To see the city from this vantage point is to see in its entirety — spread out serenely along the horizon in the stark afternoon light. Somehow, its storied past and present have magically arranged themselves in front of us, like students lined up for a class photo. There’s the modern, glass-encased façade of the Royal Danish Playhouse, and there’s the copper green domed head of Frederik’s Church, peering from the back row. Canal cruises, jet skis, and motor boats drift down the harbor, churning fat white curls in the sun-speckled water. 

When it comes to scenic locations, OpéraSPORT sure knows how to pick ’em. Am I surprised by the selection, though? Not one iota. We were almost here last season — just a three-minute walk away — at the Copenhagen Opera House, where the brand hosted its fall-winter show. It’s an obvious, if not on the nose, choice for OpéraSPORT, which has drama, performance, and theater built into its name. The show, set inside the building’s glass-enclosed space, had moments of sheer beauty that I still remember now as we ready ourselves for the show to start.

“He came from the sunset … He came from the sea,”  we hear the smooth, rich crooning voice of actress Bonnie Beecher diffuse into a melancholic hum as the models step onto the runway, weaving through the park’s organically shaped green beds. These first few looks are purely OpéraSPORT. Easy-but-elevated dresses, shaping gently to the body. Reruns of off-set, asymmetrical necklines and ruched detailing snaking up and down. A smattering of denim, most notably a pair of stellar capris.

Every OpéraSPORT collection I’ve seen thus far has adhered to the romantic and consistent aesthetic codes of the brand. Sporty sophistication is what creative directors and friends Awa Malina Stelter and Stephanie Gundelach set out to accomplish when they launched the brand back in 2019. With Stephanie in Paris and Awa in Copenhagen, the duo combined the essence of both cities, focusing on quality pieces made in small batches from recycled and organic materials. 

This season, Awa and Stephanie were inspired by another Danish green space: the Exillion Garden. A private baroque garden in Søllerød, it’s tucked-away gem full of winding paths, gorgeous flowers, and picturesque fountains and statues. The “harmonious integration of nature and architecture” informed much of this collection’s silhouettes.

We see this shine through floral-quilted vegan leather, which is cut into a stunningly architectural vest and a statement jacket. Cherry reds, blasts of them, imbued the collection with a refreshing summer spirit. We see the colorway injected into silky skirts, a romantic, off-the-shoulder top, and an effortless ruched dress. Speaking of, the brand’s expanded dress offering is also noteworthy — a welcome change, given just how good these pieces are. 

What I loved most

From picking a knockout of a venue to experimenting with more refined and sophisticated silhouettes (oh, the way they billowed with the wind), Awa and Stephanie sent an emotional current through the crowd. The reason their take on casual elegance has been so effective is because the duo have managed to keep the garments perfectly wearable — but put wit into the details.