20+ Best Flip-Flops for Summer 2026
From minimalist flats to playful jellies, shop summer’s very best styles.
Reported by Vogue.
Flip-flops have completed their full redemption arc. What once triggered a very particular kind of fashion snobbery has officially crossed into chic territory — and not in a "so ugly it's cool" way. The thong sandal is having a genuine, editor-approved, runway-validated moment, according to Vogue, and the evidence is stacking up fast.
Credit where it's due: The Row built the foundation. Their stripped-back, grosgrain slip-ons became the unlikely it-shoe of the last two summers, spotted on Zoë Kravitz, Jennifer Lawrence, and Kendall Jenner doing absolutely nothing more glamorous than running errands. Meanwhile, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley made the case for a chunkier silhouette — white denim, leather funnel-neck jacket, chunky thong sandal — and made it look completely effortless. The formula works because it's supposed to look unbothered.
Every Budget, One Trend
The accessibility factor is a real part of this story. The Row's grosgrain styles are an investment, but Tkees and Staud both deliver sleek, polished options under $300. For the trend-forward crowd, Ancient Greek Sandals is leaning deep into the jelly and PVC revival this season — nostalgic, yes, but done with enough restraint to feel fresh rather than costume-y. And if flat isn't your thing, Le Monde Béryl, Aeyde, and Christopher Esber are all offering sculptural wedge variations that give you the flip-flop energy with actual lift.
Styling-wise, the range is genuinely wide: a white poplin skirt at the office, a slip dress for a hot night out, or strictly reserved for your next vacation. The flip-flop's power is that it refuses to be precious about where it goes. It also didn't hurt that thong sandals made a commanding appearance on men's spring 2025 runways, cementing the shoe's cross-market relevance and signaling that this isn't a one-season blip.
The flip-flop is no longer the shoe you apologize for — it's the one you style with intention and wear without explanation.
Read the original at Vogue.
