Copenhagen Fashion Week is like peering into the future through a keyhole. While the event unveiled emerging trends for spring-summer 2025, its street style provided a visual summary of the most notable styles for fall/winter 2024-2025.
From leopard print to pairing socks with ballet flats and Mary Janes, and even sporting chunky heeled pumps with everything à la Carrie Bradshaw, the attendees demonstrated a knack for style. One trend that stood out, echoed by prominent designers in their fall/winter 2024 collections, was the ‘skouser’—a play on words combining ‘skirt’ and ‘trousers’. This hybrid look was prominently featured on the runway, with brands like Bottega Veneta showcasing a leather skirt layered over tailored trousers in contrasting fabrics. Courrèges embraced the nineties aesthetic with a black skirt and trousers, both with a distinctly nineties vibe, juxtaposed against an oversized brown bomber jacket. Sandy Liang experimented with grey tones, pairing a pleated skirt with matching trousers.
Then there was the comeback of a particular 2000s combination—one that may not have aged gracefully. Britney Spears was a strong proponent of this ‘more is more’ style, often seen in nude dresses over skinny jeans or, as in this image, a sheer pareo-style skirt with embroidery over a maxi denim skirt, resembling wide-leg jeans. Copenhagen’s street style embraced this look, featuring wider-leg trousers under skirts of varying lengths. Adding a black t-shirt, a denim shirt with pearl details, or opting for a futuristic touch with silver accents on flat sneakers or ballet flats can elevate the style.
Another way to layer skirts over trousers is by embracing the timeless pleated skirt—a staple of many school uniforms. Sandy Liang’s looks draw inspiration from Fendi’s fall/winter 2023 collection, which offered a twist on the traditional suit. However, street-style interpretations are more relaxed and spontaneous, featuring vintage pleated skirts paired with straight-leg jeans, a white t-shirt, and a surfer jacket for added layers. The key here is to embrace layering and ensure each piece is visible. This ‘college’ aesthetic gets a 2024 update by incorporating an oversized white t-shirt under a plaid vest and white trousers beneath the pleated skirt, completed with sneakers. The result? Effortlessly cool.
