We heard inklings of this last year. Those candy-like shoes with the candy-like name are back (again) and this time designers are really getting it. Unlike the lattice designs we saw last year, these sandals make the kid-friendly coloring work by pairing it with sophisticated shapes, like Old Navy’s thong with chain detail (left, was $12.50, now $10), Kate Spade’s simple slide with a big bauble at the top (center, $60), and this simple green pair with a chic espadrille wedge (right, $29.25).
I keep thinking about all the possibilities for these comfortable slides: beach and poolside, of course. But perhaps they could also make my too-often-black daytime wardrobe a bit more whimsical. Or stand in for flip-flops on the walk to work. The more I look at them, the more I’m smitten.
Then there’s Kenneth Cole’s version ($25), which is something like a gladiator sandal rendered in clear plastic. We could laud it as an affordable path to uber-trendy feet (Gladiator sandals! And jellies! In one!), but really they just look like the jellies you wore when you were five.
Which pair would you wear? Or do you think jellies are best left in the sandbox? Post a comment and weigh in.
It's not that costume-y faceted rhinestones aren't a great way to add a little bling to your wardrobe—if you're in a pinch. We just think the trend of outsized, obviously plastic rocks has lost a bit of its original sparkle. This summer, when you're faced with rack upon rack of embellished sandals, try picking something studded with natural stones instead of the manufactured stuff. Turquoise, coral, mica, and semi-precious rocks all up the glam factor just as much as factory-fresh lucite stones, but they give your look a more earthy, contemporary vibe. Check out the classy cool of Mystique's 1644 turquoise-embellished sandals (above right, $140). Aren't they so much more subtly chic than those garish Betsey Johnson Frey flats (left, $235)? If you're convinced and are ready to swap your faux sparkle for something more naturally beautiful, check out more of our picks below.
Bo'em loves to use unexpected materials in their luxe line of footwear. The chunky mottled green stones on these Minu thongs ($209) are different on every pair, so you've got an original, conversation-sparking work of art right on your feet.
A swirly, pearly silver-and-black mica disc sets these Pelle Moda Janika thongs ($125) apart from their rhinestone-encrusted counterparts. As an added bonus, the smooth, coin-flat disc won't tear up your feet like a pointy and potentially hazardous rhinestone setting might. Pick these for everyday wear, as their shine is totally subdued by the earthy brown leather.
Infuse your look with a taste of the Far East by choosing a coral-studded pair of thongs from Vince Camuto ($98). The tomato-red coral, set off by lovely new gold, pops against the season's bright yellows and oranges, but this pair would also look so pretty paired with a clean white dress.
When Crocs first came out, they weren't my style, to put it nicely. I spent Easter with a friend's family one year and her mother put a new pair of the regular Crocs in everyone's basket – except mine. I had never been so happy to be the odd one out. They were frumpy, made for gardeners, and worst of all – flats. Shoes sans heels make me feel more casual than I like most of the time. You know those things that just make you feel better about yourself? Like when you've just gotten a haircut or a pedicure? Heels do it for me.
As much as I love being in heels, my boyfriend likes to give me a hard time about how much I complain about my feet hurting me. After a long day of shopping in SoHo last weekend in heels I swore to him that I would find a comfortable heel that wouldn't leave me feeling like I ran a marathon.
What: The first Crocs high heel! These incredible 3-inch heels are designed with the classic comfort of croslite material (that rubber stuff all crocs are made out of). They're lightweight, have circulation nubs to stimulate blood flow to allow for the ultimate shopping trip, and the footbed forms to your tootsies for a custom fit.
I went by the nearest Crocs store in Manhattan this weekend and tried these gals on – they're the ultimate summer heel for walking around the city. Just $49.99 for comfort AND style in a heel.
And take a peek at our Spring Shoe Guide to keep your feet stylish this season.
Good news, stiletto-phobes—it's sandal season, and flat-as-a-pancake sandals are back in. Set your tootsies free in barely-there thongs, fab flip flops, and gorgeous gladiators that make those spike heeled winter boots look like a flat out mess. Score these three pairs from Banana Republic for under a hundred bucks a pop, and cut out all that teetering and tottering for awhile.
These persimmon-hued Angelina sandals ($61, were $88) are the footwear equivalent of a sexy g-string. Practically weightless and embellished with tiny reflective panels, these thongs are the next best thing to going barefoot (maybe someone should slip Britney a pair before her next trip to a gas station bathroom!)
Find your inner Roman warrior in woven leather Gaia flats ($62, were $88). Get fierce with these studded metallic stunners, keeping in mind that, while bronze may traditionally signify third place, it's edging out gold and silver as this season's most wearable metallic shade.
Don't ditch your trusty two-for-five rubber flip flops altogether, but do be sure to have a slightly more sophisticated pair in your fashion arsenal. These platinum Emilia flip flops ($90, were $129) are a pretty alternative, with shiny, dime-sized discs setting off an unexpected, pearly color you don't see everyday.
