Finishing date: July 2020. Styling and photographed by Natalia Salazar in January 2021.
The winter 2020-21 was memorable for many reasons. One, that it was the year with all the Snow. Glorious, a full month between January and February, and then, a week in March as well. Silences of falling crystals. The dignity of pine trees, branches heavy and threateningly low.
On the coldest day of winter, Natalia borrowed a car and came over to my side of town. We packed it full with hot chocolate and mandarins and drove to lake Flaten. The perfect place for a swim in summer. Now, covered in a soft white blanket. I crocheted a flowery sun hat last summer using linen-cotton yarn blend, wore it while weeding in the allotment garden. We didn’t get around to photographing it then, though, and then I had the thought: wouldn’t it be fun with the contrast? A summer sunbather in a snowdrift.
I don’t get cold easily. I’ve been told I run hot. But this is what happened: I wore the dress from Global Mamas, Accra, in the snow for about ten minutes and the juice in the glass froze to slush. That’s how cold it was. The pain in my feet, excruciating.
But I have to say: I look relaxed. And that January sunlight, reflected by the snow. Say what you will about the year we had had. At least I have no complaints about the winter weather.
Katja Malmborg 