If you’re on the hunt—or genuinely in need—of a new pair of sandals, slides, or thongs to round out your wardrobe, you’re probably after more than a fleeting trend. What you want is an investment piece: a sandal that elevates your look now and can weave into your rotation for years to come.
Fortunately, a select few brands have perfected their sandal designs—nailing the balance between style, comfort and wearability.
ELLE’s Edit Of The Best Sandal Brands To Shop:
- Best Minimalist Sandals: St. Agni & Studio Amelia
- Best Classic Sandals: A.Emery & Ancient Greek Sandals
- Best Understated Sandals: Nelson Made & TKEES
- Best For Fashion Forward Sandals: Charles & Keith & Alias Mae
- Bet Luxury Sandals: Toteme & Aeydē
Keep reading for the brands our editors trust to carry them through every summer—and well beyond the tan lines.
Byron Bay-based label St. Agni’s footwear collection echoes the signature elevated minimalism of its ready-to-wear pieces. From barely-there leather thongs and strappy slides to statement-making platforms and directional mules, there’s a pair for every occasion. The colour palette skews monochrome with seasonal pops and prints making their mark.
Best For: Minimalist and monochrome strappy styles. | Price: From $300. | Sizes: 35-42.
ST. AGNI
Sling Back Thong Sandal
ST. AGNI
Woven Rope Sandal
ST. AGNI
Twist Sandal
ST. AGNI
Soft Slide Thong
A.Emery’s founder Anna McLaren cut her teeth at The Row in New York – need we say more? The Melbourne brand has made its name with a cult collection of sleek styles, including elevated takes on classic thongs and moulded footbed silhouettes. We’re obsessing over suede pairs this season.
Best For: Elevated takes on classic styles. | Price: From $170. | Sizes: 35-42.
A.EMERY
Kinto Sandal
A.EMERY
Remly Leather Sandals
A.EMERY
Jalen Sandal
A.EMERY
Heidi Leather Sandal
From the get-go, Nelson Made has honoured ethical production, making shoes from recycled leather, chrome-free leather, organic linen and OEKO TEX-certified fabrics. They also work with in-house Melbourne-based shoemakers and a family-run manufacturing house in China. Simple, understated and absolutely essential for your warm-weather wardrobe, Nelson Made’s high-quality and sophisticated footwear makes the brand a front-runner in the shoe game.
Best For: Simple and understated designs. | Price: From $299. | Sizes: 36-42.
NELSON MADE
Raul
NELSON MADE
Juliette Sandal 4.0
NELSON MADE
Raul
NELSON MADE
Juliette Sandal 4.0
TKEES was born in 2009 when Carly and Jesse Burnett set out to create the ultimate barely-there flip flop—effortlessly stylish, accessible, and responsibly crafted. Their game-changing Lily sandal quickly became a must-have for the minimalist fashion set, proving that less truly is more. With a focus on quality over quantity, their season-less design will ensure their sandals are the kind of investment that will keep you stepping in style for years to come.
Best For: Barely-there flip flops. | Price: From $95. | Sizes: 5-11.
TKEES
Lily
TKEES
Square Toe Lily
TKEES
TKEES x Nili Lotan
TKEES
Solids
Add a dose of Euro summer to your wardrobe with a pair of shoes from Ancient Greek Sandals. Known for their handmade styles finished with woven leather details, ankle-wrapping straps and subtle embellishments, the brand is a firm favourite.
Best For: Woven leather details. | Price: From $220. | Sizes: 35-42.
ANCIENT GREEK SANDALS
Saionara
ANCIENT GREEK SANDALS
Eleftheria
ANCIENT GREEK SANDALS
Vachetta
ANCIENT GREEK SANDALS
Karina Sandals
Founded in 2011, Alias Mae has grown into a go-to for sandals – day or night. The Australian footwear brand prides itself on quality, crafting its pairs from leather and finishing them with trending details.
Best For: Trending details. | Price: From $100. | Sizes: 35-42.
ALIAS MAE
Ana
ALIAS MAE
Paris
ALIAS MAE
Venga
ALIAS MAE
Keera
Sydney-born brand Studio Amelia leans into luxe minimalism. Focusing on neutral hues and subtle lines, the label boasts a number of core styles in various colours to create pieces that will last you season after season.
Best For: Luxe minimalism. | Price: From $405. | Sizes: 35-41
STUDIO AMELIA
Cross Front Sandals
STUDIO AMELIA
Filament Squared Flat
STUDIO AMELIA
Edith Flat
STUDIO AMELIA
Gold Pillow Loop Sandals
Charles & Keith merges fashion-forward styles with comfort and wearability. It’s a go-to brand for affordable styles, offering effortless chic options that seamlessly transitions from work to play.
Best For: Fashion-forward and affordable designs. | Price: From $70. | Sizes: 34-41.
CHARLES & KEITH
Metallic Thong Sandal
CHARLES & KEITH
V-Strap Slingback Thong
CHARLES & KEITH
Macra Easley T-Bar Sandals
CHARLES & KEITH
Satin Slide Sandals
Although initially deemed controversial, the ‘heeled thong’ trend isn’t going anywhere any time soon, especially those by cool-girl favourite Totême. Sleek enough to be dressy, understated enough to be casual, it’s the best iteration we’ve seen of the look so far.
Best For: Cool-girl favourites. | Price: From $350. | Sizes: 35-42.
TOTEME
Croc-Effect Flip Flops
TOTEME
Embossed Leather Sandals
TOTEME
Leather Sandals
TOTEME
Braided-Leather Bandeau Slides
Founded in 2015, the name Aeydē was derived from Edith, co-creator Constantin Langholz-Baikousis’ inspiring grandmother. Each pair is made in a family-run factory in Italy and finished with a hand-sewn stitch as a mark of quality. Their signature red heel tips are made to remind the wearer to be adventurous and seek self-discovery.
Best For: Considered craftsmanship. | Price: From $300. | Sizes: 36-42.
AEYDE
Ella Leather Sandals
AEYDE
Nala Leather Sandals
AEYDE
Nettie Sandals
AEYDE
Anna Snake-Effect Slides
What Summer Sandals Are Trending In 2025?
Minimalist styles with ’90s details are topping our wishlist this summer – think thong silhouettes and subtle wedges. But comfortable slides and platforms that you can wear all day are forever favourites. Look for leather styles and vegan alternatives to match with your wardrobe.
What Are The Most Comfortable Women’s Summer Sandals?
Sandals that have padded or moulded footbeds are the best choice for long days. Block or wedge heels can give subtle height without causing too much discomfort. Choose pairs with adjustable straps if your feet are prone to swelling in warmer weather as this will give you an opportunity to loosen for a better fit.
