I sincerely hope that, at the time of reading, you’re prepared to “get the dogs out”, a tickling expression that’s no joke post-solstice because, even more than most summers, it’s the year of putting your best foot forward—i.e. adorning your toes, ankles and even shoes in all manner of guises.
Celine’s summer campaign is an indicator of what you’re likely to see on the beach, with a sun-lounger shot that showed a pair of legs, criss-crossed feet and toes accessorised with either a chunky stack of rings or (get this!) miniature silk scarves. Phoebe Buffay’s school of thought when it comes to rings, except for your toes, is how you might summarise it, with a maximalist approach so eye-catching that you might even break your rule about not posting your feet on Instagram.
Or, if you prefer a covered approach, may I cast your eyes to Dior's Haute Couture autumn/winter 2027 runway. Hot off designing Taylor Swift's wedding dress, Jonathan Anderson’s recent collection featured bedazzled heels emblazoned with appliqué feathers and draped beading designed by footwear aficionado Nina Christen. This was, if nothing else, a masterclass in how accessorising your feet is as important as accessorising any other part of the body.
BFF dressing also includes toe rings and anklets (Tessa Thompson opted for double-stranded beads in Manhattan’s Midtown), sandals that incorporate their own hardware and shoe charms that can personalise a pair of boat shoes or gladiators, all of which add interest to where it counts this summer—your extremities.
5 'BFF' Shoe And Jewellery Trends
1. Toe Rings
Style Notes: Your gateway to wearing a toe ring might be a simple band (Anni Lu’s ridged design, for example), offering a no-muss, no-fuss approach that will complement rubber flip-flops—minimal and suited to all moods—to perfection. Alternatively, you can go “statement”, either stacking or opting to anoint one toe with a princess-coded crystal by Chan Luu (Swarovski’s prong-set stone will give your pinky bragging rights by the pool—just saying).
Shop Toe Rings:
2. Anklets
Style Notes: Far from being a trend or passing fad, some tastemakers have been wearing anklets—multiple anklets, in fact—like a uniform. Ramya Giangola, strategist and consultant, is one such individual—and her anklet game (and “pile it high” mantra) is unparalleled. Shannon Bond’s cubic zirconia anklet is impressively chic; wear it loose, tickling the ankle bone, for a louche mood or stack it with something beachy (Arket’s turquoise anklet, say) to create a “just back from Hydra” impression.
Shop Anklets:
3. Bead-strung Sandals
Style Notes: Occasionally, one pair of sandals wins summer. This year belongs to Le Monde Beryl’s Beaded Thong, which, available in ice blue or black, adorns your foot without you lifting a finger courtesy of a beaded T-bar. Marianne Symth (pictured above) is a fan, wearing hers with cargo pants for easy city dressing, as is Jalil Johnson, who styles them with ankle-cropped white trousers to show off their assets.
Shop Bead-strung Sandals:
4. Hardware Sandals
Style Notes: Your BBF quota can easily be fulfilled with a sandal that’s self-adorned, preferably with hardware that mimics a toe ring or anklet—and does the hard work for you. Amanu’s sandals come with bands of gold or silver, either curving over the top of the foot or the big toe, to create jewellery for your feet. Tory Burch, meanwhile, has the ultimate party sandal for summer 2026, a thong design with an upper that’s formed of square metallic plates, joined together for a vibe that’s disco-tastic.
Shop Hardware Sandals:
5. Shoe Charms
Style Notes: I met a friend while on holiday who had, rather ingeniously, upgraded her classic leather boat shoes. She used charms she’d collected over the years from Pandora, sliding a collection of trinkets—including a miniature camera—onto their laces. It’s such an easy way to repurpose pendant necklaces you no longer wear, adding sentimental value to a favourite pair of sneakers or leather ankle-tie sandals via an initial, a star sign or even a starfish.
Shop Shoe Charms:
