Catching Up With Copenhagen Fashion Darling, Cecilie Bahnsen
The designer sits with WWD during a visit to New York.
things like that. I went to the Guggenheim, which I wanted to see for the interior and the building design. This weekend we are going to go out of the city to the Storm King Art Center. I always love the combination of art and nature so I hope it will be inspiring.
WWD: What do you think about New Yorkers' style, now that you have spent a bit more time here?
C.B.: Something that seems very New York is how people feel free to wear a beautiful dress on a Monday. I love Denmark but we all sort of have a similar approach to wearing dresses and I like to see new and different ways of how people can do it. You are allowed here to mix a lot more styles, and it's super inspiring. I saw this lady wore one of my tulle dresses over a hoodie and I would have never thought to do that!
WWD: How do you think your designs resonate in the U.S.?
C.B: It's really interesting, since February the U.S. has become our biggest market [surpassing Japan]. People are really reacting to my stuff because it's feminine but quite minimal and you don't feel too overdressed or too girly. Our cotton pieces are doing really well; it's a collection that's more for everyday.
WWD: What are your plans for the upcoming months? How do you see yourself growing?
C.B: I'm really excited for the next few months in my studio creating the fall-winter collection, which allows me a lot more layering because it's the knitwear, outwear, shoes, socks — a much more complex collection than spring.
I'm focused now on crafting much more of a total look, an effortless kind of way of dressing without putting too much jewelry or bags. We will focus on shoe partnerships and our outerwear. We plan to look into installations and interesting pop-ups in key stores for the next year as a good retail testing ground.
For me it's about quality, longevity and a love for dressing. In the beginning people would ask me, ‘What's the new thing?' but for me I'm building on what we already have and making the universe stronger by adding pieces each time without turning the brand on its head. The collections evolve but one is not too far off from the other. It's about growing with the brand while keeping it close to my heart.