What people are wearing in Scandinavia this month: Copenhagen edition

Copenhagen was the reason I started shooting street style. I couldn’t believe that so many well dressed people existed in one city, the proportions didn’t add up. I told my friends back home of its wonders but could never quite articulate the gravity of my point, so I took to documenting it.

This month I chatted to some Copenhageners and Copenhagen enthusiasts about the ingredients to city’s secret sauce of stying and how it’s influenced their own approach to getting dressed.

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Having observed her neighbours for some time now, ex-Londoner Jemimah Duncan is now fluent not only in Danish, but in Copenhagen style, which she divides into three sub-genres; the hipsters, the fashionistas and the classic Scandi girls. Though she finds that they all follow an overarching theme, namely “an effortless vibe that celebrates individuality while maintaining a chic simplicity”. For Duncan, that balance has been a welcome change from the UK, where she experienced “a very different approach to self-expression.” Reflecting on her past, she adds: “I was in a cult that restricted my ability to showcase my individuality. Now, I don't really see myself reflected in London style at all.”

If she could layer in one element from her own culture, it would be her Ghanaian heritage – particularly the “vibrant fabrics, traditional prints, and bold colours that reflect the rich culture and history of Ghana.”

Having swapped Spain for Scandi land three years ago, PR Manager for Copenhagen brand ROTATE, Julia Font has embraced a more Danish approach to curating her wardrobe. Over the years Font has happily embraced the communal commitment to quality clothing, having noticed that in Copenhagen, “nothing ever truly goes out of style”. When it comes to beauty, Font tells me the done thing is minimal makeup, statement brows, and embracing one’s natural hair texture, a trend I hope travels across the continent so we can finally stop frying our hair into oblivion. Font observes that the most Copenhagen-coded accessory possible is “lots (like, lots) of tattoos”. The chokehold that cycling attire has on its inhabitants doesn’t extend to Font who is still happy to leave helmets and trousers tucked into socks to the locals.

Locals Eva Föyn (left) and Signe Mariegaard (right) broke down the Copenhagen girl starter pack for me, which, I quickly learned, includes the following: “flip-flops are a must,” a vintage oversized blazer, wool knits for layering, baggy jeans (the baggier the better), cool sneakers, a vintage bag, and of course, a trench coat. If you’re anything like my mother and feel an irresistible urge to dress like a local when travelling abroad, consider this your packing list.

On the accessory front, Mariegaard let me in on a newer addition: “Pearl necklaces and bracelets are super trendy right now. I love using them to elevate a simple outfit.” It strikes me that Copenhagen trends rarely emerge from invention, but rather from reinvention – the re-contextualisation of age-old pieces. The pearl necklaces, flip-flops, and intentionally oversized jeans with comically large cuffs are all examples of this ethos, capturing the essence of Copenhagen style.

When it comes to the best places to shop secondhand, they pointed me towards Lubarol, Anothernué, and Nørgaard på Strøget, as well as the city’s famous summer flea markets, where, as Föyn notes, “all the cool girls sell out their wardrobes for cheap.”

Baya Gorbunova identifies two distinct players when it comes to Copenhagen style. The first is minimalistic (think “neutral tones and classic accessories”) while the second is “a relaxed urban look with a pop of colour and chunky shoes.” After a few trips to Scandinavia, the latter began to influence the Paris-based stylist and content creator: “I started to add more colour and print into my looks.”

When I dared to ask her – Parisian or Copenhagen style? – she answered diplomatically, “I love both.” Still, she admitted Paris comes out on top, citing the looks she sees in the streets as a reflection of the city’s role as a historical fashion capital: “All the big fashion houses are based in Paris, and you can see their influence on people.”

Having moved to Copenhagen for love four years ago, content creator Imane Asry (left) remains “a true Stockholmer”, a city I often see as a kind of glam, high-achieving older sister to Copenhagen. Asry’s look is rooted in that Swedish sensibility,“I naturally gravitate towards the more put together and minimalistic side of Danish style...with modest Scandi minimalism as my foundation and small, carefully chosen trend elements to keep it fresh”. Evens still, her second home’s playful approach to fashion doesn’t go unappreciated, continuing “Copenhagen girls are so good at mixing things you wouldn’t normally pair...(they) often include something unexpected, like cowboy boots with joggers or pairing something tailored with flip flops”.

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Similarly, Fatima Zahrae (right) has mostly stayed true to her own style, “As a modest girl, it can sometimes be difficult to find direct inspiration” she explained, reflecting that the Copenhagener’s winter wardrobes have been most inspiring. In general, Zahrae cheerfully welcomes those darker seasons that most Scadninavians dread; “cozy activities are woven into everyday routines” she pointed out, continuing, “Coming from Spain and Morocco, where life can often feel hectic, I really appreciate that balance”.

In Copenhagen to seek inspiration for their São Paulo–based brand Lourie, co-founders Michaela Guizardi and Stephanie Zagallo Sahyoun left with a much-needed dose of Scandinavian-induced serenity.

“I took home a mindset,” Sahyoun reflected, with Guizardi in full agreement, noting the capital’s unique connection to nature: “Cycling through the city, being in contact with light, and experiencing design on every corner... Copenhagen reflects calm and authenticity.”

On the fashion front, they found the city’s relaxed attitude to dressing particularly inspiring. “It’s laid-back but never careless,” said Sahyoun, eager to channel that energy back home – into their designs, their own wardrobes, and their daily lives.