With the arrival of Summer, I find myself reaching for shoes that strike that perfect balance between style and practicality. With warmer temperatures and longer days, I want Summer shoes that can keep up with long days on my feet – whether I’m exploring a new city, heading to dinner or simply navigating everyday life in the heat.

If you’re building a warm-weather wardrobe that feels effortless but still polished, having the right lineup of summer shoes for women makes all the difference. From comfortable summer shoes for walking to chic sandals that pair seamlessly with dresses, this guide covers the styles I rely on most – and recommend time and time again.

Whether you’re planning a European getaway, refreshing your everyday outfits or simply looking for the best Summer shoes for travel and versatility, these are the pairs worth considering. Each one has earned a spot in my rotation for being equal parts functional and stylish, because in my experience the best Summer shoes are the ones you can wear all day without a second thought.

It’s also important to remember that when it comes to shoes, you often get what you pay for. I invest in shoes because I wear the same pairs over and over again and I want them to hold up to lots of wear and be comfortable. I’d rather summer footwear I pay more for the quality at the onset and can wear for season after season after season vs. a cheap shoe that I’ll have to retire after three month’s of wear.

Best Summer Shoes For Women

The Go-with Everything Summer H Sandal

Everyone needs a sandal that they can throw on and go. A timeless slide sandal will be easily dressed up or dressed down and I find investing in quality leather slide sandals is always worthwhile. I find my Hermes Oran sandals to be that sandal and I love how the shoe molds to your foot over time.

If you’re not ready for an investment sandal, I recommend this pair and this pair that will fit the bill without breaking the bank. (As an aside, I find Talbots shoes to be so well made and so well priced! The pairs I’ve owned are super comfortable and hold up well).

If you like a bit of a heel, try this pair.

The Go-with Everything Sneaker 

My Common Projects Achilles sleek white sneakers are my most worn shoe of summer and perfect for walking all day. I pair them with dresses, with skirts, with jeans and with denim shorts and in the (many) years of wearing them, they’ve held up so well with constant mileage put on them.

I am truly never without these shoes, they’re the best sneakers for Europe travel IMO. In my opinion, they’re the ultimate travel shoe. I keep them looking new by regularly cleaning them with a magic eraser. It helps clean up my favorite white sneaker in a snap every time!

If you’re looking for an affordable pair of all white that’ll go with everything, I’m also a big fan of Veja sneakers.

Espadrille Wedges 

My espadrille wedges are some of my most worn summer shoes. They go with pretty much everything – jeans, dresses, shorts, skirts – I reach for them time and time again because they are as comfortable as they are chic. Espadrilles have been around for centuries and are timeless classic shoes for a reason! 

I have a neutral ivory pair that gets the most wear and I also own a pair in black as well. If you tend to wear a lot of colors and prints, I’d recommend buying a pair in a bright pop of color for an extra fun personality statement. This brand is my favorite. They feel like walking on clouds!

Sezane makes some cute espadrilles, too!

Converse

Summer staples, my Converse all star sneakers are always in rotation a sporty sneaker option to pair with dresses and denim shorts. Also perfect for rainy summer days as the canvas dries out easily.

Strappy Flat Sandals to Wear with Dresses

I’m not a huge fan of wearing flip flops or thong sandals with my outfits – I leave those for beach and pool wear only as I find them too casual. Instead, I opt for strappy flat sandals. They appear more put together and just look more stylish in my opinion. 

The pair above are from Sezane, and while they’re no longer available this is a similar pair by a brand I love for quality leather sandals.

For more budget friendly options, I spotted these and these as strappy flat sandal alternatives.

The Flat Ankle Wrap Sandal

100% a sandal worth buying! This pair is so comfortable and elegant and instantly makes your legs look longer. I wear mine constantly! Hands down one of my most worn pairs of sandals that I own. I just picked up another pair in suede.

If you’re packing for a trip, these are the kind of comfortable summer shoes for travel that can handle long days of walking without sacrificing style.

If you want even more of a wrap effect, try this pair.

The T Strap Sandal

A timeless sandal style, you can always reach for a t-strap sandal to wear with dresses or skirts or even dressier or casual shorts.

Try this pair under $100, or the iconic styles from St. Tropez sandal maker K. Jacques.

Strappy Low Heeled Sandal

Prefer a heel? It’s rare you’ll catch me in a high heel, more often than not I’m reaching for a pair of strappy, low block heel sandals in Summer – like these or these.

And for a really low heel, I spotted these!

Shown above: wearing an older pair by Schutz which is one of my go-to brands for more affordable, on-trend shoes.

Classic Cap Toe Slingbacks

Cap toe heel slingbacks are a go-to for me because they are nearly season-less. You can wear them all spring summer and well into Fall. I wear my Chanel slingbacks constantly, and in the Summer they pair perfectly with breezy dresses.

