I know everyone’s been telling you it’s sneaker season, but let’s take a moment to shift to our favorite summer style topic: sandals. The season hasn’t even officially begun, yet we’ve already been engulfed in a flood of the chicest sandals around. Ever since the weather allowed us to expose our feet, we saw classic styles re-emerge as well as a few ubiquitous footwear trends that took some warming up to (cue the parade of thong sandals). Overall, the most popular designer sandals right now are the ones that hit on all of today’s major style elements–90s inspired minimal straps, ultra-saturated hues, and heeled mules–proving that nothing thrills the fashion crowd quite like a good shoe trend.
With still a few more weeks to clear before days at the pool and scorching temperatures, we already have a pretty good idea as to which designer sandals will define 2021. Ahead, we’re highlighting the specific styles that are without a doubt the most popular. From podiatrist-approved flats to gasp-inducing revenge heels, these are the coveted pairs the fashion crowd can’t stop wearing.
Did you know a flip flop could be so chic? Leave it to the Olsens to flip (quite literally) the concept on its head, transforming the humble sandal into a luxurious shoe tastemakers across the globe wear on repeat. These days it’s nearly impossible to open up Instagram without this shoe showing up somewhere. With the sudden shift to comfortable fashion during the pandemic, it makes sense that such an easy, low-key sandal would dominant the shoe game.
Should you need a sign that 90s inspired fashion is here to stay–at least for now–look no further than the minimal strappy sandal. Emme Parson’s Tobias sandals are an ode to the decade and feature thin, almost flosslike straps that create a flattering shape on the foot. These sandals have especially been a hit with French girls that favor minimalism.
If you don’t know by now, Amina Muaddi is the name to know for designer shoes. The young shoe designer’s signature is exquisite towering stilettos with a unique flared-out heel. They’re the type of shoes that instantly make you stop in your tracks because they’re so glamourous, and the crystal-embellished Gilda sandals are no different. With everyone emerging from their post-pandemic hibernation, expect to see revenge sandals like these in increasing numbers.
We’re taking a detour from the world of elevated stilettos for another entry from The Row. As we touched on before, comfort has reigned king when it comes to fashion, so it shouldn’t surprise you that the brand’s simple flat sandal is another winner among the fashion set. Despite its hefty price tag, the minimal design means it’s easy to get a lot of wear out of these.
A true fashion girl brand, Marni is one of those underrated names that really bring it with the eccentric designs. These crossover sandals just might make you never want to walk barefoot again: light as a cloud on the foot and super sophisticated, they’re the elevated way to do “gorpy” sandals. Should black not thrill you, they’re also available in a seemingly unlimited number of colorways.
No wonder By Far’s Bibi heels are in the mix here: The cute bow straps nail the thong sandal trend, the low-heel makes them exceedingly comfortable (and walkable), and they’re from everyone’s favorite It brand.
Only expert-level heel wearers apply: these 3-inch platforms are serious business, but they’re definitely a glorious sight for the eyes. These citrine-colored wonders come from no other than fashion girl favorite Simon Miller, and nail that dialed up California girl aesthetic to a T. It’s not a sandal you can ever forget which is probably why it has won the hearts of so many fashion people.
Technically these are part-sandal and part mule, but the London-based label’s Mary heels are too popular to ignore. Lately, A.W.A.K.E. Mode has been nailing it this season with its sandal selection, and this sleek ’00s-inspired asymmetrical pair was a hit among trend–loving influencers.
Did you really think you were going to get through a designer shoe roundup without a Bottega Veneta mention? An update on last year’s in-demand square-toe mules, as soon as these quilted slides launched, the fashion world fully embraced them with open arms. This roundup may be summer sandal-focused, but we have a strong feeling these shoes will long outlive the season.
Yes, it’s another By Far inclusion, but hear us out! Other than Bottega Veneta, no other brand has been setting sandal trends quite like By Far, so we think a little more praise is in order. The company really outdid itself with its Malene mules, a multi-buckle heel that comes in a range of colors and has been flooding our Instagram feeds all season long.
You may have noticed a disproportionate amount of flip-flops on this list, and quite frankly that’s because it’s the silhouette of the season. Although a bit controversial, we’ve seen so many designer iterations of the thong sandal including Simon Jacquemus’s linen platform version. The thick sole creates the perfect amount of elevation to showcase a pair of baggy jeans.
Here’s an unexpected pick from an emerging label we’ve been keeping tabs on. These vibrant minimal sandals from Kalda blend the best of both worlds: completely on-trend yet foot-friendly. Bubblegum pink has also been a major hue this year, so consider us sold.
Elleme is on the rise, but its collection of shoes and bags have already taken hold on my timeline. We have a soft spot for weird, quirky shoes like these, and turns out fashion girls do too: The toe cover puts an interesting spin on the naked sandal that feels unique and worth the splurge.
