Baum und Pferdgarten Jackets: A Closer Look

Baum und Pferdgarten began in Copenhagen in 1999, when Rikke Baumgarten and Helle Hestehave brought two different design instincts to one label. The brand story calls the balance between sharp tailoring and experimental design part of the house's DNA, and it still reads that way to me. Color and print get room to play, while a jacket or trouser keeps the outfit anchored.

The two have built the brand side by side for decades. By their third collection in 2001 they were selling internationally, and in 2004 they began official runway presentations. Their 25th-anniversary collection, Love und Friendship Since 1999, went back to the label's contrasts instead of treating the archive like a museum.

Both founders are still active as creative directors, and I like knowing that the partnership still shapes the design language. This selection shows it in everyday terms: jackets and knits, skirts and tops, and the pieces that tip a familiar outfit into something more personal.

The outerwear brings the label's dual personality straight to the surface. The Brodie Jacket and Daimi Jacket anchor things in easy utility, while the Baani Leather Jacket is the more assertive layer. The Bebeth Jacket and Batina Jacket move between those moods without losing a clear jacket shape.

Picture her walking home through Copenhagen after a long day in the Baani Leather Jacket over a fine knit, or throwing the Brodie Jacket over a skirt when the weather turns. I like that the label does not treat tailoring and fun as opposites. Decide whether the jacket is your outfit's structure or its focal point before choosing. What I would skip: another sharp leather jacket if you already own one, and start with the Brodie or Batina instead.

The knits are the softer counterpoint to the coats. The Celena Sweater and Cristine Sweater are two simple starting points, the Clarine Cardigan layers over a shirt, and the Cori Sweater brings a stripe. This label's way with contrast does not always need a loud print. Sometimes a familiar knit with a more unexpected skirt or trouser makes the outfit feel like yours.

Picture her on a gray morning in the Clarine Cardigan over a crisp shirt, then dark jeans and one bright sock. I would keep the rest of the look quiet if you are trying a playful piece for the first time. Check the care instructions on the product page before buying, since softness depends on the exact knit. I went deeper on a related idea in FEMME LA Shoes: The Heels Worth a Closer Look.

The skirts make sense of the brand's love of opposing moods. The Svea Skirt in Cornstalk Camel keeps a neutral note, while the Shania Skirt is built for a little shimmer. The Shaniel Skirt and Jessika Skirt are the lower-key pair for balancing a louder top or jacket. I like how one piece gets to do the talking without forcing the whole look into a theme. If you want to keep going, Michael Kors Outlet: Bags, Wallets and Watches Worth a Closer Look at the Stitching is the one I would read next.

In my fashion dreams she is headed to dinner in the Shania Skirt, a simple sweater and flat shoes, her evening bag held loosely at her side. For daytime I would start with the Svea Skirt or Jessika Skirt and build with what is already in the closet. Skip a skirt that only works with the one top you bought it with.

I see the tops moving between simple layers and personality. The Manire Tank is a clean base, while the Madelie Blouse, Jolen Top and Melinda Top bring dots or stripes. Those prints feel at home in a world of contrasts, but they do not need to take over every part of an outfit.

Picture her in the Jolen Top with a straight trouser and a jacket left open, letting the stripe work. The Manire Tank is the quieter option under a waistcoat or cardigan. My tip is to try a printed top with the jacket you plan to wear over it; if the collar and print compete, let one lead and save the other for another day.

I think of these as the styling pieces: the Napolen Leather Pants and Napolen Jeans anchor the bottoms, while the Louise Hat and Bellisa Waistcoat are two very different finishing notes. That mix feels right for a brand built on contrast. Leather reads assertive, denim keeps things relaxed, a hat adds a little irreverence and a waistcoat sharpens the outline.

Picture her running errands in the Napolen Jeans and a crisp shirt, Louise Hat pulled low when the day turns bright. For evening, the Bellisa Waistcoat can replace a jacket over a simple top. My rule is a statement bottom or a strong finishing piece, never both, because if every item wants attention the outfit has nowhere to rest.

Baum und Pferdgarten has never been only about a loud print. The designers' instinct for opposites shows up in how a jacket, a knit or a skirt can turn a familiar shape slightly sideways. I like a brand that keeps its own point of view while letting the wearer decide how much color or structure she wants on a given day. I would start with the pieces that connect to clothes you already wear, a jacket with personality or a knit you will reach for all week. Although I would try the bolder thing with the simplest item I own first.