Caroline Bille Brahe invited us into her home in Copenhagen for our Une fille, un style series! Between model and designer, there's only one step. After walking and posing for over fifteen years for the biggest fashion houses, such as Chanel (she fondly remembers her first steps at Paris Fashion Week in 2010), Caroline Bille Brahe made her foray into design in 2022 with her label, Caro Editions. Over the years in fashion, she has crafted a recognizable style, far from trends, consisting of pieces with impeccable materials and multiple vintage references. Since 2018, she has been married to the stylish chef Frederik Bille Brahe, with whom she has three children.
Caroline Bille Brahe showed us around her apartment and her boutique in Copenhagen
For nearly 15 years, Caroline Bille Brahe (formerly Brasch Nielsen) walked the catwalks of the biggest fashion houses. Her career began with her first runway show for Chanel in Paris in 2010, which launched her career and she became one of the 10 new faces to watch. In 2022, she became a designer with Caro Editions, a family brand she co-pilots with her husband, chef Frederik Bille Brahe. As both a model and a designer, her disarmingly natural charm has conquered the fashion world beyond Denmark's borders.
"When I was a model, I was at the forefront of fashion and design; it was my job. Throughout all those years, I wore a lot of clothes and developed my own style." Caroline never truly cared about trends or fashion but rather about the quality and history of clothing. "I love beautiful shapes that last a long time. I love clothes that you can wear year after year, that fit well. Clothes you don't need to think about, but that make you feel good."
Intuitive and rebellious, Caroline doesn't want to confine herself to a box or label for her style; it's instinctive. "I never look at trends or what is considered cool at the moment." Her brand Caro Editions embodies this philosophy. Playful, joyful, and filled with lots of colors and prints that one can mix and match, the pieces she designs reflect her own style, her organic vision of fashion. "In my daily life, I often wear jeans, T-shirts, and sneakers or hiking-style shoes. That's what seems most comfortable to me. Sometimes, I accessorize my look with jewelry or pieces made from recycled denim."
"Building Caro Editions takes up all my time, apart from the time I devote to my family," emphasizes Caroline. She just unveiled her fourth collection at Copenhagen Fashion Week. "It's essentially my personal expression. I work with experienced stylists to create the clothes. I also determine the creative direction by handling the styling for photo shoots and sometimes taking the photos myself. It's very important to show people how the clothes fit into the Caro Editions wardrobe and how to wear them."
Their apartment is located on the top two levels of an old building in Copenhagen, which has a lot of character. The upper floor, where the couple's bedroom is located, is in the attic, while the kitchen, living room, and children's room are on the lower level. As for decoration, Caroline and Frederik have collected pieces over the years, based on their experiences, which have become sentimental. "We don't stress too much, especially now that we're five people (plus a dog!), so it's mostly about making the most of a fairly limited space." Caroline loves simple things and spontaneity. "We love eating good dishes that Frederik cooks, the children love painting, sometimes on the walls and furniture, and there are lots of books and toys." However, art still holds an important place in their lives: "I bought Frederik a beautiful piece by our friend Alexander Tovborg for his 40th birthday, and we also have some drawings by Alexander, which show his artistic process. Landon Metz is a friend, with whom we exchanged artworks for dinners in galleries." Caroline bought this apartment when she was 21 years old. "It was my first home that I could afford. It means a lot, but I'm not sentimental. It went from being a sort of refuge for one person to a family home. At some point, we'll move to a larger place."
Most of their furniture was designed and made by their friend, Rune Bruun Johansen. "It is beautifully crafted but they also now show the presence of young children," she jokes. Among her recent favorites is a lamp by Janette Laverrière that her husband, Frederik, bought online. "We decided early on that we wouldn't be too picky about things; a happy family life is much more important."
As a child and an equestrian, Caroline lived on a farm north of Copenhagen. She recalls, "As soon as I had 50 kroner, I would ride my bike to a children's store in the neighboring town to buy hairpins." On Christmas Eve, when she was eight years old, she received the Dolce & Gabbana boots of her dreams. "I was so afraid of getting them dirty that I never wore them outside the house."
"I create based on the stage I'm at in my life." She admits that her need for comfort coincides with becoming a mother. "What I wore before was probably a bit more wild." With Caro Editions, Caroline aims to merge these two worlds. "I create clothes from my point of view, drawing inspiration from my experience as a model as well as my life as a mother, where you have to live your daily life as best as possible." It's a delicate balance she seems to have found.
- An upcycled pair of jeans
- A beautiful coat that goes with everything
- A dress that can be worn anywhere
- Loose-fitting pajama-style pants
- A well-cut silk shirt
Mainly vintage pieces she has collected over the years. "I'm not more attached to names than to beautiful shapes, colors, and fabrics. I love the '70s and '80s, and I've always had a preference for pronounced shoulders and tailored pieces."
Caroline maintains a detached relationship with objects. "Part of me thinks it's just material." Yet, on the other hand, she admits she would struggle to part with some of her vintage pieces. "I don't wear some of them anymore, but I like looking at them; they're a source of inspiration, and I would like people to cherish their Caro Editions pieces in the years to come."
She only wears creations by Sophie Bille Brahe, her sister-in-law. "Mainly rings and earrings. No necklaces because I already wear enough patterns, but I gladly wear a ring on each finger."
"There was a time when I was really into bags," Caroline recalls. "I always had a Chanel bag with me; some were gifted to me by Karl Lagerfeld." Currently, she prioritizes practicality and slips her daily essentials into her pockets.
Carefully chosen and versatile, whether it's a pair of sneakers, hiking boots, or Chanel ballet flats. "And I have a lot of high heels in my closet, but I don't wear them."
All the pieces she doesn't usually wear. Diamond jewelry, and upcycled denim embroidered with sequins. If she wears a dress, Caroline Bille Brahe pairs it with Chanel ballet flats and a denim jacket.
A pair of Chanel boots in dark blue quilted fabric. "I made an online offer, which allowed me to get them at a softer price." Most of the time, Caroline wears her own pieces, so she doesn't buy a lot.
"I don't really have one. I take a shower in the morning, I put conditioner in my hair, moisturizer on my face, and sometimes oil in winter. I don't wear makeup, but I curl my lashes. That's all."
Vanessa Paradis. "She's so charming and has that very French insolent side."
Photographer: Myro Wulff
Journalist: Héloïse Salessy
Hair: Kasper Andersen
Make-up: Pauline du Manoir
Video: Hugo Jozwicki
Sound: Alex Pavlovic
Lighting: Elin Dam Egholm
Director: Kamel Bouknadel
Production: Amaury Delcambre et Meryl Marciano
Video development: Louise des Ligneris
Talent & Casting Video Manager: Adèle Ligerot et Sarah Tauxe
Head of Editorial Content : Eugénie Trochu
The entire Une fille, un style series on Vogue.fr:
Une fille, un style: Inside Sophia Roe's minimalist apartment in Copenhagen
Une fille, un style: Inside Pernille Teisbæk's family home in Copenhagen
Parisienne style inspiration: Inside the apartment of Louise Chen
