There are four types of shoes that basically every person wears during the summer months
SNEAKERS
SANDALS
UNIQUE HEELS
SLIDE ONS
I scourged the internet to find four of the hottest selections for each category and put them below for you so you don’t have to do any searching. I also included a little snippet of why I picked each specific shoe so if that specific shoe isn’t necessarily your type, you can find a different pair with a little more guidance.
If any of the shoes below speak to you, simply click on the picture to take you to the item to purchase.
plain white sneaker
Alohas Apple Bright White
$150
A plain white sneaker is a summer staple MUST! A white sneaker can make basically any outfit look chic and elevated, in my opinion. I love these Alohas Bright White sneakers specifically because they have a nice platform which helps to make them interesting/less boring and the texture of this sneaker is going to be incredibly easy to clean with a simple wet wipe!
soft color sneaker
Adidas Gazelle Bold Sneakers
$120
I know that these are called the Bold Sneakers but I am still putting them into the soft color section due to the baby pink. I think that a pastel sneaker like this is key in the summer because it helps to make any boring outfit light, playful, and fun. If you’re not a baby pink lover, Adidas has a couple of baby blue options on their website. Otherwise, Gola has some amazing soft pastel colored sneakers as well!
bold color sneaker
Gola Elan Sneaker
$110
Is your jaw on the floor? Like holy f*cking sh*t. I cannot get over these sneakers.
If you didn’t know already, bold is IN this summer. And by that I mean bold color mixing, which is the definition of this pair of sneakers. These with a dark pair of denim jeans + white oversized t shirt = iconic. If these aren’t your style but you’re still wanting a pair of bold colored sneakers, these pair come in 2 different color combinations. Click the picture to take you to the link to check them out.
trendy sneaker
Ganni Sporty Mix Leopard Print Sneaker
$179
We have all seen and fallen head over heels for the Adidas Wales Bonner leopard print sneaker. Not only do they cost an arm and a leg, but they can be difficult to come by. Above is simply a more affordable option! A patterned sneaker is an easy cheat code for elevating a boring or super casual outfit. I think the leopard print pattern is a good option if you are wanting to achieve the street style/trendy outfit aesthetic. If leopard print isn’t your style, you could also achieve the trendy look with a cherry red or butter yellow sneaker.
H SANDAL
Steve Madden HAYDEN Sandal $60
The H sandal is THE sandal of the summer. I believe brands are ripping off the Hermes Oran Sandal with these little numbers but idc, sign me up for the knock off. I think the style and shape of the shoe is elegant, chic, and give off a carefree just slipped them on while running out the door feel making them the perfect for summer!
Steve Madden isn’t the only brand hopping on the trend, you can find this sandal style basically anywhere, in any color, and any fabric, all you have to do is type in ‘H Sandal’ into your search bar to check more out. I just purchased a pair of black and brown crocodile textured ones from Nordstrom Rack. Unfortunately they’re not online anymore (maybe sold out) but definitely worth checking out in person if possible! Their summer sandal selection is off the charts.
GOLD EMBELLISHED
Jeffrey Campbell Linques Flip Flop
$120
The gold embellishment on these sandals reminds me of a shell and that is basically the only reason why they are here. I have had my eyes on these sandals for about a year now and have been waiting for them to fly off the shelves, I think this summer is their time. Any type of gold embellishment on a sandal instantly takes it from drab to fab. This shoe selection would be perfect for when you’re wanting to look elegantly casual!
Just like the H sandal, these shoes are made by a couple of different brands in different shapes, colors and price points. I got mine from Dolce Vita, they have a round toe vs square tow and a little more cushion for support. Unfortunately they don’t sell them anymore but Steve Madden makes a very similar pair, if you want to check those out click HERE.
THONG SANDAL
Dolce Vita Lucca Sandal
$50
Thong is an old term used for a sandal whose support goes in between your big toe and second toe. Unfortunately, they are back and better than ever. I only say unfortunately because the support can be uncomfortable but once you’re used to them it’s all smooth sailing.
If you’re the type of person who likes a thin, dainty, not super showy sandal these are the ones for you! You can find styles like these basically anywhere. I know Target has a bunch at the moment for around $30!
