You know what a freak I am for a tan sandal. They are summer footwear that goes with everything (other than a neutral espadrille).
It is so easy to tie yourself in knots at whether you ought to get a sandal that is neon or covered in pompoms but the good news is that you can absolutely can have either of those as long as you also have a pair of tan sandals.
I would also argue that it’s best to have a pair of slides, rather than anything that needs to be done up with a fiddly little buckle.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll be on your way out, having located and put on your childrens’ shoes and found everything else you need and be in, you know, quite the flap already.
Then you’ll have to chose between the sandals with the fiddly little buckle and any other shoe that you can just slip onto your feet without having to put everything down and sit down to do up the buckle.
Strangely enough, 8 times out of ten, you won’t choose the shoe with the buckle. And this is why we end up not wearing most of our wardrobes.
So here are some lovely tan slides I have found for you.
Ancient Greek – not cheap but the last word in a beautiful sandal:
These Dune sandals are THE sandals of the season, as I have said before. I’m not a fan but then WTF do I know – I didn’t think tiny little bags or cat eye sunglasses would catch on either.
You could do these if you want something more relaxed:
Steve Madden is just so good at a really wearable, classic shoe with no weird twists
Tandals 🤗
Yo
BUT if you have an aversion to slides (yes I know they are fashionable & I’m in the minority but just can’t do…) & are ok to let the 3 little darlings fight over whose turn it is to get in the minibus first whilst you do a buckle up, are Saltwater sandals acceptable? Discuss.
Ongoing inner debate as to whether they are cool, or just rare looking… need your amazing wisdom Esther! And fellow Spikers!
Hilary Saltwaters are just not for me, but I know many people who look charming in them
You know what I was looking for some with a buckle and keep running up against Saltwaters – it’s not that I don’t think they look nice when I see them on other people – they’re just not for me. Like Holly Golightly and diamonds. I’d also like a decent sole. I saw Moshulu suggested somewhere but don’t know what they’re like. I’m probably just going to keep the search on till Autumn then start looking at boots and be happy.
I bought into the hype and now have tan Saltwaters and I love them. I even leave the buckle done up so I can slide them on, although this is probably against Saltwater protocol.
Saltwater protocol LOL
I’ve just ordered some tan leather sliders from Zara. Could be amazing could be hideous, looking forward to them arriving just in time for the rain we’re having here!
REPORT BACK
They are excellent and real leather for £25, I’m impressed!
I bought some Ancient Greeks in March for the summer on your recommendation from last year (in fact I bought two pairs, intending to return one and kept both). They both have buckles because I hate slides and have kids who are little enough that I have to be able to hare after them without worrying about losing my shoe on the mean streets of KT. The buckles are a bit of a pain to do, but the sandals are amazing and lift my perception of all my outfits, even if not the actual clothes!
Peabody thanks for this robust defence of the buckle
What about one strap black Birks with one strap? So easy (and capsule?) but possibly so hideous and just not it anymore.
Come and stand next to me, Aaf. You can try wresting my one-strap Birks from my cold, dead hands but you might fail … if they are no longer ‘it’ they might not sell out in my size as quickly!!
Ha, thanks! That image is quite scary though.
No need to preach to the converted
Mmm well there is that but you can’t go absolutely everywhere in a Birkie like you can with a good tan sandal
Luckily for me I go absolutely nowhere …
In that case stick with the Birks
But what about a tan saltwater slide? I have these and they look great (I think) and are super comfy https://www.salt-watersandals.com/women/slide-tan-women.html
if you love them go for it!
A word in defence of the sturdy Saltwater is that they are most definitely waterproof which makes them perfect for English holidays or those where you might be required to stand in the sea, shielding the sun from your eyes, whilst trying to spot your small child body-boarding in a sea of wetsuit-clad kids, hauling a boat off a beach or standing in a rock pool for hours. I wouldn’t wear mine out to dinner or anywhere faintly urban but for these purposes they are A+ and obviously preferable to Crocs….
What are the dos and don’ts of trainers? I would like something that looks smart for the summer, not too flat but not with a weird heel or asymmetric lacing.There are hundreds to choose from but many of them are a bit hideous imo
Ros what do you mean by “not too flat” – you mean not a thin-sole plimsoll like a Converse?
Yes converse and supergra I really like but I am a bit heavy footed and they are not comfortable for too long. I guess some of the whacky ones can look nice on the younger physique but let’s just say I am not in that category. Tips on the classics I guess is what I am looking for. Thanks:)
Ros there is nothing better than a plain, anonymous white lace-up leather trainer. it MUST be leather so that you can clean it properly – a canvas shoe will simply soak up dirt and go grey in minutes. They are everywhere at the moment but I cannot personally recommend a particular pair (I wear Stan Smiths, which are really heavy, or Nike Air Force1s, which are super-fashion and weird) it’s really just a question of having a poke about your nearest high street xx
Totally agree on the Dune Sandal… they are all over insta, but why? (maybe sent for free!)..also have to agree on the Saltwaters. I WANT to like them but they’re just not me. This blog post though is sadly about a week too late for me. After what feels like an everlasting search for the ultimate tan sandal, I ended in Next in a ‘oh these will do’ strop. Just going to see if I still have the receipt….
Maybe they’re okay though?? unless you don’t LOVE them, in which case…
I spent the entirety of last summer limping about with blood on my big toes from leather sandals from Clark’s which I insisted JUST NEEDED WEARING IN. So fed up of shoes which are not fit for purpose (I mean normal just every day footwear, not FASHION for which I assume we must suffer).
But I was in M&S looking for something else the other day when I saw some lovely tan sandals and I can report that they fit like a dream and have not attempt to murder me even on day one!
Here is the awful clunky link: https://www.marksandspencer.com/wide-fit-leather-buckle-gladiator-sandals/p/p60153657?image=SD_01_T02_9534W_VS_X_EC_90&color=TAN&prevPage=plp&pdpredirect
Also I just wanted to say that I am the crazy person who emailed you, Esther, in autumn 2016 when I was hugely pregnant and sobbing about not being able to find shoes which proved I still owned ankles and although at that time I was lying to myself I ACTUALLY DO HAVE NICE SLIM ANKLES THANK YOU and I find it so depressing trying on sandals which sort of cut you off at the wrong bit and make your ankles look fat? Is it just me or has anyone else found this? I can’t be doing with a slider sliding off as I sprint after my toddler but all the ankle strap sandals I tried (before these M&S ones) just looked disgusting.
H I cannot do an ankle strap either. My ankles are not my best feature
Just to say I got these last week on your recommendation and wore them for a whole day round London (which is, as we know, BIG) and they really were super comfortable so thank you. They are quite pretty looking and I had a couple of compliments on them. My dad called them Jesus boots but that’s dads for you all over xx
For anyone interested in the Steve Madden slides – they’re v comfy and fit true to size. The colour is quite a warm tan – some people may find it a little too orange? They work for me though. Plus you can order through JL and get delivered to Waitrose which is always pleasing x
Esther I need your help!! What can I wear that is flat, comfy but with covered toes and looks half decent. I work in a hospital and open toed are not allowed and I have received enough bollockings now to know better…..I know an espadrille but They don’t seem works enough, or Toms but they stick when you wear them without socks. I need inspiration as I keep just having flashbacks of ballet shoes……
UGH not ballet shoes. So bad for your back too. Is a smart white leather sneaker not on?