5 Trends To Note From Copenhagen Fashion Week

Main image (left to right): Lovechild 1979, A Roege Hove, Lovechild 1979. 

All eyes are on the skirt for spring summer 2024. Skirts come in all shapes and sizes for the new season and command attention. See the ankle length styles that were paired with rugby shirts and waist-bags at Saks Potts. “The main takeaway so far is that the dress dominance is slowly waning with the focus shifting towards skirts in all silhouettes and lengths. Skirts were layered over jeans at Saks Potts, sheer or sleek at Remain and abbreviated at Kernemilk,” says fashion and celebrity stylist Corina Gaffey from the shows at Copenhagen. 

Irish fashion and celebrity stylist Corina Gaffey attending Copenhagen Fashion Week. 

Image: The Remain spring summer 2024 fashion show at Copenhagen Fashion Week. Credit: James Cochrane.

At Remain Birger Christensen skirt suits favoured blazers that nipped at the waist, hourglass style, hugging the feminine form. It’s a key change from the decidedly mannish tailoring that’s set to rule the roost for autumn. And, undoubtedly, is far easier to wear.

Image: The A Roege Hove spring summer 2024 runway show at Copenhagen Fashion Week. 

Copenhagen, compared to other fashion weeks like Paris or Milan, has always leaned into the more practical side of dressing – albeit, with a twist – and this season so far seems to be no exception. At A Roege Hove, knitwear was a key component, with ribbed knit tops, dresses and skirts ruling the runway. It’s a tran-seasonal trend that gives bang for your buck in the wearability stakes – fitting as the August shows at Copenhagen so far have been dominated by rainy weather. 

Image: The Lovechild 1979 spring summer 2024 fashion show at Copenhagen Fashion Week. Credit: James Cochrane.

It wouldn’t be Copenhagen without a dash of pared-back dressing. While many of the shows so far have leaned into colour and pattern, the antithesis of these frothy, OTT creations have been the muted colours and simple shapes shown at brands like Lovechild 1979. “Minimalistic forms and maximalist prints battle against each other, with brands like Lovechild, Remain, and Herskind bringing the pared-back aesthetic,” says Gaffey. This tried and tested look was given an update via some layering – jackets worn with trousers and a skirt layered on top.

Forget acid brights, the hues of yellow coming to the fore for spring are low-key and mellow, bringing to mind comfortable, luxurious outfits designed for slow living. This was personified at Skall Studio, where yellow trench coats, suiting and sarong-style skirts (a definite Y2K throwback!) mingled with low-key T-shirts and crisp white shirting: sign us up. 

Kara O’Sullivan, co-founder of fashion retail company Greens Are Good For You at the Stine Goya SS24 show.

“The standout show for me this season was without a doubt Stine Goya. Each season the brands get more and more creative and think outside the box when it comes to show settings and locations, but this time Stine Goya brought things closer to home. The couple behind the brand showed their SS24 collection on the street they live on, in the form of a neighbourhood dinner party. Models emerged from the neighbours’ houses to showcase the latest collection, and ultimately took a seat at the tables in the centre of the runway. The tablescape was colourful to match the collection, with personalised napkins, an array of fruit and vegetables, neon juices and jelly in almost every shade imaginable. It was a truly original presentation which showcased the best Copenhagen has to offer; colour, joy, something unexpected and it truly represented the way Danes like to live which is known as hygge. This represents taking time away from the chaos and rush of daily life to be together with people you care about, and to enjoy life’s simpler pleasures. A pure joy to experience, and a show I’ll never forget!”