On Thursday, during my late-afternoon break, I ventured on my own to Strøget, the striking pedestrian street at the heart of Copenhagen. But, here is the unrelated tip of the day: don't fall into the tourist trap. Wander into side streets, seek hidden alleys, and don't be afraid to come into places that are past the tip of your nose. I found a couple of stores showcasing collections. It was charming. Unfortunately for me, I had no way to document this for my camera had run out of battery. However, lucky for you, I followed fashion week online thereafter and I can give you a sense of what I thought it was all about.
Nordic fashion tends to be summarized to its most undeniable symbol: the black outfit. While this is true, I have to say that what I saw from CPH Fashion Week was more than just models in black ensembles. Don't think black in terms of overly simple, dark, or a lack of effort. It is quite the opposite, the black outfit comes to signify the Nordic principles of a fashion aesthetic that is comfortable; layered pieces that add both rich detail and depth to a look; an exploration of textures; and the overall sense of a type of fashion that is by people for all types of people. In fact, don't come into CPH Fashion Week expecting the frenzied drama and over the top hype relevant to New York Fashion Week. My experience here was laid-back and relaxed. "Democratic" and "accessible" were the buzzwords constantly uttered by the designers, the models and seasoned Copenhagenites here to describe it (me). If I had to describe it I would say it is down-to-earth streetwear. Here are my favorite looks from different designers:
On Friday I went out with some friends to a fashion show/party, too. It was called the Unfair Fashion Show, where they were showcasing underground designers with a more alternative voice. It was neat to see a more experimental art scene too, parallel to the main names that were part of the program. It was in the meat-packing district aka the cool and "hip" side of the city. As a collective of artists and designers, the show put up quite a number of looks that gave a clear idea as to what does fashion from the group up look like. The place was hip, a sort of warehouse with angled and round walls, and a 'runway'made entirely from repurposed wood pallets. The crowd hovered somewhere in between the eccentric art student girl with their rugged male friends and the intriguing fashionistas what are probably cool to talk to you. Afterwards, at the rhythm of the flickering candle light and projections, a DJ played funky electronic tunes that got me all dancing. Here are some snaps of that: