10 Top Street Style Trends from Copenhagen Fashion Week
So.much.inspiration. The best part? You can find it all secondhand.
*This newsletter is full of trend inspo, so please click through if you’re on email to see alllll of the images on desktop or in the Substack app. Cover image via Elle.*
True story: I live for fashion week street style. I was an accessories and jewelry assistant merchant (imo the best categories to buy) when fashion week street style was in its infancy. My work mood board was stacked with printouts of Tommy Ton and Phil Oh’s photography. I would eagerly click on all of the fashion websites to see what bloggers and magazine editors were wearing. I had a catchall street style Pinterest that evolved into seasonal boards by city to become curated Instagram folders. Today I’ve gone full circle with digitized Canva mood boards.
At first, street style was all about the big four fashion weeks: New York, London, Milan, and Paris. Somewhere around 2018 Copenhagen Fashion Week (CPHFW) came onto my radar and it quickly became my ne plus ultra of street style: the vibe was more creative, my favorite brands Ganni and Stand Studio showed there, and there was a slew of new-to-me influencers with highly inspirational personal style.
Other than my love for a hyperlink, if there’s one thing I’m a broken record about, it’s that it’s my life goal to go to Copenhagen Fashion Week. Until I can make that happen, I live vicariously through my favorite creators, street style photographers, and fashion publications.
All About Copenhagen Fashion Week
The Green Cred
It’s not a total surprise that Copenhagen Fashion Week has become a leader in sustainable fashion. Copenhagen itself is ranked the 4th most sustainable city and fun fact: they have more bikes than cars. CPHFW launched their first Sustainability Action Plan in 2020 complete with annual reports to share their progress. What really sets CPHFW apart is their Sustainability Requirements1 for participating designers that encompass both runway and everyday brand initiatives, proving that fashion can be more responsible when brands put in the effort.
The Street Style Cred
As Danya Issawi of The Cut writes, “the real fashion show is on the street” at Copenhagen Fashion Week:
“Scandinavians know how to dress. People there have an aesthetic that, at its core, is nearly impossible to authentically replicate. The clothes I saw coming in and out of shows all week were somehow both effortless and intentional, utilitarian and playful, original without hinging on the bizarre. The outfits worn to these shows were the same ones I saw on the street five minutes later on people walking to the bus stop or riding a bicycle. I left Copenhagen feeling simultaneously inspired to explore my wardrobe more and confident in the outfit choices I already make.”
The CPHFW Autumn/Winter 2025 shows took place January 27th through the 31st and the street style was on point. There were balaclavas. There was fringe. There was leopard. There was monochromatic dressing. There was mocha mousse and every shade of brown.
The 10 trends that caught my eye are a mix of newly rising and prior season trends. In the spirit of CPHFW’s sustainability ethos, you can put your own spin on these by finding inspiration in your closet, shopping secondhand, clothes swaps with friends, or rental services.
10 Key CPHFW Street Style Trends
1. Bag Charms
Bag charms have picked up even more steam since they emerged in 2023, and CPHFW street style was chock full of bags accessorized with an eclectic mix of designer, kidult, and handcrafted baubles. Blending little treat culture and chaotic customization, bag charms give your wardrobe a small lift while injecting some personality into an otherwise staid bag.
Want to make this sustainable and affordable? Grab the keychain hiding in your closet, make a DIY beaded lanyard, or watch this Frankie Shop Reel for beauty inspo. Tying a scarf around the handle is another easy way Jane Birkinify your bag.
2. Statement Rings
2025 marks the return of personal style and we saw this play out in CPHFW jewelry through stacked and layered statement rings. Now’s your chance to wear all of your special styles at once and mix metals, shapes, and widths. Dust off your cocktail rings since these will be a major ring silhouette in 2025.
If you prefer to constantly refresh your jewelry look, accessories rental services like Switch can help you get started.
3. Cinched Waists
Remember that time I wrote about cinched waist jackets making a comeback? Well, they’re here and they’re spectacular.
