I Put 7 Designer Sandals to the Test to Find the Pairs Worth Investing In

Summer is well under way now, which means the switch from spring loafers and ballet flats to open-toe sandals has officially happened. In fact, a great pair of sandals is the one summer wardrobe item I try to invest in each year. When you know you're going to get so much wear out of something it's never a bad idea to buy better quality. Unlike a floaty mini dress that may only be useful during flash heatwaves in the UK, sandals can actually take you all the way from spring through to autumn. A slick new pair will instantly make any simple jeans and T-shirt or last year's dresses feel fresh and exciting.

For a long time I was a Birkenstock Arizona purist—and they've never let me down—but this year I wanted my summer looks to feel more polished and grown up. So, I've set aside some savings to invest in a really beautiful luxury pair that I can dress up and down all summer. To help me decide which pair, I recently ordered a selection of the best designer sandals to try on and put to the test.

I wanted to know which sandals were more than just a pretty face. I've never been one to save my investment purchases for best so I still need to be able to walk in them, whether that's rushing to and fro in London or patting around a pretty little Greek village on holiday. Blisters and bleeding heels are not the one, so of course I took comfort into account when passing judgement. I also considered wearability, versatility and longevity—all factors that, for me, set apart the smart investments from the silly ones.

How I Tested the Best Designer Sandals

I may not have been able to leave the house in these pairs so that I could return the styles I didn't love, but I went to town in front of my mirror, trying each with all sorts of different outfits—from jeans to dresses. I walked back and forth and up and down stairs to work out which sandals stayed on, which straps dug in and which felt like tying a pillow to my feet (read on below to find out!) I tried on cult pairs from The Row, timeless styles from Saint Laurent, 90-year old French pairs and more modern classics. There are styles you can wear to weddings, to the pool, to dinners, to work and some that would work for all of the above. All the while voicenoting myself so I remembered every detail to report back to you.

Luckily for you guys, Who What Wear editors are not ones to gatekeep, and you know we love sharing our hero buys to help you make your best purchases of the year as well. With my twelve years working in the industry as a fashion editor and stylist, I can tell you I have extremely high standards when putting things like this to the test. So, if you're also considering investing in a gorgeous pair of designer sandals this summer, or you're simply nosy and want to find out which pair I ended up keeping (no judgement here!), keep scrolling to find my review of seven of the best luxury sandals to buy in 2025.

What Should I Look for In a Designer Sandal?

Before we get into it, let's just quickly talk through what, in my expert opinion, you should be looking for when shopping for designer sandals. Firstly it needs to be a pair that you truly love, regardless of current trends. This will ensure you always want to pull them on every day, summer after summer, meaning better cost per wear value. Secondly, in a similar vein, I'd suggest sticking with the classics. Avoiding any kitschy cult buys and instead leaning towards leather sandals in neutral colours will mean your chic sandals are still totally relevant next summer too.

Focusing on fit comes next. Look out for any sticking points when you first try them on—do they rub in between the toes, or catch your heel in just the wrong place? Yes, some leather styles can be a little stiff at first and just need wearing in but if there's something about the fit that really doesn't feel right for your feet (we're all different after all) it's likely they'll never be comfortable enough to pound the pavements on repeat.

Finally, it should go without saying when shopping for luxury sandals that making sure the quality is up to standard is extremely important. Keep scrolling and you'll see this is why I back the designer sandals I tried on below. Saint Laurent's suede is buttery soft and totally luxurious, for example, and K Jacques St Tropez have been using the same design process to make their anti-trend sandals locally in the French Riviera since 1933.

1. Saint Laurent Tribute Woven Suede Slides

My Review: As you might expect from a Saint Laurent sandal, this pair felt like true luxury on my feet. I instantly felt more elegant once I'd slipped into these babies. The interwoven tribute design was first launched back in 2009 and has since gained icon status, spawning many a high street dupe. So you can have confidence in this investment, knowing the style will still feel relevant and luxurious over many summers to come. While the overall design is classic, the suede finish on these made them feel very 2025, as it seems suede accessories are all anyone wants to wear right now.

