The flip-flop is undeniably the shoe of the summer.
Seventeen ways I’m wearing the shoe of the summer.
By now, you’ve probably seen the endless chatter, discourse, and general hullabaloo about the undisputed shoe of Summer 2025: the flip-flop. Flip-flops were all over the men’s shows. That image of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy in her black crewneck and jeans has made the rounds again and again. And of course, The Row’s “Dune” flip-flop has probably crossed your feed more than once, whether in praise or in condemnation. (But let’s not forget the precursors to the Dune like the “City,” “Beach,” and how could we forget the “Ginza.”)
There’s no denying this shoe is trending, right when trends themselves feel more or less obsolete. I’d wager they feel even more present, at least in the fashion bubble, because they’ve finally infiltrated the rarefied air of menswear. It’s no longer "déclassé" for men to show their (hopefully pedicured) toes. But really, even last summer, when the claws of quiet luxury still had a grip on us, flip-flops found a happy home in womenswear. Open-toed shoes were already par for the course in that space, but there was something about slipping on a pair of Havaianas with your nightgown last summer that felt like the epitome of stylish ease. In
’s excellent piece all about the return of the flip-flop, he spoke with trend forecaster Michael Fisher who said:“Saying we’ve been bombarded with chaos and conflict for five years is an understatement, and it shows no signs of slowing down,” Fisher says. “We thought post-pandemic would bring a new Roaring Twenties—excess and formality—but consumers chose the opposite: fewer decisions, more basics. They’re exhausted and in no mood for fashion with a capital-F.”
It’s perhaps that exhaustion with capital-F fashion that has given way to this sense of tackiness, which also feels like a direct rejection of the pomp and circumstance that hovered over the now declawed trend of quiet luxury. It makes sense that the flip-flop feels right for this moment because the shoe itself harbors a certain level of kitsch— but beyond that, there’s an undeniable cringe factor to that flimsy bit of rubber.
On one hand, the ickiness comes from the shoe itself. If you think about it, the flip-flop is basically the footwear equivalent of sweatpants (maybe during the winter the more appropriate comparison would be an Ugg) because they’re so tied to casual comfort. On the other hand, it’s less about the shoe, and more related to where you wear it. Especially in a city like New York, the thing I hear most (usually in a tone of utter disgust) is, “You wear open toed shoes in the subway?” (To which I always think: if you’re willing to grab the subway railing with your bare hand, what difference does it make if your toes are out?) Yet at the same time, it’s that whiff of lowbrow grit, mixed with the wearer’s sense of self, that makes this choice so interesting. It speaks exactly to
’s idea of the wrong shoe theory: playing with unexpected contrasts is what gives a look texture and appeal. That’s what makes the otherwise gauche pairing of a flip-flop and cargo pants feel so gratifying in the context of today.
It’s also what makes the current styling from the men’s shows even more intriguing — like in the case of Auralee or stalwarts like Armani, who used flip-flops to cut through the formality of more formal looks.
And the fact that designer brands are offering up their own versions of this run-of-the-mill shoe only adds to the fanfare. You can go the high-end route with The Row’s Dune, Louboutin’s cheeky studded “Super Loubi,” or the rather esoteric Margiela Tabi flip-flops. Or you can stick with the everyday options that inspired them in the first place: Havaianas, Sperry, or Tkees. The beauty is that none of these options are wrong, and at the same time, having a designer name stamped into the sole isn’t a signifier of anything but the brand. At the end of the day, they’re all just rubber (or in some cases leather).
That’s it for today! I encourage you all to go out and wear your flip-flops with pride!
XX
JJ
Savored this with my pedicure and was glad I did. CHOCK FULL. One thing I always long for in a Stacker I follow is NEW IDEAS! POINT OF VIEW! This you bring in spades, and make me feel inspired. Thank you. (And side note-- the dream model. How you make me want a white eyelet dress AND a necktie is beyond me!)
You make the flip flop look SO chic!! (However I will say that the things I’ve seen on the sidewalks versus the subway pole…I could write a (very gross) book!)