The Best Summer Sandals (that are neutral & versatile)

Best Slide Sandal: Steve Madden Hadyn

I own the Hadyn slide and find myself pulling them to wear with most of my summer outfits. It’s around $70, which is a steal for a slide that looks this elevated. The geometric cutouts on the wide leather strap are what sell it for me. Simple slides can read a little plain, but the cutout detail makes them feel more intentional and designer. If you want something even more affordable, these Target Nina Sandals are extremely similar.

I have it in cognac, and the tan leather works with basically everything in my summer closet. It also comes in white, bone, black, raffia, and about a million other colors and prints if you want to go in a different direction. The fit tip from Steve Madden is to size up a half if you’re between sizes. I’d agree.

These aren’t going to be as supportive as a Birkenstock or an Ancient Greek Sandal, so they’re not my pick for a full day of walking. But for errands or a lunch out, they’re perfect. And easy to slip on, which is the whole point of a slide.

Most Comfortable Sandal: Ann Mashburn Woven Criss-Cross Slide

I’ve been loving these Ann Mashburn cushioned slides. They are so chic and make me want to book a trip to Europe (I’m a big fan of classic and chic wardrobe staples). They are the best choice if you’re going to be on your feet all day (and also the perfect sandal for pregnancy). Easy to slip on and keep on! The criss-cross Italian leather and braided raffia detailing are gorgeous, too. They are chef’s kiss paired with linen pants (I have a style guide for linen pants if you’re interested).

Best Minimalist Nude Sandal: TKEES Gemma Sandal

If you’re someone who likes a very minimalistic sandal, the Gemma style from TKEES is a great option. I love that you can buy a color that matches your skin tone to be more flattering on your feet. It’s surprising how much more feminine your feet look when sandals are in a similar skin tone to yours! These aren’t supportive, so they aren’t ideal for all-day wear, but I love throwing them on when I’m running errands or meeting a friend for lunch. And the price is great too, under $60. The fit is TTS!

Best Nude Flip Flops: TKEES Lily Flip Flops

I’m including another pair of TKEES because they make my favorite flip flops. I bought the TKEES Lily flip flops two years ago and I took them on our trip to Dominica. I wore them almost every day we were there! Heads up: they are VERY flat. Like no support–zero. So keep that in mind!

I treat these as my pool or beach flip flops (or the perfect accessory for my resort wear outfits), but I don’t wear them much throughout the day since I simply don’t love flip-flops as an everyday option. (And I really don’t love the word thongs when it refers to shoes, ha!) But whatever you call them, these are high-quality enough that you absolutely can wear them with your daily outfits if you like the flip-flop style, which is why I’m still including them in the round-up.

Best Strappy Flat Sandal: Margaux Wrap Sandal

The Margaux Wrap Sandal is at the tippy top of my wishlist. I got a pair of booties from Margaux this winter and absolutely loved them, so I feel certain that their sandals are just as good. Wrap sandals can be hard to wear since the straps have to be tied just right in order to feel comfortable and secure (and they take a minute or two to put on), but I love how they look with dresses. I’ve been pairing them in my head with my favorite summer dresses since the second I saw them.

Best Chic Sandal: Margaux Palermo Sandal

The Margaux Palermo Sandal is the newest version of the sandal I’m pictured in, and it’s the definition of understated chic. The thin asymmetrical straps, soft square toe, and minimal design give it that effortlessly cool, European vibe, like you just stepped out of a seaside café in Positano. I love that it looks delicate but is actually super wearable and comfortable, thanks to the padded footbed and handcrafted leather.

Best Feminine Sandal: Loeffler Randall Hadley Leather Bow Flat Sandals

I fell in love with bows this past winter, and I’m so excited to have this pair of LR Hadley Bow Sandals to wear into spring and summer. I have a couple pairs of Loeffler Randall shoes, and I always tell my friends that if they’re going to splurge on any brand of shoes, they should get LR. Even their heeled platform shoes are comfortable to wear for hours on end, and that’s saying something. While the Hadley style doesn’t have a ton of support, it’s comfortable, well-made, and adorable on my feet. I think it’s fun to have a girly, more feminine sandal in my closet when I want to dress up my outfit without wearing heels. These are the perfect pair. They do run just a tad small, so size up.

I also ordered a look-for-less from Amazon, and I have to say, they are very impressive. They look identical, but since they aren’t real leather, they’re slightly more comfortable (since real leather is stiff until you break it in). They’re a great budget option. I did a roundup of all the best Loeffler Randall dupes!

I also included these sandals as a good option to wear to a casual baby shower.

Best Block-Heel Nude Sandal: M.Gemi Mafalda Alta

I’ve been seeing block-heel nude sandals everywhere this summer, so I figured I’d give one a try, and the Mafalda Alta from M.Gemi blew me away immediately. The handwoven Italian leather vamp is the detail that sells it. It’s a shoe that looks dressy but comfortable, which is exactly what I want for dinners outside or church or a wedding shower.

The block heel is 2.2″, which is the sweet spot for me. Enough lift to feel pulled together, but not so much that I’m hobbling by the end of the night. I have it in tan, and it’s the most versatile block heel in my closet. It works with dresses, white jeans, and linen pants.

These are pricier (around $298), but they’re handmade in Italy and the leather molds to your foot. Use code TERILYN15 for a discount.

Best Platform Heeled Sandal: Larroude Dolly Verona Sandal

The platform heeled sandal I took to Turks and Caicos last year was a pair of Larroudes, and I wore them more than any other shoe in my suitcase. The original style isn’t around anymore, but this updated Verona Sandal is just as good. I love having a chunky platform sandal to wear with dresses when I’m heading to dinner or church, and I pair them with straight-leg jeans to dress them down.

Larroude makes extremely high-quality shoes, and I know these will be comfortable to wear for long periods of time(as you’ll see in my full Larroude review). These come in a handful of colors – and you can sometimes grab them on sale!

I’m 5’1″, so the extra height is never “too much” for me, but they do give you quite a boost, so keep that in mind if you’re taller.

If you love this look but want something a little less expensive, this Tuckernuck Cognac Arden Platform Heel is a fantastic pick.