How to Become a Sandals Guy This Summer

There are no two ways about it, sandals are among the best styles of shoe you can wear when the weather gets a little more than warm out. Just ask the millions of people who live close to the equator what they rely on for comfort, function, and (of course) form.

Over in our part of the world, we’re somewhat less acclimatized to wearing sandals, but that shouldn’t be the case. The upside is, it’s also an easy fix. Here are four ways you too can become a sandals guy this summer.

Perhaps the most common and casual variation sandals are slides. Footwear doesn’t get much simpler than these; a sole and a single strap across the vamp of your foot is all there is too the timeless, versatile design. A “slide” even sounds easy-to-wear!

Don’t overthink how to style slides – wear yours by the pool, to the beach, or even just to bring the groceries in, and you’ll be all good. Just please don’t wear yours with socks, the cardinal sin of wearing slides.

This traditional European sandal was first developed centuries ago for, as the name suggests, fishermen. When out at sea, fishermen needed reliable shoes that could drain water quickly, which was the original intention behind the leather multi-strapped design.

This distinct style has seen a recent revival in popularity, though these days, they’re valued more for their breathability and comfort than water drainage (plus, you don’t need to smell like chum to pull them off). Wear yours with shorts, linen pants, or even white jeans for a coastal Mediterranean vibe.

Strapped sandals combine attributes of both a slide and a fisherman sandal, creating a versatile hybrid that deserves your consideration.

Strapped sandals offer more than just the one solitary strap that slides do, which means more range of motion while walking. However, the lack of a buckle closure means you can still slide these on and off just as easily without having to fiddle with a fisherman sandal’s clasp.

With closed toes and a comprehensive sole, mules walk the line between being shoes and sandals. Whichever side of the argument you stand on, you’ll agree that mules are among the most comfortable, easy-to-wear shoes you can put on.

Although mules offer your feet less airflow compared to other sandals due to their closed toe, the open back means they do provide much more breathability than the average shoe. You can dress mules up a little more than straps, slides, or fisherman sandals, though are still considered quite casual in style.