How to wear jeans and flip flops like a stylish Scandinavian woman

Copenhagen’s street style is among the best in the world thanks to its individual, individual style, but there’s one item that unites stylish Scandinavians during Copenhagen Fashion Week: clip clappers, or flip flops in English. All over the city, you’ll hear their unmistakable rubber clanging as you descend subway stairs or run around the city from show to show. As a Miami native, I’m familiar with the sound, but since living in New York, I’ve put away my beach plastic flip flops to make room for city-friendly (and rat-proof) footwear.

If you ask anyone in New York City if they’ve ever considered wearing flip-flops around town, you might get some funny looks. This controversial shoe trend is super stylish on social media, but it raises eyebrows from those who preach the horrors of low-slung, open-toed shoes as they walk around Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. And while their fears are totally understandable, after walking around Copenhagen in flip-flops during Fashion Week earlier this month, I’m convinced that flip-flops are the best shoes to wear when you’re out and about if you want to perfect that effortless Scandinavian style that Copenhageners have perfected.

“The Scandinavian aesthetic relies on a chic, minimalist vibe as a wardrobe staple,” and choosing a sophisticated pair of flip-flops from Havaianas makes it easy to achieve that look,” explains Diane Bekol, president of Havaianas North America. “Our collection is versatile and has just the right touch of style to elevate any everyday outfit.”

Emily Sindlev to appear at Copenhagen Fashion Week Spring 2025

(Image courtesy of Havaianas, photo by Angelina Irmasto)

During Fashion Week, influencers, celebrities, and editors were all wearing flip flops, and when I saw nearly every model walk off the Skall Studio runway in slim, black Havaianas flip flops, I knew I was onto something.

“No It fan at Copenhagen Fashion Week completes their street style look without our iconic rubber flip-flops,” Bekol said, noting that Emili Sindlev wore them in her now-viral street style look. From slim square-toed sandals teamed with maxi skirts to chunky plastic red sandals teamed with jeans, flip-flops were one accessory everyone was wearing, my guess is to ease the pain caused by the number of steps attendees take each day on the city’s cobblestone streets. On the third day, I joined in the fun, ditching my elegant but painful black satin mules for a pair of rubber-soled flip-flops I found at a department store for €7. They were the best buy of the week.

Below, we’ll take a look at some of the best jeans and flip-flops combos worn by chic Scandinavians throughout Copenhagen Fashion Week: If you don’t believe in this controversial trend, prepare to have your mind changed – I did too!