I'm 5'2", But I Feel Tall in These Summer Sandals
As a member of the 5’2”-and-under club, I’m proud to say people are often surprised to hear what my height actually is. Not to say there’s anything wrong with being on the petite side of the spectrum, but I do aim to always dress in a way that’s flattering for my body type, and it seems I’ve been successfully elongating my appearance all this time.
So, what’s my secret? I have many, actually, but among things like tailoring my clothes to fit well; opting for hemlines that lengthen rather than cut me off; and choosing color schemes that blend rather than break me up, my favorite has to do with footwear, and it’s also the easiest. While I’m not much of a casual heels girl (though I do love a party shoe), you’ll also rarely find me in anything that’s completely flat. That means that when I shop for summer sandals, they almost always have at least a slight heel or platform, if not more of a legitimate block heel or wedge situation going on. It sounds simple, but people tend to underestimate what one to two inches can do for an outfit and your overall look while maintaining that cool-casual vibe. With that said, today, I’ve rounded up the summer sandals I’d buy to feel tall in—plus some that are either owned by me or in my cart already. To get started shopping my 29 favorites, simply keep scrolling.
Next, 49 under $49—your ultimate affordable shopping guide for summer.
Since starting as an intern back in 2013, Nicole Akhtarzad Eshaghpour has held several roles here at Who What Wear, and she is currently Editor-at-Large. Upon joining, she was a senior about to graduate from business school at USC. Fast-forward to 2025, and she's moved to NYC from her hometown of Beverly Hills and spends her workdays a little differently from when she was just starting out. Currently, she focuses on a weekly mélange of shopping content and her Trust Me—Buy This newsletter. As far as her personal style goes, she's largely drawn to neutral, classic pieces but will always make an exception for something colorful or bejeweled as long as it's deemed worthy enough. After all, the only thing she loves more than a party is dressing up for one. On her downtime, she can usually be found at home eating something delicious and trying to force her husband to watch Summer House.
-
Spotted in London: The Dressy Sandal Trend to Wear With Pants Instead of Ballet Flats RN
Celebrity-approved.
-
It's Officially a Butter-Yellow Summer—27 of the Chicest Finds at Zara, Nordstrom, and J.Crew
Fashion people love this color trend.
-
The Expensive-Looking Sandal Color Every Fashion Person Is Wearing With Shorts and Dresses (Hint: It's Not Navy)
It's not brown either.
-
I've Lived in NYC, L.A., and Boston—Here's Everything I Think Is Chic for Summer
Shop the highly curated list.
-
Everyone With Good Taste Is Already Wearing These 7 Chic Summer Pieces
These instantly elevate any look.
-
Put Down the Sneakers—*These* Are the Flats Everyone Everywhere Will Be Wearing With Dresses This Summer
Trust us.
-
3 Aesthetic Pairings to Try If Your Wardrobe's Starting to Feel Stale
Foolproof solutions.
-
If You Hate Flat Flip-Flops, These Are the $50 Nordstrom Sandals NYC Fashion People Wear
I want a pair for myself.