Meeting with Danish fashion designer Cecilie Bahnsen
The fashion she designs is no-season and floral, paired with trainers or flip-flops. Her shopping and style tips range from Copenhagen to Paris to Tokyo.
by Lisa Corva
DISTINCTIVE SIGNS OF MY STYLE
My clothes. I wear the fashion I design. No-season, feminine, floral dresses, to which I simply add a jumper in winter. And I always have flat shoes: my creations are designed for trainers or flip-flops. I wear them to every occasion: to a party or to pick up my son from kindergarten.
MY STYLE ICON
I could say Patti Smith. But actually my real style icon is my mother, Dorthe. In certain 1970s photos, she had a very dramatic velvet cape that I always liked. Rebellious and romantic at the same time, one of those women suspended between hyper-femininity and cool cool nonchalance, a mix that I love (Patti Smith's book, Il pane degli angeli, 23.75 euro, bompiani.it, came out on 4 November).
THE VIEW THAT INSPIRES ME
Hellerup Havn, a small harbour in Copenhagen. There is a rose garden there where the petals are caressed by the sea wind. I often go there to see the changing seasons, to get inspiration, to breathe in nature.
Il roseto del porto di Hellerup. ©Drlectin/wikimedia commons
AN OBJECT FROM WHICH I NEVER SEPARATE MYSELF
Royal Copenhagen cups and plates, inherited from grandma. It is the historical Danish porcelain brand, founded by the queen 250 years ago. I use the mugs with the classic blue and white designs every morning, a kind of daily ritual (two mugs, Christmas 2025 collection, EUR 89, royalcopenhagen.com).
LAST OBJECT I PURCHASED AND LOVED
One of the decorative corolla-shaped objects by Yukari Hotta, a Japanese artist who lives in Copenhagen and works with ceramics (wall art flowers, 350 to 900 euros each depending on size, @yukarihotta).
Oggetto decorativo floreale, YUKARI HOTTA (da350 a 900 €
And THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING
A ring by Sophie Bille Brahe, Copenhagen jewellery designer and dear friend of mine. But I haven't decided which one yet. Sophie has a gold and diamond collection in which each ring has a letter of the alphabet on it. Perhaps I would like to have it with the initial of my son's name: he is five years old and has an old Danish name, Ib (sophiebillebrahe.com).
Anello in oro e diamanti con le lettere dell’alfabeto, SOPHIE BILLE BRAHE.
An UNFORGETTABLE PLACE WHERE I HAVE TRAVELED RECENTLY
The island of Naoshima in Japan, in the Seto Inland Sea, with an incredible collection of contemporary art, from James Turrell to Kusama Yayoi, and the art direction of Tadao Andō. I still remember, when we arrived, the sound of the rain on the artworks, in the open air: a sensory experience (double room, Oval Room, Benesse House, 920 euros, benesse-artsite.jp).
The MOST BEAUTIFUL GIFT MADE RECENTLY
A holiday: creating memories that stay. I always try to give my partner trips, and now there are three of us going, with our baby. The latest destination, Crete (Villa Ammos in Ferma, 12 rooms, one week, EUR 18,500, lecollectionist.com).
And WHAT I RECEIVED
A book that my partner, Daniel Frost, who is an illustrator for children, created especially for me, for my birthday, with drawings by him and our son. Beautiful (among those on the market, The Trouble of Mini Cowboy by Daniel Frost, 18 euros, babalibri.it; @danielfrostillustration).
“I guai di Mini Cowboy” di Daniel Frost (18€, su babalibri.it).
A PLEASURE I WOULD NEVER GIVE UP
Ice cream! I live in Northern Europe, so this is how I celebrate every sunny day in Copenhagen. My favourite flavour is lemon, it tastes of summer and lightness (Ismageriet Kødbyen is one of the top ice cream shops in the city, ismageriet.dk).
my favourite beauty products
Those of Rowse, an organic and natural Spanish brand. There are two of them and I always carry them in my bag. Lip & Cheek Balm (22 euros), which can be used for both lips and face. Plus a spray oil, Summer Hydrating Mist (40 euro), based on aloe, apricot and carrot, which I also use in winter. I don't wear make-up, no obvious make-up: you can be feminine even without lipstick (rowse.co).