This look is incredibly easy to recreate from your closet by cinching a wide belt around your outerwear. Bonus points for layering multiple belts to restyle your oversized blazer or giving your 2010s wrap belt a new life tied over your wrap coat.
4. Accessorized Ties
Ties took over AW 2024 runways and quickly became the signature accessory of the chicest of influencers. CPHFW showgoers took it a step further by accessorizing their ties with brooches, clips, and mini bags.
A sustainable way to try this trend: pin a statement earring or brooch to a secondhand tie as a sophisticated alternative to a tie tack.
5. Oversized Collars
I’ll always associate big collars with Scandi style thanks to Ganni's Fall 2020 show. While these have downtrended in the last few years as quiet luxury overtook whimsy, they’ve regained ground as personal style is on the upswing. I was thrilled to see my favorite influencers wearing oversized collars here and here, and then again on CPHFW showgoers.
If you’re not ready to invest in a statement collar shirt, detachable collars and scarves can give all of your shirts a little something extra. The RealReal is awash with preloved dickeys, snoods, and collars, or you can repurpose a large square scarf by folding it diagonally to knot over your shoulders.
6. Moto Boots & Jackets
Moto has been steadily gaining traction ever since Miu Miu debuted their biker boots AW 2022. Combine that with our collective love for all things chocolate brown and a softened moto aesthetic was born. Vogue Business is predicting Moto Boho as a top trend for this fall (read my Note about it here), but this looks just as amazing with more tailored pieces.
Shop moto secondhand to score OG jackets, biker boots, and boho skirts and dresses. Look for slightly cropped, oversized jackets for a modern spin, buckle boot hardware for extra edge, and sheer skirts for the perfect boho contrast.
7. The New Animal Prints
Fantastical animal prints reigned supreme at CPHFW with cow, deer, and zebra surpassing leopard as the animal print to wear. There's a high likelihood that my maximalist tendencies have been reactivated how fresh these prints look, the blue cow print in particular.
This is another great trend to shop preloved, focusing on vintage prints and shapes for a truly unique look.
8. Texture Play
Texture has been popularized by minimalism and quiet luxury as a way to give basic outfits extra depth. At CPHFW, ultra textured fabrics were worn by showgoers to help statement silhouettes and bright colors pop.
Looking for sustainable ways to texturize your outfit? Invest in pieces with longevity that you’ll wear time and time again.
9. Shaggy Faux Fur
Everything’s coming up Charlotte Simone as faux fur is outgrowing its smooth, plush roots to morph into something a little shaggier. If you’re not ready to commit to a full-on jacket, dip your toe into this look with mittens or scarves.
This is yet another perfect trend to shop secondhand to capture a vintage seventies vibe while making your outerwear more circular.
10. Skirts Over Pants
We started to see skirts over pants styling in 2024 via The Row and Sandy Liang. CPHFW attendees highlighted the versatility of skirts over pants dressing, with sporty casual, sheer glam, and cozy separate outfitting.
Want to try this trend with items you already own? Layer a sweater over a slip dress or pleated skirt and pair it back to slouchy jeans or wider leg pants.
That’s it for this week, I hope you loved CPHFW street style trends as much as I do. Been to Copenhagen Fashion Week? I want to know EVERYTHING! Have a favorite trend that I didn’t touch on here? Feel free to share in the comments below.
CPHFW Sustainability Requirement highlights:
no single-use plastic allowed at shows
all props must be rented or be given a second life post-show
a circular process in place for unsold clothing and samples
must use at least 60% certified, deadstock, or preferred eco materials in collections
Skirt over pants and mixing texture!
GAH!!! I could mainline this content into my veins; we are so so similar with our love of Fashion Week Street Style! I am always impressed when people can synthesize what they saw and distill it for me so THANK YOU for that. I am most into the texture you pointed out. I think Scandi style is often distinct because of their master layering but made interesting with texture.