This Summer Sandal Trend Is Straight Up Eclipsing Every Other Style

With the warm-weather season upon us, chances are you’re looking to make a few upgrades to your summer wardrobe. First on the agenda—sandals. There are plenty of chic options for the taking this season—from ankle-wrap sandals to toe-ring straps and even flip-flops. (Yes! The heeled variety is having a major moment right now.) But there is one sandal trend by far eclipsing any other style this season—the unexpectedly cool sporty sandals. Call them "ugly,” call them "tourist” sandals, call them "dad” sandals— we’ve heard it all. Love them or hate them, there’s no denying that fashion girls are all over the popular and ridiculously comfortable trend right now.

Sporty sandals perfect for walking in the city, for the beach, and for those cobblestone streets in Rome thanks to the spongey platform and adjustable straps. This season’s iterations come in a variety of colors and fun prints, along with a range of price tags—from affordable fast-fashion options starting at $30 to luxe designer pairs ranging up to $500 plus.

If you’re excited to take on the trend this season, scroll below for plenty of ideas on how to style the cool sandal and shop the absolute best out there right now.

Wear With: Minimalist Black Dress

Offset the hiking vibe that sporty sandals tend to be associated with by keeping the look minimalist and polished in an all-black ensemble. 

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Wear With: Zebra-Print Dress

Pair chic designer-print sandals (Prada is the popular choice) with an of-the-moment zebra-print dress for a cool-girl look.

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Wear With: Shorts Suit

Who needs pumps? Take your trendy shorts suit to next-level cool with the addition of designer sporty sandals. 

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Wear With: A Pretty Dress

Contrast the active nature of your sporty sandals with a pretty and prim tea dress.

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Wear With: Linen Pants, White Tank, Leather Jacket

Up the cool factor of your staple linen pants and white tank top with chunky platform sandals. A print pattern adds interest to the look.

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Wear With: Cycling Shorts + Tie-Dye Top

Nail three trends in one outfit (bike shorts, tie-dye, and sporty sandals) with this Insta-worthy outfit.

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Wear with: Sweatpants + T-Shirt

For a trendy laid-back weekend look, there's nothing easier than pairing sporty sandals with casual sweatpants or track pants and a simple white tee.

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Wear With: Denim Shorts + Bikini

For summer weekends poolside, swap your flip-flops for a pair of chunky print sandals instead.

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Wear With: Shell Anklet

The must-have summer accessory to wear with sporty-sandals? A shell anklet, of course. Seen on cool girls all over our Insta feed.

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Up next, the 17 best-selling shoes on Who What Wear this month.

Judith Jones
Senior Fashion Market Editor

Judith is the senior fashion market editor at Who What Wear and has worked in fashion for nearly a decade. Judith started on the Shop Who What Wear team, creating content and managing a team of merchandisers for the Who What Wear shopping app. She later crossed over to the editorial team, where she shares the coolest, most desirable fashion market finds and brands in her shopping-focused stories and social takeovers. She has become one of the top affiliate earners during her six plus years at Who What Wear. Before working in fashion, Judith was a TV host on the PBS travel show Globe Trekker (airing on Netflix and Amazon Prime) and shared her passion for travel and food. She studied at the prestigious London Academy of Dramatic Arts as well as Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York. She later studied fashion merchandising and design, which laid the foundation for her career in fashion.


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