How to Dress Like a Scandi Girl
There’s a very specific kind of sartorial envy that strikes when you scroll past a Scandi girl on Instagram. She’s standing on a quiet Copenhagen street, holding a coffee that matches her trousers, her hair scraped into a bun that looks like it took just two seconds. Her outfit? Deceptively simple, almost boring. But you can't stop staring at it. Welcome to the uniquely powerful magic of Scandi style.
So what’s the formula? How do these women make a crisp poplin shirt and Adidas Sambas look like a lifestyle? Here’s how to crack the code.
Start With a Shirt (But Make It Weird)
Scandi girls know the power of a good button-down — oversized, crisp, always slightly unexpected. Maybe it’s layered over a tank, or left open with sleeves rolled aggressively. The trick is in the proportions: big, but not clownish. Think more “borrowed from your architect friend,” less “this used to be a duvet.”
Mix Softness with Structure
It’s all about balance. A floaty maxi dress with a boxy blazer. Slouchy jeans and a sharp pointed flat. The Scandi wardrobe hinges on contrasts: masculine/feminine, old/new, effort/no effort. Don’t be afraid to mix your vintage tee with a tailored trouser. Or a frilly blouse with sporty sunglasses. It’s in the tension that the magic happens.
Invest in The Good Coat
Even in August, there's a coat involved. A trench, an oversized wool number, maybe a boxy leather jacket. Copenhagen summers are unpredictable, and Scandi style always errs on the side of preparedness. Plus, the outerwear often makes the outfit, it’s what pulls all those “nothing” basics into a look.
Don’t Shy Away from Colour (Just Use Restraint)
There’s a myth that Scandi style is strictly black, beige, and bone. Not quite. The real It Girls use colour like punctuation, a cherry-red flip flop here, a butter yellow knit there. It never screams. It nods.
Comfort Is Non-Negotiable
You’ll rarely see a Scandi fashion girl in six-inch heels or anything that looks like it might chafe. Kitten heels, sporty sandals, Mary Janes, and — yes — sneakers reign supreme. Because what’s the point of looking good if you can’t bike in it?