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. They have proven the most useful for my everyday dressing, but 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, I've been spotting beaded sandals, both heeled and flat versions, nonstop in my feed, new-arrivals sections, and now, of course, in my carts that are eclipsing their minimalist counterparts. They initially started to gain steam last summer, and with more recent endorsements from brands and trendsetters alike, they appear to be earning real It-item status. From Reformation's new pair in collaboration with Courtney Grow to Gianvito Rossi's, Khaite's, and Saint Laurent's cult-favorite iterations, there's something for every vibe and every budget. 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.