What 6 stylists wear when they’re styling a show for CPHFW

Behind every great runway show is a great stylist. Yet, in many ways, stylists are the unsung heroes of fashion week, working tirelessly to bring the final looks together and rarely getting so much as a mention in a collection review. But the fact of the matter is, styling details – shoes and accessories, the way a bow is tied, the manner in which a shirt is tucked – can make or break a show. This is especially true at Copenhagen Fashion Week, where collections skew towards practical, everyday fare and magpie mix-and-match dressing reigns supreme both on the streets and on the runway.

But what do these brave behind-the-scenes mavens, who so meticulously dress a lineup of models, wear themselves on show day? We reached out to six CPHFW show stylists to find out what they’re wearing backstage and shed some light on their under-discussed process.

What show did you style?
Baum und Pferdgarten.


What was the overall mood of the styling?
I wanted to keep the styling very cool, but also keeping the quirkiness that epitomises Baum. For me it’s important that fashion never gets too serious, but that it’s fun, cool and quirky. 


What are you wearing?
I’m in my uniform of vintage Levis, a Flore Flore tank top, Toteme belt and Margiela Tabis.


Do you have a "uniform" for when you're styling or do you change it up depending on the job?
I’m basically always in my uniform. 



What practical considerations do you make when choosing an outfit to style a show?
It has to be comfortable and easy - I’m often on my knees fixing details so nothing that can’t get dirty. But for the show day I always change to these heels - just to add a little something after basically wearing the same outfit for a week and practical shoes during the prep days.


What are must-haves in your styling kit? Do you have one expected hack?
Good tights in 20 denier from Wolford! And seamless underwear in all skin tones, if any of the models forgot that.


What's one styling detail you put into this show that you're especially proud of?
We used these red mesh gloves from this small shop in Copenhagen called Handler, that were super old school but added a really nice touch to some of the coats and suits. I’m obsessed with gloves.

What show did you style?
I styled the ALIS 2.0 relaunch show.

What was the overall mood of the styling?
The starting point when coming up with styling for the show was keeping ALIS’s DNA intact: The energy of togetherness and ambition to create. My moodboard was a mix of 90s streetstyle and icons like Kurt Cobain. 

What are you wearing?
I try to always balance comfort and functionality. The set that I’m wearing today is a suit, knit and bag from Saint Laurent – heels for the picture but boots to run around on set.

Do you have a uniform when you’re styling or do you change it up depending on the job?
When I’m at a job styling, I try to adapt for consistency and practicality: neutral tones (black, grey, navy, brown), sturdy fabrics, and functional footwear. However, my outfits shift based on the show’s vibe and my overall mood, haha.

What practical considerations do you make when getting dressed on show day?
When choosing an outfit for styling a show, I often prioritise comfort. Pockets are key for extra space for pins, clips etc, and lightweight sneakers and any loose fit ensures movement and ease.

What are must-haves in your styling kit? Do you have one expected hack?
Oooh, I have many, but my favourite hack is wet wipes, which I always carry with me since I had kids – miracle spot remover!

What’s one styling detail in the show you’re especially proud of?
Styling details, for me, often make the show memorable. I like mixing different materials and textures, but still keeping an overall common thread throughout the looks that ties the collection together.

What show did you style?
I styled this season’s Forza Collective and CMMN SWDN shows.

What was the overall mood of the styling?
For the Forza show the overall styling mood was the powerful and sophisticated woman contra the rebellious “good” girl and having them face each other on common ground – feeling sexy and confident. There’s a tone of the past and what’s to come in the styling too; a 90s vibe and a sense of the future. I love working with colours and contrasts in my work, and [creative director] Kristoffer [Kongshaug] really allowed me to do that on the Forza show with picking up the collection’s main colours with matching stockings, etc.

For the CMMN SWDN show, I was very inspired by the art and sculptures in Thorvaldens Museum, where the show was held. The location was so enriching and matched the collection’s overall feeling so well. There was a sophisticated tone in the styling here too, but in a more stoic yet elegant way. I felt that working on the Cmmn Swdn show was like working on a painting together with [creative directors] Emma [Hedlund Bakir] and Saif [Bakir], where every piece, part and detail mattered as much. There’s a 70’s vibe in the suits and shirt collars, inspiration drawn from the Moroccan kaftan in the long shirts, which we wanted to enhance, and I took the multi-cultural references within the collection in consideration in the styling.

