Summer Sandals: Style Trends and Foot Health Tips from Experts

According to trend analyst Angela Baidoo, the season’s most fashionable flip-flops feature a modest kitten heel that remains easy to slip on and off. Despite the style boost, she acknowledges that traditional flat flip-flops lack adequate arch and joint support, prompting some consumers to seek customized versions. Podiatrist Helen Branthwaite, chief clinical adviser at the Royal College of Podiatry, clarifies that the problem arises when people replace structured footwear with flimsy flip-flops too frequently, which can over-stress the foot and cause it to spread.

She likens the effect to removing a corset after prolonged wear. To balance fashion with foot health, Baidoo recommends supportive flip-flops like FitFlop, orthopaedic Crocs favored by Gen Z, Birkenstock sandals, wooden clogs, Scholl slider mules, and wedges that provide ankle stability. She also mentions fisherman-style sandals as a smarter alternative to casual flip-flops. Branthwaite adds that minimalist barefoot shoes should be introduced gradually, and she offers practical foot-care tips such as checking sole material, monitoring foot condition, moisturizing daily, and getting feet measured regularly.