Three ways to ace summer footwear.

For an item of footwear that’s essentially synonymous with sun, holidays and a general feeling of relaxation, the sandal all too often provokes anxiety. There’s the socks issue, which we’ve covered before. There’s the feet issue, which we can’t quite bring ourselves to go into here (but, essentially, it’s about raggedy toenails and the maintenance thereof). Then there’s the long, spectral line of terrible sandal wearers – from crystal-toting New Age spiritualists to lobster-red British tourists – that will continue to haunt us well into the distant future. But put all that aside and focus, and you’ll see there’s really not all that much to worry about. Sandals are a fantastic way to stay stylish in the heat while giving your feet a much needed breather. And though we will never recommend you wear them to the office, they can be rather versatile, when worn with the right pieces. Scroll down for our guide on how to do the whole sandal thing with a stylish elan that will utterly convince all your friends and colleagues.

These minimally detailed sandals from WANT Les Essentiels strike the fine balance between glorified flip flop and Emperor Marcus Aurelius that is so crucial to making a tasteful sandal choice. The foam soles and nylon straps will provide optimum comfort, while the sleek black colour palette and leather cross-strap will maintain a certain aura of smartness. Wear them with a pair of classic chino shorts from Ami, which look as reassuringly unlike Bermuda shorts as possible.

Chances are, you are not going to find yourself heading from a beach bar to a boardroom any time soon, unless you’re involved in some kind of zany surfing startup. (Actually, increasingly likely these days.) Anyway, the point is, sometimes you just need a striped T-shirt to complete a sandal-based look. We like this example from French brand Arpenteur because of its three-quarter-length sleeves, which are just that little bit more decorous than your short-sleeved varieties and will prevent your arms from roasting in the sun. When evening arrives, or you step into a restaurant, you may want to smarten up just a tad. In this eventuality, you can’t go wrong with an unstructured navy blazer. This one from Our Legacy is both sharp and pleasantly relaxed.

How about this for a rule: if you don’t need sunglasses, you don’t need sandals, and vice versa? What we mean is, if it’s hot enough to get your feet out, you should probably also be shielding your eyes from the sun. For these purposes, we can thoroughly recommend these vintage-inspired frames from Max Pittion, a brand now owned by superfan Mr John Mayer. As the whole outfit has that slight nautical touch, we also think you can get away with a bracelet. Try this leather example from US brand Miansai.

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