire questions during our evening walk around the city last night…

When was the last time you cried?

I last cried a few weeks ago after a particularly tough nursery handover. My daughter is taking a while to settle in and it’s really hard to leave her when she’s screaming for me. 

When was the last time you felt inspired?

I went to Louisiana recently and fell in love with Diane Arbus’ photography. Very moving and beautiful portraits of marginalised communities and sub cultures.

What was the last movie that moved you?

I really, really loved Joachim Trier’s The Worst Person In The World. I also really enjoyed Licorice Pizza.

Which song do you currently have on repeat?

I’m obsessed with Wet Leg and listen to their album a lot. I saw them a few weeks ago and they were so much fun live!

What’s your favourite Copenhagen hangout?

I love going to Statens Museum for Kunst. First pancakes and coffee at their cafe and then look at art. They also have a free art studio for kids and a great shop full of books and fun stationary.

What’s your morning/bedtime ritual?

I feel like this is an area of my life that could definitely be improved, with two kids I don’t get a lot of sleep or time to be particularly mindful! But I do try and do a quick workout every morning, it helps me connect my body and mind and sets me up for the day.

What are 3 things you couldn’t live without?

My phone, washing machine (because kids) and dishwasher. Very boring answers but without them life is significantly more chaotic and messy. Our washing machine is currently not working and it’s infuriating, ha!

What is your top life lesson so far?

Make peace with who you are. Never stop working on being the best version of yourself, don’t be a dick and love your quirks. They set you apart and will ultimately be your ticket to success. Also, don’t buy shit to fill a void. Same goes for eating. 

What is the last meal that made your heart sing?

Dishoom in Shoreditch a few months ago with you. Their House Black Daal, man…!

Nuff said. Stine x

The Mighty Move

So I moved to Denmark 2 months and 6 days ago today. After almost 10 years in London and 22 years in Brussels before that (including a stint in Luxembourg…), I felt it was time. Not to mention Brexit and a global pandemic. Back to my roots, back to the motherland. The country I am from and where I have spent countless holidays but have never actually lived. I am 34 now and as I went to register my new address, the system said 1990 was the year I officially left. I was 2 then. That’s a long a time ago… 

But I’m here now settling into my new existence as a Danish citizen on Danish ground, slowly moving away from titles such as ‘expat’, ‘foreigner’, ‘immigrant’ or whatever you choose to call what I used to be. And probably still am, to a certain extent? At least if my language is anything to go by, I really need to get down with the slang and the local lingo here.

One of the perks of living in my home country (still trying to get used to the word ‘home’) is that I can now vote in a general election for the first time in my life. An opportunity to finally get politically involved. Amazing! 

In my work as a personal stylist, my main focus is on allowing the client to be their authentic selves through what they choose to wear. I love getting to know people and their life stories, exploring their unique style to make them look and feel like the best version of themselves. Whatever that looks like and whatever the inspiration may be. I find the whole process soul soothing. Perhaps because it’s something I’ve been striving towards myself for as long as I can remember.

One of the lessons I’ve learnt well into my thirties is that I’ll probably always be a bit of an alien wherever I go and that that’s ok. It’s what makes me, well, me. Because home is where the heart is, right? And Danish pastry, of course.

Stine x