Copenhagen Fashion Week is unfolding in Denmark, and the thong sandals trend is going strong in the European city.
A year after the event helped popularize flip-flops as a fashion trend, the spring 2026 season of Copenhagen Fashion Week is giving new dimensions to the popular style, with guests wearing all sorts of iterations of thong sandals in different materials and silhouettes.
Designer and influencer Jeanette Friis Madsen was among the guests who embraced the trend, wearing a uniquely angular heeled thong sandal with a concave heel and square toe. Another style on display was a bright blue pair of Havaianas made in collaboration with Zellerfeld; showcased as part of OperaSport’s runway show, the shoes feature a bubbled sole and foldover feature covering the toes.
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Meanwhile, kitten heel iterations and different strap shapes showed how the thong sandal style can be made more formal. Not to be left out, traditional flat summer flip-flops were seen on the streets as well.
Thong sandals have been around for thousands of years, dating all the way back to ancient Egypt, with people crafting them out of various resources across different continents. It’s said that the modern flip-flop popular in Western culture took root in the U.S. following World War II, inspired by the Japanese zōri style.
Brazilian brand Havaianas, which also took inspiration from the zōri, launched in 1962 and has become a staple for people in Brazil and beyond. Decades later, the silhouette is still relevant, and many companies are trying to address the environmental and foot health concerns related to the minimalist style.
From affordable to luxury, brands are taking the trend in all kinds of directions these days. Whether you want a simple polka dot pair from Old Navy like Sabrina Carpenter, or a towering platform pair from ERL like Kylie Jenner, or something in between, the options are plentiful. And celebrity partnerships are happening too — Gigi Hadid has teamed with Havaianas, and Evan Mock did a collaboration with Reef through his own Wahine label.
The spring 2026 season of Copenhagen Fashion Week will end on Friday.
