I regret to say that it is almost that time: the time when we need to think about summer shoes. Shoes that can expose part of the foot, or a pretty surprising amount of it. Shoes we can wear without socks. Shoes that somehow carry us from morning to night without gently dipping our toes. Shoes that will not cause a child passing by on the street to be startled or cry. The swallows should be here any minute, the smell of blackened chicken wings lingers on the neighbor’s fence, and now we’re forced to take our feet out of their winter sheaths, like rescues cut from their winter vests.
First, a news announcement. You may have noticed or read that boat shoes are making a comeback. Or, as they say in the fashion business, “taking a moment.” The return of the boat shoe strikes me as unexpected and retro as the return of Liz Truss, but there was a £660 pair in Miu Miu’s spring/summer collection, so they’re considered fashionable again. Vogue He went further and declared 2024 the “year of the boat shoe”; This sounds like a bold claim given that many major democracies around the world are holding elections this year, but I admire the ambition. Especially for a shoe worn by the country gentleman as he walked his Labrador to the local newsagent on a sunny Sunday morning. This guy would also be wearing red shorts and maybe Panama. This is the traditional home of the boat shoe.
But with the influence of these movies, we should all wear these now. salt burn and Netflix series GentlemanNoted for the increasing popularity of preppy fashion, including boat shoes and rugby shirts. Next up if you can’t reach for the Miu Miu ones are to flog them for £38.
I’m very relieved by this boat shoe news because I’ve been worried about the rise of Birkenstock for a while. My new other half already warned me about him. “I spend most of the summer wearing sandals,” Paul said cautiously a few months ago. “What kind of sandals?” I checked. “Birkenstocks,” he replied. One of the many reasons I fell in love with her was her impeccable dressing sense; the linen shirts, knitted sweaters, and leather cycling boots he wore all winter long. Will I love it in a pair of Birkenstocks? Time will tell as he hasn’t let them out yet. But I can feel that moment approaching.
My friend Tom Chamberlin, editor of stylish men’s magazine Harrow, begs to differ. “I know the buzz is that the Birkenstock is back, but so is the return of the mullet and there are better haircuts,” he warns.
Tom says rubber-soled espadrilles are preferable to boat shoes. I don’t even bother to ask him about his trainers, or whether Adidas Sambas have been available since the Prime Minister wore them a few weeks ago, because I’ve never seen Tom in trainers. Tom adds that you can find great sandals from brands like Tod’s and Ralph Lauren.
Hmm. I don’t think we women have it that easy. Around this time of year, I find myself staring at women on the subway with their elegant sandals and perfect toenails and wondering if I’ll be the kind of organized person who looks at the weather forecast the day before and adjusts it. personal care regimen accordingly? And can one really spend all day wearing Roman-style sandals on the streets of London without sustaining any injuries? I often resort to white plimsolls or espadrilles to hide my toes, but these can also be quite uncomfortable after a long day. A friend who says she carries talcum powder with her everywhere this time of year advises her to sprinkle it on the inside of her shoes when it becomes too sticky.
A few years ago, I was faced with the question among my friends whether we could still wear espadrille wedges with heels in the summer or whether they would become fashionable anymore. goodness, reaction. I could also say that I prefer cats to dogs. Some were horrified, in other words, declared themselves bulky and unsexy. Others were more in favour. The best answer came from a well-connected friend who had attended the Royal wedding as a couple. “The great thing about espadrilles,” she told me, “is that you can curtsy in them. The base gives you support so there’s less wobbling when you come down.” Remember this if you’re going to a garden party or the King invites you to a barbecue.
Another worrying development regarding summer shoes is the increase in ugly, chunky-soled sandals with wide straps and thick soles. When I was a teenager and my feet were growing faster than my body, my grandmother thoughtfully sent me a catalog of roomy shoes, the kind of orthopedic shoes you see in the back pages of magazines. Even they were more attractive than the fishing sandals that now clustered around the town. It’s as if women, freed from the pressure and shackles of ridiculous high heels after decades, consciously want to wear expert shoes. Fair enough, but isn’t there a middle ground between the type of shoes you can wear if you’ve recently had bunion surgery and heels?
Let’s not even discuss Crocs. I have to say, though, that on a recent trip to New York, I saw dozens of couples on the subway. Colorful couples. Camouflaged couples. Jeweled couples. Therefore, those of us who resist on the Crocs front may soon become even more of a minority.
Others note that ballet shoes are just fine this summer, too, because dressy dressing is back again. But since my feet are big (42, or a generous 8, if you must know), I always feel a bit gimmicky in ballet pumps—like a butcher pushing too much sausage meat into the skin. I used to buy heels for women with slightly larger feet from a store in Brixton. Guess what the name of this shop was? It was indeed Elephant’s Feet, though it had closed long ago (no wonder).
But boat shoes. Thank goodness the fashion community has declared that boat shoes can once again be worn by men and women, whether or not you have a boat and/or a Labrador. I’ll buy a pair for myself and start cheerfully greeting others: “Ahoy, there!”