Over the past few years, we have seen a shift toward practicality in fashion, and this is seen most acutely with footwear. Fashion brands have for several seasons been bringing us sturdy, responsible shoes—the kind of styles that you'd try to run away from when finding shoes at Clarks in year six. Think T-bar loafers, chunky lace-ups and—what we're talking about today—fisherman sandals.
Our current weather is very much the 'British Summer' with a wet washout one day and humid, soaring temperatures the next. One moment you require air to your toes and then the mercury drops a few notches and you need a little more coverage. That's why the controversial topic (mostly to my own family) of the old socks-and-sandals debate is still going strong and I'm here to challenge and conquer it.
Francesca keeps it easy-breezy with denim city shorts and a vest for warmer days.
Brittany wears hers with a classic white cotton midi dress.
The Row and Gabriela Hearst are adored for their discreet take on luxury fashion, and although both tend to shy away from anything too flashy or trend-driven, they have a habit of dictating the silhouettes that we'll be gravitating towards. Both brands created beautiful caged leather sandals in both ivory and black, making humble fisherman sandals the most sought-after sandals back in 2021, and their impact continues to this day. Like Tevas, their appeal is that they are practical walking shoes and will go with almost any summer outfit.
Both designer styles have been yo-yoing in and out of stock for the past few years. However, the silhouette has finally reached the high street in far greater volumes than when the sandal trend first came around. There are fantastic versions at the likes of Zara and M&S, as well as independent brands such as Grenson and Russell & Bromley. Although cheaper options do abound, I would recommend looking out for real leather as they'll last longer. Keep scrolling to shop our edit of the best pairs at every price point.
All of the aforementioned styles are (how would you say...) breathable and well ventilated, which leads the way for hosiery to step forward and connect the seasons with ease and style. Layering can still work, even with open-toes! Scroll down for some great examples of socks 'n' sandal styling.
How Celebs and Street Style Stars Wear Their Fisherman Sandals
Hailey Bieber nails the slick city look with white and off-white pairings, all punctuated with black accessories and gold hardware.
As much as it pains me to discuss tights at this time of year, this is the UK after all so those days may be closer than we like to admit. I love this charcoal grey with mid-denier legs!
Hailey's look is perfect for warm days and cooler nights with rolled-top socks and her go-to black fishermans.
Ahead of the fisherman sandal shopping below, these Prada get the school playground upgrade with smart pulled up socks.
I love the rolled down socks and loose-fitting knits of this look. Knitwear heaven!
Shop the Best Fisherman Sandals:
The Row's original sellout sandals are back but I imagine they won't be around for long.
If you've been hunting around for the perfect yet affordable pair of fishermans, this pair is it. They're made of genuine leather, making them comfortable and durable and they come in a wide-fit. The black is a classic choice, but they're available in tan too.
I love the traditional proportions of this pair and the darker shade of tan leather. Very much the sort of pair worn when we were kids.
The Row has also introduced a slimmer-soled option in black and white.
A modern design with a flat and slightly raised sole for ultra comfort and clean lines.
A rich tan leather with a flat sole for the perfect balance between modern and classic.
I love that these are made of navy blue satin. It's such a cool spin on the classic leather fisherman sandal.
Olive leather will pair nicely with some white tailored shorts.
A suede pair promises to be super comfy.
An investment, but one I think we've proven is worth making.
These come in four different shades: tan, black, white and a patent.
These are the most demure fisherman sandals we could find, and they now come in brown and black too.
If you're looking for something with a unique spin, these fit the bill.
Hereu is the accessories brand I can't get enough of right now.
A silver finish adds a little something extra to the mix.
Dear Frances does it again with perfectly simple yet beautiful sandals.
I love the contrast stitching and the double buckle detail.
Church's are beautifully and skillfully made and I love the chunkier sole of this pair.
These John Lewis sandals look way beyond their £47 price tag.
A gorgeous chocolate brown hue that will look so good with white, black and basically every other colour in your wardrobe.
A chic slingback pair.
Honestly, this under-£100 pair have shot right to the top of my wish list.
Nothing says summer quite like pistachio green.
These scream comfy and would look great with a white dress.
If you liked the Queenie pair earlier but you're keen on a slimmer sole then opt for these firey ones from with that worn in look.
You can't beat a classic, and this JW Anderson pair is exactly that.
Chocolate brown is a favourite colour of mine for summer dressing. Lighter than black but just as chic.
A jelly version. I'm pretty sure I had this exact pair as a child.
This story was published at an earlier time and has since been updated.
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