Helooooooo there Darlings, or should I say ‘hej!’
Hot off the back of my wonderfully techni-coloured, stone-baked trip to Amsterdam, I decided to fly high – in every sense of the word – to another magical place in Europe I’ve always wanted to visit. A place that takes me back to my childhood, albeit through the scary dreams I used to have after my mother read me fairy tales like ‘The Shapeshifting Ellefolk of Mols Bjerge’. I still can’t sleep with the curtains closed after that one! I guess we’re lucky, because the French elves we have at our LUC8K atelier in France are far more friendly and less freaky! Aaaaand, the home of LEGO, which taught me the art of creativity as a young calf, and the meaning of pain as a parent - childbirth was nothing compared to the horror of standing on tiny bits of LEGO, even with hooves!
If you haven’t guessed by now, your favourite, sassy, sexy long-legged Queen of bespoke luxury has just explored Copenhagen - the land of equally tall humans, hygge, high fashion, and some of the most effortlessly chic people I’ve ever seen in my life! Forget Parisian nonchalance or Dutch courageous fashion choices; our Danish friends have perfected the art of looking like they all belong on the cover of a minimalist fashion magazine, without even trying. Effortless style darlings, that’s what rocks my world and knocks my spots off! That’s why I knew I was going to loooooooove this place!
But I didn’t rock up in Copenhagen just for the Scandinavian style or delightful Danish pastries (even though they are THE BEST I have ever tasted!) I was in town for something truly bubbly, bespoke, and utterly brilliant…drum roll please…a not-so-top-secret summer collaboration between LUC8K and Pagne! (Pagne means ‘Champagne’ in Danish by the way)
Fashion, Fizz and Fun: A meeting of kindred spirits
Darlings, you know how much I simply adore my lovely bubbles, and Pagne is, hoof on heart, the best I’ve had the pleasure to sip in a loooooooooong time! So, my first stop on my Danish-to-do list was a meeting with the fabulous Raluca, the visionary creative, and bubbly genius behind Pagne Champagne, to discuss our exciting new partnership!
It stands to reason that we should meet somewhere cool and understated, so Raluca sent me a Google Maps link to Apollo Bar, Copenhagen’s effortlessly cool café-slash-art hub. There she was, waiting for me in the courtyard, with a lovely smile, sipping something crisp and fabulous, exuding that effortlessly powerful “I own a Champagne empire!” energy.
As I sampled the fruits of her labour, I felt relaxed and happy, as we talked about life, love, luxury and politics. We didn’t spend too long on politics by the way, but let’s just say we agree on the fact that Greenland is beautiful and shouldn’t be turned into an oil refinery, and also, Denmark is not going to sell it to a failed real-estate game show host with multiple felonies anytime soon! Anyway, we got into a deep, philosophical chat about the future of luxury, sustainability, corporate responsibility, and the need for humanity to be able to carry two bottles of the finest bubbles, effortlessly and in style, whenever they like! It’s very important for a girl to transport her important things in a way that stands out, yet in a subtle way, if you know what I mean?
We talked and laughed a lot, and our mutual love and connection really is a no-brainer. Raluca sketched a drawing of what she had in mind on the back of a beer mat with her trusty, very precious Montblanc pen. And, voila! There it was! A beautiful, hand-crafted leather LUC8K bag designed exclusively to carry not one, but two bottles of her finest Pagne Champagne—a summer essential for fashion-forward bon vivants. Because who wants to carry Champagne in anything less than couture?
OK, it was a very rough sketch (and a little wobbly after our first bottle of Pagne!) but my mission now is to take that thought, that seed of brilliance, and share it with our lovely designers at LUC8K. Together with our French elves, we will craft it to perfection just in time for summertime 2025!! I’ve not been this excited since my youngest calf first stood up on her own four legs and learned how to trot! That’s right, my loves, we’re talking about an exclusive LUC8K champagne bag, because let’s be honest, couture and Champagne are the ultimate power couple! And come summertime, you lucky people will have the chance to own something that will carry, not just champagne, but the finest memories for generations to come. Cheers to that!
Royalty and sneaky bribes at The Palace
What a lovely start to my Danish adventure. Raluca was the perfect host and she insisted on being my own personal travel guide until I left for the airport. She is a woman with impeccable taste who doesn’t do half measures (trust me, my four long legs were wobbling a little as we left the Apollo Bar!) and she insisted on treating me like royalty. So naturally, our next stop was the Amalienborg Palace, where she introduced me to Queen Margrethe II. We talked a lot about conservation, her complicated life, global warming, and fashion. She was absolutely mesmerised by my LUC8K bag, so I told her I’d send her a Tote, Weekender, and a Sophie Lucky charm once she chooses her favourite colours and 4 lucky numbers to go with the airport codes. There are protocols in place so that luxury brands, or any brands for that matter, don’t use Danish Royalty for marketing purposes, or bribes, but in this case, I promised Her Majesty that I wouldn’t mention any of this in my blog. Oops! Off with my head!
