How these £20 flip flops became the most fashionable shoe of the summer

Pernille Taisbaek at Copenhagen Fashion Week

Credit: Getty

Fashion


How these £20 flip flops became the most fashionable shoe of the summer

By Billie Bhatia

6 years ago

What started as micro trend last summer has become a full blown fashion moment this year, and it’s time to get on board. 

It all began last summer at Copenhagen Fashion Week, and we couldn’t quite believe our eyes. Beyond the usual Scandi-cool which is the trademark style for the Danish capital, editors and influencers had taken to wearing Havaianas with their looks.

No, you didn’t read that wrong: the world’s most stylish women were wearing flip flops to fashion week. You could see why this would work for the Scandi set: after all, the recipe to most of their wardrobes is a simple aesthetic and effortless appeal.

We thought, at the time, that this flip flop obsession might have just been a one off. That surely the £20 holiday staple was a fashion fluke, and its popularity was purely down to the higher than normal temperatures. 

As it turns out, it wasn’t a fluke. And, thanks to the growing trends in fashion functionality and, well, dad dressing, the humble Havaianas has taken top spot as the shoe of the summer. 

Credit: Getty

Credit: Getty

Credit: Getty

Seen on the garnering the feet of forever trend-setters Pernille Teisbaek, Man Repeller’s Leandra Medine, Veronika Heilbrunner and Julie Pelipas, flip flops are taking a hold of not just our holidays wardrobes, but our everyday looks.

And it isn’t just the high street version which have been garnering the feet of the coolest women this season. Refashioned into a luxury items, Tibi and Gianvitto Rossi created sell out leather flip flops for the summer, while cult brand Simon Miller and Balenciaga brought a heeled version for the market (the verdict is still out on these). 

Dad sandals have really dominated the footwear game this summer and last, with chunky heavy-set shoes making the rounds on editors, influencers, and the high street. The flip flop can be seen as an extension of that. 

So how do you wear it? Well, in exactly the same way you would the rest of your summer sandals: with jeans, dresses, skirt and shorts. This one is going to be more of a mindset change than getting your head around a new trend (that is under the presumption you’ve already come around to ‘dad’ and ‘ugly’ being common adjectives in your wardrobe).

Considering fashion’s love-in with nostalgia and looking into the not-so-distant past (we see you, Ugg boots, scrunchies and bucket hats), perhaps this sudden surge in flips flops shouldn’t have come as such a surprise, but we are certainly glad it did. 

Here’s our edit of the three pairs we are going to be styling out this summer. 


Black Havaianas flip flops

The OG Havaianas style, this black pair is a chic addition to your summer footwear game 

Black flip flops, £20, Havaianas 

Buy Havaianas Flip Flops Here

Blue and orange Havaianas flip flops

Did we mention orange is really having a moment? Well, in case you missed it, it’s a big one. And we love it with this contrasting blue. 

Blue and orange flip flops, £22, Havaianas 

Buy Havaianas Flip Flops Here

Tarsila do Amaral Havaianas flip flops

This summer Havaianas has displayed three works from Portuguese artist Tarsila do Amaral on their classic styles. Not only do they work with everything in your wardrobe, but they also make a delightful poolside Insta. 

Printed flip flops, £22, Havaianas 

Buy Havaianas Flip Flops Here


Images: Getty / Instagram / Courtesy of brands 

undefined

By signing up you agree to occasionally receive offers and promotions from Stylist. Newsletters may contain online ads and content funded by carefully selected partners. Don’t worry, we’ll never share or sell your data. You can opt-out at any time. For more information read Stylist’s Privacy Policy

Thank you!

You’re now subscribed to all our newsletters. You can manage your subscriptions at any time from an email or from a MyStylist account.