The Embellished Sandals We’re Loving for Summer 2026—From Sequined and Beaded to Netted

Reported by Vogue.

Sequins at noon. Beading on a Tuesday. This summer, the case for embellished flat sandals goes well beyond the golden hour — and the runways made sure of it. According to Vogue, decorative footwear ranked among the dominant trends on the spring/summer 2026 circuit, with floral appliqués landing at Dior and Proenza Schouler, and disco-ready sequins surfacing at Dries Van Noten, Prada, and Chloé. The message was hard to miss: more glitter, more intention, more fun.

From Resort to Reality

What makes this moment different from every other "statement shoe" cycle is the flatness of it. These aren't stilettos demanding a special occasion — they're sandals that slot into the actual fabric of your summer. Vogue's own Resort Wear shoot demonstrated the range: sequined and netted styles worn alongside vacation dresses and poplin skirts, looking just as at home on a city sidewalk as on a sun-soaked terrace. The embellishment is the outfit's punctuation, not its entire sentence.

The brands delivering this season — Staud, Tory Burch, Ancient Greek Sandals, Le Monde Béryl, Jimmy Choo — each approach the trend with a different hand. Le Monde Béryl's powder-blue T-strap reads as quietly elevated next to a white dress; Jimmy Choo's bead-covered styles add texture to linen without overwhelming it. The throughline: a decorated flat sandal has an almost contradictory ability to dress a casual look up while simultaneously loosening a polished one.

And with wedding and event season in full rotation, these are your best defense against a painful shoe situation. Slip them under a sweeping maxi or let them peek out beneath a sleek matching set — they earn their place at the reception, the rooftop, and everywhere in between. None of this means retiring your clean, minimalist '90s-inspired pairs, either. Summer dressing has always been about coexistence — the pared-back and the playful sharing the same closet without apology.

If the runways are right — and this time, they feel genuinely wearable — the embellished flat sandal is less a trend than a summer essential: the finishing touch that costs you nothing in comfort and gives everything in character.

Read the original at Vogue.