Everyone loves a 90s trend revival as it allows for unique self-expression and puts emphasis on personal style.
One fashion staple from the Decade of Grunge that has recently come back around is the ‘ugly sandal,’ and fashion enthusiasts are now sporting platform flip flops, open-back clogs, fisherman sandals, or hippie slides as they add a relaxed feel to any type of outfit.
Earlier this year, celebrities like Kendall Jenner, BTS member Suga, and Emma Watson have all been spotted wearing 90s-inspired sandals, looking cool and effortlessly stylish in their comfy footwear. This proves that some trends are well worth repeating, so if you need to refresh your look, here are some chic ways to wear the ugly sandal trend.
Pair Them with Minimalist, Quality Basics
To look amazing in platform flip flops or Birkenstock sandals, you’ll need to match your footwear with simple but high-quality basics for a clean and polished aesthetic. For instance, ladies can wear their platform flip flops with linen trousers and a matching vest, or a stretchy or satin midi skirt and a fitted t-shirt. This type of footwear also works well with a dress, but to keep it sleek and chic, avoid wearing dresses with loud prints or colours. Instead, choose a simple tank dress in black, beige, grey, chocolate brown, or olive green, and wear it with your sandals to create a stylish outfit that works for walking around the city, grocery shopping, or brunch with friends.
Men who’d like to explore this trend can try wearing Birkenstocks with chino shorts and a plain button down shirt for a classic look. Simple and unfussy pieces such as a well-fitting plain t-shirt and a pair of relaxed fit jeans with no rips, holes, or distressing will also look great when worn with sandals. The key is to keep the rest of your outfit clean and minimalist to elevate the relaxed nature of your footwear.
Add Accessories
Accessories like a watch, jewellery, a bag, and a hat are essential for any outfit, even more so if you’re wearing casual footwear. However, don’t just grab some random accessories as you still need to give it some thought if you plan to try the ugly sandal trend. For example, if you’re wearing a plain dress with Birkenstock Bostons or fisherman sandals, don’t complete your look with a structured handbag. Instead, choose a soft, slouchy leather tote such as the ones from Madewell, Loewe, or Polene, or perhaps a day-to evening woven leather bag, like the Bottega Veneta Andiamo.
As for jewellery, opt for delicate pieces, such as a pendant necklace on a fine chain and a few dainty layered bracelets. If you want to add a statement piece, don’t go for jewellery with multicoloured stones. Instead, choose an asymmetric gold or silver wave cuff, or a pair of gold dome-shaped earrings.
Wear Them In Cool Weather
Think it’s time to retire your sandals once the weather turns crisp and the leaves start changing colours? If you add a pair of socks, you can keep your feet toasty and still look stylish while wearing sandals during the fall season. Open-back clogs and suede slides look great when worn with a pair of neutral coloured, cozy knitted socks, so have a few to wear in autumn. Pair this combo with a leather jacket and cuffed jeans to show off your footwear.
If you’d rather not wear socks, choose sandals made of a cozy material to keep your feet warm. Think of a pair of Birkenstock Bostons that’s lined with shearling all over, or the Uggs Scuffette which has a suede upper and a sheepskin collar. For a designer option, there’s the Fayence shearling sandals by Jimmy Choo, and leather-trimmed shearling slides from Miu Miu.
The ugly sandal is back in style, so why not embrace this comfy footwear trend? Style it with minimalist pieces, add the right accessories, and wear it from spring to fall to add an easygoing flair to your aesthetic.
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