My CPHFW Diary: Isabella Rose Davey

Meet Isabella Rose Davey, the fiery-haired fashionista making sure Copenhagen Fashion Week runs on time. As Communications Director and Head of Digital for the Scandinavian showcase, this means she’s at every event, party and show happening on the city’s jam-packed fashion week schedule. Who better, then, to take us through a whirlwind diary of the latest fashion week in the Scandi style capital…

8pm: POV: It’s 8pm, me and my team are seven pizzas in, and I’m sitting at the tech deck going over the running order of the digital schedule. Inside, I’m freaking out about all the last minute errands, actions and emails that need to be done, organized and sent before kick off of the AW22 season of Copenhagen Fashion Week. Sound familiar? Welcome to my world – I head up Communications and Digital at the fashion week now famed for forward-thinking and innovative talent, and it’s the night before the first day of the schedule. While my nerves never fail to jump on the cusp of each season, my team swells to 14 super cool women who completely rock at their jobs. Not only that, they’re also excellent company for a late night takeaway and a much-needed beer.

11pm: Time to wrap up for the night – the ever-cool GANNI gang have kindly lent me some threads to get through the three days, and the elegant AERON team have sent me the most beautiful jacket. This will 100% distract from the massive bags under my eyes.

7:30am: Showtime baby – and it has snowed all night! Yikes – these Jil Sander boots are going to be fun to walk in... Luckily I am a street rat at heart and thus smash out final emails in the office in my clogs. The boots can wait until the last minute.

9am: Emails! Aargh! Check in on the live feed at the tech deck. All going swimmingly – bless my organized and in-control team.

1:30pm: Backstage at The Garment and super babe Sophia Roe is putting last touches on her collection for its catwalk debut. Good luck Sophia!

6:30pm: One of the most exciting designers on the schedule, (di)vision, is presenting in the Planetarium of Copenhagen – excellent venue, and the looks are served strong backstage. Taking upcycling to new, contemporized and relevant levels, brother and sister duo Simon and Nana Wick have built a foundation of friends, creatives and expression within their brand, making it one of the most sought-after labels in the city.

7:20pm: Show starts – a little late! – I am crouched in front of the photographers in the pit ensuring the livestream goes through to YouTube who are streaming our full schedule. Feet hurting a bit now, and glutes definitely not as strong as they used to be. After the show ends I try to get up but have a dead leg: memo to self – more workouts.

8:27pm: I have changed in a loo (glamorous) and am at the Swedish Embassy where Copenhagen Fashion Week are hosting a dinner to celebrate emerging design talent with our co-hosts the Swedish Fashion Council. Bless Kerne.milk for lending me a beautiful blue top and for Our Legacy cutting the best pants. Feet in trusty Marc Jacobs, first broken in many years ago at a LOVE Magazine party in Paris. Foolproof.

At the dinner I am joined by my wonderful international guest program, which includes i-D, Dazed, Dazed Korea L’Officiel Hommes and Vogue as well as the incredible Ida Petersson, Browns’ Buying Director, alongside the rising stars of the Nordics Hoda Kova, Rave Review, Selam Fessahaye amongst others. 

12:03am: In a cab! French exit style. Get home, emails until 1am and fall asleep like a stone. Day one a success!

11:03am: Not hungover as such, but a distinct tiredness sets in as day two commences. Only one thing for it – ice cold cola. Backstage at Stine Goya cheers me up – green and pink! Spectacular bedfellows! – as does the exceptional A. Roege Hove. Reinterpreting knitwear into a sexy new aesthetic, Amalie’s brand has only gone from strength to strength since it was launched two years ago. A quick good luck and then the catwalk begins – a memorable show.

2:14pm: Saks Potts opens their show at the beautiful Opera House with supermodel Erin Wasson – As Allyson Shiffman at Vogue Scandinavia would say: Iconic! The sun comes through the glass façade – a pretty spectacular moment. 

8:20pm: Hugs for my dear friend, the Design Director of Wood Wood for the showcase that marks the brand’s 20th anniversary. She’s tired, I’m tired – there is only one thing for it: meet in the pub later to celebrate.

8:40pm: Stop by Frama to see their beautiful set up for an intimate dinner with a selection of creatives: one of the most exciting design studios in the Nordics, the night there will be wonderful – sadly I am due back at the office to review the day’s images sent by the photographers, prep the team for tomorrow and send the press assets out. We all have a burger, I get sauce on my skirt, what's new!

11:03pm: I’ve wrapped up everything in the office and head to Apollo for a quick night cap – it turns out half of fashion week is there! Who needs a show when the action is happening in the chance encounters between buyers, writers, designers and their teams standing under outdoor heaters? Magic!

3:40pm: Backstage at Jade Cropper, our dedicated Talent Slot for the season: this was the energy I needed to see! The models are alive and sizzling with positive energy, all signs point to a fabulous show. Bump into the eve- inspiring Mona M. Ali – a woman who does it all. Mona set up the first diverse and inclusive model agency of the Nordics and is the diversity editor for Vogue Scandinavia. She is also a lot of fun and has the most infectious smile. Hi Mona!

3:55pm: This reminder is what everyone needed to see today – be confident, sexy, fierce! Love you Jade!

4:48pm: On to Henrik Vibskov – the king of the unexpected, a Vibskov show is always unique due to his incredible, laterally-minded vision. Science, music, innovation, cosmic dreamer - all rolled into 14 minutes. The shoes are fantastic, like the underside of an octopus.

6:17: Last catwalk of fashion week at Martin Asbjorn! I am with Anna from my team setting up the livestream on TikTok – we brokered a partnership which has seen us launch our TikTok channel this season. Bringing in four exciting TikTok creatives to guest host on our channel, we have had street style, behind the scenes, live from the front rows and everything in between. No dancing though – I’m too old for that.

8:01pm: The seasonal tradition, watching the GANNI show with my team, heralding the end of a monster edition!

12:00pm: To casa GANNI to meet with fashion editor of Dazed Korea and the GANNI babes. It’s raining outside but is so colourful and warm in the GANNI block – they have popcorn and beer too!

7:15pm: Finally home – the feet have given in and I’m back in the clogs. Apartment looks like 500 badgers moved in and made nests in clothing piles, and for some reason there are dust balls everywhere (how??) so I sort of half clean and promptly pass out. Phone goes off – “come for a drink tonight?” Absolutely no hope. TEKLA pajamas on (I mean, they practically come with your Danish residency visa, they are so eponymous to the city) and I am out like a light. Fabulous season, inspiring people, terrible weather (you can’t have it all!) but the absolute best team. The highlights? Emerging talent getting the spotlight they deserve, collaborating with a host of talented individuals across so many means of communication, and thirdly, uniting people from all across the world to celebrate creativity in all its manifestations. See you next season y’all!

Related Reading:

The A-Z Of Fashion Month SS22
24 Hours With… GANNI’s Ditte Reffstrup
6 Reasons To Love London Fashion Week  

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