The trend cycle can be a fickle business – one minute heels are declared “dead” and the next they are hailed as making a triumphant return. However, in reality it’s never as binary as that, and this summer you’re as likely to see Vogue editors in a pair of towering, studded clogs as a flat rubber flip-flop.
The spring/summer 2025 collections served up many sandals beyond simple black leather sliders, with styles that even reluctant heel wearers might consider as an alternative to their Birkenstock Arizonas. Many of the sandals on this list have a low, practical heel, from ’90s-coded, strappy Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy sandals, which hover just an inch or so above the floor, to flip-flop hybrids, which have been given a city spin and are devoid of all beachy connotations.
Many of the shoes in our sandal trends report look like they have been lifted straight from Carrie Bradshaw’s archive, with peep-toe mules and ’90s-style caged sandals, which will see you through a series of summer social plans, from weddings to low-key dinners. But it’s not just about kitten heels, as this summer sees the return of chunky, clog-inspired wedges and platforms (a trend spearheaded by Chloé, where the rubber heel was engraved with doodle drawings that record summer romances). Ferragamo is also behind one of the key shoes of the season, with its ballet-inspired thong sandals, which are complete with barre-ready ribbons snaking up the leg and a towering heel.
Below, see the best heeled sandals to add to your collection this summer.
The ’90s strappy heeled sandal
Nineties minimalism continues to take hold on the runway, thanks to brands like Calvin Klein and The Row. In fact, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy sandals are a key silhouette for spring/summer 2025 – think simple heels with thin straps and low or block heels.
Peep-toe mule sandals
Mule sandals are a classic silhouette, with an open toe and back – there’s a reason they’ve long been Ms Carrie Bradshaw’s go-to choice. This style is consistently big business for Manolo Blahnik – specifically the Jadarona and Houramu styles – and not just because Margot Robbie wore them on rotation during her Barbie tour. While this is an elegant choice in black or brown, don’t shy away from bolder colours, textures and prints, too.
Thong heeled sandals
There has been a flip-flop revival of late, between The Row’s £630 Dune sandals and fashion insiders revisiting old-school rubber Havaianas. That’s naturally led us to this summer’s souped-up thong, with hybrid flip-flop heels seen across the spring/summer 2025 collections, including at Miu Miu, Ferragamo, Dior and 16Arlington. They’re the current sandal of choice among Vogue editors.
Heeled cage sandals
For a more structured look, New York brands Proenza Schouler and Khaite are backing caged sandals for summer 2025, featuring dozens of straps and a fastening around the ankle. While still being minimalist-coded, they are more of a statement option than a simple strappy heel.
Lace-up sandals
Tied-up sandals tend to be associated with a classic, Grecian look, but for summer 2025, lace-up straps are used to add more drama to your footwear. Ferragamo put a balletic spin on the look with thong sandals fitted with criss-cross satin ribbons that you’d typically see on pointe shoes, while at Burberry, Totême and Proenza Schouler, straps and ropes were contorted around the foot.
Platform clog sandals
And finally, the status shoe for this summer? The clog sandal. Chloé’s Chemena Kamali introduced chunky ’70s inspired clogs in her debut autumn/winter 2024 collection, and they were unsurprisingly then seen across the spring/summer 2025 collections at the likes of Hermès and Ulla Johnson. The clog movement is nicely aligned with the return of summer platforms and wedges, so don’t be afraid of styles with a little height.
