Yes, summer 2022 has proven to be a scorcher. But you needn’t resort to flip-flops to keep feet cool. Instead, do as the Spanish have done since before the end of the Reconquista and slip into a pair of espadrilles.
From medieval times, espadrilles have served as peasant footwear in Spain and France’s Basque regions. It’s easy to understand their appeal from a pre-Industrial Revolution standpoint: Traditionally built with a cotton canvas upper and a roped sole, the easily and inexpensively made espadrille was the sneaker of its time.
Of course, much has changed since the shoe was most likely to be found on the feet of Catalonian shepherds. The style was first picked up on the fashion radar in 1948, when Lauren Bacall sported a pair in the tropical noir flick Key Largo. The shoe was soon adopted by the post-war jet set and elevated to high fashion by Yves Saint Laurent.
Today the espadrille is as relevant as ever, and available in a wide array of interpretations. Somewhere between a loafer and a sandal, the design is a smart-casual summer staple. From wallet-friendly classic canvas executions to stylistic mashups to elevated suede numbers you can wear to a wedding without hesitation (so long as a body of water is in sight), these are the best espadrilles for our moment in the sun.
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Zegna Valencia Suede Espadrilles
Image Credit: MyTheresa Borrowing the penny bar of classic loafers, Zegna smartens up the beachy classic. Similarly, the stitching and finishing are rendered as finely as on any pair of formal shoes—an espadrille that wears its origins lightly.
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Soludos Original Dali Espadrilles
Image Credit: Soludos Soludos’s espadrilles lean into the style’s French heritage with Rivera-ready cabana stripes on their cotton-canvas upper. The timeless tricolor combo of red, white and blue will work with everything from denim to linen trousers.
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Frescobol Carioca Helio Espadrilles
Image Credit: Frescobol Carioca The humble espadrille luxes up in a combination of buttery black leather and suede—just pair with a linen shirt and wide-legged trousers for a soigné date night ensemble.
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Drake’s Herringbone Cotton Espadrilles
Image Credit: Drake's Espadrilles may be most closely associated with seaside pursuits, but Drake’s gives the style a dose of utilitarian ruggedness in military green cotton herringbone.
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Manebí Traveler Backless Loafers
Image Credit: Matches Espadrille-focused brand Manebí marries Italian design with Spanish hand-craftsmanship, yielding stylish riffs on the classic form. Case in point: this pair of backless mules with an elegant apron toe.
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Saint Laurent Canvas Espadrilles
Image Credit: Mr Porter Summer is the time to dress with irreverence, and Saint Laurent’s leopard print espadrilles are just the thing for adding a stylish wink to your go-to jeans and tees.
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Santoni Monk-Strap Suede Espadrilles
Image Credit: MyTheresa Put some sprezz in your step with Santoni’s rakish mash-up of double-monks and espadrilles. If you’re doubting whether jute soles can be office-appropriate, these are your answer.
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Orlebar Brown Fleet Towelling Espadrilles
Image Credit: Orlebar Brown The perfect pool shoe does not exist…or at least it didn’t until Orlebar Brown ingeniously paired absorbent terrycloth uppers to a classic roped sole (with a rubber bottom for added protection against slips). Team them with a tan and your favorite swim trunks.
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Ralph Lauren Purple Label Bosworth Espadrilles
Image Credit: Ralph Lauren If Gatsby partied in Ibiza, he would undoubtedly slide into these. Crisp white canvas, supple calfskin lining and an elegant squared toe all combine in an espadrille that can easily be paired with lightweight summer suits.
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Anderson & Sheppard Velvet Espadrilles
Image Credit: Anderson & Sheppard What to wear for a black-tie wedding on the beach? We suggest these Spanish-made slip-ons by the Savile Row tailoring firm Anderson & Sheppard. The velvet adds just enough formality to traditional jute soles, and the range of colors—from jungle green to hot pink and this petrol blue—offer plenty of personality.
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Fear of God Espadrille Sneakers
Image Credit: Saks Fifth Avenue Whether or not these Fear of God shoes qualify as espadrilles is debatable, but one thing is certain: Their sleek rubber wedge soles fortify a decidedly beachy upper for pounding the city streets. Try them on your next commute and thank us later.
