The Offbeat Slip-on You’ll Be Wearing All Summer

The iconic Italian driving shoe with its trademark nubby sole and supple leather upper is a sine qua non of low-key summer style whether you’re spending yours behind the wheel of an Alfa Romeo or pushing a cart around your local Costco. But in its simplicity, it can also—dare we say it—be a bit meh at times.

If you’re looking for something with a little (okay, a lot) more personality, consider the Cochise. The bold slip-on is from the Milanese brand Scarosso, which produces its wares in the Marche region, the shoemaking hub of Italy. Founded in 2010, Scarosso is perhaps better known for classic, bench-made lace-ups than it is for more adventurous designs like the one you see here. But over the past few years, the label has built a reputation for injecting contemporary attitude into its broad range of shoes and boots—making everything from tony oxfords to loafers to Chelseas that are more than the sum of their parts. All of this is done without the eye-watering prices that often go along with the “Italian-made” label. You couldn’t call them cheap, but they definitely punch well above their cost in terms of quality and finish.

Shoes ($305) by Scarosso.

With its allover suede fringing, the Cochise is big on attitude and perhaps not ideal for work events, even in these casual times. But that doesn’t mean it’s unworthy of the investment. Think of it as the footwear equivalent of your third car—something mind-cleansing that you can’t wait to jump into to go hang out at the beach. Or the park. Anywhere a little extra fun is required this summer.

In other words: everywhere.