Move Over, Minimalist—There's a New Sandal Trend That's Everywhere for Summer 2026

Don't get me wrong, I've been loving my simple, black, leather flip-flops this season, but while they have proven the most useful for my everyday dressing, when it comes to being the most intriguing and on-trend, it looks like a new style is gunning for their spot. As you probably guessed, it's the beaded sandals (both in heeled and flat versions) shown above that I've been spotting nonstop in my feed, new arrivals sections, and now, of course, in my carts that are eclipsing their more minimalist counterparts as of late.
Initially starting to gain steam last summer, with more recent endorsements from brands and trend-setters alike, this is the year they appear to to be earning real It-item status. From Reformation's new pair in collaboration with Courtney Grow to Gianvito Rossi, Khaite, and Saint Laurent's cult-favorite iterations, there's something for not only every vibe, but every budget, too. To see all the styles that made my shopping list, simply keep scrolling, and if you're still set on that simple black pair of sandals for summer, I've got you covered there, too.
I love them in black, too.
Since starting as a fashion intern in 2013, Nicole Akhtarzad Eshaghpour has held several roles at Who What Wear. She is currently editor at large, and in her present work for the site, she focuses on a mélange of shopping content, including her new-arrivals and Trust Me—Buy This columns as well as her weekly Trust Me—Buy This newsletter. Her interest in shopping spans everything from decoding the best luxury investments to discovering on-the-rise brands to trend forecasting, affordable fashion, and more. She holds a business administration degree from USC's Marshall School of Business and has been based in New York since 2017, when she moved from her hometown of Beverly Hills.