Lisbon – the Portuguese metropolis on the coast is an international, vibrant city with a host of appealing mismatches. Nostalgic flair alternates with hip shops, narrow lanes and alleys in the old town are rivalled by glitzy shopping miles, historic structures and state-of-the-art architecture are all well worth seeing.

I couldn’t think of a better place for shooting our Summer 2023 collection. A gaily coloured assemblage with contrasts galore. As unusual and diversified as this city.

TIP FOR READERS: PUT ON HEADPHONES and SET AUDIO MODE TO ON to enjoy this LOOKBOOK ACOUSTICALLY, too :)

What awaits us at Jardim Botto Machado is one of Lisbon’s largest works of street art, the Mural de Azulejos. A 188-metre-long mural made of 52,738 small colourful tiles, the glazed tiles so typical of this city. The ancient history of Portugal is told here in modern tilework art. Whether it’s the fado singer Ines in PLATIN and EVERGREEN, Pris clad in ROYAL BLUE, or dancer Ines in SANDY: In this gaily coloured scenery every KATHARINA HOVMAN colour finds a fitting background.

On the banks of the Tejo, here beside the little-liked monument to Portuguese discoverers – most locals in Lisbon don’t want any part of this mammoth work of brutalist architecture that recalls the conquerors’ cruel expeditions – lies the Espaço Espelho d’Água. Set in gleaming white, it is the architectural contrast programme to the famous variegated tiles we encounter wherever we go. The sunlight merely sets accents here and creates splendid interplays of light and shadow.

Indoors we are welcomed by the very opposite of the aloof white exterior. Arrays of warm colours turn the unpretentious restaurant into an inviting place. Carlo wears a dress in CAPERI, we photograph Pris in a HAZEL-hued dress and a blouse in AMETHYST – harmony for the eye.

At Estádio José Alvalade XXI, fans of all nationalities with their families, friends, neighbours, the young and old meet up to root for their favourite football team, Sporting Clube de Portugal. For generations the capital city’s eclectic population has celebrated its team’s goals at this venue. Today guest model Rafaela and our Carlo are celebrating here, too – the cool colour blocking of summer 2023.

Designed for the Expo ’98 world’s fair, the Park of the Nations forms a blatant counterpoint to the old town’s medieval ambience. All kinds of attractions from the Expo era can still be found there – stunning exhibition structures like the Pavilhão do Conhecimento or the world-famous Oceanário. Wooden pavilions on the grounds offer not only an appealing backdrop for Pris and Ines in BLACK and HAZEL, they provide soothing shade and a chance to cool off a bit before the ride on the legendary gondola lift cable car.

Once again we experience Lisbon from a completely different side at Tapada das Necessidades – gardens growing wild, winding paths, abandoned buildings. A terrain full of melancholy and romance with freely roaming chickens, peacocks and ducks, three enchanting lakes and a waterfall. Giant cactuses, palm trees and other exotic flora – we feel like we’re in a fairy tale in one of the oldest gardens in Europe. The park dates back to 1604. An oasis.

Trip to the city with sightseeing or a seaside beach holiday? In Lisbon you don’t have to decide: both can be had here. Costa da Caparica with a breathtaking coastline, divine landscapes and one of the longest sand beaches in Europe lies only 30 minutes away from the capital by car on the opposite bank of the Rio Tejo. Situated right on the beach is the hottest beach club in the region: Casa Reîa. The club is stylish and generates a thoroughly festive mood to sit here, to hop into the sea between a light lunch and a chilled Vinho Verde, then let the sunshine dry you off again. Not to mention that Carlo’s dress was dry again in no time. Taffeta, no need to say more.

The elements seem to merge on the grounds of the Champalimaud Foundation. Borders blur, the pavement seems to head seamlessly into the water, and the waterfront fuses with the horizon. With Carlo and Pris, the Fundação Champalimaud becomes a stage. It’s not only the impressive buildings on the banks of the Tejo that tease a Wow! out of us here.

The Marquis de Fronteira Palace is a real highlight for fans of historic architecture. Built in the 17th century, the complex exists unchanged to this day. Above all the palace garden is worth a visit. Strikingly impressive once again here too are the “azulejos”, the glazed tiles. Magnificently designed walls, masonry and stairways. The colourful tiles gleam brightly in the sunshine and reflect the light. An enchanting effect we had also readily encountered along the pretty lanes in the old town. In a nutshell: the light in Lisbon! The city glows with a kind of natural lustre.