What are some of the best summer shoes? I have thought about this a lot, I even created a separate Pinterest list to help me keep track of my favorite styles, identify duplicates and gaps in my wardrobe. So let’s talk about it.
I love shopping for bags and shoes more than anything. Ok, maybe outerwear is my soft spot too. But let’s put a pin on that for the moment. Before I get dressed, I think about what bag and shoes I want to wear and pick my top and bottom to match those. It’s my formula, perhaps it has to do with adopting a more uniform approach with clothes and making bags and shoes the focus of my outfit no matter how minimalist the styles are. I don’t know what it is, but that’s how it’s always been.
If you happen to be following this blog for a while now you know that I did a massive closet clean out many years ago (including shoes, and a lot of them) and since then I’ve slowly built up my closet into what I wanted it to be. There is something so freeing about having fewer things in your closet that you love and wear on rotation. I’ve also learned that having go to shoes that match my outfits is key to having a put together look. That you can’t get away with Birkenstocks all summer or wearing the same broken in sandals day after day. And finally, I am done, likely really really really done with shoes that take forever to break in and slice my feet open. I’m not doing that anymore. If I sense that a shoe is not it for me, it goes on my Poshmark.
Having a summer selection of shoes is hard in my opinion. Sure, we all have lying around in our closets those very comfortable sandals, going strong on their 4th spring/ summer season, that can take you anywhere. But much like any category of clothes or accessories, you want to have a selection and you want them to properly match your outfits and style. The wrong or right shoe can really change your outfit and whole look for the better or worse. So here is my list of the best summer shoes. When I think of what you need to have as ‘best summer shoes’, I think of them in the purpose they serve for the most part (as in where they take me) and sometimes in the style category.
This blog post is all about the best summer shoes you could consider investing in to build a good selection of shoes.
#1 BIRKENSTOCKS: RUNNING ERRANDS SHOES
Whether it’s a run to UPS or Whole Foods. I’m always in my Birkenstocks when the temperature goes up. Arizonas might be the most popular (based on my observation of course), but I’m more of a Madrid girl, single strap giving chic auntie vibes. I have been wearing and buying this style for many years now, 15 years to be exact, and have never not had one in my closet (more like two). I either renew the sole or purchase a new one depending on the condition of the strap, I have also invested in the shoe care kit from Birkenstock. It really helps keep the sole clean and the cork in great shape, especially if you expose it to water or rain.
In all honesty, these might be my most comfortable shoes ever when it gets warm. The ones with the real leather strap and sole, you have to read the tag to find out (they have many styles that aren’t real leather). Plus, they don’t require any time to break in (huge plus) and they last a really long time. Surely, they don’t give the vibe of looking put together, the Madrid style still looks better than Arizona, in my opinion. I also have the EVA version, but the strap and sole aren’t nearly as comfortable as the leather one. I never travel without these and I’m seen shopping in them here and there more than I wish to admit.
#2 CHUNKY SANDALS
I have always been on the hunt for chunky sandals that have a comfortable “Birkenstocky” sole with arch support, but a completely different vibe, i.e. chic and put together. Something that would still allow me to go on a 20-block walk. I know the Chanel dad sandals are very popular and I’m sure they are very comfortable, but I see them on everyone in NYC. Prada has their own version with fluffy pillow like straps. So does The Row. E. Emery has a version too, I think it’s pretty and very comfortable but it has no hardware and no half sizes. It’s called The Jalen Sandal. A few years ago, when I visited Italy I was introduced to Marni’s Fussbett Sandals. They really caught my eye, especially with the minimal gold hardware. They are quite popular in Italy. There aren’t that many reviews online, but the few I found got me intrigued. Unfortunately, I bought the wrong size at the advice of the sales associate – nothing Poshmark can’t fix. I finally repurchased them this year. I will post a separate review on this pair, but in brief they are super comfortable, don’t take a lot to break in. Not that compliments would make me want to buy something or wear it more often, but there isn’t a time I put these on and I don’t have people asking me about them or complimenting. I can walk 20 blocks easy in these. They check many of my boxes.
#3 FLIP-FLOPS, BUT MAKE IT CLASSY
We are knee deep in the leather flip-flop trend and yes, I’ve joined the cult. I thought about the price of The Row’s City Flip Flops for a very long time and then justified it, because YOLO. In all honesty, it is absurd for flip-flops to cost that much but once you see this pair, you will understand why people give in. I tried the Toteme leather flip-flops but they are rigid and the shape is more square-ish in the front, they are also made of croc embossed leather, which I didn’t particularly want for this style. A. Emery has a similar style but the overall shoe sole is narrower and the strap is tapered. The style is called The Kinto Sandal. The Row’s are rounder, they have a threaded sole at the edge with a rather large ‘toe box’ in the front and the leather is a dream. All of these things together give them a more substantial and chicer look. The leather sole is incredibly comfortable on long walks and the grip is insanely strong. Which is what gives it the name City Flip Flop. If you’re thinking about them, this is your sign to get them. They are iconically Olsen in my opinion.
