This Season's Must-Have Sandals, Ranked

Strappy, sculptural, flat or heeled — we found the sandals worth every penny this summer.

An Honest Assessment

I've tried a lot of sandals this summer. More than is probably reasonable. And I'm going to tell you exactly what I
found, including the ones that weren't worth the money and the ones I'm still thinking about weeks later.

The Strappy Flat Sandal: The One That Always Works

If you're buying one sandal, buy this one. Thin straps, minimal footbed, leather or good leather-look — in tan, white, or black. It works with midi dresses, wide-leg trousers, denim, linen sets. It travels well, dresses up and down effortlessly, and photographs beautifully.

The ones worth spending on: anything with a subtle metallic, anything with interesting strap placement, and anything with a toe ring strap (currently the most interesting detail in flat sandals).

The Sculptural Sandal: The Statement Choice

This is the one for people who want their shoe to do the work. Interesting heel shape, architectural straps, something
that reads immediately considered. You wear this with the simplest possible outfit — white dress, beige linen trousers — and the shoe is the outfit.

Worth the money. Not worth buying more than one because they demand all the attention and compete with each other.

The Espadrille: The Comfortable Summer Classic

I know. I know they're everywhere. They're everywhere because they work and they're comfortable and they solve the
problem of looking nice without destroying your feet. The best ones have a jute sole that's thick enough to be practical and a canvas or leather upper in a neutral.

Skip the ones with ribbons that tie at the ankle. They always look slightly costume-y after the first wear.

The Platform Sandal: Proceed with Caution

The platform is having a moment and I'm only partially convinced. The right platform — low, minimal, in a neutral — adds height without drama and can look genuinely great with the right trouser length. The wrong platform looks like a fashion mistake from a decade ago.

Rule: if the platform itself is the thing you notice first, it's too much.

"The best sandal is the one you forget you're wearing until someone asks where it's from."

The Sandal Not Worth Your Money This Season

Anything with excessive embellishment — shells, beads, multiple colours competing for space. The maximalist sandal had a moment. That moment is largely over.