• photography James Cochrane

    An interview with Gestuz on their SS26 collection

    Written by Ulrika Lindqvist

    Gestuz SS26 arrives like a shift in motion, balancing edge and elegance, stillness and speed. The collection draws bold inspiration from vintage motorsport aesthetics, weaving utilitarian leather, sharp tailoring, and fluid draping into a wardrobe of contrasts. From 70s Formula One glamour to modern silhouettes built for movement, creative director Sanne Sehested delivers a powerful vision of womanhood that refuses to be singular. In this conversation with Odalisque, she shares the creative process behind the collection, how archival inspiration met future ambition, and why the return of Gestuz footwear marks an exciting new chapter.

    Ulrika Lindqvist: Please tell us about the process in creating the ss26 runway show?

    Sanne Sehested: It started already in the beginning of 2025 with designing the collection. And from then on, everything revolves around the combination of the collection and the show concept. I am fortunate that we create the show concept in-house meaning that we already talk collection and concept in one go. This gives us the possibility to make sure everything we do for the collection is thought into the show and vice versa. From then on it is months of working on location, guest management, press meetings, model casting, hair and makeup look, fittings and much more until we stand with a room full of guests and the music starts. 

    UL: How did you choose the location for the runway show?

    SS: It was the perfect coincidence. We had our eyes set on another venue at first which then fell through. And then we ended up finding the perfect spot here at Paper Island.

    UL: What does the SS26 collection represent and what was the main inspiration for his collection?

    SS: The Spring Summer 2026 show explores tension and duality, movement and pause. I wanted to explore the contrasts of femininity and masculinity, stillness and movement, occasion wear and workwear. Referencing the world of motorsport became our language for the qualities often deemed favorable in society – the rougher, fast moving, harder competencies. The full force. And there is a space for that. I love that. I love the sharp suits and heavy denim. The edgy leather. But I also wanted to show the softer, slower, flowing qualities. Those that might be undermined or left behind, but creates a much more interesting journey when combined.

    It’s about flowing between masculine and feminine without having to consider what society deems “strong”. That you can be a powerful businesswoman while wearing a draped dress, or a soft caring mother while wearing a leather suit with giant shoulder pads. Feminine and sensual – masculine and grounded, changing between the two like shifting gears.

    Imagery from the 70s and 80s era of Formula One and Le Mans filled our mood boards. Especially pictures of Marie-Claude Charmasson who was a French journalist and race car driver. She is ultra glamorous with this bright blond hair, and in many of the pictures of her, she is wearing a white boiler suit, and her baby blue helmet. She is also often seen with some vivid red elements, and that color combination really inspired us. There is something quite glamourous and interesting about images from vintage racing. The colours, the shape of the cars; there was just something that drew my attention. There were sporty and utilitarian elements in the clothes worn that I find quite captivating when adopted into a modern setting.

    UL: What was the biggest challenge creating your ss26 collection?

    SS: Spring summer has always been more challenging for me to create than autumn winter, because I am so inspired by layers and heavier materials. I feel like we are very strong in our autumn winter collection as they are full of denim, layers, knit and leather which is at the heart of Gestuz. Perfecting that in a spring/summer collection without it being too feminine and maintaining the edge, is a challenge. I feel like we have succeeded with the SS26 collection and I am very proud of it.

    UL: How would you describe the Gestuz customer?

    SS: She is not one thing, or one size, or one age. She is full of contrast and wants her wardrobe to express that. The GESTUZ team is made up of almost all women, and every day I see the many aspects and ways of womanhood. Powerful businesswomen that can still wear draped dresses, and soft caring mothers wearing leather suits with giant shoulder pads. Feminine and sensual – masculine and grounded, changing between the two like shifting gears.

    UL: What can we expect from Gestuz in the future?

    SS: It is actually really exciting for us as we this season are relaunching footwear after not having designed shoes for almost five years. So for the SS26 collection we are paying tribute to some of our old designs in a new way, and it has been really fun to dive into our own archives and visit some old favorites. Our boots were quite a big part of the GESTUZ spirit, and we are relaunching our classic two colored boots in a new fit. As we always did, the focus is on wearability, and that is reflected in the heel height for example. We are bike-riding Scandinavians at the core after all.

    photography Karin Fallah 
  • Photography Helle Moos

    An interview with Baum und Pferdgarten on their SS26 collection

    Written by Ulrika Lindqvist

    For over two decades, Baum und Pferdgarten’s Rikke Baumgarten and Helle Hestehave have mastered the art of balancing playfulness with precision. With their SS26 collection, the Danish design duo returns to their roots, not just in aesthetic, but in spirit. Inspired by the world of horse racing and presented in one of Scandinavia’s oldest stables, the runway show becomes a powerful tribute to authenticity, movement, and modern femininity. In conversation with Odalisque, Rikke and Helle share the story behind the collection, the challenge of staying true to their creative DNA, and what it means to dress the working woman with confidence and ease.

