Copenhagen has always been a sneaker-loving city (you know all to well by now that they love to bike around in beautiful dresses and clunky trainers), but the recent runway shows made one thing very clear: the sneaker modifications we see all over the internet won’t be going anywhere for the next year. In fact, they’re only going to become more intricate and extravagant.
More than half of the runway shows I saw featured sneakers of some sort (especially Pumas, thanks to the generous grants the brand gives to many young designers these days), and nearly all of them were customised in some way to look…cuter! One thing I really like about CPHFW is that the shows tend to skew a bit more wearable and commercial than at other fashion weeks, meaning that I always leave with a handful of style ideas available for immediate application. All of the sneaker hacks I spotted on the runways felt instantly DIY-able, and I’ve categorised them by difficulty below so that you may choose how brave/glue-gun savvy you are feeling on any given day.
EASY:
I’ve never been a fan of New Balances (sorry Steve Jobs, but I fear they make people’s feet look like rats). However, the newly launched 204L shape caught my eye at the Caro Editions show. They’re nice paired with girly dresses of her ilk—not too clunky but outdoorsy enough to lend outfits an air of Danish pragmatism. They also bear a distinct resemblance to the New Balance’s astronomically priced Miu Miu collaboration, which is definitely why I’m drawn to them. The addition of big bows is so sweet, and a swath of silkiness provides a nice contrast to a GORP-y shoe. You could tie a large bow from a slice of any fabric you have on hand, or you could buy two hair clips and just clip them over the laces.
MEDIUM:
I’m not surprised that Rave Review clocked that these new Pumas are perfect for weaving things into, given that the brand is known for their elegant upcycling. If you’ve ever done needlepoint or any type of simple sewing, you’ll be able to easily punch a tapestry needle in and out of the mesh to mimic the same effect. Ideas for what to weave through: a dainty pink-dipped broderie anglaise, a scrap of fluffy pink angora, kitten ribbon.
HARD:
These two are more than embellishments, they’re skirts for your shoes! Mary Janes of your choice (you know mine) could be made more summery with a few loops of crochet around the strap. This one might not even been that hard, I just don’t know how to crochet…
I’ve gone on record as a fan of fancified Dr. Scholl’s, so naturally I was smitten with these ones dressed up in tutus by Nicklas Skovgaard. I’m fairly confident that this could be achieved by taking a simple pair of black Dr. Scholl’s and applying a tulle trim around the edges with hot and/or leather glue.
TWO BONUS VERY, VERY EASY IDEAS:
Linda Cui Zhang, who works in the Nordstrom Fashion Office and has the best, best, best style, sat down next to me one morning wearing these vintage Prada platform flip-flops, colourful Band-Aids, and a bright blue toe ring. She told me that this was her take on the much-coveted Miu Miu neon plasters, but I honestly think her OTT combination is even better! There’s perhaps no simpler way to spice up your shoes then by sticking some eye-catching Band-Aids over your blisters.
No trip to Copenhagen is complete without a stop at my favourite boutique Damernes Magasin, where I always pick up a few of their beautiful silk flowers. While clocking shoe modification trends across Copenhagen, I was reminded of the image above that Damernes Magasin shared years ago, and I still find it so lovely. I think that the natural 2025 upgrade to this trick would be to re-lace a pair of sneakers with one of their roses on a leather cord and have the blossom sit right at the top of the tongue, much like the aforementioned Caro Editions bows.
The last lazy weeks of August feel like the perfect time to craft a new pair of shoes for your back-to-school (spiritually speaking) look… let me know what you make?!
X
Ruby
Nicklas Skovgaard - I die 🤍 (where are your puma sneakers that are Ruby-fied!?!?)