Monastery founder, Athena Hewett, attended Copenhagen Fashion Week to attend shows, host an event & provide skin preps for two shows, By Malene Birger and Collina Strada. Athena recaps the trip and gives us her tips on her favorite things to do in Copenhagen.
Copenhagen has a real sense of artistry and craftsmanship, and everyone seems to be having a lot of fun, which isn't always the case during a fashion week. Our schedule was packed with shows and events, plus keeping everyone's skin looking its best through all of it. As always with show prep, we focused on brightening, depuffing, and sculpting. The products I kept reaching for were Aloe Hyaluronic Moisture Boost to set a hydrating and matte base for makeup, Attar Floral Repair Concentrate for lasting glow, and my silver gua sha egg for lymphatic drainage and sculpting (in the works to launch!).
We filmed something for Monastery in the King's Garden, where I unsurprisingly found myself admiring the roses outside the old castle. I love the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek for its collection of ancient Greek and Roman statues and busts. And the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art is on everyone's list of recommendations for a reason: it's as much about the setting as the art. The sculpture park alone, with its Calders set against the sea, is worth the 45-minute train ride out of the city.
You will never go hungry in Copenhagen. A highlight of the trip was Daphne, the latest restaurant from Frederik Bille Brahe, which we happened to catch on opening night. Every dish was a winner, but my favorites were the artichoke, the rød fish, and the oysters. Afterward, I wouldn't miss Bar Vitrine for a late-night drink and the best people-watching in the city. We hosted our event at Bird in the city center, where you should order one of their delicious negronis. If you’re looking for something cozier, head to Auren’s for an undoubtedly special meal. Me and my team debriefed one evening over cake & tea at the cafe at Beau Marche.
An impossible task to list everything in just one post. I’m always on the hunt for vintage and this is a great city for it. My favorite spots are Time’s Up Vintage, Paloma Vintage & I really scored at Timeless Vintage, a new one for me. We picked up our silver vase for the event at Collect CPH and was eyeing a few lamps. Copenhagen is a treasure trove of antique shops mixed with modern luxury shops so it’s a great city to just bop around. If it’s a weekend, look for a local løppemarked (flea market). Great vintage silver, which I’m always on the hunt for the Monastery spa. I love all the brands of shows we attended. Opera Sport, Mr. Larkin, Skall, and of course, By Malene Birger. My favorite fashion show of the week was Caro Editions.
Bike! The city is incredibly bike friendly and it’s the best way to take in the beauty of the city. If weather permits, take a cold dip in the harbor. I sadly didn’t have time for this trip but my favorite spots are La Banchina (rent the sauna) or Kalvebod Bølge badezone .