This is a more affordable alternative to the Chanel style seen above.

Related: What to Wear with Chanel Slingbacks

Block Heel Ankle Strap Sandals

A sand colored block heel is my go-to wedding shoe for Summer wedding season.  

I have a similar pair in black, too that I always reach for during summer wedding season to pair with little black dresses. They are more comfortable for long periods of wear than a stiletto and yet look just as dressy. 

The ankle strap also helps elongate the leg!

Another similar style with a lower heel I like are the Perfect Block Sandals by Sarah Flint seen below.

Related: Sarah Flint Shoes Review

Ballet Flats 

Ballet flats are another seasonless shoe that I get so much wear out of. I love having pairs in a variety of neutrals like the Chanel two-tone ballet flats, but I also think a pair in a summery color like pale pink is a great option.

Margaux makes some of my favorite ballet flats and they come in a wide assortment of colors.

They are the perfect option when you want to wear a closed toe shoe during warmer months and I think ballet flats look great with summer dresses and also I love the juxtaposition of them paired with denim cut offs or more casual distressed jeans.

Ballet Flats Outfit Ideas

Woven Shoe

For a more summery take on the ballet flat, try a style in a woven pattern. This pair above by Margaux are beautifully made and perfectly summery.

Birkenstocks

While Birkenstock Arizona sandals aren’t usually my style, I keep a pair around as they are a great throw-on-and-go errand shoe. They’re comfortable and go with everything so in the summer months, you’ll often find my pair sitting in my foyer for days I’m running errands in the neighborhood.

This year they teamed up with Staud to make a limited edition raffia version and I think they are so chic. Last year they did a croc white style and I bought those and they are my weekend errand shoe in the summer.

The Platform Heel

File these under shoes slightly out of my comfort zone, but I added this pair from Sézane last summer!

If you’re looking for a similar style, Sarah Flint just released a chic crossover platform, Margaux has a pair, and this raffia pair are chic for the season.

Flip Flops

For beach and pool days in the summer, there’s nothing better than the old flip flop standby. Tkees makes my favorite comfy pairs. 

I also recently picked up these jelly flip flops for poolside lounging.

Sporty Sneaker

With all the colors the Adidas Samba sneakers now come in, I think the lighter colors are so cute for summer – particularly when juxtaposed with a summery dress or skirt. Love the Gazelles, too.

Toe Wrap Sandal

An elegant take on the flat sandal. Above, I’m wearing this pair from Reformation. These are similar, from Tkees.

This pair by Jenni Kayne looks great, too. Code MEGHANDONO10 for 10% off.

The Woven Leather Sandal

When I want a black flat sandal, my YSL Tribute Sandals are a go-to. Comfy and with a beautiful woven front design, these are an elegant and yet comfy way to wear a flat sandal. Yes, they are expensive but I take excellent care out of them and they’ve lasted for years.

I love these because they’re one of the few comfortable Summer sandals for walking that still feel polished enough for dinner.

I sized up half a size in this pair.

The Croc Embossed Sandal

I bought this pair of croc embossed Emme Parsons sandals a few years ago, and now I’m officially sold on the brand! They are beautifully made and now I can’t wait to shop more shoes from the brand. This pair is high on my wish list now.

A croc embossed material instantly elevates these sandals to be really chic. These are a good budget friendly alternative.

Emme Parsons has a lot of super chic, unique sandal styles worth browsing.

The Metallic Heeled Sandal

So often we think of a gold or a silver heeled sandal as a wedding shoe, but I also love it for other dressier occasions! I wore the above pair by Loeffler Randall to a night out in Vegas last year and I love the beautiful strap detail and ankle wrap.

Loeffler Randall remains one of my very favorite shoe brands for over a decade at this point. 

If you prefer a kitten heel, I like the Dylan Sandal by Margaux in gold or this pair from Aeyde.

If you prefer a flat metallic sandal, check out this pair under $100.

I also have this pair by Sarah Flint I often reach for during summer wedding season. Use code SF-MEGHAND15 for 15% off at Sarah Flint.

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I hope you love the options to choose from that I shared here! When it comes to building a summer shoe capsule, these are the styles I rely on most – whether I’m packing for travel, getting dressed for everyday life or looking for shoes that can truly do it all. I also recommend ordering more than one size when you pick out a shoe to purchase – it’ll ensure you can test two sizes to find the perfect fit.

As you break in any new shoes, you may want to consider stocking up on these Blister BandAids. They are life savers in case you run into any blisters.

Want to make your shoes last longer? Have a cobbler add protective rubber soles to them! I’ve been doing this for years and it makes all my investment shoes last years and years despite loads of wear.

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• Casual Wardrobe Basics.
• Dresses for Wedding Guests.

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