It's Official: These Are the 7 Best Shoes to Wear With Minidresses

Admittedly, we mostly talk about midi dresses here at Who What Wear. But with the recent resurgence of thigh-grazing hemlines, we've found ourselves trying to figure out how to style the mini dress in 2024. Specifically, we've committed ourselves to decoding which shoes best complement this shorter silhouette.

While the going-out options are obvious (from an elegant kitten heel to a shimmery slingback, generally low heels or pointed flats are the way to go), wearing a mini dress in the daytime is a little trickier. It's easy to feel overdressed when your legs are on show, so the key is to stick to casual footwear.

But for more precise pointers, we took to Instagram to check out how influencers are styling their short dresses for the beach, the city and everything in between. Word of warning: If you haven't previously been convinced by the mini trend, prepare for the following seven outfits to change your mind.

So, if you're wondering what shoes to wear with mini dresses this summer and beyond, scroll on to discover the ultimate list.

See the Best Shoes to Wear With Mini Dresses:

1. Chunky Sandals

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(Image credit: @so.candice)

Style Notes: Chunky sandals are our answer to every footwear-related dilemma in the summer months. But our bias aside, they'll make even your fanciest mini dresses feel more casual.

Shop Chunky Sandals:

2. Ballet Flats

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(Image credit: @rayan.xasan)

Style Notes: To create a Parisian-style summer look, team a pretty cotton mini with ballet flats. Then just add a basket bag and you're ready for a stroll along the Seine.

Shop Ballet Flats:

3. Flip-Flops

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(Image credit: @lucywilliams02)

Style Notes: If you haven't yet snapped up a pair of elevated slip-flops, take this as your sign. They'll work just as well with longline dresses, linen trousers and jeans as they do with Lucy's mini.

Shop Flip-Flops:

4. Clogs

Who What Wear's Rebecca RhysEvans in a mini dress and clogs

(Image credit: Rebecca RhysEvans)

Style Notes: Running errands or embarking on a city break? Put comfort first and slip on a pair of clogs with a flowy mini dress—we recommend Birkenstock's Boston slides, in particular.

Shop Clogs:

5. Strappy Sandals

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(Image credit: @aidabadji_)

Style Notes: Strappy sandals and mini skirts are a match made in heaven. With the weather finally starting to improve, I know I'll be pulling out this combo at the first sign of sun.

Shop Strappy Sandals:

6. Espadrilles

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(Image credit: @lenafarl)

Style Notes: If you want to add a little height to your mini dress look, opt for a wedged espadrille over a sky-high stiletto. Castañer makes some of the best.

Shop Espadrilles:

7. Trainers

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(Image credit: @marina_torres)

Style Notes: To dress down your sleekest LBDs, all you need is a pair of sneakers and some white ankle socks. Easy peasy.

Shop Trainers:

Freelance Fashion Editor

Bébhinn Campbell is an Edinburgh-based fashion and lifestyle writer and editor. She started her first blog at age 14 and went on to intern at print and digital publications in Berlin and London, including Dazed & Confused and Indie magazine.

A job at a fashion startup took Bébhinn from Ireland to Scotland in 2019, where she now works as a freelance journalist and copywriter covering everything from travel and interiors to styling advice. As a contributor to Who What Wear, Bébhinn always keeps her eyes peeled for emerging trends and looks worth writing about. She prides herself on her ability to cut through the noise and identify solid investment buys, exciting new brands and fresh takes on classic design.

In her spare time, Bébhinn enjoys perusing Edinburgh’s best vintage shops, working through her out-of-control book collection and watching dog reels on Instagram.