Of all the summer shoe trends around this season, one silhouette has stood out amongst the rest. You need only look around at the feet of your fellow commuters on your morning ride into work, your colleagues gathering round the coffee machine, or the stylish shopper in front of you in the supermarket checkout queue for evidence. Yep, everyone is wearing flip-flops.
Confirmation it's the shoe of the summer came via Isabel Marant's collaboration with Havaianas, an unsurprising instant sell-out when the collection launched at the end of May. Elsewhere, colourful classic rubber pairs have continued to dominate, but more varied designs are emerging, from studded styles to wedge heels for those looking to add a few extra inches while channelling ‘90s and ‘00s nostalgia. However, the latest take on the look – and perhaps our favourite iteration yet – is leather flip-flops.
Offering a more elevated look thanks to their premium construction, the style often features a flat, thin sole with thicker, tapered straps in either matte leather or suede. Despite being just as minimal in design, the simple fabric upgrade has a more polished aesthetic that effortlessly takes your poolside sandals well beyond the beach.
Wear them with pretty white blouse tops and summer jeans for an outfit that perfectly straddles put-together and casual cool, or let them provide the perfect finishing touch to floaty sundresses. For pieces like balloon leg trousers and cargo pants, pairing them with leather flip-flops instantly tips them into office-appropriate workwear territory, especially if you add a tank top and a linen blazer. The outfit possibilities and occasions really are endless.
With the easy-to-wear sandals officially crossing over into fashion territory, naturally we're wanting to shop the trend. If you're thinking premium fabrication means a premium price tag, guess again. The high street has plenty of affordable leather designs – like Next's tan leather thong with genuine leather straps and priced at just £39!
Want to win a £200 shopping spree with Next? Club Cosmo members can enter here!
Below, find some of our favourite leather flip-flops to shop now:
Next Tan Brown N. Premium Round Toe Leather Thong
ASOS DESIGN Fenna Premium Leather Flip Flops
A.Emery Kinto Leather Flip Flops
Reformation Jessie Thong Sandal
Nobody's Child Red Suede Flip Flops
River Island Black Zebra Hair On Leather Flip Flop Sandals
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Alexandria Dale is the Digital Fashion Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from the celebrity style moments worth knowing about to the latest fashion news, there’s nothing she loves more than finding a high street dupe of a must-have designer item. As well as discovering new brands, she’s passionate about sustainable fashion and establishing the trends that are actually worth investing in. Having worked in fashion journalism for six years, she has experience at both digital and print publications including Glamour and Ok!
