We follow in the footsteps of Denmark-born, New York-based model and content creator Emilia Silberg around NYFW as she fills us in on adjusting to the big city and chasing inspiration
More and more adventurous Scandinavian creatives are migrating to 'The Big Apple' with a very singular purpose – to seek out inspiration – and Copenhagen-born model and content creator Emilia Silberg is one of them.
But in this pursuit of inspiration, how does a born-and-bred Scandi adjust in a place so outrageously different, where lägom is replaced by 'Main Character Energy' and the nature, serenity and humility inherent to the Nordics in replaced by skyscrapers, fast walkers and an ethos of ruthless determination? If Scandinavia is the likeable and reliable salt and pepper, New York is the five spice of cities: a chaotic mix of flavours best reserved for the bold.
In Silberg's words, “Scandinavian people always talk about New York." Since her first visit to the capital, Silberg "always wanted to experience actually living in the city," so when her stepdad announced a job offer in Manhattan, she didn't think twice about taking the opportunity to tag along. Unlike many internationals that seek comfort in their own people, Silberg has found solace in the locals, and with the help of introductions from her American pal Amalie Star, Silberg has been lucky enough to integrate with New Yorkers quicker than most.
Photo: Verona Farrell
Photo: Verona Farrell
When it comes to her own personal adjustment, that NYC go-getter attitude is something that Silberg had long before the move. Starting her Instagram profile in the ninth grade, one of her posts was picked up and reshared by an account with half a million followers. But it was her mum who spotted the opportunity for growth and so, every weekend without fail, they would go out in Copenhagen to shoot a big bag of clothes, steadily garnering an audience of 170,000 followers by the time Silberg reached her high school graduation.
As global style becomes hyper-globalised by social media, we’re left wondering whether fashion capitals have retained their inherent style DNA. Silberg confirms my own biased belief that individualism over trends still prevails in New York, highlighting the eccentricity entrenched in the city’s wardrobes. “There’s more freedom of expression and more diversity in general here," she says. "You can really dress how you want… In Copenhagen people can be a bit more critical about outfits and what you’re wearing."
Photo: Verona Farrell
Silberg points out how New York has prompted a natural departure from her former, classic ‘Scandi girl’ image, “I used to wear a lot of colour, and now I’m wearing more black and trying out something a bit more edgy," she reflects. I get the feeling that this shift is a reflection of larger severance between Copenhagen and its love affair with hyper-playfulness, not so common in recent collections by leading brands like Ganni and Saks Potts, as they mature into something sexier and more sophisticated than the light-hearted designs that have dominated the last decade.
So it only makes sense that (Di)vision, a relative newcomer that has injected a darker, streetwear-edge into the Copenhagen Fashion Week schedule, is one of Silberg’s most-loved Danish brands right now. “The setting of the [autumn/winter 2023] show was so creative, this scene at a fancy dinner with the leftovers on the table and of course that viral moment when the model’s dress ripped off the tablecloth”.
Photo: Verona Farrell
Photo: Verona Farrell
While she suggests that shows in New York are a little less creative when it comes to production, there were a few this season that stood out, highlighting the always-extravagant Wiederhoft, the nature-inspired Private Policy show ,as well as Head of State, where there was “no detail missed” in Silberg's view.
A Copenhagen Fashion Week veteran, Silberg tells me that, at New York Fashion Week, "you never really know what to expect or who will be there. I like to go to shows by myself just to people-watch." She explains that, in such an epicentre of pop culture, that “you never know who you’ll meet on the street”, casually referencing a time that she bumped into Doja Cat. “As she walked past me ,she said ‘Oh, you’re hot,' she recounts. Her reaction, infused with true Scandinavian modesty: “I got so awkward because I didn’t know if she was talking to me, so I actually didn’t reply… I’m not used to people just coming out with that."