My family just got back from an incredible 10 days in Denmark and my husband regularly had to hear me say “why wasn’t I born here?!” I adored the country, the people, the climate, the attitude and, obviously, the fashion.
A favorite Substack follow of mine is the
who are building an app (that is currently in Beta) where people can share the receipts of the things they purchase. I think it is my favorite attempt to get at what people are ACTUALLY spending their money on. I loved the concept immediately for the way it creates transparency by sharing what someone is spending their money on or how much someone is willing to spend on an item. This takes out all the confusion around recommending something that someone gets for free.So in the spirit of that, I thought I’d share with receipts (proof, timeline1) what I bought FOR my vacation and what I bought ON my vacation.
In the spirit of transparency, I thought I’d add a couple notes at the top;
I am a huge budget-er and I give myself $200 to shop with every month. For some reading that is a big number and for others reading that is quite small, either way I’m very grateful that I can give myself that! I wish I could say I saved my budget from other months for shopping, but I didn’t!
I had $60 to add to that from some Poshmark sales that came in August/September.
I had an additional $150 that a friend had paid me for doing a photography project for her.
I had $154 from a return and I know that’s a bit of girl math BUT I put it towards my shopping budget, sue me.
So my budget to shop with on the trip was $564.
Before we even left I made two strategic purchases for the trip.
1. Flore Flore Cotton T-Shirt
When I was doing my packing I realized that one of the holes in my closet is long-sleeve shirts with a little *something something.* I own the same long-sleeve tee in white and black and they are super helpful but sometimes I just want an easy, comfortable piece that can help carry the outfit.
This Flore Flore top with the contrast trim was what I was looking for but I really didn’t want to spend the money on a long-sleeve t-shirt. However after
sent me her review for the Flore Flore Esme tank for I closed my eyes and hit BUY.The verdict is in; I love this top. I’m not sure I understand the Flore Flore hype because it felt a bit like any other long-sleeve shirt I’ve owned BUT it was very comfortable and the colorway on this style is chic.
2. Overnight Mask
My friend used this mask a few weeks before I left and then in a moment of “my phone is spying on me” I saw a video about a woman wearing this mask on a flight. In said video she said that the flight attendant complimented her skin upon landing so that sold me.
The idea with this mask is that you wear it for 4+ hours and the mask hardens and becomes transparent as the ingredients penetrate more deeply. I have problematic skin so I was willing to try wearing this on the flight since my skin is pretty out of wack after a plane ride no matter what.
As the lights were dimming on my long-haul I took my mask out prepared to follow in the footsteps of the TikTok girl. My mask had ripped and I was putting it on without a mirror so, I admit, this isn’t cute looking but I enjoyed having the moisture on my face during a particularly drying activity. I’m not sure it did anything special for me except draw the looks of people around me on the flight.
Total Spent Before Trip: $146.65
Honestly, I’m really proud of this number because I have a tendency to shop for my imaginary vacation self. This amount was spent in August so it didn’t touch my shopping budget.
Now, on to the vacation.
I am a notoriously BAD IRL shopper because I have trained myself to look for things second-hand and to wishlist items so I really struggle to actually BUY without thinking of things for weeks. I made myself a promise to try to purchase more spontaneously since there’s a chance I’ll never make it back to Copenhagen again (sadly).
3. Colorful Standard Socks
Multiple times I have found myself on the checkout page on the Colorful Standard website with a few pairs of colorful socks but the shipping charge for orders under $100 has always stopped me. This is a glimpse into my psyche because I don’t like paying for shipping but I don’t mind dropping $15 on a pair of socks. What can I say, I’ve heard good things about how soft they are AND I love the colors available. When I saw the store I immediately forced a pit stop for my family to purchase.
Also, check out this very cute work jacket in the array of colors Colorful Standard is known for. They only had XL and 2XL and the jacket is unisex so I couldn’t get a sense of what it would be like on me but I really loved the pink and purple colors.
I wore each color of sock at one point on the trip and I loved how the color added something to my neutral based outfits.
4. Boii Studio Tops
Across the street from Colorful Standard I spotted Boii Studio and decided to pop in on a whim. I almost texted
to ask if I was supporting Ganni knock-offs but I decided I didn’t want that on my conscious at the cash register. There were so many styles that felt ripped right from Ganni’s website and it had a real Djerf Avenue or Brandy Melville bend (though in actual sizing).I bought two tops; a red ribbed top with slightly long sleeves and a black and cream striped knit that is 100% cotton.
