I had the fun opportunity to bring on a fab assistant for the summer who has amazing style…and she’s still in high school, y’all. We were brainstorming something fun to work on together and decided to each pick 10 comfy, fun sandals we loved. (Wait until you see her picks. They’re so so good.)
Wedges, Platforms & Slides: Cute, Comfy Sandals For Summer
We’ve covered bright, neutral, classic and playful (and of course my current fav leopard print, too) and hope you love this little collection of some comfy, walkable shoes. We love this style for the cushioned soles and on-trend vibe…and many of our choices wound up being platform sandals that are super-flattering on the leg, too.
So, here we are, with a lovely roundup of wearable summer shoes…complete with a ton of options. We didn’t do the choosing together, so it was a blast to see how our picks differ.
Laura’s Gen X Sandal Picks: Classic & Neutral
This Gen-Xer’s style (me) is mostly sporty, and a little classic with some edge thrown in for good balance. I dress slightly more feminine in the summer because dresses = cooler (and I mean temps-wise) but I still dig a super-sporty look.
I’ll go for a pop of color sometimes, but usually do that with a bag or graphic tee, so I left most of my choices here pretty neutral…to go with everything! My mom just got those Sorel Kinetic sandals, and they are ah-mazing. I’m still adoring my Loeffler Randall leopard pair, too!
01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10
01 | Loeffler Randall Leopard-Print Sport Sandal: Have and adore these. They have the comfort of a Teva sporty style, but elevated. The ankle and toe straps adjust, making the fit great, and the leopard adds the cutest interest to any simple outfit. So great for travel. See them on with both a dress & jeans here.
02 | Mia Mika Flatform Sandal: So sporty cool. I love that the whole upper is the same pretty gray shade. Gorgeous. These are the same brand and sole as some of our longtime go-to platform sandals. (Updated for 2022 and still available in black & cognac.)
03 | Sorel Cameron Flatform Sandal: I don’t think you can ever go wrong with Sorel sandals. These are a newer style and just so rad. The yellow is fun, but with the tan they’re still super-neutral and versatile.
04 | Vince Jenita Platform Slide Sandal: So chic, but the cork makes them comfy and not too fussy.
05 | Aqua Krisa Slip-on Platform Stud Sandal: One of my favorites of the bunch, of course, with the edgier stud details.
06 | Sorel Kinetic Sandal: My mom just got these, and they’re so comfy and cute. Sporty, but still cute and not overly casual.
07 | Cougar Leather Slide: Gah I LOVE these. I feel like they lean the most Gen Z of my picks, haha. Love the puffy upper, the color and the sporty slide lewk. I’d pair them with my wide-leg black pants and a simple white racerback tank. Now $29!
08 | Dolce Vita Niles Walking Sandal: A little funky and a lot cute…I adore these. The tan shade makes them super-versatile, but the pop of animal print adds way more interest. The chunky sole keeps them feeling on trend. I’m thinking white jeans and a white tank for these with some gold jewelry. Now $45!
09 | Teva Metallic Flatform: Love the balance of gorgeous metallic, neutral pastels with the higher platform sole for a fresh-but-versatile vibe. I bet these would be totes flattering on the legs. (Linked to this year’s version.)
10 | Cole Haan Grand Ambition Flatform Wedge Sandal: The fanciest of the bunch and super-chic. I’d pair with any of my favorite black tank dresses. (similar option here.)
Gen Z Sandal Picks: Bright & Playful
I love seeing my friend Nova’s style coming through as we do these fun summer shoe picks together. We’ve known each other for years, but have only recently started working together, and it is super-fun to collaborate right now and get excited about her choices. LOVE the fun playful style of her platform sandal picks!
I let her describe how she’d style them or what she loved about each of them below…
01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10
01 | J.Crew Double Buckle-Strap Sandals: These can be dressed up or down, but personally I would style them with some flared jeans and a flowy top, and go for a ’70s vibe. Loving those gold hardware accents, too.
02 | AE Animal Print Espadrille: These definitely have more of a bohemian feel, so I’d pair them with some more flowy garments, like maybe a maxi dress or some lightweight pants.
03 | Freedom Moses Floral Slides: These adorable sandals allow you to leave the house (whether you are on time or running late) looking stylish and feeling comfortable.
04 | Birkenstock Arizona Big Buckle Sandals: These are adorable too! And the yellow tone totally reminds me of summer. So easy to slip on and off.
05 | BCBGeneration Platform Slide: If cotton candy were a shoe…is exactly what I thought when I saw these amazing sandals. I have never wanted something on my feet more in my life. I can honestly say that I would wear them with everything.
06 | Dolce Vita Panko Stud Eyelet Platform Sandals: These sandals, plus a black leather jacket…and lots of accessories would be absolutely perfect. The black makes them super-versatile, but I love their edgy feel.
07 | Dr. Martens Voss Quad Hydro Leather Platform Sandals: I am obsessed with these beautiful platforms. Who doesn’t love a Doc Marten?
08 | Melissa Wide Platform Buckle Sandals: These give me Birkenstock vibes, but this color seems much more unique. Plus that wrap-around ankle strap probably makes them extra comfy.
09 | Easy Spirit Star Slide: The criss-cross straps really stand out to me with these shoes. The fun mustard shade provides a youthful, summery feel, but the straps made it feel slightly more mature and put-together.
10 | Franco Sarto Cappy Slide Sandal: Similar to the animal print shoes, these give off an amazing bohemian summer feel with the woven sole — and orange just reminds me of summer sunsets. You could totally dress these up and down, and wear them over and over again.
There’s little I love more than doing fun shoe roundups, especially when I get to play around with someone else with great style like Nova. Stay tuned for a cute kids’ back-to-school capsule that she helped me with, as well. And as always, let us know if you have a favorite platform sandal we missed!
xo,
L
Would love to have you follow all my daily mom musings, more fashion thoughts, donut pics & dance parties over on IG @laurajansenstyle. Coming to you from lovely Portland, OR. 😉
And this one’s for the Pinners…
