🎬🌴 #3 - Choose your sandals wisely

After the beach towel and the swimsuit , it's time to talk shoes.

If you think about it, there are quite a few options for summer: canvas sneakers , loafers , espadrilles or even boat shoes . 

But with this list we forgot one pair, whose aesthetics will inevitably be debated: the sandal . 

The definition of “sandal” is quite broad and includes open shoes, leaving the foot visible and whose support is ensured by straps (the precise term is strap).

Flip-flops are a type of sandal, for example. But we don't recommend wearing them . Not in the city, anyway. Here's why:

Why I Refuse to Show My Feet in Town

General advice

1. Why choose sandals?

I see several reasons to be tempted by these shoes which stand out a little from the crowd:

1. By definition, it is an open shoe, therefore cooler and suitable for hot weather.
2. We can choose it to diversify our summer shoes . It's an approach that speaks to me, wanting to try other things, especially in the context of summer which is quite permissive 
3. We can be tempted if we come across a model that we really like , even if we are not really fans of sandals at the base 

It's a 2020 model so it's no longer available, but I'm still a fan of the aesthetics of these Buttero sandals.

2. What type of sandals should you choose?

You will find several large families of sandals:

• Single strap and double strap. Check out Birkenstock 's iconic styles to visualize the style 

A bridle

Two bridles

• The Spartan , which is a sandal made up of several thin straps and whose name refers to the warriors of Sparta

The Guardian Boot

• The Tropézienne , which is defined by a vertical strap, 4 horizontal straps and a last one behind the heel 

The Guardian Boot

• Of course, there are plenty of other creative, fancy sandal designs that don't necessarily have a name. 

Steve Mono

Yuketen

3. Three points to check to choose your sandals well

Next, I would like to talk about two important criteria to discuss with you when choosing a sandal: 

• It is important to differentiate between sandals that have a heel strap and those that do not . With a heel strap, the support is better. Without a strap, the foot may tend to slide a little backwards. 

Sandals with heel strap. Goodbye

Strapless sandals with heel. Theluto

• The question of open and closed sandals. A sandal that shows more of the foot is more open. A sandal that shows less of the foot is closed. You have to choose the right level of opening, for the level of freshness, but also according to the level of comfort you have... with your feet. For example, if you are not very comfortable with the idea of ​​showing your feet but you want to let yourself be tempted by sandals, choose closed ones instead. 

Open sandals. Chauffe Blue

Closed sandals. Kleman

• Material : choose leather (more noble, develops a patina, is more breathable) and avoid synthetic materials such as rubber.

The color is nice here but the material is not very noble. Birkenstock

Wear the sandal in three looks

1. A well-crafted outfit

General Pharmacy

Officine Générale has been offering leather sandals for several seasons now and has therefore had the opportunity to feature them in its photoshoots and fashion shows. 

Here they are integrated into a summery, casual chic look, with light-coloured clothes worn rather loosely. 

This outfit is based on two color tones :

• The white t-shirt is reminiscent of the white shorts
• The brown sandals are a reminder of, and an extension of, the beige-toned shirt. 

2. A beautiful holiday look

This look is a slightly more urban version of the first look, less runway, less sophisticated. It features a terry polo shirt, pleated shorts and Birkenstocks.

This outfit is simple, effective. There is a holiday, summer side but the result is not neglected. Good point.

PS: Am I the only one who thinks this guy looks a bit like Jordan ?

3. Sandals and three-piece suit

Wearing sandals with a three-piece suit, and what else?

Well, I think it's pretty successful here.

This outfit is dressed up but not too much: it is certainly a 3-piece suit but in cotton and quite light. We are far, very far from the plain navy blue wool office suit. In addition, this suit is worn with a polo shirt worn unbuttoned, and not a shirt and tie combination. 

To talk about sandals, they are black, quite closed, in smooth leather. Here they almost replace moccasins in fact. They are discreet: you hardly see them.

In summary:

• The sandals, casual, are made a little more formal with the dark color, and their closed look.
• The suit, formal, is relaxed in its color and material
• The shirt, formal, is casual in polo

A great example of a successful combination of formal and casual. Because don't forget the secret :

"To wear two pieces of different formality registers, you have to pull the formal piece towards casual and pull the casual piece towards formal."

Recommendations for favorite brands and models

Digging a little deeper into the subject, I found quite a few brands offering pretty sandals: 

• Kleman 
• Blue of Heating 
• The Guardian Boot 
• Grenson 
• General Pharmacy 
• Yuketen 
• Mr.P 
• Paraboot 
• Steve Mono
• Birkenstock 
• Buttero
• Jules&Jenn

Here are two models that I particularly like:  

1. Quincy

These are relatively closed sandals. 

They are even Tropéziennes more precisely.

I like the work on the leather inserts at the instep and the buckle closure.

2. David

Although I'm not sure how comfortable they are for me without a heel strap, I find the aesthetics of these Mr.P sandals to be very successful.

The use of suede leather, in blue, is original and relevant.

The two intersecting straps look good.

Conclusion

Wearing sandals in the city is a daring choice. 

But as we saw with the looks, it can be a winning bet and ultimately not so shocking, especially if you opt for rather closed sandals in smooth leather.

To find out what the editorial staff is packing, click here