The summer season is a great time to sport a pair of sandals. Sandals date back to ancient times, but, of course, back then, they weren’t as stylish as they are today. They were used by many people, especially in warm areas such as Egypt, the Roman Empire and Greece and were a good thing to wearing during the summer. It seems that some things never change…

A great pair of sandals can go a very long way: both literally and figuratively speaking. The trick is to know what to look for when you are buying a new pair of sandals, regardless of your personal style, budget and preferred brand.

Let’s take a look at the 3 main things you should consider when you want to purchase a new pair of sandals:

 

 

1. Style and setting

The style of your sandals is strongly correlated to the setting in which you want to wear them. Usually, sandals are worn only in casual environments, it is not recommended to wear them at semi-formal or business events (not to mention formal events).

However, even casual settings have different degrees of casualness: a few hours spent at the beach are more casual than a night in a club at the seaside.

Therefore, different style elements determine what options are more or less appropriate for a certain setting:

 

The type of sandal is the first thing you should look out for! The more a sandal covers your foot, the dressier it is. Sandals that resemble flip flops are basically to be kept only for the beach, the pool or something similar. Sandals that cover your feet more are great for dinner or for travel.

 

The material of your sandals is also a good indicator as of where you should wear them. Leather and suede sandals are on the dressier side, while plastic sandals and fabric sandals are on the casual end of the occasion spectrum.

 

The color of your sandals is also essential: Brighter colors, patterns and prints are usually more casual than solid, darker colors. Of course, light colors such as white, light gray or ivory can be very dressy as well. When you are choosing the color of your sandals, always make sure that you incorporate them in the overall colors scheme of your outfit.

Also, speaking of colors and shoes in general, a very important fashion rule is to match your shoes to your belt. Of course, with casual outfits this is not always mandatory, but a perfect match does give you more structure. As you know, a more structured look is a more harmonious, balanced and pleasing look.

 

 

2. Geography and Climate

This might sound a little odd, but the climate in which you will be wearing your sandals and the geography of the place are a thing to consider when buying sandals.

 

The geography is an essential thing to consider. To give you a concrete example, sandals that fasten very tightly are not very appropriate for a mountainous area: if a small rock gets in them, since the sandals are very tightly fastened, it won’t be able to come out and it will simply bother you.

On the other hand, sandals that expose too much of our feet are also not a great choice for mountainous areas, as they allow rocks and sticks to easily enter in them and hurt you. Something medium is the best choice in this case.

Let’s take a look at a second example, related to beach sandals this time: While almost every type of sandals go with a sandy environment, a pair of sandals that feature braiding or many details might get their style altered because of all the sand that enters these small details and cannot get out.

 

The climate is another very important factor you should consider when buying sandals. If you live in a very rainy area, rubber sandals might be a better choice than canvas or suede sandals, which once wet, will have a hard time drying.

Also, in dry areas, sandals made from certain materials such as plastic, because of the heat, might become uncomfortable.

For all purposes, leather sandals are the best choice.

 

 

3. Budget

Your budget is a crucial thing when it comes to buying sandals. If you are on a budget, you should definitely consider investing in a more expensive pair of sandals. This might sound like a paradox: why should you spend more if you are on a budget?  The answer is that purchasing a cheaper pair of sandals, which you are only going to wear only a few times until they go bad is going to cost more in the long run than a pair that is more expensive. When you are buying clothes and accessories, you should always have the cost/wear ratio in mind. The cost/wear ratio refers to the price of an item divided by the estimated number of wears – the lower the result, the better. To give you an example, if you buy a pair of sandals that cost $160, if you wear it 1000 times, the cost/wear ratio is $0.16 (160/1000), which is a very good ratio. However, if you purchase a pair that costs only $20, but that you only wear 3 times, the cost/wear ratio is going to be $6.6 (20/3), which is a lot for a pair of sandals.

Better quality pieces are often more expensive, but they are worth the investment, as you are paying for better materials, better craftsmanship and better style. Buying a high-quality pair of sandals will ensure you that they will last for a long time, that they will maintain their shape, color and structure and that your feet will feel very comfortable. If you see no reason why pair of sandals costs a lot, then skip it and go to the next pair.

 

 

If you know how to make a great choice regarding your sandals, you will have great style and comfort experiences wearing your sandals this summer. Moreover, you will be able to enjoy your sandals for very many years to come.

 

 

Fraquoh and Franchomme

 

 

 

 

 

Further reading:

Guy sandals

15 shoes facts

P.S. What are your criteria for buying sandals?  What type of sandals do you wear? Share your feedback, questions or thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook or Twitter!