As much as we hate to admit it, someone has to keep our feet grounded in reality: the fashion crowd's collective obsession with shoes can sometimes veer into unhinged territory. We're sorry, don't hate us. We'll be the first to admit that our editorial staff spends an almost egregious amount of free time searching for new shoe trends and testing out new arrivals—we find designers' ability to take basic shoe styles like a strappy sandal and add their flair to them forever inspiring. But at some point, even the most shoe-obsessed people, like us, the fantasy of buying into every single sandal trend is pushed to the side in favor of making a more pragmatic choice (albeit by choice or by force). Although it's easy to assume that the shift away from buying trendy footwear to investing in staples requires one to sacrifice looking stylish throughout the summer, that's simply not the case.
Don't believe us? Take a few minutes to scroll through the social media accounts of your favorite French influencers. With this fashion crowd, they understand that you only need one classic pair of sandals to carry you through the season. But what's their style of choice? Strappy sandals, of course. Whether in the form of a flat sandal with a lace-up ankle straps or cage-heeled sandals, we've spotted so many versions of this style in the streets of Paris. Frankly, we get the appeal. Unlike other footwear, there are numerous different iterations of this style and various ways to wear them out in the wild, making them one of the most functional and fashionable investments you can make for the summer. But if you're still not sold on the allure of this "boring" shoe, keep scrolling. Ahead, we've rounded up the 30 best strappy sandals to shop right now, based on price point, versatility, quality, name recognition, trends, and editor reviews.
Best Strappy Sandals at a Glance:
- Best for a Tight Budget: Open Edit Korva Slide Sandal ($50)
- Best Long-term Investment: The Row Sara Gathered Thong Sandals ($920)
- Best Flat Strappy Option: Aeyde Nettie Leather Sandals ($395)
- Best Strappy Heel Option: Tony Bianco Caprice Heel ($100)
- Best for Comfort in Mind: Margaux The Wrap Sandal ($275)
- Best for Wedding Season: Sam Edelman Presley Strappy Sandal ($100)
- Best Trend-Forward Option: Tory Burch Pierced Heeled Sandal ($400)
- Best for Transitioning into Fall: Reformation Serenity Bare Sandal ($248)
Under $150
Minimalists, these were made for you.
Metal toe rings are a must for summer.
Nothing beats a two-tone sandal in our minds.
Meet your new favorite pair of sandals.
These oxblood-hued sandals will transition smoothly into fall.
These strappy slides will last you for seasons to come.
ICYIMI: Hardware sandals are having a moment.
Although we're partial to snakeskin print, these sandals are also available in brown and blue.
Wedding season hates to see these sandals coming!
The lower heel on these makes them practical and pretty—aka everything you'd want from a pair of sandals.
Under $350
We'd recommend styling these with a simple white dress to really make them the focal point of your outfit.
These strappy sandals can be easily worn to every single occasion imaginable—from date night to a night out dancing or to the big wedding day.
Snakeskin print is a neutral in our books.
The cherry ankle charms? Too cute.
You can wear these with everything: swimsuits, dresses, jeans, the list goes on.
The quality of Studio Amelia's sandals makes them worth every cent.
Margaux's sandals are made with comfort in mind, so you won't have to worry about blisters for the rest of the summer.
White sandals aren't for everyone, thankfully, this sleek pair comes in seven other shades.
With animal prints still trending, there's no better time to embrace your wild side than with these pony hair sandals.
We love suede sandals, especially when they're a rich chocolate shade.
Worth the Investment
These had us at the hardware.
Euro summer is calling.
These are too hot to handle.
Prepare for these slides to be a permanent fixture in your summer wardrobe.
Butter yellow sandals? Delicious.
White sandals will always be the spitting image of sophistication, in our humble opinion.
Now these are a truly timeless option.
Jimmy Choo, you really do know the way to a girl's heart.
Public service announcement: Not all T-strap sandals require a stiletto to feature the signature strappy silhouette.
We would not blame you if your jaw hit the floor when you first saw these sandals (ours surely did).
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