While much of the world is escaping to the Med or the Maldives for a well-earned dose of sun, sea and R&R right now, Denmark’s capital still managed to draw the style set with its spring/summer shows in Copenhagen, despite a rocky forecast proceeding it.
The city saw blessed with sunshine all week and its eclectic, fashion-forward crowd didn’t disappoint with the looks they turned out across the events from 4 - 9 August.
Copenhagen Fashion Week’s hottest tickets included a comeback from Cecile Bahnsen with an archive showing of its whimsical designs. Anne Sofie Madsen was also back on the schedule, while OpéraSport excited social media with its daring location — staging its Seoul-inspired show in historic public swimming facility.
On and off the catwalks, looks were defined by the playful and coquettish; plus plenty of oversized tailoring and bold accessories featured on the streets.
Here’s five of the trends everyone was wearing at Copenhagen Fashion Week.
Madcap hats
If you didn’t pack something to cover your head for the Copenhagen shows you were probably left red-faced. Whether it was a skull cap, a crochet bonnet or sailor hat, every single influencer and many of the models donned some form of millinery. More traditional pillbox styles were also having a moment.
And it was clear that the more madhat the looks, the better. Bonnets were worn with bloomers, skullcaps with clashing prints — and on the runways OpéraSport paired sequin skull caps with Havaianas’ funky new 3D printed flip flops, made with Zellerfeld.
Sheer detailing
At Cecile Bahnsen’s archive show — as well as puffball dresses — sheer everything ruled. It’s one of the designer’s signatures, but the fashion set also debuted plenty of takes on sheer styling.
Unexpected layering was a favourite trend for influencers, and Evi Wave wore what can only be described as a 2025 summer bingo outfit on day two: Adidas wideleg trackpants, a sheer sequin dress over a white long-sleeve tee, and acecssrorised with a yellow Birkin, Havaianas and a blue headscarf.
The silk scarf takeover
The humble silk scarf has had a major resurgence this season. As well as being a Glastonbury It girl essential (see: Gracie Abrams), they were all over the heads of showgoers in Copenhagen. If it wasn’t a hat day, it was time to crack out a chic headscarf to add a pop of colour. But they weren’t just atop of looks, but tied around waists and plaited into pretty ponytails, as per the equestrian-themed Baum und Pferdgarten show.
The scarf is going nowhere for a while, so invest in one now — or 10. Shop vintage for the most unique takes on the look.
Personality bags and accessories
Labubus can’t take all the limelight, right? The girlies at Copenhagen Fashion Week don’t think so. Numerous types of plushies and keychain characters adorned showgoers’ bags decreeing it the season of the personality bag.
There were Beavis and Buttheads, crochet ducks and sailors tacked onto designer totes. But the It bag of the week? A squishy rat clutch as seen at Anne Sofie Madsen’s first show in eight years, where some models toted them by tail and others wore them nestled neatly below their arms. Yes, rodents are fashion’s new best friends. ...Londoners look away, or buddy up if you dare.
Sporty stripes
It wasn’t all about out-there looks, however. One of 2024’s most ubiquitous and most wearable sports-adjacent trends is going nowhere. Oversized jersey rugby shirts and polos were everywhere on Copenhagen’s streets in colourful stripes, including Aligne’s boxy knitted version (£125, aligne.co). And their longevity was confirmed on the catwalks as Marimekko sent them down its Spring/Summer 2026 runway worn with co-ordinating, contrast-stripe skirts that were equally oversized.
