The lush and vast green garden of the 18th-century Designmuseum Danmark was the setting for Marie and Julie Skall’s spring show. They used the opportunity to introduce their new leather-look accessories—shoes, bags, and belts—made using “byproducts of Sicilian orange and cactus.” The hero item was a ballet flat with a strap and an upturned toe.
“Marie and I used to dance when we were younger,” explained Julie, “so we are both very drawn to the world of dancing, especially modern ballet.” Classical musicians played waltzes and music from The Nutcracker. When it came to the clothes, the sisters abstracted their inspiration, aiming to evoke an emotion and ease of motion rather than to reference leotards and such. As Julie said, the idea was “just letting emotions set your body free.”
There was plenty of charm to be found in the lineup; it was apparent in the insouciant slouch of a knit dress over a good pair of jeans, in the geometry of a broderie anglaise headscarf, the swing of a drop earring or a tassel belt. Then there were the Liberty prints, a trench in a mesmerizing shade of red, and the tomboy appeal of an ecru linen vest and pants worn with a button-down. Despite all of these positives, the scale of the space overwhelmed this collection of pretty, but simple wardrobe pieces. The show would have benefited from a faster pace and more intimate environment.