by September is approaching, and so is fashion month. But before the style set heads to New York, London, Paris and Milan for the biennial blur of the catwalks, they hit Copenhagen Fashion Week first.
Seen as the start of the new season, Copenhagen is the capital of functional fashion – offering highly creative, yet polished, practical style inspiration for real women with busy schedules. Think Scandi chic bikers shouting from the past with sustainable fashion icon Pamela Anderson sitting front and center, as she did in a crisp all-white ensemble at Birger Christensen’s Rotate show.
“Here in Copenhagen, we accept people who are comfortable, but we want to look fashionable. We still want to look great while cycling,” said Rikke Baumgarten and Helle Hestehave, the design duo behind Baum Und Pferdgarten, a Danish staple since 1999.
“The Danes are great at finding the perfect balance between dressing up and dressing casually, and always looking completely effortless while doing it,” add Jeanette Madsen and Thora Valdimarsdottir of ROTATE Birger Christensen, a label that stretches between tailored office days and sequined evenings. out
As Copenhagen Fashion Week draws to a close, here are five of the most elegant and wearable trends seen on the colorful streets of the Danish capital.
Animal print
No longer the preserve of housewives and Mel B, animal print has been rebranded as a wardrobe staple. The neutral tones that include leopard, zebra and similar prints make them incredibly versatile. Check out 59-year-old Canadian model and influencer Grece Ghanem, who confidently wore zebra-print jeans paired with button-down denim between shows in Copenhagen. She is a great example of taking a style risk while maintaining a look and sophistication.
This pair of zebra print jeans from ROTATE Birger Christensen would look great with a casual t-shirt or button down. In addition, they are made with organic cotton – a sustainable choice.
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Animal print trousers, £190, Rotlaigh Birger Christensen, Self-identifiers
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Leopard maxi skirt, £35, Marks & Spencer
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Nice jumper, £159, Baum Und Pferdgarten
Syntax play
To add sculptural intrigue to any outfit, wear an artistically proportioned jacket. Be crafty with trompe l’oeil: length your bottom half through a cropped jacket with a high-waisted bottom or a dress, as with the fashion week guest above.
To create a slimming effect on your lower half, choose an oversized jacket – oversized blazers were big business on the streets of Copenhagen this season – and many attendees mixed the traditional corporate item with more delicate pieces, such as lace slips.
At ROTATE Birger Christensen, Madsen and Valdimarsdottir designed with a play of proportions in mind: “We have started to include ultra-feminine shapes in our collections: hourglass silhouettes, cinched waists, delicate fabrics and colors. We love the contrast of these very elegant shapes next to oversized, more masculine forms.”
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Herring stripe blazer, £380, Stay Birger Christensen
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Twin jacket, £375, Ganni
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Cropped wrap jacket, £189.50, Claudie Pierlot
Color drenching
The concept is simple: sticking to one color creates a continuous line from head to toe, giving the effect of lengthening the person. Get your colors done by a professional to get a tone that complements your complexion, or wear what makes you happy. Dressing for fun is a silly way to look good.
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Nanci jacket, £215, Stine Goya
Manu trousers, £200, Stine Goya
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Euphoria sunglasses, £70, With Specs
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Mary Jane shoes, £59, Charles & Keith
Long skirts
The fashion comeback of the 1990s may have ushered in some skeletons you’d rather not see again (low-rise trousers), but ankle-grazing skirts are one trend we’ll be glad to see back.
Nineties Channel minimalism à la Carolyn Bessette Kennedy with column skirts in luxurious fabrics, such as wool in the colder months and breezy linen and organic cotton in the summer. Up the love factor by trying a lace iteration, which graced several runways this season.
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Long skirt, £25.99, Mango
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Safia skirt, £270, Cefinn
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Floral skirt, £89.95, Massimo Dutti
Shiny Bermuda shorts
Shorts can be a struggle to wear without feeling overexposed or underdressed. The Danes have found the solution so elegantly: tailored Bermuda shorts. The longer hemline is flattering for those who do not want to bare all, and the formal cut and fabric make this clothing usually casual feel elevated.
They also play well with the current taste of trouser suits but work for warm weather – which is finally enjoying itself. Try pairing it with a ribbed vest and smooth mules for a simple yet chic look.
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Sahaveny shorts, £130, Samsøe Samsøe
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A pair of shorts, £95, COS
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Straight leg shorts, £124.50, Sandro
