This summer’s most stylish footwear is both practical and chic
You will know by now that delicate, dainty shoes are very much back – which is fabulous, until you want to cover some serious ground. In real life, worn for 10,000 steps a day, a mesh slipper will collapse faster than a soufflé in the MasterChef kitchen. With that in mind, a more practical shoe is also needed in the summer footwear arsenal: one that can withstand a walking tour of the Acropolis or bargain-hunting in the summer sales.
The good news is that fashion and practicality are no longer mutually exclusive. In fact, there is a wealth of stylish options that will serve you well. The bad news? We need to move on from white trainers. Instead, a structured sandal is your friend; from Birkenstocks to fisherman sandals, seek out something with a supportive, comfortable footbed, and straps that keep the foot well in place.
Parisians, who typically get around on foot or by Métro, are a source of inspiration for French shoe brand Bobbies, so it delivers particularly well. ‘Every detail of the shoe is designed for comfort: stability of the heel, straps to support the ankle, suppleness of the sole,’ says co-founder Antoine Bolze. ‘These elements are all intricately looked at before we create a shoe, and then tested multiple times before we add it to the final collection.’
If you’d prefer not to be a slave to the pedicurist this summer, fisherman sandals are a good middle ground, while slingback clogs are a weather-appropriate way to do fully closed toes. Deck shoes are also having an unlikely fashion moment, courtesy of Miu Miu.
Wedded to trainers? Choose a dark colourway and a sporty, sleek shape. The Onitsuka Tiger and Saucony styles above are cool in a classic, rather than trendy, way.
Ultimately, your existing wardrobe will dictate your choice, so think about which dresses, trousers or shorts you wear on repeat. Brown, tan and khaki shoes are particularly versatile – they work as well with pale outfits as dark ones. That said, black sandals with a minimalist white sundress can look very elegant, too.
The right pair will work for almost every occasion. They should be, Bolze says, ‘comfortable to wear all day and all night – and always with that little fashion twist that makes your style unique’.
Put your best foot forward...
Women’s shoes
Leather fisherman sandals, £295, ME+EM; Suede buckled sandals, £119, Massimo Dutti; Suede slingback clogs, £195, Russell & Bromley
Leather sandals, £139, Arket; Leather sandals, £180, A. Emery
Men’s shoes
Suede boat shoes, £170, Sebago; Suede leather, £115, Birkenstock; Suede loafers, £219, Myrqvist
Padded trainers, £100, Saucony; Leather and padded trainers, £130, Onitsuka Tiger
Shopping by Sophie Tobin
