The gamut of summer shoes is, suitably, as diverse as summer plans. There are loafers for rooftop birthday drinks, weddings and Wimbledon, biblical sandals and espadrilles for vacays further towards the equator, and slides for chilling by the poolside. There are well-ventilated trainers for walks, strolls and runs across your local park, and mules to take you from the office to that weekday date night to watch Pretty Woman at an open air cinema populated by deck chairs, that for some reason cost you £50. And then there’s the boat shoe, the preppy silhouette which recently sailed back into vogue.
So, where does one start? With our list of the best men’s summer shoes below, naturally. Just make sure to stock up on white socks (and book in for a pedicure, if you happen to have an affinity for open-toed styles) before they arrive.
Bottega Veneta
BV has been at the forefront of the footwear game for a hot minute, and this summer, it’s all about the Patch Mule. As of right now, Veneta vendees have two timeless colourways to choose from, ‘black’ and ‘caramel’, but we suspect more options will be on their way in the coming weeks.
£1,100; bottegaveneta.com
Bottega Veneta
But if you’re looking for something a little less delicate and a little more affordable, but ideally still Bottega, the Intrecciato rubber sandal may just be the summer shoe you're searching for.
£380; selfridges.com
Visvim
We've told you once, and we'll tell you once more: boat shoes are a requisite for summer ‘23. And the latest pair to float to the apex of our wishlists is the Hockney-Folk Suede boat shoe from trusty Japanese marque Visvim.
£995; mrporter.com
Oakley Factory Team
Oakley Factory Team’s sandal-cum-sneaker, the Flesh, is a summery Y2K flex you needn’t be a Gen-Z to get away with.
£150; footpatrol.com
Axel Arigato
Big, blue and alien – something like a little-known James Cameron franchise – Axel Arigato's Magma is a blockbuster of a summer slide.
£150; axelarigato.com
Yuketen
Yuketen prides itself on the craft that goes into each pair of its shoes, including its Cruz woven leather sandals. The style is inspired by traditional Mexican huaraches, and combines the soft woven leather upper with comfortable Vibram soles.
£230, mrporter.com
Hereu
A pair of calf leather mule sandals made in Spain by highly skilled artisans is a pair of summer shoes well worth your hard-earned wonga, and doesn't Hereu know it.
£333; farfetch.com
The Row
You might have heard that fisherman sandals are fast becoming this summer’s it shoe. As you’d expect from stealth wealth supremos The Row, these sandals are as luxurious as they are simple: dark grey suede, nice black sole and subtle ankle strap. Perfection.
£920, matchesfashion.com
Zegna
The charm of these Zegna espadrille trainers lies in their ancient aesthetic. Like, your boy Ramesses II definitely made a name for himself whilst wearing something very, very similar – and if they’re fit for a pharaoh, they’re fit for the rest of us, too.
£725; matchesfashion.com
Vans
Rad summer skater style 101: pair the wide, chunky Vans Knu Skools with some tube socks, a slim-fit long-sleeve tee and a pair of ultra-baggy jorts.
£85; sevenstore.com
Duke and Dexter
Made for Mediterranean escapes, but also good for zesting up your warm-weather weekends at home.
£250; dukeanddexter.com
Birkenstock
Once the off-duty shoe of choice for Geography teachers, Birkenstocks are now considered cool. Genuinely cool. The more contemporary, conspicuous options in particular, like these powder blue 1774 III Arizonas.
£350; birkenstock.com
Casablanca
Casablanca is extravagant design for extravagant people. Fitting, then, that its take on a backless loafer – finished with a bamboo bar and rainbow rubber logo patch – is outrageously conspicuous.
£640; matchesfashion.com
Keen
Quite possibly the perfect summer holiday shoe, providing you plan on doing a lot of walking, the Uneek by Keen is the cult trainer-sandal hybrid adored by gorpcore kids from Okayama to Oregon.
£89; endclothing.com
Tod's
When in doubt, reach for a suede loafer, and when considering suede loafers, it's always a good idea to reach for Tod's Gommino, the quintessential summer slip on.
They are, perhaps, best worn around the beach club, or on the parquet deck of a yacht, but you can wear them anywhere, really. That's the beauty of a design classic.
£85; mytheresa.com
Marni
Summer can be chaotic. Who knows when you'll have to jet off to a Santorini wedding/pop out to the shops to get a Rubicon? Ergo, it's essential you're equipped with a pair of dress code-transcending, easy-to-slide-on shoes. Enter the Marni Sabot Mule. Available in an array of iterations – from white shearling to green long-hair calfskin – there’s a Marni Sabot for just about everyone. Naturally, we’d recommend opting for a black leather pair if you’re looking for something that will integrate seamlessly into your style.
£513; ssense.com
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