Havaianas has a heel for the heatwave

The past few fashion weeks have all had one thing in common: a major heatwave that overruled any and all dress codes. Flip-flops became the only sensible option, and the fashion crowd has steadily embraced the casual slipper as front-row appropriate. Still, there’s always room for a chicer rebrand. Havaianas got that memo. So, during CPH Fashion Week—ironically the most Nordic, and arguably coldest, stop on the fashion calendar— Havaianas unveiled its first-ever kitten heel. After all, the Brazilian flip-flop brand has long been a Scandi staple, from sauna hopping to skinny dipping. 

The new silhouette made its runway debut at Studio Constance’s Spring/Summer 2027 show, appearing in 25 looks across the collection. The Copenhagen label—known for what it calls “Feral Luxury”—paired the kitten heels with its signature mix of romanticism and undone ease: delicate lace, sculptural crinolines and off-white jersey dresses offset by relaxed denim, slouched tailoring and jackets worn against bare skin, reinforcing the collection’s central idea of embracing intuition. As the brand explains, “The SS27 collection embodies the transformation into the light, inviting the wearer to trust their inner voice and move through the world with confidence, presence and purpose.”

Scandinavia may not have the heat, but it does have a population seemingly allergic to closed-toe shoes the second the sun appears, and enough confidence to call it a beach day at 17°C. Turns out, communal nudity and steamy wooden boxes are enough to make a Brazilian flip-flop feel right at home.