Fashion Trends a Tourist Notices: Copenhagen
Words and images by Bibs Malone, Writer.
One of the most surprising pleasures of travelling is seeing the fashion styles and trends worn by people who live in the area you are visiting. For the reading week break, I have had the amazing opportunity to visit Copenhagen for the first time, and being able to witness the styles from another country has been delightful.
Copenhagen is known for its cold weather, so it is no surprise that coats are the main feature of everyone’s outfits. While walking the streets and visiting the shops, there was one style of coat that was clearly the most popular amongst the people of Copenhagen: the puffer jacket. I found that individuals of all ages and genders styled puffer jackets in ways that best suit their personal tastes. My favourite puffer jacket was this hot pink one being sold at a store called Birger Christensen. I have never seen a puffer jacket that has fit my own vibe before and seeing one while being here was an exciting experience. Copenhagen is definitely the place to visit if you are a lover of these jackets!
Another trend I observed worn by the people of Copenhagen were pastel colours. When I travel to a place known for its cold climate, I expect to see more dark and cool-toned colours incorporated into the clothes. However, this is not the case in Copenhagen. Colours typically associated with spring and summer such as pastel purple are available in almost every clothing store and are definitely more in stock than darker colours. Winter has long had an association with darker and more “gloomy” colours and seeing the total opposite was very fascinating. Denmark has long been named one of the happiest countries in the world, despite its long and hard winters. After visiting the shops in Copenhagen, I can’t help but wonder if the choice to not neglect the brighter colours in the winter has to do with an increase in joy.
The dresses sold in Copenhagen were also something to marvel at. Multiple shops carried dresses that were beyond unique. Rather than having traditional, elegant dresses for sale, the dresses sold around the city were youthful. My favourite was this long purple-sequin dress that looked like it could be worn to a movie premiere. The dresses I often see at stores are very safe, appropriate for most occasions. If I wanted to wear a unique dress, I’d have to order online. This leaves me with very little inspiration to explore outside the box. Seeing such a fun dress right in front of me has definitely led to an increase in my desire to be more creative with my dress choices.
Finally, almost all major cities have some form of tourist apparel. Since I grew up 40 minutes from New York City, I had to see if Copenhagen’s version of the tourist memorabilia was anything worthwhile. However, it seemed to be very similar to other cities’ choices. That doesn’t mean a Copenhagen sweatshirt wouldn’t be cool to own, just don’t expect anything unique.
Overall, in my short time visiting Denmark’s capital, I have noticed fashion trends that make Copenhagen stand out from anywhere else. Being a lover of fashion means one can notice the small things that make a city and grow a further appreciation to the diverse world of fashion.