Prediction: These Cult Sandals Will Be the #1 Summer Shoe Choice for Fashion People This Year

Over the past few years, we have seen a shift toward practicality in fashion, and this is seen most acutely with footwear. Fashion brands have for several seasons been bringing us sturdy, responsible shoes—the kind of styles that you'd try to run away from when finding shoes at Clarks in year six. Think T-bar loafers, chunky lace-ups and—what we're talking about today—fisherman sandals.

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(Image credit: @FRANCESCASAFFARI)

Francesca keeps it easy-breezy with denim city shorts and a vest for warmer days.

But first, the history of the fisherman sandal. The Row and Gabriela Hearst are adored for their discreet take on luxury fashion, and although both tend to shy away from anything too flashy or trend-driven, they have a habit of dictating the silhouettes that we'll be gravitating towards. Both brands created beautiful caged leather sandals in both ivory and black, making humble fisherman sandals the most sought-after sandals back in 2021, and their impact continues to this day. Like Tevas, their appeal is that they are practical walking shoes and will go with almost any outfit.

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(Image credit: Brittany Bathgate)

Brittany wears hers with a classic white cotton midi dress.

Both designer styles have been yo-yoing in and out of stock for the past few years. However, the silhouette has finally reached the high street in far greater volumes than when the sandal trend first came around. There are fantastic versions at the likes of Zara and M&S, as well as independent brands such as Russell & Bromley. Although cheaper options do abound, I would recommend looking out for real leather as they'll last longer. Keep scrolling to shop our edit of the best pairs at every price point.

The Best Fisherman Sandals to Wear No Matter the Season:

1. The Row Fisherman Sandal, £1060
2. Marks & Spencer Wide Fit Suede Fisherman Sandals, £50
3. Russell & Bromley Siracuse Sandals, £275
4. Reformation Freya Fisherman Sandals, £248
5. Zara Cage Sandals, £28

Shop the Best Fisherman Sandals:

How Celebs and Street Style Stars Wear Their Fisherman Sandals

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Monochrome

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Hailey Bieber nails the slick city look with white and off-white pairings, all punctuated with black accessories and gold hardware.

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Colder Climates

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As much as it pains me to discuss tights at this time of year, this is the UK after all so those days may be closer than we like to admit. I love this charcoal grey with mid-denier legs!

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Trench Business

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Hailey's look is perfect for warm days and cooler nights with rolled-top socks and her go-to black fishermans.

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Prep Style

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Ahead of the fisherman sandal shopping below, these Prada get the school playground upgrade with smart pulled up socks.

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Cosy Knits

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I love the rolled down socks and loose-fitting knits of this look. Knitwear heaven!

This story was published at an earlier time and has since been updated.

Emma Spedding
Freelance Fashion Editor

Emma is a freelance fashion editor with over 15 years experience in industry, having worked at The Telegraph, Grazia and, most recently, British Vogue. Emma was part of the founding team of Who What Wear UK, where she worked for six years as Deputy Editor and then Editor—helping shape the team into what it is today is one of the biggest privileges of her career and she will always see herself as a Who What Wear girl, contributing to both the US and UK sites. Whether she's writing about runway trends or spotlighting emerging brands, she aims to write about fashion in a way that is democratic and doesn't promote over consumption.