Lip & Cheek Balm Pink Blush, ROWSE (22 €).
I WOULD NEVER GO OUT OF THE HOME WITHOUT...
True freedom, I confess, is to leave the house with as little as possible: in fact, that's why I love pockets, even in clothes. I tend to forget things, but I found the perfect solution by creating a micro-bag where I put my mobile phone, keys, money, sometimes a toy. And always a small notebook, to jot down thoughts or sketch ideas for the collection (Mini Bonsack, Cecilie Bahnsen X Porter, 495 euro, ceciliebahnsen.com).
Mini Bonsack, CECILIE BAHNSEN X PORTER (495 €).
IN MY REFRIGERATOR I ALWAYS FIND IT
Fruits and vegetables in season. There are services that bring home boxes of produce from zero-mile farmers, and I love to cook according to the rhythm of the seasons. In autumn there are pumpkins and apples, in spring and summer there is never a shortage of strawberries and fresh peas (a green oasis to visit in Copenhagen: the botanical garden, snm.dk/en/botanical-garden).
The FIRST WEBSITE/APP THAT I LOOK AT IN THE MORNING
I try not to look at apps early in the morning, because I want to enjoy some family time. But the first app I open is Instagram, work and play together.
LAST MEAL THAT IMPRESSED ME
A dinner at Mater's in Seoul, a city where I often go for work. The chef is Kim Yeong-bin, who has managed to bring together Asian and Nordic cuisine in his dishes. Asian Nordic Dining, then: a delight (@mater_restaurant).
l’amuse-bouche del ristorante Mater di Seoul.
My favourite room in my home
Our large living room, with the open kitchen, the table on which my partner works and draws, and a corner for games. Everywhere, paintings, drawings and ceramics from friends.
The BEST SOUVENIR I HAVE TAKEN FROM A TRIP
A vintage gardening manual. They are my passion, I look for them everywhere, in flea markets or second-hand bookshops. I even bought some in Tokyo. I especially like them if the flowers are painted or drawn, fairy-like (Vintage English Garden Flowers Book, 1948, with illustrations by John Nash, £105, on abebooks.co.uk).
The book on my bedside table
This Should be Written in the Present Tense, by Helle Helle. She is a Danish writer, but we are reading the novel in English. Because Daniel is British and we like to share the same book and talk about it in the evening with a glass of wine (16.99 euros, amazon.com).
“This Should be Written in the Present Tense” di Helle Helle ( 16,99€ su Amazon.it)
The ARTIST I WOULD COLLECT IF I COULD
At the beginning of the year I saw an exhibition by Danielle Mckinney at the Kunsthal in Copenhagen that impressed me a lot: a black American artist, powerful portraits. I also really like the sculptor Sonja Ferlov Mancoba, who lived between Paris and Denmark, and has worked mainly since the 1950s: there is a work of hers in my neighbourhood, in the green of Østerbro. And the Swedish painter Mama Andersson. In short, hard to choose! (Danielle Mckinney's The Fool portrait, 2021, was auctioned in May at Christie's for a value of EUR 207,900, christies.com; kunsthaln.dk).
“Memoir” (2023), di Danielle Mckinney al Rose Art Museum. ©Courtesy Marianne Boesky Gallery, New York and Aspen, and Galerie Max Hetzler, Berlin | Paris | London | Marfa. © Danielle Mckinney. Photo credit: Pierre LeHors.
MUSEUM I FIND MOST INTERESTING AT THE MOMENT
SMK, or Statens Museum for Kunst, the national museum in Copenhagen. There I recently saw an exhibition entitled Michelangelo Imperfect: the fascination of his unfinished sculptures, the thrill of creation. I had admired the Pietà Rondanini in Milan, and found that mystery again (smk.dk).
Statens Museum for Kunst di Copenhagen. Courtesy SMK
If I DID NOT LIVE IN COPENHAGEN
I would live in Tokyo, or Paris. Two cities that I feel are mine. Not only because of the art, the culture, the design. But also because I go there often for work, and by now I know the streets, I move around without getting lost: the city speaks to me.
If I WASN'T A STYLIST
I would love to teach. It's great to pass on what you know to others; to give, but also to learn, especially from children. It's my sister's job. And it has always fascinated me too.