Queen Margrethe II (or ‘Margey’ as she wanted me to call her) had to dash off for some important human rights conference, so Raluca and I were then led out to the palace square – and it was like a scene from a fairytale with pastel-hued buildings, impeccably dressed guards, and an immaculate flower arrangement that I admired and then chewed on whilst no one was watching. Old habits die hard, darlings!
Cycling Like a True Dane (In High Hoof Heels, Naturally)
We then headed to Nyhavn, where the famous crystal-clear canal sparkled like a diamond, and the vibe was chilled and pure picture-postcard perfection. Raluca convinced me that a trip to Copenhagen is not complete without a bicycle ride, because that’s what most humans do here. Raluca, being the ultimate planner and professional she is, took the liberty of giving the bike guys a heads-up about my size and, just like LUC8K, they hand-crafted something that was absolutely perfect for me – a bike with the world’s tallest seat and hoof-friendly brakes! So, a massive hoof-bump to the guys and girls at ReCycles - makers of sustainably sourced modes of transportation – for giving me the experience of seeing Copenhagen on two wheels, like a true local, as it should be. We peddled around the cycle-friendly streets with my LUC8K bag in the over-sized basket, and I felt a sense of freedom as we glided past the endless over-priced scented candle shops - wind in my mane, dust in my eyes, and free as a 15ft tall bird.
Bespoke and Responsible: The True Artisans of Denmark
I’m officially middled-aged now, so I’ll be honest when I tell you that I was knackered after cycling for seven and a half minutes! Plus, I was full of Pagne bubbles and I nearly wobbled off the streets and into the numerous canals that form the backbone to this beautiful place. Inspired, so we swapped pedal power for an UBER to take us to one of Copenhagen’s most exclusive bespoke ateliers. August Sandgren, like our French atelier, is where master craftsmen create timeless, handcrafted leather pieces with sustainable and responsible manufacturing at the heart of everything they do. I stood there mesmerized as these tall, hipster-bearded men and women beavered away with their nimble fingers to create modern day masterpieces like a beautifully choreographed ballet of precision and passion. As I watched them in action, I had a vision. Not Brad Pitt naked, sweating, cooking me a delicious vegan salad with his firm butt cheeks poking out of his apron – it was a LUC8K Champagne bag taking shape, the start of endless memories and good times, and a bespoke, luxury possession that will be handed down from each generation to the next.
Sunset, Seafood, and Secret Speakeasies
After a long hard day of business and brainstorming, drinking copious amounts of Pagne bubbly and world class near-death cycling, it was time to relax, unwind and re-fuel. Raluca sure knows how to treat a giraffe, and we had the finest table (usually reserved for Danish Royalty, owners of ‘probably the best beer in the world’, and LEGO marketing executives) at Kadeau, a Michelin-starred restaurant serving up the most divine New Nordic cuisine. The evening was a bit of blur, but I do remember indulging in foraged herbs, delicately smoked seafood, and a wine pairing that absolutely knocked my spots off! The waiter was flirting with me too (I think), as he kept on referring to my sleek, slender long legs, and how I should keep them under the table to stop fellow diners tripping over them. Danish men have something about them that I like. They are tall, handsome, smart, but darlings, let’s be honest. No man can ever truly get inside my soul without a step ladder and a truck full of Acacia leaves. Plus, I’m happily married. Kind of.
To be honest, after the meal, I was sleepy and ready for my elongated bed at the hotel, but like Raluca, the night was young, and she dragged me to a hidden speakeasy (no names, no signs, just a whispered invitation) where the cocktails are smoky, the crowd is tall and mysterious, and my LUC8K bag was getting all the attention. I can’t really remember much after this, but I did indeed end up safe and sound, passed out in my hotel reception. Apparently, it took ALL members of staff to wake me up, and a crane was involved, but let’s not go there.
Final Thoughts: Copenhagen, You Wonderful, Tall, Flirty Dream City
Copenhagen has turned my childhood nightmares into an absolute dream - a city where fashion, sustainability, and seriously good Champagne come together in perfect harmony. My collaboration with Raluca is officially in the works, the LUC8K Champagne bag is set to be the must-have summer accessory, and I am leaving feeling utterly inspired (and maybe slightly tipsy). Watch this space my darlings!
Where am I headed to next? Who knows. But one thing is certain: wherever I go, I’ll be traveling in style, rather more responsibly (maybe), and with just the right amount of sass.
Skål, darlings! 🥂✨
Sophie x