For years I’ve been making the annual pilgrimage to Old Navy around this time of the season to pick up a stack of their notoriously inexpensive flip-flops ($2.50 each if you buy more than one pair. Who doesn’t buy more than one pair?). Then I realized that people over 16 should probably own casual footwear options that don't double as shower shoes. Thankfully, I recently stumbled upon the pairs below, and now I’m happily converted – they’re the easy-to-wear, go-with-everything sandals I probably won’t even bother putting back in my closet all summer. But there’s a pretty significant cost gap between the two pairs below – can you tell which one is the pricier pair? Click on the images to find out what they really cost.
Test your fashion intelligence with other Taste Tests.
I wasn't quite sure what to think about this trend when it first came into the public eye with Ashley Olsen's Chanel knee-highs last summer. But it was kind of like a pug dog - so ugly it's cute. Then came Mary Kate in her spartan-style heels by AzzadineAlaia. It brings one thought to my mind: If I wore something really ugly AND had a twin, I would ask her to wear something similar and just as ugly and then everyone would think I started a cool new trend!
I'm not sure I'd take it as far the Olsens, Natalia Vodianova, and Jennifer Connelly in the Balenciaga gladiators that look like they'd draw blood, or the Givenchy gladiators that look a bit S&M. Not only do all these styles look uncomfortably restrictive, but can you imagine the tan lines you'd get from an hour in the sun? You're asking for leper legs on top of the stares you'd get in public from the shoes themselves.
It was starting to seem that the only wearable gladiator sandal we real humans (aka: not models, actresses, or fashion icons) were going to get were flats. But thank goodness for ready-to-wear and knock-offs. Comfort met sanity somewhere in between those Balenciaga blood-suckers and the traditional flats and we got gladiator-inspired heels that stop comfortably at your ankle.
The Linea Paolo Brittany Gladiator Sandal ($140) is a modern take on the gladiator sandal with contrasting snake-print fabric on the heel and down the center. The Carlos by Carlos Santana Magnum Sandal ($100) has a cushioned foot bed for extra comfort (and a 4 ¼ inch heel). The gorgeous graphite colored Guess gladiators ($114) are lightly padded, have a 1/2 inch front platform, and 3 3/4 inch wrapped heel.
The Stuart Weitzman Zoom Platform ($299). has an all-over patent leather upper on a cork base with an adjustable buckle closure. The Guess Eulia Pump ($110) has double ankle straps with metallic buckles detail and a hidden platform. The Luna Rosa by Pazzo Jailhouse Sandal ($100) is made of crackled metallic leather and shaped into a sky-high platform sandal with a thick T-strap.
The L.A.M.B. Gina Metallic Gladiator is made of snake-embossed leather with a sky-rocketing 5 inch heel for $325. The brown Calvin Klein Ness Sandal ($110) has an adjustable buckle at the ankle strap and threaded detailing on the straps.The fascinatingly futuristic gladiators from Alexander McQueen ($900) are sure to keep your feet safe with all these buckles - and they'd better come with a security system for this price.
It just takes a few lines of their About Us section to realize that Sanuk is one of those happy hippie California companies where everyone probably goes to work in flip-flops. Case in point: they forgive tardiness so long as you can be seen surfing outside the office window.
It probably wouldn’t hurt to steal some of their sunny disposition, and lucky for us, they make (surprisingly) stylish, reasonably priced shoes. And what better way to appropriate West Coast laid-back chic than with a cute flip-flop? A cute flip-flop…for under $25, that’s how.
The Avalon Flip-Flop ($23.99) is that all-summer-long sandal – the patent straps are super thin and the foot bed is a neutral chocolate color, so they’ll match whatever you’re wearing. And is there anyone who doesn’t love a bunch of smiley faces on the bottom of her shoe?
In sleek silver, the Sydney Sandal ($23.99) can be an airy substitute for ballet flats with skinny jeans or a little black dress.
The Serengeti Flip-Flop ($19.99) keeps the zebra-print pattern earthy with contrast stitching and a canvas upper. And it has just enough of a wedge to keep your feet slightly elevated and free from sidewalk muck.
Click here for ways to get your feet summer sandal ready.
I'm really not sure what to even call this trend—so I named it after Peter Pan because it reminds me of the shoes that most male characters wear in Disney movies (minus the curled toe). I saw a girl wearing this style the other day, made from perforated leather. And then yesterday I spotted these Marc Jacobs Metallic Suede Ankle Booties ($695) over at Barney's—I just feel a trend coming on.
I thought ballet flats were flimsy and had absolutely no arch support until I tried on a pair of Peter Pans. They weren't my cup of tea. This type of shoe is so lacking in sole that I could almost feel the floor while I was walking around—plus they made me look like an elf. But if you can pull them off, I'd suggest purchasing a pair of insoles from Dr. Scholl's to give yourself a little extra cushioning. (Or click here for some other ways to keep your feet pain-free.)
Take our poll and let us know what you think of the trend in the comments section…