    Ulrika Lindqvist: Please tell us about the process in creating the ss26 runway show?

     Rikke Baumgarten and Helle Hestehave: The process of creating our runway show began with a long-standing desire to explore a theme centered around horses. That idea truly took shape during a walk through the old stables just north of Copenhagen - where we would eventually hold the show. The atmosphere was instantly inspiring. Surrounded by worn leather, weathered wood, and the quiet history of the space, we knew we wanted to build a collection around the world of horse racing.

    UL: How did you chose the location for the runway show?

    RB & HH: We actually chose the location hand in hand with the theme. It felt natural to host the show at the stables that’s still active and one of the oldest in Scandinavia. Talking to the people working there with their passion projects around horseracing and seeing how welcoming they were to our idea we knew this was the right place. 
     
    UL: What does the SS26 collection represent and what was the main inspiration for this collection?

    RB & HH: This season, our focus shifted in a deliberate way. Instead of leaning into trends, we made a conscious effort to visually express the core values of our brand. Sporty influences, bold prints, and functional outerwear have always been fundamental to our identity, and this collection stays true to that. We also continued our love for working with a wide and expressive color palette - ensuring that everyone who wears our pieces feels like the most confident, authentic version of themselves.
     
    UL: What was the biggest challenge creating your ss26 collection?
     
    RB & HH: It always a challenge reinventing yourself and still staying true to your brand. You can easily feel the
    need to follow trends that doesn’t fit your brand identity, but somehow we always manage to find back to our core values. 
     
    UL: How would you describe the Baum und Pferdgarten customer?
     
    RB & HH: We are extremely grateful to have customers who has been with us since we started back in 1999,but also a customer group who has the need to express themselves through clothes but in an expressive yet elegant way. Our customer is the working woman who doesn’t want to look boring but never overdressed. 
     
    UL: What can we expect from Baum und Pferdgarten in the future? 
     
    RB & HH: Stay tuned, bright days are ahead.
     

  • photography Andreas Bach

    WOOD WOOD AW25: Reimagining Earth, One Thread at a Time

    Written by Ulrika Lindqvist

    For Autumn/Winter 2025, Danish brand WOOD WOOD takes a leap beyond the usual fashion narrative with Sphere,  a collection that draws from the outer limits of imagination, grounded in the ever-evolving relationship between nature, space, and human potential.

    Referencing the radical 1991 experiment Biosphere 2 and the documentary Spaceship Earth, the collection is steeped in themes of reinvention, resilience, and speculative futures. Equally inspired by the countercultural ethos of the Whole Earth Catalog and the futurist philosophies of Buckminster Fuller, Sphere is a visual and tactile exploration of how we might live, dress, and evolve in a changing world.

    “We were captivated by the idea of combining a grand, almost utopian vision with a DIY spirit,” says Brian SS Jensen, Creative Director. “It’s a way of thinking about the future while staying rooted in our connection to Earth. Where are we headed, and what does that look like?”

    WOOD WOOD’s response is a collection that fuses function with freedom. Think utilitarian workwear reimagined with a streetwise sensibility, relaxed yet elevated. The silhouettes lean into contrast: voluminous trousers with unexpected proportions, oversized knits that feel like wearable warmth, and tailored sets that blur the line between formality and comfort. Texture takes centre stage this season. Vintage-inspired twills, soft boucle, tactile corduroy, and worn-down wool coats create depth and sensory richness.

    “We wanted the garments to feel lived in,” explains Gitte Wetter, Head of Design. “There’s nostalgia here, but also reinvention — we worked with fabrics that hold stories and memories, but gave them a fresh context.”

    The collection’s palette is elemental and cosmic in equal measure. Earthy hues of burgundy, forest green, ochre, and sand are grounded in warmth, while a washed-out lavender offers an unexpected whisper of the surreal, a nod to the cosmos. AW25 also leans into the romanticism of 70s nostalgia, reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. Cable knits, checkered shirting, and collegiate outerwear evoke a time when idealism and exploration went hand-in-hand. It’s not retro for retro’s sake — it’s a call to rediscover the ethos of that era in how we live now. There’s a quiet confidence woven through Sphere. Each piece feels intentional, for a wearer who values comfort without compromise, style without rigidity, and expression without excess. It’s fashion for the introspective futurist: those looking to dress not just for where they are, but where they want to go.

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