Your Beach Shoes Don't Have to be Ugly. Here's Proof.
Newsflash: You don't have to wear ugly shoes just because you're going to the beach, you know. Even if you aren't going to the beach, something about summertime makes people feel like they've gotta don their ugliest, chunkiest, most toe-exposing footwear for the sake of comfort. I'm here to tell you that that isn't the case, my friends; you can and should step out in summer sandals that actually pack in some style, too.
I get it, I know—it's hot! And there's sand at the beach! Yes, convenience and practicality should take precedence, but do you have to completely sacrifice fashion to get there? No, you do not. There's still a way to prioritize ease and comfort, without walking around in beat-up flip-flops.
This summer, I encourage you to chuck your ugly beach shoes as far into the water as you can (metaphorically, because of, you know, pollution and everything). Leave 'em to the sharks! You don't have to be embarrassed of your piggies anymore, because this summer, you'll be rocking shoes that won't have to be cropped out of your beach day pics.
Sometimes, you're literally just going to the beach. There's nothing else to it—you might swim, you might not, but you aren't there for any special occasion or fancy dinner. You might get dressed for the day and think, "No one cares if I just wear any old pair of flip-flops." Wrong! I care.
I'm not anti-flip-flops, but I am anti-ugly-flip-flops, which many tend to be. Especially the ones you wear to the beach, because they're gonna get all beat-up and full of sand anyway, so you may as well wear a pair you don't care about, right? Wrong again!
Instead of going for a crappy pair of sandals, let's try something else. If you need to keep your toes out for fear of sand getting in between 'em, there's nothing wrong with slides or flip-flops, but let's make them chic slides and flip-flops—fisherman sandals are golden. Rubber isn't ideal, but if you have to do it, find something that doesn't look like it could also be worn to the gym. A suede or leather slip-on is ideal, if you can handle it. You could even go for a slip-on canvas sneaker, with or without socks. All of these are easy to wear with swim trunks, shorts, khakis—they're pretty versatile.
Beach wedding? Fancy dinner? You better not be pairing your freshly-pressed linen suit with open-toed shoes, my friend.
When you're dressing things up a bit, the toes have got to go away. Sorry. But don't fret too much, because there's a wide range of elevated beach shoes that'll keep you comfortable, chic, and sand-free.
A boat shoe is the obvious pick—something classier than a sandal, but not quite as precious as a leather dress shoe. If you want to go for sandals, though, woven leather sandals are never a bad idea, either. Suede sandals are always chic, but you might run into some issues with sand sticking to 'em, so tread with caution. An elevated slip-on shoe will do you good here, too; look for something that isn't chunky, and that you can get away with wearing sockless, like an espadrille or a moccasin. Wear with khakis, chinos, linen pants, or, hell, even some pleated shorts, and you're golden.
If you're going to the beach to actually go in the beach, you're gonna need some functional shoes for sand and sea.
A lot of brands craft great hybrid or water shoes, but a lot of them tend to be...well, not that stylish. I hunted down a few picks that are slim and sleek as they can get; these pass for casual sneakers, but you can get close to the water—or actually go in the water—without fear of ruining them. Pair with your favorite swim trunks or shorts for easy wear.
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