Baum und Pferdgarten ‘Office Olympics’ @ SS25 CPHFW
Image Credit: Vogue
Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com
Women’s strength was shining in Baum und Pferdgarten’s inclusive Paris 2024 Olympic-inspired collection at Copenhagen Fashion Week this August.
Danish designers Rikke Baumgarten and Helle Hestehave of Baum und Pferdgarten are known for their quirky cult-classic themes and muses from Wes Anderson’s Margot Tenenbaum, nautical nationalism, to now an entire collection inspired by the diversity, women’s domineering sports and the glitz and glamour of the Paris 2024 Olympics—airing the fashionably French closing ceremony just days after the collection’s debut. Juxtaposing sportswear, formal wear and streetwear the brand dubbed the show the “Office Olympics”.
A range of ages, body types, genders and races intermixed on the runway set fittingly at Østerbro Stadium in Copenhagen—home to two local football teams, and an athletics club. But we’re here to exclusively celebrate the dynamic contrasting vision of the women’s collection.
With diamanté embellished soccer-ball bags slung over their shoulders, the models told the story of their Everyday Woman going into the second half of the 2020’s in 2025. Baum und Pferdgarten made their brand even more approachable and accessible, harkening back to 2010’s Jenna Lyon’s J. Crew styling—pairing shimmery couture and leather with rugby-striped shorts and swimwear inspired knickers The silhouettes were effortless “It Girl” cool contrasted by unexpected material, texture, pattern and fit. We noticed a few of their signature styles in their low slung ruffles and oversized swing dresses with tulle skirt-like details. In their surprising interpretation of trends and their signature high-meets-low looks, we take a look at three core brand tenants shown on the runway; surely to inspire your next Pinterest board and Zara haul.
Check out the 15-minute runway show from Baum und Pferdgarten’s YouTube to see all the looks yourself.
Behind The Scenes
During fashion week, we noticed that the brown mascara trend that’s been a hit on social media for the past year was popular backstage. And we saw that brown mascara trend hit the lashes at the Baum Und Pferdgarten show. Makeup by MAC.
Image Credit: Costume Norge
Inclusivity
It was an unmissable intention of the CPHFW SS25 show to celebrate women of all ages, races and body types—refreshing to see young fresh faces walking the runway alongside a model that could very well be their mother—and a curvy model wearing a pinstripe button-up crop-top that showed just the right amount of skin to elevate the look from effortless prep-school to cool-girl-classic.
Juxtaposition
“Rather than going all-in on sportswear” Vogue writes, “Baumgarten and Hestehave wanted to add contrast by combining it with office attire. This duality was epitomized by the opening look: a crisp white shirt with the number 18 emblazoned on the back, paired with a pleated skirt.”
“Simple yet effective styling brought a sense of ease to the collection; one can easily imagine a Copenhagen native walking out the door in an Østerbro soccer jersey (a collaboration with the B.93 women’s team) and delicate tulle skirt, or a boxy blazer teamed with striped shorts. Separates dominated this collection—a conscious move, as “people aren’t buying dresses anymore,” says Baumgarten. Interestingly, two ruffled dresses were the only incongruous pieces in this collection.
After celebrating their brand’s 25th anniversary last season, Baumgarten and Hestehave have stripped back the noisy prints and block colors, instead delivering a more considered offering that feels right for the moment.” —Vogue.com
Preppy+Low Key Classic
The mood board runway was a mix of materials and styles all seemingly meant to mix and match. With a hint of Ralph Lauren for Team USA and a touch of Gucci’s Sabato De Sarno’s Rosso Angora—an intense, vigorous red and ‘meatball brown’ leathers got together for a party at a British football stadium.
These looks pay homage to preppy and formal understated women’s glamour, boyfriend boxy shirt fits, and classic attainable streetwear.
