8 sandals that you’ll wear again and again
So cool-yet-comfy, they’ll ruin all other shoes for you
Hold the homepage – we have found the fashest, most feet friendly summer sandals of all time. Whether you’re merrily working your way through the key sandal trends of 2023 or want to invest in your next forever pair, these sell-out styles all have one thing in common: wearing them is like a vacation (for your feet).
So, forget strapping pillows to your ankles and calling it fashion. With engineered arch support, impact cushions, adjustable fits and all-day wear as standard, these eight best (blister-free) summer sandals will take you from beach to bar to grassy sinkholes and slippery dance floors – and every occasion in-between.
1.
The supple sandal
Forever fashionable, the London Leather Two Part Sandal will elevate your look anytime, anywhere. Available in signature black, timeless tan or silver (with a buckle fastening for a bespoke fit) and shaped from satisfyingly supple, ‘liquid’ leather (for serious comfort), at just £45 it's the thinking person’s summer shoe.
2.
The quilty pleasure
Do you LOVE the feeling of a designer shoe splurge, but less so the woah-there price tag? Channel the Fashion Editor’s go-to summer shoe, with Kurt Geiger’s (catwalk-inspired) padded flatform, with riptape fastenings for an adjustable fit. The lovechild of fashion and function, this beauty comes with designer feels as standard.
3.
The espa-thrills
A celeb fan favourite, espadrilles are (and always will be) the best occasionwear shoe of summer, thanks to their royally comfortable braided jute soles and breathable canvas uppers. Designed for all-day-wear, be it a garden party, wedding or casual Saturday in July, the best espadrilles come with a flatform, platform, low wedge or high wedge heel – and are forever en (and in) Vogue. Available in white, natural sand or silver, these Kalley Leather Espadrilles are outrageously flattering – making them the perfect party plus one.
4.
The cult classic
Traditionalists rejoice, Dune’s Loupe Flat Slider (the sell-out summer sandal of 2018) is still HUGE news in shoes. Why? Retaining its spot as the high street’s number one designer dupe, the Loupe’s low block heel and supple leather uppers make it the most comfortable haute homage in history. Dressed up or down, and guaranteed to suit ALL – buy a pair in tan or black now, wear them forever. Alternatively, buy a second or third pair in orange or green, and wear them forever too.
5.
The TikTok trend
If one shoe were to sum up summer 2023, this is she. Nothing will fire you up the fashion FTSE faster than the soft leather techo-sandal – all anatomical rubber sole and adjustable straps. Casual, comfortable and undeniably cool, your feet (and fellow fashion luvvies) will LOVE them, whether they’re designer or dupe.
6.
The flip flop
Flip flops are to summer what wellies are to winter. No wardrobe is complete without them. Proof that practical can have pizazz, the FitFlop iQushion Ergonomic is the brand’s bestselling, five-star-rated and most universally adored variety. With arch support and heel cushioning, the iQushion is engineered by experts to make your feet feel amazing. Once you try a pair, you’ll never go back.
7.
The (suits all) strap
The footwear fanatics among you will have most likely clocked fashion’s love affair with rip-tape – as seen on the cult shoes of 2023, 2022 and 2021! A stylists’ favourite, rip-tape fastenings allow you to whip sandals on and off at your leisure, and are easily adjustable – a joy for wider feet.
8.
The icon
No summer shoe rack would be complete without Birkenstock’s five-star-rated, bestselling Arizona sandals. With signature buckle straps, a cork latex footbed and shock-absorbing EVA soles for all-day active wear, they also come in sheepskin and vegan varieties.
