12 Trends to Know From Copenhagen Fashion Week

Copenhagen Fashion Week, otherwise known as Fashion Month’s cool little sister, offers a first glimpse at the trends spring/summer 2025 has to offer, before New York, London, Milan, and Paris take over your Instagram feed. After all, Scandi style tends to remain one step ahead of the curve, so it’s always a good indicator of what’s coming to our closets, regardless of the season. And with brands like Rotate, OpéraSPORT, and A. Roege Hove on the roster, it was sure to be a (very) fashionable time.

If the uncharacteristically pleasant weather in the Danish capital was any hint, next spring will be all about joy: the joy of clothes, the joy of the outdoors, the joy of expression, and the joy of living life. “We design dresses that you can walk fast in,” Marimekko creative director Rebekka Bay tells ELLE. “You can take ownership, you decide how you want to wear it, but you can also get on with your life.”

Adds designer Joao Maraschin: “The forward-looking trend is an effortlessly versatile wardrobe that blends casual, dressy, cool, and layered styles all together. It is all at once, organically at the same time, bringing together contrasting elements like tailored jackets with swimwear and heels, cocktail dresses with heavy denim, [and] maxi jumpers and jackets with miniskirts and trainers.” The runway shows offered just that, from elegant sheer fabrics to head-to-toe moto leather and pops of acid green.

Another important factor that sets Copenhagen Fashion Week apart from its fashionable peers? A focus on sustainability. In order to participate, designers must meet a minimum standard for eco-friendly practices, including using at least 60 percent certified, made-of-preferred, or deadstock materials. This is the fourth season the requirements have been in place, and others, like Berlin Fashion Week, are planning to follow suit.

Below, we rounded up the top trends from the shows, so you don’t have to wait to shop the next big thing. See and shop them all below.

Stylish Shorts

Summertime Knits

Knits and sweaters might not be the first thing that comes to mind in the summer, but consider breezy nights on the beach. Summertime knits are their own category altogether, as they need to be breathable and light, yet still cozy. Open-knit patterns and delicate yarns come into play here, as seen on the runways of Rolf Ekroth, Joao Marschin, and Herskind. The key to finding your perfect style is deciding what—if anything—you will wear under it.

Sheer Power

Light and airy are always the vibe for warmer months, but especially at The Garment and Remain. On the runway, layered sheer pieces looked especially chic. If you want to flaunt it, next spring is the time.

Shades of Gray

Officewear may still be having a moment, and so is the color gray. From charcoal to cool slate, silk to tweed and pinstripes, it is an understated hue of the season. And it doesn’t have to be all business, either. “I was drawn to the contrasting fashion eras of the ’80s and ’90s,” Remain designer Martin Asbjørn says. “I found inspiration in their shared affinity for ‘power dressing.’ We hope to see this woman wearing the pieces throughout her daily life, feeling empowered and elegant in all that she does; from the office, to the art gallery, to the wine bar.”

All Leather Everything

You might think leather is a winter material, but CPHFW begs you to think again. Head-to-toe leather looks graced the runways of at Gestuz and Won Hundred, and colors ranged from all black to brown to gray. Sometimes beauty is pain, but in this case, it might be just sweat. We don’t make the rules!

Double Denim

Canadian tuxedos are nothing new of course, but next spring begs us to dream up several fresh ways to style denim. Think: belts, boots, and baseball caps.

Tube Tops

Tan lines, beware: The décolleté will be on full display next spring, so apply your creams and serums accordingly. There was a flowy, almost bohemian feel at The Garment and Lovechild 1979. “We were interested in the different perspectives on what a contemporary work uniform is,” Lovechild 1979 designer Anne-Dorthe Larsen tells ELLE. “The notion of moving between different settings and surroundings, and how our attire transforms accordingly, or maybe not at all.” With pieces like a strapless dress or tube top, you can go anywhere, anytime, and maintain a free-spirited elegance.