Welcome to high summer. By this time, your outfit rotation probably looks something like this: denim shorts (long, of course), simple vest tops and sandals—lots of sandals. When you're beelining to the nearest beach, strolling through the park or enjoying an outdoor happy hour situation, sandals pretty much cover all your summertime bases, which is why we're here to ensure your shoe collection is as up to date as possible.
Curious as to which sandal styles you should ditch to upgrade your wardrobe? I asked Who What Wear editors in the U.S. to name the outdated sandal trends they're breaking up with this summer, and of course, which trends you can find them wearing on repeat instead. Let's face it—we'll be wearing our sandals to death from now until September, so if you haven't found your ideal pair (or two or three pairs) yet, there's no better time than the present.
Ahead, see which sandal trends we're leaving and adopting this summer, and then shop each one we're here for.
Breaking up with: Bulky flatform sandals
Wearing instead: High-heel flip-flops
"Bulky flatform sandals are dead to me, but I've allowed high-heel flip-flops into my wardrobe this season (never thought I'd be saying that a couple of years ago)."
Shop her pick:
Breaking up with: Basic slides
Wearing instead: Detailed sandals
"This season, I'm hoping to skip basic slides in favour of anything a little more interesting. Think snakeskin, strappy or buckles."
Breaking up with: Sandals with ruffles
Wearing instead: Mid-heel sandals
"Just recently I got rid of a couple of pairs of sandals with ruffles on them. They feel a little girly and young at this point. Instead, I'll be opting for the midi heel sandals—a little taller than a kitten heel, but more walkable than a high heel."
Breaking up with: Espadrille sandals
Wearing instead: Strappy flats
"I'm putting my espadrilles on pause for the moment, and instead I'm wearing sleek strappy flats."
Breaking up with: Rubber flip-flops
Wearing instead: Lace-up sandals
"I totally am here for the flip-flop trend, but I have yet to wear my rubber ones and feel like I'm 100% pulled together. So I'll be putting those aside until further notice. Instead, I'm sticking to lace-up sandals."
Breaking up with: Crisscross slides
Wearing instead: Toe-hugging sandals
"I'm hitting pause on my simple crossover slides at the moment. The simple style is great to have on hand, so I won't be ditching them per se. Instead, I'm favouring toe-hugging sandals that offer a more interesting look."
Breaking up with: Light-coloured sandals
Wearing instead: Darker tones
"I was obsessed with white, mint and other light-coloured sandals last summer, but the hassle of keeping them sparkling clean got really old. This summer I think I’ll give myself a break and stick with sandals in darker, lower-maintenance colours that don’t show dirt and scuff marks as easily. I have a pair of H&M kitten-heeled sandals in basic black that have been serving me well!"
Speaking of summer shoes, London girls are all prioritizing these seven styles.
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Hold the Flip-Flops—This Sandal Trend Set to Replace Them This SummerYou can trust me.
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I Hate Ballet Flats But Love These Elegant Anti-Heel AlternativesAll the elevation with none of the pain.
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I've Noticed That the High Street's Flat Shoes Are Looking So Premium—These 5 Trends Are WinningComfort ahoy!
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Suddenly, Jennifer Aniston's Favourite Sandal Trends from the '90s Are BackAn icon's go-tos.
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These Are the Chic Sandal Styles Every Fashion Person Is Wearing This SeasonStep into spring in style.
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It's Official—This Is the Designer Sandal Every Fashion Person Has Their Eye on for SummerThey're a favourite for a reason.
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Zara Doesn’t Do Mediocre Sandals—I Know These Stylish Pairs Will Be Gone By MayI can't see these staying in stock for long.
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The Lesser-Known Trainer Brand Sienna Miller Wears Has Now Launched SandalsThese are well worth a look.