#4 GOING OUT SANDALS
The strappy, pretty to look at and elegant sandals that won’t necessarily let you walk 20 blocks. They could have a heel or no heel. But you can easily walk 5 blocks after you get off the subway. You get the gist. I’m thinking Emme Parsons strappy sandals, they are called String in Black Nappa. Those are so elegant and minimal. Phoebe Philo Céline has an iconic minimalist pair that comes in black and red. There are also many sandals from the The Row and Jil Sander that fit this category. I particularly love the T strap sandals from the Row, you can find these second-hand as they are no longer produced. I got lucky at Ba&Sh a few years ago, when I stumbled on these sandals and I really liked them, a thin strap in the front with a flat bow, and a leather piece that twists around the ankle, very minimal and chic. They are called Carmine. The Row has a similar style with a small strap in the back.
Top Left Clockwise: Birkenstocks, Madrid Style in Berlin!, Marni Fussbett Sandals, The Row City Flip Flop, Ba&Sh Carmine Sandals, Nike Sneakers in neutral tones, Mansur Gavriel Dream Ballerina in Cerulian, Chanel Classic Slingbacks, Church’s Kelsey Fisherman Sandals.
#5 FISHERMAN SANDALS
For the days that aren’t super warm or when I want to add a little bit of a masculine touch or edgy leather feel to my look, I reach for my Fisherman Sandals. In all honesty, I have never really been a fan of Fisherman Sandals, until I saw the Church’s version. It was a cross between jelly and fisherman sandals. I can’t get over how pretty and masculine they are at the same time. They look so put together and add a lot of depth to the outfit overall. I love this rather thin leather detail to it and the fact that the foot in the middle section in exposed. The majority of fisherman sandals in the luxury market have wider leather pieces and the design extends to the arch of the foot, I’m not a fan of both of these things. The Row has a version like that. So if you are like me, try the Church’s Fisherman Sandals, they are called Kelsey and are on the pricier side. But if you’re familiar with the brand, these will last you many many years. Church’s no longer has brick and mortar stores in the US, so if you would like to get a feel before investing, do so on your next trip to Europe.
#6 CHIC CLOSED TOE SHOES
Sometimes in the middle of summer you just want to wear something that covers your toes. It can’t just be me who wants to switch it up a bit, I hope. But also, there will be times when you want to look even more chic and the open toe shoes just don’t cut it. This is what slingbacks are for, I’m am mostly thinking about the Chanel slingbacks, that are classics and super comfortable. I have the flat one and I am probably going to invest in the heeled version. I spent quite a bit of time looking at sling backs from different brands, and I considered Prada as they also have a variety of slingbacks. I am not a big fan of Chanel as when I first started buying luxury goods years ago, but the slingbacks are worth it. They are iconic and sell out for a reason. The toughest part is finding them in your size and preferred color combination. I love the all black with silk fabric in the front. Another category here are mules, specifically comes to mind the Manolo Blahnik Maysale Mules in suede leather. These are absolutely gorgeous and come in a variety of colors. I cannot wait to get my hands on them.
#7 BALLERINAS
There isn’t a season you can’t wear ballerinas in NYC. I’m a sucker for Mansur Gavriel’s Dream Ballerina Flats. I own two pairs and I continue to drool over the other colors each time I browse their website. These fit me like a glove, no break in time necessary. I can go on long walks in them in the city if I have to. They look so chic and put together, no other ballerina with this price point can compete.
I am also on the hunt for Chanel’s ballerina but I have been out of luck. They produce their shoes in different factories around the world, so your size at one point may not always be the size that fits you well. They also have 4 different widths, some reserved for specific markets like Asia. I’ve never had one fit me well besides the very first time I tried them on and didn’t purchase them.
Toteme’s T-Strap Flats is another option especially if you don’t like the traditional ballerina. You can find them in a variety of fabrics, leather, and colors. They are so chic and versatile and really elevate your whole outfit, because of its T-Strap and toe shape. So iconically Toteme.
#8 SNEAKERS
For the days that you have 5 blisters, don’t want to wear any sandals or you just want to be able to walk fast carelessly, you can reach for sneakers. I have a pair of neutral color Nike shoes that I love. I think the most important features are that they are light, in neutral colors, and don’t look bulky. The latter probably has more to do with your style, I don’t like it when sneakers cover my ankles or sit high, but of course whatever compliments your style. There are many options that you can invest in from Miu Miu, Celine, Hermes or Prada. I haven’t found a designer sneaker that I truly loved and wanted to invest in, so Nike it is.
This blog post is all about the best summer shoes you could consider investing in to build a good selection of shoes.
As always, thank you for stopping by and reading. If this type of content interests you, please follow my IG account @girlontheues
See you next week,
Girl on the Upper East Side
Xx
If this interested you, you might want to read my piece on Bag Trends 2024, Toteme Haul, and Transitional Pieces for 2024.
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