I tried these on with a simple black Dôen dress here, but they looked equally good with a pair of cropped jeans, t-shirt and blazer, elevating a basic outfit to polished status instantly. They'd be a great sandal to wear to work or important meetings if you need to look smart, and they feel quite dressy for evenings too. Of course, if you prefer a slightly more heardwearing sandal I'd probably opt for the leather version instead, which would be just as elegant but more likely to survive any surprise summer rain showers.

In terms of fit, I have quite wide feet and I do think, due to the fact the straps sit quite close to the toes on the widest part of the foot, that they would probably suit a thinner foot best. I don't think there's any chance of the leather rubbing whatever your foot shape though, as they felt buttery soft to slip on. I'm usually between a size 36 and 37—here I'm wearing a 37 (UK 4) and there was still room at the heel so I'd probably try the half size down to get the perfect fit before taking the plunge.

Best Designer Sandals For: Total luxury, and those with thin feet

Shop Saint Laurent's Tribute Woven Suede Slides:

2. The Row Dune Flip Flops

My Review: £670 for a pair of flip flops? I hear you say. Well, yes. When they come from The Row what else would you expect? In fact, compared to the brand's previous pairs of cult sandals, which come in over £1k, these new rubber and cotton sandals are practically a "steal". Would they be a worthy investment though? If you're looking for a sandal that says you are 'in the know', ahead of the curve and a true fashion person, then these are the pair for you. Only your most stylish friends will be able to decipher these from your bog standard black rubber thongs, but that's kind of the point. The Row truly encapsulates quiet luxury, with no logos or identifying features in sight. The right person would, in fact, know that these unassuming flip flops have, since their recent launch, been spotted on the biggest celebs, from Hailey Bieber to the Olsen twins themselves, and are set for sandal superstardom in 2025.

So, what do they wear like? Well, they were definitely comfy—I'd need more time to discover whether the soft fabric straps rubbed in between the toes, but I imagine it wouldn't take long for them to mould to your feet. They're cool and classic at the same time, made to be nonchalantly thrown on with a pair of tailored trousers as easily as denim shorts, and instantly make your outfits look on trend. They feel like quite a good city sandal (The Olsens have been wearing them all around New York) as they're not too delicate, but the base is rubber so I'm not sure how hardwearing they would be to last beyond one season of repeat wears without looking tired. I took a size 36 here (I'm usually between a 36 and 37) and they fit perfectly, so I suggest sizing down if you're between.

Best Designer Sandals For: Fashion people

Shop The Row's Dune Flip Flops:

3. A.Emery Kinto Leather Flip Flops

My Review: Spoiler alert, this was the pair I ended up keeping! As someone who likes to balance dipping into trends with classic style, these leather flip flops hit just the right note for me. The thong style feels totally fresh for summer 2025, but the simplicity means they'll stay relevant for years. They felt luxurious thanks to the gorgeous leather, but they actually sit at a great price for designer sandals. In fact, they sit around the same price point as premium high street styles from the likes of Massimo Dutti or Arket, but these feel all together more unique and special. A.Emery is a brand I've bought from before and the quality has been really, really impressive. The one thing I will say is that the sole is quite hard and flat with no cushioning, so I wouldn't suggest these were a great sandal for touristing around a city all day in. They are more of a fashion flip-flop than a practical one, but that's not to say they were uncomfortable for shorter stints at all. I loved how they look with jeans, and the minimalist elevated design is exactly what I've been looking for.

