If Emily in Paris is now a Scandi girl, surely there’s hope for everyone else trying to channel a little Copenhagen fashion flair? The August shows are always a hotbed of playful summer accessories (cuddly toys, anyone?) and an advance look at the breakout street-style trends to come (capri pants are here to stay), but amidst the look-at-me outfits chosen for the cameras, there are classic Danish wardrobe signifiers that crop up season after season. Here, the hallmarks of Copenhagen Fashion Week style that show you know your Saks Potts from your Stine Goya – and crucially, don’t cost a crippling amount of kroner to replicate.
Get-up-and-go energy. Ganni’s Ditte Reffstrup has long said that the Nordic mode of getting dressed revolves around picking pieces that make their wearer feel “capable and inspired”: capable of cycling from home to work to canal-side drinks while retaining some semblance of chicness; inspired thanks to a mood-boosting palette of bright Pantones and patterns that are absolutely necessary when temperatures drop to sub-zero. You will frequently see Ganni girls tearing along Nyhavn in waterproofs and lug-soled boots, but peel back the layers and there’s much to smile about. Lime bikes might not project the same air of can-do coolness, but chucking a sweet dress over a pair of trousers goes some way to suggest you’re ready for anything – or at least another Cynar spritz before the night ends.
An unashamed soft spot for scrunchies. See also: hair bows, bandanas and bonnets. Hair trends come and go, but the Danes are unwavering in their commitment to ’90s accessories. The bigger, the better; the craftier, the cooler. When not tying back wind-stricken locks, these bulbous bobbles sit pretty on wrists as an affordable alternative to bracelets. Smart!
A top-drawer mindset. Socks have the ability to make or break an outfit this season, but school-girlish ankle-grazers are a way of life for Danes dashing between districts in their jaunty flats. You will never hear a Copenhagen fashionphile complaining about blisters, because there’s no chance she’ll let a silly little shoe spoil her ride. Socks, like scrunchies, are a purse-friendly way of souping up an outfit that might read practical at first, but at it core says: fun.
Just one excellent dress. Bubble skirts are a fleeting fashion flirtation, but romantic dresses are forever, according to those twirling around Vesterbrø daily in their Asics-esque trainers. Look out for the quirky colourfulness of Stine Goya, balanced with the frilly appendages and saccharine trims of Cecilie Bahnsen. These pieces never stay pristine for long, but that’s their charm. Dresses should not be saved for best, according to the Danes.
A sense of humour – and sustainability. It could be blowing a gale and this fashion pack would still be in gingham. Ditto broderie anglaise and tulle. In the event of a snowstorm, the Nords will always find room for eclecticism via even more accessories, from frilly bags to crystal earrings, cuddly keyrings to Croc jibbitz. Yes, cheerful pieces make the best pictures, but it’s rare to see a Christianshavn girlie choose a black bag over a graphic one. She’ll always choose craft over logos too – something of a rarity among the fashion weeks during which the international guests try to out It-bag one another.
