When it comes to summer shoes, (oh glorious shoes!), who doesn’t want to be comfortable, stylish, on-trend, and did we mention comfortable? The perfect sole mate needs to be fashionable and functional. Because let’s face it, we’re not strolling around for hours with the grace of Bambi in sky-high stilettos! Even the shoe queen herself, Carrie Bradshaw, could appreciate a stylish flat on occasion. But let’s not overthink it. There are 5 categories that will perfect your summer shoe-drobe. So, let’s break them down and give your tootsies the love and adoration they so deserve.
Vacationing this summer? You won’t want to miss our Summer Vacation Lookbook with so many outfit ideas! You’ll find it here.
[flex_row]
[/flex_row]
Must-Have Summer Shoes
#1) Summer Sneakers
Let’s work our way from the most casual to the dressiest of summer shoe styles. First up…sneakers. In the warmer weather, you really want a sneaker that is light, breathable, and airy. Colors like crisp white, tan, or beige are a great go-to in the summer. With the right versatile and neutral pair, you can wear them with everything from shorts to dresses. Erin has several pairs of these Rag & Bone retro runners and loves this latest off-white mesh version. She also appreciates the comfort factor! You can literally go the extra mile with the serrated tread. Erin is doing a ton of traveling this spring/summer and these are the 5 sneakers (linked below) she is loving, wearing, and packing!
#2) Flat Casual Sandals
When you want to wear a cute pair of flat sandals with your shorts or summer dresses and you plan to do a lot of walking, look no further than these comfy Madewell slides. Erin purchased these for her trip to Vietnam and China last month and knew they’d be great walking shoes since she had last year’s version and loved them. They have adjustable straps and a flexible, molded footbed. Erin has the color Warm Coffee, but they’re available in 4 different colors/styles from 2 different retailers. We’ll link both below. If you are looking for a similar style, Erin scooped up these Sam Edelman Bay slide sandals last summer and still wears them regularly!
If you want to read more about Erin’s Southeast Asia trip, you’ll find what she wore here and her itineraries here and here.
[flex_row]
[/flex_row]
#3) Summer Flats
One of the hottest summer shoe trends this summer is anything espadrille-inspired. Erin has been loving the comfort of 2 specific pairs of espadrille flats. The first is the Sam Edelman Khiara espadrille flats pictured above. They are breathable, stylish, and we love the glam (but not too glam!) logo hardware. You can wear these with pretty much anything this summer! They keep going in and out of stock so we’ll link them everywhere they are available below.
The second pair of summer flats Erin’s been traveling with is a metallic gold pair of Cole Haan espadrille flats that have a cloud-like footbed. She said if you’re doing a TON of walking, she’d probably recommend the Cole Haan flats over the Sam Edelman ones, but she’s worn both a bunch on her last few trips. We don’t have any images of Erin in the Cole Haan flats just yet, but stay tuned as we’ll be sharing pics soon!
Make sure you check out this post next if you’re looking for chic travel shoes!
#4) Wedge Sandals
Wedges are a great option if you’re looking for some height, but want a bit more stability than a standard high heel. Erin is a huge fan of See by Chloe Glyn espadrille wedges and has several pairs. This season she added the Metallic Gold to her collection. Because they have an ankle strap, a platform, and a sturdy wedge heel, they are easier to walk in and feel secure on your foot. Plus the leather is dreamy soft. A wedge sandal is a great option for an outdoor event or wedding when you don’t want your heel sinking into the grass…trust us on this one! Erin owns each of the four pairs of wedges linked below and wears them all.the.time.
[flex_row]
[/flex_row]
[flex_row]
[/flex_row]
#5) Summer Heels
And now the dressiest category for your must-have summer shoes…heels. We have a few options to highlight! Erin often seeks out a platform heel in the summer months when she’s not wearing a wedge sandal. In the first picture above, Erin’s wearing Veronica Beard Leonardo ankle strap sandals. These beauties are just under 5” high but because the platform is nearly half of that height, it only feels like you’re walking on about a 3” heel. The pitch of your foot is less severe. They have a buckled ankle strap, cool white contrast stitching, and are made from soft, flexible leather. They also have a cushioned footbed and pretty gold hardware. These would look great with jeans, trousers, dresses…you name it.
Also featured above are some gorgeous Sam Edelman raffia-wrapped sandals with rickrack trim, See By Chloe Lyna leather platforms, and ride-or-die Sam Edelman Hazel pumps in a fun summer texture. If you’re looking for a summer heel that isn’t a platform, you could go with a kitten heel, sculptural heel block heel…there are so many options out there. We’ll share a few of our favorites!
Do you own any of these summer shoes? If so, if you have any thoughts on comfort and versatility please share in the comments below.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the Busbee Style newsletter for all the latest and greatest when it comes to summer style, travel, packing lists, free resources, and SO much more.
COMMENTS