The Ultimate Summer Sandal Guide Is Here

Warm weather brings the need for a pair (or two!) of solid summer sandals, even if we don’t know exactly what this season has in store. You may or may not be putting your favorite heels on hold, but in any case, there are plenty of flat and comfortable styles that are as stylish as they are practical. The best summer sandals are suited for every reemergence occasion.

We're seeing padded leather insole slingbacks, which are perfect for walking around the city, sleek flip flops to elevate your summer fits, and fresh takes on the easy slip-on slide. And should you be in need of a pedicure, there are closed-toe caged shoes to consider. You can't go wrong with a dainty, barely-there leather lace-up flat or a flirty wooden clog either. For those looking to ease back into a heel, there's a handful of options complete with comfort in mind, say wide block-heeled mules, cushy flatforms, and tiny kitten heels that do just that.

Mid Heeled Sandals

We've always had a love-and-hate relationship with high heel shoes. While a pair of 4-inch pumps might make us stand a little taller and our strides a little wider, they are a pain to walk in and thus not the ideal summer shoes. We find these mid heel sandals, with barely-there straps, just as sexy.

All the reasons why you should really start wearing Mary Jane shoes

Traditionally worn by schoolgirls with ringlets and, well, schoolgirls with ringlets, Mary Jane shoes ;are as prim as they are proper. ;

Defined by a bisected vamp with a T-bar front, commonly fastened at the side with a buckle, Mary Jane shoes were originally designed to be sported by children during the early 20th century for more formal occasions. Confirmation ceremonies, for instance, or appearances in scary movies.

The reality is, however, that if you haven't worn a pair of Mary Janes since your christening back in 1983, chances are you might not be all that ready or able to thrown on a pair this year. Mary Janes, by any stretch of anyone's imagination, are not all that easy to pull off, and, as a consequence, they will take some effort to get right.

The key, in our humble opinion, is to ensure that the rest of your outfit is hard-edged and masculine to counter the infantile softness of the shoe, but also a little bit rough around the edges because anything too angular will just make you look like you're trying too hard. ;

A pair of black leather Mary Janes with some oatmeal tube socks, a pair of ripped bleached jeans, and a knitted nautical top will look grunge-infused and fun, while a pair of the aforementioned black trainer-style Mary Janes worn sock-free with black tailoring and a white tee will add an unexpectedly low-key summery edge to a more formal look.