Best Designer Sandals For: Affordable luxury

Shop A.Emery's Leather Flip Flops:

4. K Jacques St Tropez Abako Leather Sandals

My Review: If you're a fan of timeless French style, you probably need to invest in a pair of K Jacques sandals. This heritage brand has been crafting beautiful leather sandals from its St. Tropez home since 1933, and the tiny shop on Rue Henri Seillon in the elegant town has been an essential pit stop for fashion insiders for decades. Talk about CHIC. You won't find this quiet luxury brand bending to trends or cult designs, but you will find classic styles that are made for wearing forever. The suede leather was gorgeously soft and the delicate crossover straps made my wide feet and ankles look elegant—a difficult task. I won't lie I felt extremely classy wearing these.

Best Designer Sandals For: Timeless style

Shop K Jacques St Tropez's Leather Sandals:

5. Aeyde Whit Leather Sandals

My Review: If you've been thinking about investing in a pair of fisherman sandals for the last few summers, these might just be the perfect sandals for you. This multi-strap style still feels like a really cool way of adding a bit of androgynous toughness to pretty summer outfits and a cool edge to jeans or shorts outfits. I'm quite petite at 5'2" so I've found chunky fisherman sandals that I've tried in the past to feel quite heavy, pulling the eye down to my shorter legs rather than elongating them. However, this pair are much more streamlined, hugging the shape of the foot without adding any extra bulk, and I really liked that about them. The leather is beautiful and luxe, although I do think it might take some wearing in around the ankle before it moulds to your foot.

A fisherman style is the perfect transitional sandal, so you can guarantee a lot of wear from these—they won't look out of place in the earliest days of spring and latest days of autumn. I loved the chocolate brown option that I tried, which felt less heavy than a traditional black and more easy to wear throughout the entire summer. I tried a size 36.5 here and found them to fit perfectly so I would say they are true to size.

Best Designer Sandals For: Trans-seasonal wear.

Shop Aeyde's Whit Leather Fisherman Sandals:

6. A.Emery Jalen Slim Leather Sandals

My Review: If you like your sandals to feel like walking on clouds, head to the checkout with A.Emery's Jalen sandals immediately. These were the comfiest sandals I've ever tried in my life. The foot bed moulds to and hugs your feet, giving them the love they deserve. The base also feels a little cushioned, so I can imagine walking 10,000 steps around any European city in these without blinking an eye. In fact, Who What Wear's SEO writer Ava Gilchrest did just that last summer and reported back to me on her blister-less love for this exact pair.

The original Jalen style actually comes with wider straps, and while I've seen so many stylish fashion people sporting them on Instagram, I was deterred by how chunky and heavy they might look on my petite frame and small feet. So, when I saw this slimline Jalen style which has slightly thinner straps, I knew I'd hit the sandal jackpot. I feel like they hit just the right balance of toughness while still flattering my foot and shorter legs.

I also love how timeless these sandals feel—while they are still definitively cool and stylish, there's nothing tying them to a specific season or year so you can enjoy pulling these out of the cupboard time and again. The chunky soles and strong leather straps won't wear down easily either.

Best Designer Sandals For: Comfort and longevity

Shop A.Emery's Jalen Sandals:

7. Emme Parsons Laurie Embellished Leather Sandals

My Review: I adored the look of these sandals when I saw them recently on stylist Angie Smith (one of my favourite people to turn to for fashion advice), so I had to include them in my order. In fact, I've had my eye on this luxury sandal brand since I saw Meghan Markle wearing a pair a few summers ago—I thought the metal toe detailing was really unique, not to mention quite elevated and chic. I was really excited to try them, and while I did love the look of them I have to admit they weren't the comfiest of sandals. As you might expect the metal ring in between your toes takes some getting used to. The squishy circular straps are really comfy, though. I ordered a size 37 and struggled to keep the back strap up on my heels so ou may wish to size down (side note: I've since learned that the strap can go over the top of the foot too, which may allow for a better fit). If you're looking for a smart sandal that looks the part, that you can dress up and down and wear in and out of the car or a taxi, then I can recommend these. If practicality is more your M.O., then you'd be better sticking to one of the styles above!

Best Designer Sandals For: Elegant style

Shop Emme Parsons' Laurie Embellished Leather Sandals:

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