The Fisherman Sandal Is the Rare Summer Shoe That Actually Does It All

Summer shoes were a constant fashion problem I tried to solve. My feet get hot easily, I walk a lot, and I don’t like having my feet feel too exposed either. I’m a total Goldilocks when it comes to finding an everyday summer sandal: too sporty, too beachy, too dressy, too minimalist, too maximalist. And anything that caused any kind of friction at all was out of the question.

But once a pair of fisherman sandals came into my lap—a pair of white Tod’s ones from about five years back—I realized this was the perfect versatile sandal for me. While a fisherman sandal in New England could read a little “on the nose,” I found they looked good with pretty much anything I wanted to pair them with, and they were supremely comfortable. Like any shoe I become fixated on, I wore them into the ground. Time for a new victim!

The next pair I locked in on is the sweetest pink fisherman-style from Sabah. Known for their supremely comfortable babouche slippers, I was excited to take them for a spin and am thrilled to report the sandals certainly hold up over 10k steps, especially with high-arched feet. While we’re just getting started in warm-weather dressing, I’ve already worn them with a denim skirt in late spring, and it’s safe to say these sandals are already becoming a mainstay in my summer wardrobe. Here are some ways I’ve been wearing them.

Fisherman Sandals With Dresses and Capris

I loved pairing this super-short Christy Dawn dress with an old pair of Alaïa capri pants and the fisherman sandals, which made me feel like an extra in Mamma Mia! in the best way possible. I polished it all up with an old Hermès belt and Alaïa bucket bag for a look that feels like a fun combo for vacation dressing or a summer weekend brunch with the girls.

Fisherman Sandals With an Unconventional Sweatsuit

Mixing and matching a sweats look with different silhouettes—short sleeves or maybe sleeveless on top, and a wider or flared leg on the bottom—and colors was a fun way to prioritize warmth and comfort for easy summer mornings with my fisherman sandals. Not a traditional sweatsuit, these Junya Watanabe striped looped terry cotton sweat “pants” are supremely comfortable with a vintage short-sleeved sweatshirt I’ve had for about ten years, but the combination looks a little more pulled together than a full sweatsuit. The pop of pink in the fisherman sandals, paired with a graphic striped Sacai bag, sealed the deal.

Fisherman Sandals With Socks

Colorblocking is my ultimate style hack. It can make very ordinary basics feel a bit extraordinary just by being bold with the combination. This time, I did pink, red, brown, and purple, anchored by a classic pair of jeans, and it felt great. The finishing touch was a pair of red socks with the pink fisherman sandals, and I looked like a Valentine come to life—without worrying about when my last pedicure was. Highly suggest this trick!