20 best women’s summer shoes for stepping into warmer weather

Infused with the same chic minimalism as luxury label The Row, Pull & Bear’s leather flip-flops will prop up your summer wardrobe for years to come. At less than £40, they feel surprisingly premium, thanks to the smooth cow leather design and slick chocolate brown finish. Complete with a lightweight and thin contrasting black sole, the streamlined silhouette adds to the luxe feel.

As well as brown (our favourite), they’re available in black and white. Thanks to the simple style, they’ll go with just about everything in your wardrobe, whether poking out of wide-leg jeans on cooler days or styled with a floaty white dress on holiday. You can’t go wrong.

Nodding to Hermès’s cult oran sandals, New Look’s take will save you nearly £600 compared with the luxe pair. Boasting a wearable flat sole, leather-look finish and slip-on style, the double strap detailing and cross stitching elevates the simple design.

Considering the price, we were impressed with the quality and the sliders stayed snug on our feet while walking. Offering stellar value for money and coming in five colourways, they’re a must-have for your next getaway.

If you’re looking for pillowy comfort, the AllSaints Saki leather sliders are near impossible to fault. Owing to the flat sole, molded footbed and padded crossover strap, your feet are nice and cushioned, with just a hint of toe poking out the end (great for those who don’t like to bare all).

We love the inflated look of the crossover strap, while the sleek matte black finish tones down the design. Simple yet cool, they’ll work with just about everything in your summer wardrobe and are an investment for years to come.

Debuted in 2021, Ganni’s buckle flats have become the Scandi label’s most recognisable style – and rightly so. A modern icon, the brand has put a characteristically cool spin on the perenially chic ballet flat silhouette. Featuring a slingback strap, patent finish, chunky silver buckles and square block heel, the shoes are crafted from calf leather with engraved Ganni logos

This pair’s cult appeal lies in its versatility. Whether worn with baggy, wide-leg jeans or styled with maxi poplin skirts or minidresses in the summer, the designer flats are an investment for year-round wear.

Suprisingly comfortable at first, thanks to the soft leather, the shoes did begin to rub on our toes by the end of the day, so, they do take a bit of wearing in.

This season’s hottest trainer trend, Japanese label Onitsuka’s yellow Mexico 66s have become a staple of the style set’s wardrobe (Bella Hadid and Kaia Gerber are both fans). Characterised by their low-line silhouette, almost non-existent sole and the brand’s signature tiger stripes, the shoes remain mostly unchanged since their 1960s debut.

The white and blue stripe finish is a stellar everyday option but it’s the yellow that’s reached cult status. Besides the flat sole that takes a little getting used to, the trainers are comfortable and supportive, with the vibrant finish elevating neutral summer outfits.

Plumped for by the likes of Kendall Jenner, Zoë Kravitz and Bella Hadid, Nineties-inspired platform flip-flops are having a revival – and we love to see it. Structured and supportive enough to wear to the office but just as appropriate for alfresco dinners on holiday, Bobbies’s Hiromi flip-flops nail the trend.

The smooth lambskin leather exterior is teamed with a block sole and exaggerated toe thong. The insole is cushioned and comfortable with details such as the cross stiching elevating the simple design. Style with wide-leg linen trousers (à la Kravitz) or a simple black mididress, like Jenner.

Combining two of this summer’s hottest trends, Asos’s ballet flats are finished in a bold red hue. Inspired by Mary Jane silhouettes, the flats boast an adjustable strap, with a pink-buckle fastening adding detail. Super comfortable and supportive, thanks to the strap, the shoes are crafted from soft and flexible leather, and feature a wearable square toe.

Immediately elevating a simple outfit, the colourway will be a hero addition to your wardrobe, whether styled with a white poplin maxiskirt or black minidress.

We have a love-hate relationship with Crocs but no one can deny their pure practicality. Supremely comfortable, lightweight, waterproof and breathable, thanks to the ventilation holes, the rubber clogs are a stellar option for the warmer months.

Complete with a customisable heel strap and countered outsole, a padded toe and footbed award them extra comfort. Whether you wear them on festival campsites or brave them to the pub, why not embrace the “ugly” this summer.

If Prada’s Mary Janes are out of budget, try Vagabond’s Ansie pumps. Parisian-inspired Mary Jane shoes have had a renaissance in recent years, and the style is endlessly versatile. Vagabond’s black pair retain all the classic signatures with the flared block heel, single strap and rounded toe.

The patent finish gives them a contemporary feel, while the 59mm heel lends them to both everyday and occasion wear. They’re comfortable and secure, thanks to the adjustable strap and cushioned sole, and the cow leather upper is flexible and lightweight.

Putting a contemporary spin on a classic shoe silhoutte, Russell & Bromley’s penny loafers boast a playful metallic finish. Crafted in Portugal from silver grained leather, the shoes feature a supple leather lining that is comfortable and flexible, while the supportive black rubber sole has you pounding the pavements with ease.

All the penny loafer details are there, from the moccasin-style upper to the streamlined silhouette, with the silver colour jazzing up your summer workwear outfits. As with most loafers, they’ll take some wearing in but soon mould to your feet.

