The Greatest Copenhagen Trend Week Road Type Shoe Developments

Few company sitting subsequent to me at Copenhagen Trend Week’s first present of the Spring 2026 season, at OpéraSport’s runway on August 4, knew it might happen at an indoor pool in one of many Danish capital’s semi-suburban residential neighborhoods. But, at the least half of the editors, influencers, and magnificence fanatics round me had appropriately determined that rubber flip-flops had been their finest wager for taking up the circuit and going through the onslaught of street-style photographers.

With each passing hour at Copenhagen Trend Week’s opening days, the knee-high cowboy boots I had packed, a nod to early fall shoe developments, started feeling extra misplaced. I glanced to my left and noticed Nordstrom affiliate vogue director Linda Cui Zhang sporting thong sandals with crimson jelly straps and black soles. Turning to my proper, I noticed a row of flip-flops in magenta, azure, and marigold yellow. On the OpéraSport runway, I acknowledged fashions showcasing their ballet-flat-meets-flip-flop hybrids by Havaianas, with a couple of choose company within the stands. If I closed my eyes, the sound of rubber towards heels—the thwack!—can be the right avenue type soundtrack.

OpéraSport’s Spring 2026 runway featured fashions strolling in Havaianas hybrid sandals, combining a Tabi cleft-toe with rubber, open-heeled soles.

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Exterior the present, choose company wore the identical uncommon pair.

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Whereas these sneakers accompanied Spring 2026 designs, related pairings had been throughout Copenhagen’s early autumn avenue type.

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Copenhagen’s August avenue type normally blends extra fall-leaning footwear with flouncy clothes and rosette clips by Pico: the local weather is drizzly and chilly, and company usually bike or stroll between exhibits, so practicality is simply as necessary as getting the ‘match pic. Colour normally stands out in individualized classic designer baggage or stacked Cecilie Bahnsen clothes.

However this season, company flipped the script. Vibrant, colourful flip-flops grew to become the surprising punctuation mark—sure, I’m formally endorsing open-toed sneakers within the metropolis!—including a playful distinction to the standard outsized clothes and wide-leg denims. (Thong sandals are, in any case, technically ergonomic.) Jelly sandals weren’t worn barefoot however styled over contrasting crew socks or semi-sheer tights. And when somebody did go for a plain black sandal, it served to make a minimalist Scandi trench or parka with lengthy trousers really feel only a bit extra freakish. The colour might have been muted, however the impression was something however.

Each avenue type picture I noticed in Copenhagen that includes denims and flip-flops urged that this look is not only a passing pattern. I had beforehand related The Row’s Dune sandals or Sabrina Carpenter’s $4 Outdated Navy sneakers with Might–July, however these outfits confirmed they may very well be worn even longer. Real fall footwear is not sometimes anticipated till a lot later within the season, whereas longer sleeves and pants can be utilized for transitional dressing earlier within the yr. Though rain can harm leather-based boots or suede sneakers, an Adidas flip-flop stays unaffected.

Many company paired easy black thong sandals with creamy impartial separates and waterproof jackets.

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Much more selected a vibrantly coloured pair to have peeking out from beneath an extra-wide leg pair of pants.

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Havaianas

Slim Crystal Flip Flop

Black Suede Studio

Jeli Flip Flop

Jeffrey Campbell

Seaside Day Jelly Flip Flop

The spring runway’s transitional styling solely backed me up. OpéraSport designers Awa Malina Stelter and Stephanie Gundelach have at all times had a sixth sense about It sneakers. Final season, they paired their signature ruffled shirts and semi-sheer clothes with Puma’s silver Speedcat ballerinas on the OpéraSport runway—and kick began a sneaker pattern that will make its technique to Dua Lipa and Olivia Rodrigo. This season, their emphasis on freaky, split-sole flip-flops signifies open-toe season will begin even earlier subsequent spring.

The styling “mirrors how we type ourselves in on a regular basis life, at all times mixing performance with one thing a bit daring or offbeat,” Stetler advised me after the present. “The 3D-printed flip-flop model felt like a wearable intersection between custom and innovation, bringing collectively consolation, tradition, and forward-thinking design in a means that completely aligned with the vitality of the present.”

The identical Havaianas sandals seen on the OpéraSport runway additionally appeared within the model’s entrance row.

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This visitor contrasted a fall jacket with a peep-toe sandal and a shiny pedicure.

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That very same high-contrast vitality saved avenue type’s flip-flop outfits from turning into, nicely, flops. Visitors do not want name-brand sandals from a celebrity-led label—and even designer ones, interval. They had been extra more likely to put on Tkees or Havaianas, styled up with collarless blazers and puddle-hem pants, or matching outsized fits. It is the sort of styling tip anybody can attempt of their wardrobe, whether or not they’re flying again to New York Metropolis from Copenhagen or tuning into the runways nearly from the Midwest.

Two associates on the primary Day of Copenhagen Trend Week wore strappy sandals and fall neutrals two methods.

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Flip-flops grounded outfits piled excessive with contrasting textures and colours.

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ZARA

Animal Print Sandals

Tory Burch

Mini Miller Jelly Thong Sandals

Free Individuals

Sona Thong Sandals

A day will ultimately come when it is too chilly to even get away with a classy rubber flip-flop. (A pal who manages communications for a Copenhagen-based textiles model urged an alternate: layer a shearling-lined sandal with cashmere socks.) There may be a whole vogue month between every now and then—and extra transitional climate outfits that may be accomplished with my most laid-back sandals than I initially thought. However I belief Copenhagen’s prime avenue type: this can be a pattern value dipping a toe into.