I also tried on this jacket because I was hoping to bring a coat home from the trip but, in an ideal world, it would be a higher quality one so I skipped.
As a note; this song came on in Boii and all the young, hip girls were singing along which made me laugh because they were probably infants when it came out.
5. Vintage Levis (@ XIX Copenhagen)
I walked past this basement second-hand store, XIX Copenhagen, like 12 times in 2 days. I had spied a pair of vintage Levi’s folded on the windowsill and I was HUNGRY to get my mitts on them. I tried on several pairs of vintage or reworked Levi’s and ultimately picked up this medium wash pair. I need to get them tailored around the waist but for $60 they were a steal.
I heard that consignment prices in Copenhagen were really high and it was a pleasant surprise to get this pair for cheaper than I could have found at home.
6. Vintage AF Agger Suede Coat (@Veras)
Around the corner from XIX were a handful of other basement stores that piqued my interest because they didn’t look too fancy. I went into Veras on a whim and immediately saw a British girl trying on a brown suede jacket, I was drawn to the rack like a moth to a flame. I spotted this red suede jacket and immediately fell in love. I put it on without knowing what the price converted to which could have really backfired on me.
Alas this beauty was a great price, IMO, at $210. It’s tag is “AF AGGER-FLACHS” which appears to be what the brand was called before they dropped FLACHS. I would love an AF Agger coat but at ~$900 I know they are outside my budget.
I ran to purchase before I could think about it twice. As I checked out another girl in the store said “ugh, I want that jacket!” which is the best endorsement you can get.
Total Shopping in Copenhagen: $405.58
I bought 7 total things, which doesn’t feel outrageous but I recognize it’s a serious privilege. I have some thoughts in an upcoming post about the sheer quantity that I purchase BUT I am thrilled with each and every thing I’m bringing home.
Fashion inspiration abounds in Copenhagen; I was able to window-shop stores that I don’t have access to in-person at home, I stopped in lots of incredible second-hand stores and I pretended to be a cultural anthropologist noticing everything that the fashion girlies were wearing (my notes on that here, here and here).
I went to a store recommended by several called Lot #29 which was on the walking route I took to look at the Nyhavn. There I tried on the most perfectly fitting Harris Wharf London blazer.
Another Nue was a recommendation from
and it was my very favorite place to shop. It was curated with Danish brands like Skall Studio, AF Agger, Anonymous Copenhagen with other high-end brands like Toteme, Marni, etc. Their house brand, nue notes, won me over. I didn’t end up purchasing anything BUT if my budget had been magically tripled, I would have! In the meantime, I’ll be watching their social media channels for inspiration (TikTok, Instagram).Another Nue carried the Anonymous Copenhagen shoe line (which
had recommended to me after her trip to CPH) and I tried these shoes on. They were incredible quality with the ponyhair and a very chic toebox.I walked by APC several times and each time drooled over these incredible shoes.
Two outfits that have been haunting me for the rest of my trip included a man in a pizza restaurant wearing this coat (also here’s one on Poshmark and here’s the women’s version which I don’t like as much).
And the chicest woman walking down Store Kannikestræde wearing a vintage Coca-Cola tee under a black blazer. (PS-Someone buy this vintage Coca-Cola sweatshirt before I do!)
I hope that was an interesting way to recap my trip. If anyone is interested in talking more about the fashions of Copenhagen please DM me, I still want to unpack what I saw the teenage boys wearing! HA! So very different from the US.
Links for everything in this post with payout transparency here.
My RHOSLC fans know
I love this approach so much! It’s so real! There are so many newsletters I read where I just think surely to god people are not shopping this much, and if they are, how?! Always having to remind myself that gifting and industry discounts very much exist… THIS is how real people shop/live and it’s all the more interesting for it. I love to hear what people buy and why, whereas I just do not care anymore what they’ve been sent.
Also dying to hear how teenage boys dress. I don’t know how they dress in the US so I’d love to hear the difference!
I need to go to Copenhagen now to shop?! I think spending budget abroad is so exciting and a great way to shop. You get unique pieces that look new and interesting in your hometown, and they have fun memories associated with them which will make you reach for them more and more. So much joy in one post, not surprising from you !!!