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The Most Stylish Flip Flops To Shop This Summer
The humble rubber shoe has had a designer glow-up.
There’s a lot of stuff out there, and not all fashion pieces are created equal. Luckily, the ELLE editors know their way around a shopping rail, and when it comes to helping you find those niche brands worth knowing to high-street hits of quality, and a few vintage treasures too, our ELLE Edits showcase the very best of the season.
Flip flops have always been a summertime staple. Indeed, the thong sandal style is one of the oldest in the world, first invented by the Ancient Egyptians around 4,000 BC and transformed into its ubiquitous, modern-day rubber iteration sometime in the mid-20th century. It's only far more recently, however, that the humble shoe has been elevated to the highest heights of fashion – and made its official entry into our non-holiday wardrobes once and for all.
Previously the sole remit of surfers and beach-goers, flip flops are currently enjoying a stylish reinvention at the hands of high-end designer brands like Chanel, Hermès and Miu Miu, who debuted their own luxurious versions as part of the SS24 collections. Virginie Viard's glitter-specked silk and plush velvet designs came complete with crystal-encrusted 'CC' logo embellishments, while Miu Miu took a sportier approach with colourful cords and leather – and both instantly became the most coveted shoes of the season, selling out within seconds of their release. Given the comfort factor as well as their ability to add a touch of nonchalant cool to any look, we have to say we're not entirely surprised.
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And clearly, the catwalks have sparked a full-blown obsession with the newly elevated summer shoe style: on eBay, searches for 'designer flip flops' have increased by more than 335% since the start of the year, and it's the same story over on Lyst, where Margiela, Dries Van Noten and Brunello Cucinelli's flip flop styles have been particularly big hits. Net-A-Porter, meanwhile, has seen a whopping 600% surge in searches in the past three months alone: 'Chunky flip flops have been firmly cemented in our summer wardrobes over the last few years, with The Row’s Ginza leather and suede platform flip flops trending season-after-season,' explains Libby Page, market director for the e-tailer. 'But this summer our customers are also embracing daintier styles, such as those by Toteme.'
The likes of Zara, Mango and Reformation have also released their own – much more affordable – versions of 2024's super stylish flip flop, featuring smooth leather, chic embellishments and minimalist straps that make them more appropriate for the office than the beach. In fact, we'd highly recommend keeping the latest styles well away from any situation involving sand or water at all...
These are the most stylish flip flops to shop now:
Smooth satin gives these black flip-flops a distinctly luxurious edge. Meet your new wear-with-everything summer shoe.
Hand-finished in Italy, these snake-print flip flops will add a touch of minimalist glamour to any look. Pair with breezy, oversized tailoring for a modern office look.
If you prefer a chunkier style, you can't do much better than The Row's cult Ginza flip flops. Sure, they're quite the investment, but we can guarantee they'll be in style – and hold together – for many summers still to come.
Red shoes are all the rage this season, so why not tick off two trends in one with this bold leather flip-flop in the perfect tomato shade? They'll add just the pop of colour you need if you tend to veer into 'summer goth' territory.
You can't go wrong with a classic black flip flop, and the gold foil Dior branding on the straps is just the chic cherry on top.
According to Lyst data, Brunello Cucinelli's suede flip flops are some of the hottest of the season. We love the Nineties-inspired square toe and subtle beading.
With their soft goat leather straps and gold-toned embellishment, these Mango beauties would make the perfect evening sandal.
Haven't you heard? Jelly shoes are back in a big way – but if you're not quite ready to go full plastic fantastic, these jelly flip flops will provide a more subtle nod to the trend.
If you didn't manage to get your hands on these babies the first time around, we'd recommend scouring sites like eBay, Vinted and Vestiaire for pre-loved versions of the cult Chanel flip flop. And if you're a size 8, you're in luck – these are brand new and unworn.
Strictly to be worn off the beach, Reformation's suede flip flops come in six stylish colourways, and are already selling fast.
Want the designer vibes without the associated price-tag? Dolce & Gabbana's collaboration with Brazilian flip flop brand Havaianas is just the ticket. We'd style these with a black silk slip dress and huge sunglasses.
If you're after the 'elevated minimalism' aesthetic, look no further than Toteme. These deep chocolate brown croc-effect thong sandals the epitome of effortless cool.
The Margiela Tabis obsession is real, and it's showing no signs of stopping anytime soon. So, why not invest in the brand's edgy take on the humble flip flop to keep toes fresh for the season ahead?
Cheap, cheerful and incredibly chic, these Zara flip flop in a deep red velvet are basically a no-brainer – especially now they're less than £10 in the sale.
Clementina Jackson is Acting Site Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, working across news and features, trends, e-commerce and SEO. She was previously Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health, and Acting Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, where she was named as a PPA 30 Under 30 award winner for her work on size inclusivity. An experienced fashion, travel and luxury lifestyle journalist, Clementina has also written for Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Condé Nast Traveller, Tatler, Red and Italy Segreta.
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