The popularity of this shoe shows no signs of waning. Adidas’s cult samba trainers are both a fashionable and functional choice for your summer wardrobe. Coming in white and black, we find the latter to be the most wearable; being easily dressed up with a floaty midiskirt or down with jeans.

Reminiscent of the brand’s famous indoor football shoe, the revamped style boasts a vegan leather design with the grey T-toe nodding to the original 1950s trainer. We found the kicks to be a little stiff at first but they soon moulded to our feet.

The “ugly” shoe trend to know for summer 2024, fisherman sandals are all over our Instagram feeds. If you’re leaning in, Next has debuted the perfect high street take. Hailing from the brand’s premium leather collection, the design is comfortable, soft and flexible, with an adjustable back strap and buckle ensuring a secure fit.

A modern take on the classic shoe, the sandals boast a subtly chunkly sole and thick straps for an extra statement. Contrast the masculine feel with a floaty minidress or embrace the androgyny with baggy trousers.

Birkenstock’s Arizona sandals are a fail-safe choice each summer, thanks to their comfort, durability and timeless design. This pair is in keeping with the classic style but entirely vegan, with the upper boasting a skin-friendly synthetic material that feels and looks like suede.

Featuring the anatomically shaped cork-latex footbed for which the brand is famed, they’re a snug fit, while the recognisable two-strap design can be adjusted to your footsize. A nice change to more classic suede-like colourways, we love the pale pink finish, which gives the pair a contemporary feel.

Asos can always be relied on to come through with practical yet cool shoes for summer wedding occasions. Case in point: these buckle kitten heels. Offering stellar value for money, the shoes are far more comfortable than more-premium-priced heels (trust us, we wore this pair for 12 hours at a wedding).

The small heel is super wearable, while the adjustable ankle strap not only adds to the expensive look but keeps the shoes securely on your feet. Complete with a chic pointed toe and crossover strap detailing, the elegant heels are finished in white or black patent. Both finishes will slot easily into your existing wardrobe.

You’ll get plenty of year-round wear out of a black kitten heel, but they’re even more useful during the warmer months, whether you’re dressing up for dinner abroad or have weddings and summer parties in the calendar. This pair from AllSaints is comfortable, timeless and endlessly wearable. Crafted from premium leather with a functional slingback strap for extra support, the heels left us blister-free after a long evening of wearing them. Complete with a small kitten heel, the shoes have a laidback, Nineties feel that perfectly complements a slinky slip dress.

An occasion-ready take on the mesh shoe trend, these Jeffrey Campbell mules are a nice compromise if you don’t want to bare all this summer. Super breathable, thanks to the mesh toe, the open-back style is complete with a flared kitten heel. The party heels have a Noughties feel, thanks to the sparkles and butterfly embellishment.

Above all, they’re incredibly comfortable to wear for long periods in hot weather or even walking through cobbled European towns. If you’re only packing one pair of evening shoes this summer, make it this pair.

With their luxurious look, it’s no surprise M&S’s caged shoes return in various forms each summer. Boasting thick leather straps and an open round toe that’s giving The Row vibes, the easy-to-wear style is perfect for tapping into this summer’s divisive fisherman shoe trend. The style boasts a thinner sole than other high street interpreations of the classic shoe, making it perfect for those wanting a more streamlined silhouette.

Secured with buckle fastenings, the shoes stay securely on your feet, for all-day wear, while the leather cage straps are soft and flexible. The sandals are available in minimalist black or a chic tan colourway that’s a perfect neutral for holiday outfits – M&S has nailed it again.

The label responsible for those mesh ballet flats, which have been recreated across the high street, Dear Frances’s luxury hand-crafted shoes are built to last (goodbye single-wear summer). While we love the mesh look, the label’s weave straps feel more timeless. Dainty, delicate and very wearable, thanks to the flat cuoio heel, the Balla shoes are hand woven in nappa leather.

Designed with the label’s signature directional silhouette, the flats are detailed with a patent adjustable strap and fastened with a lacquered resin buckle. Despite being so low to the ground, they feel supportive and cushioned, while the rounded toe provides extra comfort. You’ll cherish them for many summers to come.

One of Nike’s most legendary silhouettes, the Cortez style debuted in the early Seventies. The original design has remained the same, from the distinctive rounded toe and heel overlay with a blue stripe to the signature swoosh. A fresh take on the classic, this interpretation features a vintage-inspired suede outer that’s finished in a striking “picante” red.

Contrasting the bright hue, the laces and swoosh are white. The rubber outsole has great grip and bounce, while the cushioned midsole feels like walking on a cloud. We’d suggest going up half a size for the perfect fit. Giving a dopamine hit to any outfit, this pair looks great styled with white poplin skirts.

For £22, Asos’s thong kitten heels are a bargain buy for your next European city break or summer party. The slim, Nineties-inspired style is minimalist and won’t distract from your outfit, while the kitten heel adds a laidback feel to your look. We wore these in Lisbon (a mistake, owing to the hills) and while they were rubbing by the end of the night, the shoes were suprisingly comfortable, considering the faux-leather design. Rest assured, you’ll get your cost per wear.