There is a moment in every international fashion week where the madness of rushing around a foreign city in pursuit of the latest designer collections supersedes all logic.
These periods of jet-lagged-induced delirium often come at the latter half of the week, when you can’t tell your acutes from your graves in your accents or struggle to discern quite what the conversion rate is.
It’s in these periods of chaos when the universe presents you with a moment of quiet reprieve—an instance where you didn’t know you needed it, but fate handed you exactly what you required. Cecilie Bahnsen’s Copenhagen Fashion Week ‘presentation’ was one such moment.
I say ‘presentation’ in inverted commas as Bahnsen eschewed the traditional runway format for an intimate ‘life session’ musical performance.
The acoustic performance recreated the ambience of her Fall/Winter 2023 show, presented earlier this year in Paris, in the serene setting of an idyllic Scandi cottage.
“Following the FW23 show in Paris, I still remember the goosebumps and rush of emotions I felt when I first heard Suki’s voice and music live,” Bahnsen told GRAZIA on the power of Parisienne ‘It’ girl and musician Suki, a.k.a model Jade Rabarivelo.
“It was like poetry. Personal, intimate and beautiful. I wanted to re-create this feeling in Copenhagen.”
The sensation Bahnsen conjured through tapping Suki to re-enact her FW23 performance—right down to the very look she wore on the runway—was one of a quiet reprieve, a stoic tension between the chaos of the week and the intimate shelter she had created for her community.
For an hour, between sips of native wine and conversations with Danish creatives, Bahnsen transcended us in time in her idealized universe.
The sonic mode was Suki’s bedroom electronica meets dream-pop hybrid, the sartorial dress code was Bahnsen’s romantically feminine vocabulary of couture-level detailing, and the shoe du jour was Bahnsen’s recently unveiled GT-2160™ shoe in collection with ASCIS.
“I think they sold out in five minutes!” Bahnsen told me as we mused over the resplendent Mary Jane-meets-athletic sneaker.
This style wasn’t available back in March for the FW23 show, but here, in Bahnsen’s hometown, the Parisian runway felt like a more acute exploration of who she is, both as a brand and as a designer.
“I really wanted to create a special moment for our community and friends, exploring notions of creativity, artistry and craftsmanship in the form of a live concert,” Bahnsen noted.
“We’re a very special house where Brodie Sessions take place and where so many amazing musicians have performed. Many of our guests will be dressed in the FW23 collection, becoming a part of the presentation and moment together with us.”
For Bahnsen, this style of stripped-back event is more akin to the DNA of the brand. This wasn’t simply an exclusive soirée, but a considered afternoon to reflect on Bahnsen’s progression from local hero to international maven.
“I showed at CPHFW for many seasons, it’s the city where I grew up and I’m so proud to still base my brand in Copenhagen,” Bahnsen explained, touching on how the event served as a ‘give back’ for those most loyal sartorial adherents.
Away from the gaggle of street style photographers or the frantic energy of a runway show, Bahnsen’s design methodology sung: the ordinary moments of connecting with a long-distance friend of sparkling grape juice, and wearing your nicest frock to get up and stay home is where Bahnsen’s panoply of “everyday couture” really shines.
“I always design with every day in mind – it’s important that people feel like they can wear our clothes on a Monday going to the market, as much as a Saturday evening going to a party. I want the clothes to be loved, lived in and passed on!”
Here, in the three-story ‘hygge’ style bucolic retreat, Bahnsen accomplished her mission.