Casting impacts the styling mood in most cases, and in both shows this season the cast, and their personalities, really contributed to my vision.

What are you wearing?
For Forza Collective, I’m wearing a bomber jacket and shorts from Danish Oval Square, vintage vest and shoes by Filippa K. This bomber saved my day on this very cold location.

For Cmmn Swdn I’m wearing a go-to blazer from Filippa K, favourite sweater from Villao, and jeans from H&M Studio. My glasses are from Jacques Marie Mage. This is very much my general styling uniform.

Do you have a uniform when you’re styling or do you change it up depending on the job?
For show styling during fashion week, I often “dress up” a bit more as you want to look a bit nice for the people visiting backstage after the show. However, I still have to be able to move and bend in all positions in my outfit and I never wear uncomfortable garments. Back pockets and supporting shoes are essentials! I usually wear different layers so I can adjust to the location’s temperature, and prefer to wear all black, so I don’t get distracted by what I’m wearing myself in the styling process – like a blank canvas.

What are must-haves in your styling kit? Do you have one expected hack?
For shows in particular; double-sided tape, a black marker pen and safety pins, but I guess that’s pretty obvious. And a scissor of course, a small one.

What show did you style?
I styled the Won Hundred show at Copenhagen Fashion Week for the autumn/winter '25 season.


What was the overall mood of the styling?
My goal was to highlight and amplify the brand’s strong denim identity in a cool and slightly punk manner. We also aimed to incorporate the incredible leather pieces from the collection. This season marked the debut of Won Hundred’s new head designer, Katrine Lund Hansen, who crafted remarkable pieces for the collection


What are you wearing?
I started the morning by putting on a black top, a shirt from Our Legacy, and my perfect trousers in leather that I got from Katrine at Won hundred. They have the perfect fit and plenty of pockets, absolutely ideal for this kind of setting. For shoes, I went with my Balenciaga Knife Shoes. I always feel empowered by a sharp, pointed shoe, so they were the perfect choice for the morning of the show.


Once I arrived on-site, I had to switch into something more comfortable. A quick shoe change was necessary, so I put on my absolute fastest pair, my Margiela x Salomon sneakers. Layering is always key when working, so I threw on a Prada cardigan for some extra warmth. And one thing I always wear while working, styling, fittings etc, is my Prada belt bag. I’m obsessed with it and have had it for so many years now.


Do you have a uniform when you’re styling or do you change it up depending on the job?
I don’t have a strict “uniform,” but I definitely have a go-to formula when styling. Comfort and functionality are key, so I always start with a strong foundation – usually relaxed trousers with plenty of pockets, a great shirt, and a layering piece. Shoes are essential; I love a sharp, pointed shoe for the confidence it gives me, but I always have a more practical pair on hand for quick changes. My Prada belt bag is a constant – it’s been with me for years and is perfect for keeping essentials close.


If I’m only doing the styling and don’t need to move around as much, I can absolutely go for a more slick and less comfortable look. But when it comes to fittings, show days, or anything that requires me to move freely, I always go for a more practical, layered look.


What are must-haves in your styling kit? Do you have one expected hack?
In my styling kit, there are a few must-have items that I never leave behind. Double-sided tape is essential for keeping everything in place, especially when it comes to ensuring garments sit perfectly. Safety pins are another key tool; they help with quick adjustments, especially when you need to make something work in a rush.


One of my best tricks, though, is having a bunch of rubber bands around my wrist. They’re incredibly handy when you need to hold up a sleeve or make something tighter around the wrist. It’s a super quick fix, and I always have them on hand.


Also, I was in LA last fall, and they have these styling shops that are specifically tailored to stylists, which was an amazing experience. I always take the opportunity to stock up on my kit when I’m in LA and visit these incredible stores. I’d highly recommend it to any stylists out there.


