Expressions in Colour: A Conversation with Cecilie Bahnsen

Cecilie Bahnsen is a designer who effortlessly bridges the worlds of high fashion and everyday wear. Known for her ethereal, romantic dresses, her creations celebrate individuality and versatility, encouraging women to style them in ways that feel uniquely their own — whether that’s pairing a delicate dress with a leather jacket or styling it with a wool knit. In this conversation with Blēo, Bahnsen invites us into her world of colour, revealing how her approach to design extends beyond the runway and into the home. From the grounding power of black to the playful freshness of mint, her palette is a canvas for creativity and fun, which inspires self-expression in every form.

Cecilie Bahnsen’s world is one of contrasts: where soft meets sharp, where romantic meets functional, timeless yet refreshingly modern. Her collections, often described as whimsical or poetic, aren’t designed to be stored away or kept for best - on the contrary, for Bahnsen, the real joy comes from seeing her ethereal designs styled in surprising, grounded ways — think of a billowing pastel pink dress paired with a grey hoodie and a pair of sneakers on a bustling New York sidewalk. Her creations are an open invitation for self-expression, where the wearer’s personality becomes the final, defining layer.

The same ethos underpins her approach to colours for the interiors. Collaborating with Blēo, Bahnsen has developed and curated a palette that blurs the lines between fashion and interiors. Each hue carries the potential to transform, just as a carefully chosen accessory can redefine an outfit. From soft pinks to grounding blacks, the interplay of colour allows for experimentation, surprise, and a little bit of edge.

Through Cecilie Bahnsen’s eyes, colour is never static. It’s a medium for storytelling, for layering, for surprise. Just as her designs invite the wearer to add their own voice, her palette encourages experimentation in the spaces we inhabit. In her world, a pale pink wall can hold a bright red chair, a black stool can ground a pastel room, and a silver ceiling can invite a party to feel into your home. Every choice is an invitation to play, to evolve, and to embrace the beauty of contrast.

Pinks: Romantic, Classic and Confident
CE BA 05 Ulanda Pink and CE BA 06 Universe Rose

Whether on the catwalk or a painted wall, pink carries confidence and personality, and is a true Cecilie Bahnsen signature colour. A pale pink backdrop paired with a red chair, as in Bahnsen headquarter in Copenhagen, adds edge and energy to an otherwise dreamy aesthetic. It’s this interplay of hues — soft and bold — that keeps the pinks feeling dynamic and modern. Pink embodying the romantic, whimsical spirit of her work. But for Bahnsen, pink is never static. It’s a hue that shifts with the seasons: warmer tones for winter, cooler ones for summer in her collections, but it’s always there, a classic colour.

Red: Strength and Intensity
CE BA 04 Divya Red

Red, in Cecilie’s world, is about power and punctuation. A bold, glossy, poppy red Asics shoe paired with a pastel dress disrupts softness, adding a touch of grit and vitality. In interiors, red functions as a graphic accent — a chair, a high gloss element or one glossy wall — that demands attention. “It’s tough but not overpowering,” she says, a reminder that even the smallest dose of red can transform a space or an outfit.

Blues: Calm and Considered
CE BA 03 Eero Blue, CE BA 02 Sunni Blue and CE BA 01 Helen Blue

For Cecilie, blue is effortless. A pale blue bedroom wall can transform a space, lending it a sense of calm and quiet deliberation. “It’s subtle, but it feels intentional” she says. In interiors, blue pairs beautifully with natural elements — wood, plaster, cornices — adding a timeless elegance to any space.

Silver: Reflective and Playful
CE BA 11 Jeorge Silver

Silver, a strong favorite among the team at Cecilie’s headquarters, brings a sense of movement into any space. In fashion, a metallic detail can elevate an outfit, reflecting light against a matte grey knit or soft pastel. Translated to interiors, silver achieves the same effect. A painted ceiling, a feature wall or a window or door frame can infuse a room with energy and a touch of the unexpected. “It’s about creating brightness and having fun,” Cecilie notes.

Whites: The Unforgiving Essential
CE BA 08 Gianna White and CE BA 09 Louie Ecru

White, Cecilie admits, is the hardest colour to perfect. Whether in a flowing dress or a painted wall, its purity demands precision and care. At the start of every collection, she and her team obsess over shades of white from Optic White to Ecru, ensuring they strike the right balance between warmth and clarity.

Black: The Grounding Force
CE BA 07 Gill Black 

Black, Cecilie Bahnsen explains, is foundational for her — a colour that anchors her world of design. In interiors, black introducing intimacy and a touch of drama, she says. A black stool against a pastel wall disrupts the softness, offering contrast and a sense of balance. “It strikes the perfect balance between femininity but still avoids being too cute,” Bahnsen says. Black holds the room — and the outfit — together, grounding them in sophistication. And in her collections, whether in the form of a black sandal embellished with a pink jacquard bow or a voluminous dress matched with a pair of black socks, black ensures her designs with a similar purpose.  

Mint: A Breath of Fresh Air
CE BA 10 Demi Mint 

Mint green often sneaks into Bahnsen’s seasonal collections, a cool complement to her core palette of black, pink, blue and white. In a home, mint acts as a rejuvenating counterbalance, freshening up a room’s mood, perhaps with the season. “It’s important to keep
things fluid,” she explains. Whether in fashion or interiors, Cecilie sees mint as an invitation to play, to embrace change, and to keep things feeling alive.