Scandinavian design is often characterized as being deeply attuned to the concepts of simplicity and minimalism. This perspective is often true when it extends to fashion design, thought it’s only one part of the story. While neutrals were trending on the runways of Copenhagen’s Spring 2024 season, the city’s designers showed that simplicity, versatility, and accessibility does not at all have to mean clothing that is boring or safe.
The colors may have been neutral, but many designers got funky as they experimented with innovative fabric treatments and finishes. Sheer paneling and net-like or crochet structures were a somewhat common sight, using the sophisticated simplicity of the palette to point to the body and the volume of the clothing around it.
Shades of beige, ivory, soft browns, and muted grays bring a spirit of subtle sophistication to the spring season. Meanwhile, a few designers played with pairing neutrals alongside muted blues and greens or shimmering metallics, expanding the possibilities of this palette and inviting us to rethink our expectations of seasonal colors.
Leave it to the designers of Copenhagen to show us that neutral colors can be anything but.