BEACH SANDAL
Sam Edelman Bambi Slide Sandal
You can’t go to the beach without a raffia sandal. Raffia is the twig looking material used to make this shoe and the stereotypical beach bag/purse fabric! These shoes + a matching raffia purse would be a match made in heaven. Putting on a raffia shoe instantly makes you look and feel like you’re on vacation or at the beach, making them a perfect summer staple.
FRUITY HEEL
Betsy Johnson Maia Leopard
$89
If there is one thing Betsy Johnson has mastered it is extravagant, unique high heels. We all know leopard/cheetah print and cherry red are in so how convenient they are perfectly displayed in this cutie little heel! Wear these out on the town, you will be getting a compliment every block, I guarantee it.
SILKY RUFFLE
Jeffrey Campbell Coquettish Heel
$165
My current obsession is baby pink and a deep cherry red, the two colors simply compliment each other so well. I think the ruffling on these shoes add a unique flare to the heel which will be turning heads everywhere you go. You could easily style these bad boys up or down depending on your excursion. Really any type of bold colored shoe with a unique pattern or embellishment would be a great dress up or going out summer shoe.
GINGHAM KITTEN HEEL
Bibi Lou Gingham Kitten Heel
$160
You simply can’t have Summer without Gingham! The classic summer gingham is in cherry red but the second hot color this summer is butter yellow! This way you won’t be matching the table cloth at your next picnic ;)) This specific pair comes in red or black if that’s more your style though! Dolce Vita also has an incredible gingham heel if you don’t like to sport kitten heels, click HERE if you’re interested.
RAFFIAAAAAA
Steve Madden Rosabell Rafia
$130
As mentioned above in the sandal section, raffia is the perfect fabric for summer. It gives an instant beachy/vacation aesthetic to an outfit. The rose embellishments on the sandals make for the summer flare for a summer date outfit! If roses aren’t your vibe, simply look for another heel pump, wedge, or mule made out of raffia.
EVEN THOUGH I’M GOING TO THE POOL I’M STILL DRESSING UP SLIDE ONS
Havianna’s You St. Troupez Mesh Sandal
$20 (on sale)
These are an absolute steal for how cute they are, like are you kidding me? I feel like these are going to be most practical for the girls who go to the beach/pool simply just to get some sun. They are produced by a beachwear brand through so maybe the tweed fabric is more durable than I am giving it credit for. They sell these in 3 other colors but are limited on sizes so get them while the supplies last! For this pair, I went out in search of a sandal with a dramatic flair to it, hence the orange/pink/green tweed looking fabric across the top.
PLATFORM SLIDE ONS
Matisse Solar Platform Sandal
$48
Last summer there was an amazon platform pool sandal that went viral. Unfortunately those were made out of straight rubber and gave me more blisters and twisted ankles than I signed up for. These are simply a more elevated pair. They are sleek, simple & cute af. When it comes to platforms and wet feet, they get to be slippery which is was causes the twisted ankles. I specifically went out in search of a platform that had a thick band across the top to hopefully lessen the likelihood of your twisting your ankle.
THONG FLIP FLOPS
Amazon
$9
Am I crazy for putting these here? Maybe.
I just have this nagging feeling deep down inside of me that these are going to reappear at beaches and pools all over the nation. They are cheap, practical, and low key giving off a c*nty vibe. I feel like these are perfect if you’re going to the beach or on a vacation and you’re not planning on these coming back with you. I mean they are $8 who cares if they get left behind! Plus they take up very little real estate in your beach bag if you’re running out of space while you’re packing.
If you are planning on rewearing these bad boys for summers on end & are looking for a more durable pair, the Haviannas brand above sells thong flops in literlaly every color imaginable.
FUN TEXTURED SLIDE ON
Crocs Miami Slide
$40
Don’t want to run the risk of a summer cast but still want a cute slide on?
Texture is a super easy way to make a boring shoe exciting. I like these ones specifically because it looks like a bunch of mini pool noodles draped across the foot, and well I love Crocs brand. They make incredibly durable and sustainable products. Like I think if you bought a pair you would probably never have to repurchase in your life. This pair comes in 4 other colors if the vibrant orange isn’t for you.
Hopefully you have at least one new pair of shoes making their way to you;))
