001 :: Virgil Nicholas & Ann-Kathrine Ungermand

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We spent the day with friends and founder of VINNY's, Virgil Nicholas, and his family - wife Ann-Kathrine Ungermand and their two kids, Vinny and Aimé, as they wandered through their favourite corners of Copenhagen. 
Between playground breaks and familiar backstreets, they talked about the places they love and how style moves through the family.

Photography: Mark Dexter 

:: How would you describe your family's style?

If we were to define a family style, it would be Comfort meets Character. We’re all quite sensitive to materials, drawn to specialty fabrics, off-beat fits, unexpected colours and the odd grandma-made vest. At the same time, wellbeing is a big part of our daily life. The result is often eclectic outfits rooted in classic menswear but made playful and personal in the way only we seem to do. Vinny is the best example of that.

I’d describe our style as deeply personal. We’ve obviously built our kids’ wardrobes over the years, but both boys have strong opinions about what they will—and won’t—wear. And while we enjoy those rare moments where we manage to convince either Vinny or Aimé into something we’re excited about, we genuinely love seeing them form their own taste. That autonomy is its own kind of style.

:: How do you inspire each other when it comes to style?

We observe our kids a lot. Their morning choices are small masterclasses in instinctive dressing. Aimé looks up to his big brother in every way. And Vinny, born into all of this, puts looks together so subconsciously that his “busy” combinations sometimes end up being genius. That’s inspiring.

Other days we somehow all turn up wearing the same thing: all-canvas everything, jerseys, or full 1:1 colour stories. In other words, we definitely rub off on one another.

:: What do you look for in a kidswear brand?

We want our children to feel comfortable and free to roam, play, chill, and everything in between. A wardrobe doesn’t create that freedom on its own, but the way we see the world, clothes that complement your body and your being build confidence, ease and personality.

So we’re quite specific: cuts and shapes matter, even on basics. Materials and compositions need to hold up to real life. And we love fun accessories. Prints aren’t a big thing for us – we prefer patterns and fabrics to do the talking, so the character comes from the make rather than the graphic.

:: What do your mornings look like when it comes to getting everyone dressed?

Virgil wakes up early and is almost fully ready before anyone else. Then he starts waking the house. Vinny usually picks out his outfit before bed, so mornings are simple: wake up, bathroom, get dressed – always forgetting breakfast.

With Aimé, experience has taught us to feed him before getting him dressed; no matter the odds, he will get messy. We typically alternate between being downstairs with the kids and getting ready upstairs. And while Virgil is always up first, AK is somehow always the first one ready. It never gets old.

:: Favourite places in Copenhagen and why?

The Catholic cathedral — We used to live across from it when we lived in the city, and Vinny loved deciphering all the imagery around him.

The Natural History Museum & Botanical Garden — With AK working there, we’ve spent countless hours exploring butterflies, plants and quirky animal facts. We rarely visit the city without walking through the garden.

The Union Kitchen, Store Strandstræde — Simply the best truffle fries. Undisputed.

Kongens Have — A simple one, but it’s been our default green space for years: playground runs, ice creams, football, or just letting the boys burn energy.

:: On a final note and because it's December - do you have any favourite Christmas traditions?

We bake cookies. And we eat. A lot. December is basically one long meal at our house.

:: Go-to winter uniform?

For the kids: fleeces, chinos, beanies and grandma’s homemade knits. Always fluffy and roomy. We secretly envy their looks even more in winter.

:: Number one song you always circle back to during Christmas?

“I Nissernes Land” from a Danish TV show with 24 episodes, one for each day leading up to Christmas. Vinny loves that jam, so once he’s in full Xmas mode, you’ll hear it on repeat a handful of times a day.