A Sandal's Not A Sandal Anymore
Sandals were once deemed the epitome of summer. As soon as they were whipped out from the back of the closet on the first fine day of the year, there was no going back. Summer was here, unmanicured toes be damned. Times were simpler; everyone had a good sturdy pair they’d fall back on year after year.
These days the indicator isn’t so obvious; at some point the idea of a traditional sandal became obsolete. Overtaken by the uncharacteristically boring flip-flop, which is somehow considered ten times more fashionable than it was a decade ago or the closed-off clog that wiped out any lingering sandal loyalty.
But what about the "sandal"? Sure, there are still some bangers being made, but whether they cut through the vastness is another thing. There’s just too many damn contenders for summer footwear now. We’re literally drowning in a sea of (anything but) sandals. To dissect, we’ve turned to our friends at SSENSE for a complete rundown of warm-weather wearables.
This is the kinda' sandal most of us grew up with. Not deemed fashionable per se back then, but honestly, who cared? Functionality trumped all. And let’s be real, the sturdy, velcro-strapped, toe-protecting sandal was all the rage, maybe not on the runway, but definitely at every summer barbecue and family holiday. Fast forward, and they’ve only gotten cooler. Quietly rebranded and now rubbing shoulders with the dad shoe, they’ve managed to hold onto that same demand.
It’s mad to think clogs were once considered downright weird. Birkenstock planted the flag, sure, but it wasn’t long before the floodgates opened; suddenly, every brand wanted in, from high fashion to high street. What started as a punchline quickly became the shoe of the moment, and just like that, everyone was clomping around like it was the most normal thing in the world. Rightly so.
Ah, the flip-flop. Once an affordable commodity you’d pick up for the same price as a gas station coffee, it suddenly became the go-to accessory for every “It” kid on the block. When even the humble Havaianas started creeping onto The Lyst Index, it was clear: if you’re going to have your toes out, you better be doing it in the quietest, most understated pair you can find. Minimalism wins, even if, deep down, it’s still just a rubber sandal.
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