Denmark Diaries: Copenhagen Fashion Week

Dressing fashionably in the winter, I’ve decided, is not for the weak. Not that a change in season to summer implements a substantial improvement upon my personal style, but colder temperatures, increased layers for necessary practicality and looking good definitely don’t come hand in hand with my wardrobe. Truth be told, Denmark definitely puts me to shame. Stylistic winter streetwear can be found everywhere here, and what better place to be completely humbled, and thus search for much-needed inspiration, than during its largest fashion event: Copenhagen Fashion Week? 

Now of course CPHFW is largely an exclusive event, with famous models walking invite-only runways and industry professionals, press journalists or magazine editors occupying front row seats. An optimistic dream of one day being invited led me, alongside four similarly eager girls, to book a last minute Flixbus and instead try to scope out the week’s atmosphere – completely free and without need of our names on a guest list. 

After accidentally leaving my red nail polish on the counter at home, my gloves in the Uber to the bus stop (not off to a great start) and several hours of romanticising the journey as the 4pm darkness fell, we arrived in Copenhagen. Equipped with fur coats and winter boots (after the inevitable panic set in of “how to dress for a fashion week?”), we lugged our suitcases through the snow to our first stop: Netto.

Though not quite how you would envision the height of glamour, walking into the local corner shop felt like a show in itself. With long coats, red leather handbags, cropped fur jackets and elegant snoods, running an errand never looked so stylish. Cyclists sporting wool trenches and knitted scarves pedalled through Istedgade – a street once known as a red-light district transformed into a street of vibrance, diversity, and evidently now one of excellent taste in fashion. 

With alcohol and snacks acquired, we made a bee-line for our hotel, but not without stopping for pizza first. Local customers of the first place we stumbled into redirected us across the road to the “best pizza on the street”, aka. Tony’s Pizzeria. Despite not quite living up to the superlative, it did partially add to the hotel room pres aesthetic…

Concoctions of ginger beer, pink lemonade and gin were consumed (with some grievances) as the digital camera came out and the mirror selfies commenced. The outfits decided upon were: Romany in a sparkly silver skirt and a simple grey long-sleeve; Maddie in a khaki-grey sheer top, brown jorts and leather boots; Caitlyn in a long spaghetti strap black dress; Izzy in a brown sleeveless top and hair styled in a bun; and myself, in a red crop top, long black skirt and beloved fur jacket. Makeup, clothes and hair done, we ordered an uber to the night’s destination: Hangaren. Giggling as a fellow driver trialed a rather tragic pick-up line, “Unskyld, I think you lost something… my number”, we clamored into the car with music blasting and an unopened bottle of yellow chartreuse. By the time we arrived, the bottle was empty and lungs were sufficiently sung out.   

Dropped in what appeared to be the middle of nowhere, we trudged through the snow towards any faint remnants of music to the venue, once a former hangar that now resembles a grungy, renovated warehouse. Stickers were handed out by bouncers to cover phone cameras, the back of our hands were stamped and a ‘pre-entering’ selfie was taken (though we never actually remembered to take a ‘post-leaving’ selfie).

As most of my favourite nights out, the hours passed in a red and purple strobe light blur, ear-splittingly close to the DJ set (my first club experience of techno music), some horrendous photo-booth pictures, new friends made in the girls’ bathroom, and a lot of dancing. After a blurry uber ride, a questionable conversation with local danes accompanied by some even more questionable chips, and a giggling walk back home, I climbed into the top bunk, ears ringing, feet aching and the feeling of a night very much completed. 

As expected, I woke up the next morning with a slight hangover and a heavy reluctance to remove my eye mask. After one extra-shot cappuccino was downed and one pistachio croissant devoured at BUKA, a day of style searching and vintage shopping began. The places visited included (and very much weren’t exclusive to): 

• Palette 26 (vintage) 

• Reseller (vintage) 

• Dudette (new) – with unusual beading, design and intricate items, I would recommend a browse! I also became obsessed with its boots…

• Cecilie Bahnsen Boutique (new)

• Mads Norgard (new) – with up to 60% discounts, Izzy found a steal of a coat here! 

• By Malene Birger (new)

• Venderbys (new) – a must-go to when in Copenhagen, with very pretty, delicate, and pinterest-style lace, wool-blends, pastels and linen. 

• Illum Department Store (new)

• Wasteland (vintage) – an honorary mention, but I bought a favourite, affordable top of mine here!  

Following a successful day of browsing, much self-discipline and many moments spent behind changing room curtains, we caught a bus back to Aarhus – a housemate haul ready to deliver and winter outfit inspiration suitably gained.