My Best 6 Tips to Master the Nordic & Scandinavian Style

And honestly? It is so much easier than I thought it would be. I have put together this massive guide just for you, so we can both upgrade our wardrobes together.

1. The Art of the “Perfectly Oversized” Silhouette

Okay, so the very first thing you have to know is that Scandi style is basically all about playing with proportions. They absolutely love things big and baggy, but there is a major catch. It has to look totally intentional. You cannot just wear old sweatpants that are three sizes too big and call it a day.

It is all about the tailored oversized look. Think big, boxy blazers with strong shoulders, wide-leg trousers that puddle just a tiny bit at the shoe, and massive button-down shirts that look like you stole them from a boyfriend. The absolute key here is balance. If you are wearing a huge blazer, you have to balance it out. You wear a fitted little tank top underneath, or you pair it with some sleek, straight-leg jeans. It is a very specific, mathematical formula.

I actually learned this the hard way last month. I was trying to do the oversized thing and I bought this huge, structured vintage coat from a thrift store. But I wore it with these equally baggy cargo pants and a thick, oversized sweater. Girl, I looked like I was hiding three other people inside my outfit. I met my cousin for lunch downtown, and she literally asked me if I was wearing a parachute to the cafe. I was so incredibly embarrassed!

Now, I finally know the secret. If I wear my big vintage blazer, I pair it with a slim top and maybe some bike shorts if it is warm enough. It changes everything.

How you can do it right now:

• Raid the men’s section: Seriously, the absolute best oversized button-downs and blazers are always in the men’s department at thrift stores. They just have a better, boxier cut that hangs off the body perfectly.
• Show some wrist or ankle: If you are completely drowning in fabric, just roll up your sleeves a little bit. Showing your wrists makes the outfit look styled instead of just messy and lazy.
• Shoulder pads are your best friend: A blazer with a strong shoulder gives you that instant cool-girl structure, even if the rest of the outfit is super casual.
• The “French Tuck”: Always tuck the front of your massive shirts into your pants just a little bit. It gives you a waistline back!

2. Mixing Heavy Textures with Delicate Fabrics

Scandinavian style isn’t actually about having a closet full of wild prints and crazy patterns. It is almost entirely about how the fabrics feel and look next to each other. They are absolute geniuses at mixing something very heavy and practical with something super feminine and lightweight.

I am talking about wearing a really chunky, thick wool sweater over a delicate silk slip skirt. Or pairing some tough, heavy raw denim jeans with a sheer, soft lace blouse. The contrast is exactly what makes the outfit look so interesting. It gives the whole look so much depth and personality.

Do you remember when we went to that big outdoor night market back in October? I was wearing that thin little cotton summer dress and I was freezing my absolute butt off. My Auntie Mary was there, and she took one look at me shaking like a leaf. She literally took off her massive, hand-knit wool Pendleton cardigan and threw it over my shoulders. She said, “You gotta layer up, baby girl.” And you know what? It looked so ridiculously cool. The heavy, cozy wool mixed with the light summer dress was a total vibe. It was incredibly practical, but it looked like high fashion.

That is the exact energy we are going for here. You want to mix the unexpected and play with how things feel.

Your texture checklist:

• Invest in good knitwear: Drop the itchy acrylic sweaters right now. Save up for one or two really good wool, alpaca, or cashmere blends. They look so much richer and they drape way better on your body.
• Keep the summer pieces out: Do not pack away your lightweight slip dresses in the winter! Just throw a massive sweater over them and add some tights and boots.
• Play with leather: A slightly oversized, distressed leather jacket over a soft, thin cotton tee is the ultimate Scandi uniform.
• Mix matte and shiny: Try wearing a shiny satin skirt with a matte, fluffy mohair sweater. The way the light hits them differently is gorgeous.

3. The “Wrong Shoe” Theory is Everything

Okay, pay super close attention because this tip will literally change how you get dressed every single morning from now on. Have you heard of the “wrong shoe” theory? I see it all over my feed, and it is basically the entire backbone of Copenhagen street style right now.

The whole idea is super simple. You put together an outfit, and then you purposefully pick the shoe that makes the absolute least amount of sense for that outfit. It sounds crazy, but I promise it works every single time. If you are wearing a beautiful, flowy floral summer dress, you do not wear delicate little strappy sandals. You wear chunky dad sneakers or heavy, thick combat boots. If you are wearing baggy sweatpants and a hoodie, you throw on a sharp, pointed-toe kitten heel or a really sleek, expensive-looking loafer.

It adds this element of surprise to your look. It takes an outfit from looking a bit “basic” or expected, to looking totally “styled.” It is all about irony and having fun with it.

I do this almost every day now. I will wear my nice tailored trousers that I usually wear to important meetings, but instead of flats or loafers, I put on my bright, scuffed-up retro running shoes. It makes me look like I have somewhere really fun to be after work. Plus, European girls walk absolutely everywhere. You are not going to survive these cobblestone streets in tiny little heels, trust me. You need a shoe that can handle a 10k step day, which is exactly why styling fancy dresses with running sneakers is so incredibly popular there.

