Scandinavian summer style is setting the tone for 2026. Scroll to discover five seasonal Scandi staples and how to wear them.
As a seasoned fashion editor, there's always been one style set that's simply spoken to me: Scandinavian women . You see, whilst Parisians will always have that insouciant, just-threw-this-together magic ( Jane Birkin , anyone), and Londoners ’ looks exude a quiet, lived-in energy (just look at the capital's It girls, Alexa Chung and Kate Moss ), in my mind, Scandi girls reign supreme.
To call ‘ Scandinavian style ’ simply modern minimalism would be doing it somewhat of a disservice. With all the restraint of a French woman, spruced with the clean lines of Stockholm's best-dressed and dialled up in Copenhagen's colourful vintage-inspired wears, these dressers create outfits which should feel overdone yet somehow subtly announce, “I didn’t try”.
Which is exactly why they continue to reign supreme. And thanks to their cooler local, dressing for dreary weather comes with the territory.
As we barrel towards the end of September, autumn isn’t simply on the horizen its here (pumpkin-spiced clichés and all). Which means wardrobes need to shift accordingly.
Whilst a carefully curated capsule will only take you so far, the true beauty lies in the styling. And as I said before, who does style better than the chic scandi women?
Having looked to my social media feed for inspo, I’ve found five pieces these dressers simply can’t live without. Be it a shapely trench coat or a revived colour palette, this is Scandi dressing 101.
So don't just stand there; scroll down to see below.
Style Notes : Whilst it's true you can never go wrong in a trusty pair of denim jeans or a plush cardigan, Scandinavian dressers know that leather is the hardest-working fabrication in your autumn capsule wardrobe. Balancing a cool undercurrent with a timeless appeal, it doesn’t just look the part—it delivers on warmth too. or a modern approach to the motif, look no further than Nnenna Echem( pictured above), who's styled it to perfection.
Be it her draped leather jacket or her sleek midi skirt and kitten-heel pumps, each piece helps to strike that elusive Scandi balance.
On a cooler day throw on a shaply trench coat.
If you missed out on last years funnel-neck leather jackets, they're back for a second season.
Style with loafers and cosy V-neck jumper for a casual look.
The leather finish adds movement to these stylish barrel-leg trousers.
Style Notes: As I said before, Scandinavian style really does work for every kind of dresser—and for those whom classify as pared-back , this autumn’s colour palette couldn’t feel more aligned. With the focus shifting from vintage-inspired patterns and vibrant colours to texture and tone rather than overt nostalgia, black, cream and brown are at the forefront.
Be it a stylish suede bag or Ingrid Edvinsen (pictured above) ensemble of a sweeping double-breasted brown maxi coat, white T-shirt, eggshell baggy jeans and a warm chocolate croc-print bag . The mood feels less basic’s and more quiet luxury with a healthy dose of personality.
V-neck jumpers like this have been everywhere this autumn.
No need to size up as The Frankie Shop Gaia wool coat comes naturally oversized.
COS's clean cut T-shirt comes in 20 playful patterns and styles.
Style Note: With many of the world's best vintage shops residing in Scandinavia, it makes sense that kitsch prints and one-of-a-kind treasures appear on the style set year-round. An easy way to inject a little personality into your outfit (without feeling overdone), even luxury fashion houses are taking note of the resurgence.
Be it the floods of Roberto Cavalli-esque patterns sweeping new-in shelves to Versace's pop art skirt (already embraced by It girls Alexa Chung and Dua Lipa ), “dated” styles have never been so popular.
Of course, the key is making them feel modern and this is where Scandi style excels. Take Sidsel Alling's look (pictured above), for example. Using her “face-skirt” to do the heavy lifting, she tempers the vibrancy through a minimal pair of ' 90s-style pumps and a slouchy black jumper , letting the skirt shine without overwhelming the look.
Hear me out, picture this blouse styled with pedal pushers and a sleek paur of ballet flats.
Dramatically eye-catching in all the best ways.
Layer over a whiteT-shirt for a fashion-forward finish this autumn.
I can't quite believe this best selling jacket is back in stock in a full size range.
The thick block heel means you'll be able to walk a mile in this style pair of witchy pumps.
Style Notes: I’ve long been a believer that you can never go wrong with a trench coat, and in autumn 2026, it seems the Scandinavian style set agrees. But whilst you might be expecting sweeping, floor-grazing styles to tickle their fancy, this season's standout is that of the cropped trench .
With a waist-skimming length, the short cut does wonders for the proportions, elongating your legs rather than swallowing. But the secret to exuding that ever-elusive Scandi finish is all in the structure.
Think sculptural shapes, exaggerated lapels and buttons and fastenings that quietly command attention. I mean, sure, Jeanette Madsen’s (pictured above) look would be chic with a minimal silhouette, but where, pray tell, is the fun in that?
IKYMI Burberry has some of the best cropped trench coats on the market right now. Just look to their recent runway show for further proof.
I love how this looks layered with a red jumper and blue jeans.
Part Trench, part bomber jacket the styling potential is limitless.
Style Notes: I’ve long been a believer that the easiest way to elevate a look lies in the accessories. Whether it's a playful faux-fur bag or a statement-making pair of flats, Scandinavian women have long known that a well-placed print or pattern can transform an outfit.
Take Maren Schia's ensemble above. Whilst her playful pale pink balloon trousers and stylish peplum blouse would look chic alone, her eclectic use of polka-dot ballet flats , silky scarf and retro sunnies makes a world of difference, injecting not only depth but personality.
Monty's playful bags have been top of my wishlist for quite some time.
This simple scarf can also be tied around the waist.
If Maren's polka dot pair feel a step to far, why not try a pair of simple mesh flats instead.
Style with an all white outfit this autumn.
Imani-Nia Francis-Tsolaki is Junior Fashion Editor at Who What Wear UK , where she expertly navigates Gen-Z-aligned editorial content and brand try-ons to unearth the most worthwhile pieces, while valiantly resisting the urge to add every single one to her basket.
At Who What Wear , Imani is committed to uncovering cool new brands to share with the WWW UK readership, and finding gems that make shopping accessible (and fun) for everyone.