Your day decides which pair is yours: if you’ll stand through dinner or walk several blocks, a wedge or a kitten heel beats anything with a thin sole or a lot of straps.
1. Elevated Flip Flops
Pearl-trimmed straps and a square toe move a flip flop out of beach territory, so it can sit under tailored trousers. Beige is the smart color choice here, since it reads as neutral against cream, white and tan.
Wear them where a flat sandal is allowed but a rubber one isn’t: dinner outside, a casual wedding, a long weekend. I’d keep the rest of the outfit quiet so the pearls do the talking.
Embellished straps need gentler wear than a pool pair, so skip wet sand and long walks.
2. Wedge Sandals
Height without the strain of a stiletto is what a good wedge gives you, and white is the easiest color to wear with light-wash jeans.
A solid sole spreads your weight across the whole foot, so you can stand through a long afternoon.
Tan and black wedge sandals work with nearly everything. Leopard is a fun second pair, and it acts like a neutral once it’s on your feet.
Hem your jeans to skim the top of the sole.
3. Strappy Gladiators
Cuffed blue jeans suit them well, because the cuff leaves the lacing visible instead of buried under denim.
I’d choose black over tan for versatility: it works with dresses, shorts and trousers alike. Try them on and walk around before you buy, since more straps mean more places for rubbing.
Wear them with a simple tee and let the straps be the detail.
4. Jelly Sandals
Iridescent purple on a platform sole makes jelly sandals the most playful pick here, and the shine keeps them from looking childish. Blue jeans and gold jewelry, anklets especially, calm the color down.
I like them as the single loud item in an otherwise plain outfit. A platform adds height, which helps if your jeans run long.
Plastic doesn’t breathe, so I’d save them for shorter outings rather than a full day on your feet.
Jelly sandals from the ’90s have seen periodic resurgences over the past few years, but this season may mark their chicest return yet. Chloé led the charge with an almost Cinderella-esque PVC heel, while St. Agni debuted slim, clear-strap flip-flops—styled, notably, with tailored suiting.
— Elle
5. Toe Loop Sandals
A loop around the big toe holds the sandal in place, which means the straps over the foot can stay thin and light. White looks clean against a gold anklet and suits warm-weather outfits well.
The maker of this pair priced them at 17€, a reminder that this style doesn’t have to cost much.
Since the toe loop sits in a spot that can rub, I’d check that the loop is soft and wide enough for your toe.
Pair them with a linen dress or cropped trousers.
6. Sleek Thongs
A square toe makes the flat shape look deliberate and modern, which is why this sandal feels new this season.
I’d pick a clean, minimal strap with no hardware, because the outline of the shoe is the whole appeal. Black is the safest shade, but it also shows dust, so a quick wipe helps.
If thong sandals bother you between the toes, try the toe loop style instead.
7. Kitten Heel Sandal
Hailey Bieber has been choosing a kitten heel sandal over a tall pump, and the low heel is why it works. Thin straps keep the shoe light, so you can walk in it without bracing for the evening.
Black goes with everything in your closet. Yellow is the better second pair, since it brightens a white tee and jeans without needing a new outfit.
Try them on with the heel height you’d actually wear for hours, because a slim heel still asks for steady footing.
8. Hermès Oran Sandals
Slide sandals in this H-strap shape have stayed in rotation for years, and yellow leather is a good way to wear one without going loud. A single wide strap means no buckles to fuss with and nothing to adjust.
For a buy-once approach, I’d choose a neutral leather first. Yellow makes sense as a second pair, worn with white or cream so the color stands alone.
Luxury leather needs care, so I’d keep them away from wet pavement. Expect a high price, and decide whether you’ll wear them often enough to justify it.
9. Braided and Knotted Strap Sandals
Braided straps in several colors give a plain beige sandal a handmade look, and small flower accents add a soft detail without hardware. Beige is the easiest base, since it sits quietly under all that color.
I’d wear them with a white or denim outfit and let the straps carry the color.
Bright threads in a braided strap can match a tote or a straw hat, and repeating one color that way ties the whole outfit together.
Braids and knots can press on the foot, so check the straps for give before you commit.
Choosing Comfortable Sandals
Comfort comes down to 3 things you can check in the store: the footbed, the material and the fit.
A cushioned footbed matters most if your day has more walking in it than usual. A good comfort sandal shouldn’t look like a "comfort shoe," and plenty of slides now manage that.
Before you commit to a pair, picture the sole through a dinner and then a few blocks of walking to a second stop; if your arches would complain by then, skip them. If you’d want to sit down, skip them.
Adjustable straps or a true-to-size fit prevent squeezing and sliding. Cheap, very synthetic materials rarely last, so I’d pay a little more for something that holds up.
Black, white and tan are the safe colors, but red and green work with more outfits than you’d expect.
Color Trends for Sandals
Saturated color is the direction for summer 2026 sandals: red, butter yellow and deep green. Pick just one of these colors and let everything else in the outfit stay quiet, so the sandal gets all the attention.
Red works like a neutral with white, denim or black.
Deep green sits well with cream and tan. Butter yellow is softer than a true yellow, so it’s the easiest place to start if bright feels like a lot.
If your closet leans neutral, a single colored pair will mix with more than you think. Pick the shade that matches a bag or top you already own, and you won’t need to buy anything else to wear it.
Investment Sandals
An investment sandal should last several summers, so durability and a lasting shape matter more than whatever is new this season.
Check the material first: real leather and well-stitched straps outlast very synthetic, cheap ones, which tend to fall apart quickly.
Choose a silhouette that is modern without being tied to one trend, and classic without looking dated.
A versatile color helps too. Black, white and tan are the obvious ones, and red or green can work if they suit the rest of your closet.
Comfort still has to come first. If a pair hurts, no price makes it worth keeping, so make sure the sole and footbed can handle a full day, and look for an adjustable fit so it doesn’t squeeze or slide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sandals are trending for summer 2026?
Saturated color leads: red, butter yellow and deep green, worn as the one bright item in an otherwise quiet outfit.
Silhouettes include dressed-up flip flops with pearl trim and a square toe, wedges, strappy gladiators, platform jellies, toe loop styles, kitten heels and braided straps. Pick one color or one shape rather than stacking several.
How do I choose a sandal that lasts several summers?
Start with the material: real leather and well-stitched straps outlast cheap, very synthetic ones.
Then choose a modern but classic shape in a versatile color such as black, white or tan. Comfort still decides it, because a pair that hurts isn’t worth keeping at any price.