How to nail the footwear:

• Get a pair of chunky boots: They make every single skirt and dress look immediately cooler and more grounded.
• Embrace the colorful sneaker: A bright green, red, or blue sneaker with a completely beige or black outfit is a massive trend right now.
• Comfort always comes first: If you cannot walk comfortably in it for at least an hour, do not wear it. Scandi style is inherently super practical.

4. Neutral Foundations with a “Pop of Butter”

When most people think of minimalistic or Nordic style, they immediately think of an all-beige or all-grey closet. But that is actually kind of boring, and true Scandi style is definitely not boring at all. They definitely love their soft, earthy tones. Black, white, grey, camel, and navy are the absolute core colors of everything they do.

But the real secret is how they use bright color as a tiny accent. The biggest color trend I am seeing right now is pastels, specifically this gorgeous “butter yellow” and a very soft baby blue. They will wear a completely dark grey outfit, and then carry a bright butter-yellow handbag. Or they will wear an all-black look with a pale blue scarf tied casually around their neck.

It is such a fresh, happy way to wear color without feeling like a walking rainbow. I love this approach so much because it means I do not have to buy a whole new colorful wardrobe. I can just buy one or two fun, bright accessories and completely change the vibe of clothes I already own.

I have actually been incorporating some of my traditional Native jewelry into this look, and let me tell you, it works so well. I have this incredible, heavy silver and turquoise squash blossom necklace from my grandma. I used to only wear it for special family occasions or powwows back home. But lately, I have been wearing it over a crisp, white, oversized button-down shirt with wide-leg jeans. The pop of bright turquoise against the super minimal white shirt looks so insanely cool. I always get stopped and asked about it at coffee shops. It makes the minimal outfit feel so much more personal and authentic to me.

Color rules to live by:

• The 90/10 rule: Make 90 percent of your outfit completely neutral, and use the remaining 10 percent for a bright, unexpected pop of color.
• Butter yellow is the new beige: Seriously, this specific yellow color goes with absolutely everything. Treat it like you would treat white or cream.
• Colorful socks: If you are wearing classic loafers or white sneakers, a bright red or bright blue sock peeking out is a super easy, cheap way to join the trend.

5. Outerwear as the Main Event

If you live anywhere where the weather is even slightly unpredictable (which is basically everywhere now), you really need to listen to this one. In Scandinavia, it rains a lot. The weather can literally change five times in one single afternoon. Because of this, their outerwear is not just an afterthought that you throw on to stay warm. The coat IS the outfit.

You cannot just spend an hour putting together a gorgeous look, and then throw an ugly, old fleece zip-up over it and expect to still look chic. You need coats that make a massive statement all on their own. Long, sweeping trench coats are absolutely huge. Oversized, structured wool coats that hit the ankles are everywhere. And those thin, quilted liner jackets are basically the unofficial daily uniform of Copenhagen.

I used to be so incredibly bad at this. I would spend a full hour picking out a cute top and tailored pants, and then I would just throw my boring, practical black puffer jacket over it because I was cold. I looked like a walking marshmallow and it ruined the whole vibe. Now, I invest heavily in my coats. I found this amazing, slightly oversized vintage trench coat online a few months ago. It is life-changing. Now, I can literally be wearing my stained pajama pants and an old t-shirt underneath to go buy bread at the bakery, but when I tie that trench coat tightly and put on some dark sunglasses, I look like a mysterious model who has her life completely together.

Upgrading your layers:

• The classic Trench: You absolutely need one in your closet. Make sure it is long enough – it should definitely hit below your knee, ideally mid-calf.
• Quilted jackets: They are wonderfully lightweight, surprisingly warm, and they add such a cool, slightly sporty texture to a regular outfit.
• Scarf styling: A massive, thick blanket scarf wrapped perfectly around your neck is the ultimate finishing touch. Let the ends hang long!

6. The “I Woke Up Like This” Beauty Vibe

Okay, so we have the clothes completely sorted out. But you really cannot do the whole Scandi aesthetic without talking about the hair and makeup. The entire point of this style is that it looks totally effortless. If your outfit is super relaxed and cool, you cannot pair it with a full face of heavy, matte foundation and perfectly curled, stiff hair. It just clashes.

It is all about the “clean girl” look, but just a little bit messy and lived-in. The skin should look like actual skin – glowing, super hydrated, with maybe just a tiny bit of concealer and some cream blush. Eyebrows are just brushed up and left natural. And the hair? It is either a sleek, slicked-back low bun (which is honestly perfect for when you haven’t washed it in three days, let’s be real) or loose, slightly messy waves that look like you just air-dried them while riding a bicycle through the city.

I actually love this approach so much because it saves me so much precious time in the morning. Remember how I used to spend like an entire hour fighting with a curling iron every single day before classes in college? Never again. Now, I just throw some sea salt texturizing spray in my hair, put on some deeply hydrating tinted lip balm, and I am out the door in ten minutes flat. It feels so incredibly liberating to just let my natural texture do its own thing.

I actually got caught in a massive, unexpected rainstorm the other day while I was out running errands. My hair got totally wet and stringy. I just twisted it up into a big, messy claw clip while I was waiting for the bus. Two years ago, I would have been so stressed and crying about it. But with this aesthetic, a messy claw clip with some pieces falling out is literally exactly the vibe. It is all about just embracing the imperfections.