What's one specific styling detail you put into this show that you're especially proud of?
One specific styling detail I’m especially proud of from this show was the mix of materials and the small details that tied everything together into a cohesive whole. I loved how we incorporated key details around the neck and hips – it added a slightly mysterious, cool vibe to the looks. Another thing I’m proud of is how we used thick wool, knitted socks. They’re such a classic Scandinavian item that often gets underestimated, but I think they make a super cool mix of taking something quite “unfashionable” and turning it into a statement piece. It was a great way to add an unexpected twist to the styling.

I also loved how we worked with layering – it added a depth to the looks while still feeling fresh. What really made it stand out, though, was how the styling kept an off-kilter vibe, not too polished or perfect. That punk, careless raw feeling where things almost look like they’re falling off but still manage to stay in place is something I’m really proud of. It created that beautiful, chaotic energy that made the whole collection come to life.

Related: 6 stand-out moments from Desiré Inglander's action packed Copenhagen Fashion Week

What show did you style?
Alectra Rothschild/Masculina [co-styled with designer Alectra Rothschild]

What was the overall mood of the styling?
Alectra Rothchild’s shows are punk and dramatic. This show was called Give That Girl a Gun and puts a spotlight on violence against trans people. Rage and decay meets glamour and delicacy. The styling for this show was giving glam and aggression: combat hardware, ripped stockings and purposely broken heels.

What are you wearing?
Masculina mini dress and jacket and vintage glasses, tights, belts and boots.

Do you have a uniform when you’re styling or do you change it up depending on the job?
I always wear a look that fits the vibe of the show. Last show I wore jeans, a jockstrap and a bra. This show was more high glam, so I wore a dress. Even though running around styling in heels is impractical AF, it’s also dramatic, loud and glamorous and that’s exactly what Masculina is all about. 

What practical considerations do you make when choosing an outfit to style a show?

Not to wear mascara because I cry a lot during rehearsals. Alectra’s shows are highly political and they make fashion feel important which is rare in this day and age. The Masculina community is family and when I see the collection and the girls on the runway for the first time I can't help but tear up.

What are must-haves in your styling kit? Do you have one expected hack?
Tape! For organising, tucking, styling and fixing! We have made stunning stilettos using rhinestones and sheer tape, duct tape makes a strappy sandal secure and way more punk. If a girl comes off the runway with a broken heel-strap after a performance. I will literally tape the shoes directly on to make her ready for the finale. It’s giving practicalities turned aesthetics. 

Alectra and I share a mantra which is: Work with what you’ve got! Last season we styled with a lot of thrifted lingerie and hosiery and for this show we used all the stockings that had been completely ripped and worn out from the last show. Lots of heels broke during that show too, and we used the broken shoes in the show and gave the girls the broken off heels in their hands as an accessory/weapon.

What's one specific styling detail you put into this show that you're especially proud of?
I thrifted and borrowed an infinite amount of studded belts with heavy hardware to create combat heels for the girls. I wanted to give them a feeling of combat boots but in a stiletto using leather belts that would both serve a practical purpose securing the shoes on the girls doing floor work in 14 cm heels (no platform!) and also give them hardware and weight to enhance the feeling of going to war; Weaponised heavy stilettos to stand their ground and stomp on the runway! To me, styling is about emphasising and expanding the vision. But my finest job as a stylist is to make the girls feel stunning and fierce above all. This means giving princess treatment while dressing them and making sure that the styling is aligned with who they are and amp that up.

What show did you style?
I styled the Bonnetje show.

What was the overall mood of the styling?
The mood was a mix of your HR boss at your office, Sharon Stone and Gucci 95.

What are you wearing?
I’m wearing jeans, Birkenstocks with shearling, cashmere sweater and a long Bonnetje coat – the location was very cold.

Do you have a uniform for when you're styling or do you change it up depending on what project you're working on?
I’m always trying to go a little bit undercover and not draw to much attention in my outfit when working with various brands.

What practical considerations do you make when choosing an outfit to style a show?
Always comfort, good shoes.

What are must-haves in your styling kit? Do you have one unexpected hack when it comes to styling shows in particular?
My styling kit must-haves are Panodil, iPhone charger, and rosa quarts stones for good vibes – besides all the necessary stuff !For styling shows, it’s always to be open to others opinions even though you I know how the outfit should look like in the end.

What's one specific styling detail you put into this show that you're especially proud of?
Definitely the pens in chains used in different ways.