An arctic dream

Following in the footsteps of the fierce female Polar explorers who inspired this season's collections, we ventured into the Arctic Circle Tromsø, Norway - for our campaign photography. Thanks to our partners, a work trip became the adventure of a lifetime. But did we see the Northern Lights?

Day 1 Real-life Xmas card: "And you'll be bringing all this?" the Transavia attendant asks us, more than a little amused. It's 6 AM and she's checking us in for our flight to Tromsø, Norway, also known as 'the Arctic Capital', according to our travel agent Voigt Travel. 'Us' includes a crew of eight and enough luggage for a serious polar expedition. Sure, the lingerie collections easily fit in one suitcase, but since we'll be shooting above the Arctic circle in temperatures of around -15°C, we need to keep our beloved model Aneta warm, and preferably alive. And so, besides a small mountain of winter wear and faux furs, we're bringing a pile of wireless heated blankets by Nikki Amsterdam that can heat up to 45°C. How 'cool' is that? The trip itself goes by like a whirlwind; quite literally, because we land in the middle of a snowstorm! (Compliments to the Transavia staff for keeping our spirits up and our nerves down). Under the expert guidance of our local tour operator Best Arctic, we first check out some of the shooting locations. Most of the time in the dark, since the sun sets at 2 pm. But when we finally arrive at our lodgings in Tromsø and see its gorgeously lit 'gingerbread houses' with their snow-covered roofs, Marlies exclaims: "This is a real-life Christmas card!"

Day 2 Sámi stew Call time: 5 AM. Location: a reindeer farm in the Lyngen Alps. Number of reindeer staring at us as we drive up in our ginormous 'Rockstar tour bus': 200. What a dream, to shoot in this patch of Arctic paradise! Best Arctic prides itself on its strong local connections, and we gain so much respect for the way the indigenous Sámi people have been living and working with their reindeer for centuries, grateful for the animals' strength, warmth and sustenance. While we ourselves have brought only fake furs, we appreciate the Sámi's zero-waste use of reindeer hides. Model Aneta's sunny disposition keeps her warm as she poses in the snow - with a little help from the heated blankets, of course - while we marvel at the ancient beauty of the animals. Having some warm, tasty biddos (a traditional Sámi stew) in a lavvu (a typical Sámi tent) is the perfect way to finish this dreamy first shooting day.

Day 3 Happy huskies More adorable animals the next day (a dogsledding team of happy huskies), but also the kind of heart-stopping cold that only boosts our admiration for all the brave, female explorers who ever ventured North. "Can our model pose with several dogs on a leash?" we naively ask when we arrive at the kennel. Oops. She would fly through the air like Santa's sleigh, we are told. Out in the snow, the gusts of wind make it feel like -20°C, and we are genuinely worried about Aneta in her G-string. All of sudden, the Czech beauty grabs a puppy from the pack and starts cuddling it, keeping herself warm while giving us the most joyful poses. Later, with Christmas cheer filling hearts and reindeer broth warming our bellies, we conclude another epic day in the Arctic circle.

Day 4 Viking heaven Once upon a time, formidable Vikings made knock-out moonshine in Northern Norway. 1000 years later, one of their descendants, a man named - what else? - Thor gives us an exciting tour of Aurora Spirit, the worlds Northernmost whisky distillery where we have traveled by ferry. Here, among the fine oak casks filled with Bivrost whiskey, we are shooting the 'Stay Juicy' edition of our Awaken Your Senses collection. "In ancient Norse, Bivrost meant 'shaking road'; the Viking word for the Northern Lights: a magical bridge between heaven and earth," Thor explains. As we watch Aneta posing away in hot pink and luscious lace, we know where heaven is: right here. But the Viking gods have one more surprise for us. That night, during a cable car ride from Tromsø, we see them dancing across the sky: spirals and curtains of green, red and purple lights. The otherworldly beauty of the Aurora Borealis.

Day 5 Arctic dream Are we ready to go back to the light pollution and traffic jams of the concrete jungle? Honestly, no. Leaving Tromsø and its gorgeous gingerbread houses, we wave goodbye to the fjords, the mountains and the endless skies. During check-in at the airport, we are greeted by the lovely Transavia staff with the same amusement over our luggage as five days ago. For a moment, we wonder: was it all a dream? But the images on our phones and in our hearts prove: the beauty of Northern Norway is very, very real.

Many thanks to Voigt Travel, Best Arctic, Nikki Amsterdam and Aurora Spirit Distillery.