Why the A-list will always turn to Castañer wedges, a true summer staple
It's been seven years since Castañer successfully sparked the espadrille wedge's renaissance. In 2015, this shoe had been relegated to the back of women's wardrobes for the best part of a decade – bypassed in favour of fussier gladiator styles or sturdy block heels.
Castañer espadrilles have actually been around since 1927, with icons such as Salvador Dali and Marilyn Monroe being spotted in the Spanish brand's original, more functional flat shoe. It wasn’t until the 1970s, when founder Luis Castañer teamed up with Yves Saint Laurent, that the espadrille wedge was invented.
This style has dipped in and out of favour since then, but its more recent and long-lived spike in popularity is proof that it’s here to stay. Many a cult shoe has been and gone in the past decade – the padded mule, the shearling-lined loafer, the ‘Dad’ trainer – but Castañer's espadrille wedge remains a constant. In fact, it’s safe to say in 2023 that it has officially reached staple status.
The 2010s marked the casualisation of fashion. We kicked the decade off with an athleisurewear boom and the introduction of trainers into the everyday realm; then, we closed it in the middle of a pandemic, where WFH schedules meant elevated tracksuits and pyjamas were essential. What the Castañer wedge offered us smack bang in the middle of that decade, and still provides now, is something that’s grown-up and elegant, but not fussy or formal.
This fine distinction is mostly down to comfort (I’ve done 30,000 steps per day in pair on city breaks without even so much as a blister), but it’s also due to the relaxed vibes jute, canvas and ankle tie straps bring. So they’re perfect for those who loath society's current obsession with anything ‘low-key’ but still feel overdressed in pair of stilettos.
Castañer Carina 80 espadrille wedges:
A few years after the style set had bought the Carina 80 in every colourway, the royals jumped on board the Castañer train. This was surprising at first, given that public engagements for the Windsors have always called for demure hemlines, covered shoulders and conservative court shoes. But when the Duchess of Cambridge switched her go-to nude pumps for a Castañer Carina wedge in the same shade back in 2019, she looked instantly more ‘down to earth’ – comfortable and contemporary.
Kate has worn several iterations of the shoe since, but it's the nude Carina 80 she keeps coming back to – she's worn this design to the Chelsea Flower Show, the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, during a visit to Barry Island in Wales and as the perfect finishing touch to summer polo looks.
Kate switched to a new-season Carina 80 wedge more recently during the 2022 Platinum Jubilee tour of the Bahamas. This new design, made from tan suede instead of the brand's signature canvas and finished with slender flower-topped ties, is still available to buy:
Kate's sister Pippa Middleton and her sister-in-law Meghan Markle are also big fans. The Duchess of Sussex wore Castañer's Carina 80 wedges during her tour of Australia in 2018, and was then spotted wearing the same design several times during her tour of South Africa the year after. While the neutral nude is Kate's favourite, Meghan opts for black every time – whether she's pairing her wedges with block colour shirt dresses or more summery boho numbers.
Best Black Castañer Wedges:
These shoes are also a go-to for Queen Letizia of Spain, who championed the brand during a trip to the islands of Mallorca and Menorca in 2016: she wore nothing but Castañer wedges for a week’s worth of public engagements. The Spanish royal plumped for a more structured leather design and a platform version of the brand's cult Chiara style – defined by its V-cut toe.
Castañer Chiara 80 espadrille wedges:
Before this shoe became a royal go-to however, it was a street style favourite worn by the likes of Jeanne Damas, Pandora Sykes and Lucy Williams. The brand has also garnered a new celebrity following in the past decade: we’ve spotted Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Emily Ratajkowski, Gwyneth Paltrow and Anne Hathaway in several different pairs.
Alexa Chung, who remained true to the espadrille wedge all through the late 2000s, styles hers with everything from jeans and mini skirt to dungarees. The Brit style icon often sticks to lower wedges, like Castaner's Carina 60, to match her relaxed aesthetic.
Castañer Carina 60 espadrille wedges:
If this hasn’t proved to you just how versatile the Castañer wedge is, trust us when we say it can be demure, boho, indie or minimalist depending on what you style it with. And while espadrilles aren’t always weather-appropriate in the UK, a classic pair will serve you for half of the year – just make the switch from denim to midi dresses and resort looks as the weather warms up.
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