I’m a Fashion Person, and These 10 Sandals From $40 Are Guaranteed to Elevate Any Outfit

Including cool-girl flip-flops and minimalist styles.

As someone who hails from the barely-there winters of Australia and New Zealand, sandals are my happy place. Too many months of the year in New York are dominated by thoughts of how my jeans and trousers and dresses could feel that much cooler, if only I could swap out my weather-practical footwear with the negative space of something strappy. Disagree with me if you dare—I am extremely prepared to present a thesis on why sandals make all my outfits better. (Excerpts below.)

In some—much-needed, let’s be honest!—good news, things have finally warmed up enough for it to truly be sandal season, and this summer’s styles were worth the wait. If you happen to be a fellow fan of chic flat footwear, things get even better: From trending flip-flops to classic slides, there’s no shortage of easy, breezy, highly wearable pairs on offer at the likes of Free People, J.Crew, Madewell, and Nordstrom. We have classic black and white styles, buzzy colors, and plenty of on-trend boho details like studs and snake print. The best part? These expensive-looking summer footwear staples start at just $40.

10 Outfit-Elevating Summer Sandals

Cool-Girl Flip-Flops: Jeffrey Campbell Beach Thong Sandals, $40
Classic, Yet on-Trend: Nordstrom Babette Slide Sandal, $70
The Comfortable Heel: Madewell The Maycie Asymmetric T-Strap Sandals, $128
Slingbacks That Don’t Slip: Steve Madden Libra Slingback Sandal, $70
Wear-on-Repeat: Free People Island Hopping Wrap Sandals, $98
Studded Details: Vicenza Perth Studded Thong Sandals, $108
Summer Suede: Nordstrom Sydney Ankle Strap Sandal, $50 (Originally $80)
Sure to Sell Out: Tkees X J.Crew Limited-edition Jelly Sandals, $90
Perfectly Minimalist: Dolce Vita Leanna Slide Sandal, $50
Chic and Chocolatey: Jeffrey Campbell Afogatto Decorated Sandals, $90

Jeffrey Campbell Beach Thong Sandals

$40

Mark my words: Low-key red flip-flops are the style of the season. In New Zealand we call them “jandals,” in Australia they call them “thongs” (plenty of room for fun misunderstandings there), but the last few summers have had editors calling them “cool-girl flip-flops” thanks to the onslaught of minimalist designer styles from the likes of The Row and Toteme.

I’d like the record to show that I was a fan of flip-flops long before they were redeemed as “cool” (and occasionally when they were questioned as borderline inappropriate). I shall honor my Kiwi heritage by continuing to wear them, even if the fashion gods attempt to force them back into pedicure-only obscurity—although we should note, there’s absolutely no sign of that happening anytime soon.

Nordstrom Babette Slide Sandal

$70

Okay, maybe it’s because I’ve been listening to the Sex & the City rewatch podcast, Are You a Charlotte?, hosted by Kristen Davis, but the first thing I thought of when I saw these slides was Carrie asking, “Excuse me, Miss Charlotte, what is happening south of your ankles?!” They’re very “minimalist, preppy, ‘90s Charlotte”—in the best possible way. While they’re great in black and white, I’d imagine she would absolutely go for this summery pastel—and I promise you that fashion people this season are nodding in approval at any pop of butter yellow.

Madewell The Maycie Asymmetric T-Strap Sandals

$128

Yes, these may be at the top-end of this under-$130 round-up, but I promise this Khaite-coded pair is very worth it. Firstly, don’t underestimate the value of discovering your go-to heeled sandals. If you happen to have summer weddings on the calendar with dress codes that encourage block heels or flats, let me introduce you to this pair that won’t have you sinking into the lawn. Secondly, snake print isn’t just on-trend, it’s essentially a neutral. These Madewell sandals may come in five other colors, but this is my pick for a non-boring pair we can wear on repeat all summer long.

Steve Madden Libra Slingback Sandal

$70

I love a slingback and a white sandal, which is rather unfortunate for a klutz who is fabulous at getting white things dirty. You can only imagine my delight at discovering this pair of snug-fitting slingback sandals while I was browsing Nordstrom, with just the right amount of elasticity to guarantee the strap stays right on my heel (where it belongs). To avoid the kind of crushing disappointment I’ve experienced in the past, I now have a rule where I’m really only allowed to buy white things if they’re under $100, so the price point is exactly where I needed it to be to snap these up without a second thought.

Below, snag more summer sandals you’ll want to add to your cart this season.