by Ada Maria Francesca Romeo
Havaianas gives its iconic flip-flop a kitten-heel makeover, turning a beach classic into one of summer’s most unexpected It-shoe contenders.
If there’s one shoe trend we’ve seen in pretty much every possible form this year, it’s the kitten-heel flip-flop. But Havaianas entering the chat? We didn’t see it coming. The Brazilian brand is officially riding the wave of one of the season’s biggest trends, while giving it a spin that still feels unmistakably Havaianas.
Debuting on the Studio Constance Spring 2027 runway at Copenhagen Fashion Week, the new silhouette plays with Havaianas’ iconic toe-post design, adding an unexpected twist that keeps the big toe concealed. Available in white, off-white and pale green, the shoes bring a fresh, elevated energy to the brand’s signature laid-back aesthetic, finished with a tiny two-inch heel.
Throughout Copenhagen Fashion Week, they started popping up everywhere, worn by creators, stylists and editors around the city. Brazilian content creator Livia Nunes even took things a step further, riding around Copenhagen on a custom bike with a pair of kitten heels replacing the pedals, probably one of the most unexpected sightings of the week.
Havaianas kept the momentum going with an event at Green Island, in Copenhagen’s harbor, bringing a little Brazilian energy to the city through music, installations and customizations. Titled “From Sea Level to New Heights,” the concept pretty much sums up what’s happening with the brand right now: Havaianas is taking its beach DNA somewhere new. And with heeled flip-flops having their biggest moment yet, these might become the It-shoes of the summer, or they might already be.