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Of all the topics we cover around this time of year, men's sandals beget the most questions. No matter how many frantic queries on warm weather layering and proper inseam length we field, sandals—where to buy ‘em, how to wear ‘em—routinely dominate the discourse, and to be honest, we’re not exactly sure why.
Maybe it stems from some misbegotten notion of “good taste” (that ol’ killjoy!) you probably should’ve left behind in 2021, or lingering trauma from that one time you caught a glimpse of gramps’ knobby toes on a childhood trip to the Cape. Maybe you just never thought they were for you. Whatever the reason, there’s something about sandals that our otherwise erudite, stylish, and entirely charming readers find perplexing and a little bit infuriating, like a thought experiment you’d rather avoid altogether than even try to contend with. (Was Schrödinger's cat wearing shoes?!)
So for the latest episode of the GQ Recommends Show we decided to nip the inevitable onslaught of puzzled texts/emails/DMs in the bud. Which is why we devoted an inordinate amount of effort to demystifying the style, whittling down the genre into three key categories you should familiarize yourself with and rounding up a few of the very best silhouettes from the biggest names in the biz. Thankfully, you don’t need a passing interest in game theory to follow along; all you need is fifteen minutes of free time and a healthy willingness to finally confront your hang-ups.
Keep scrolling to browse a few of our favorite picks, and then maybe book a pedicure while you’re at it. The only thing you have to fear may very well be fear itself, but then again, FDR never had to worry about winding up on WikiFeet.
Watch The GQ Recommends Show: 3 Sandals You Need to Know About Right Now
1. The Classics
When someone says “sandals" you probably think of these. If you're entirely new to the genre, start here.
2. The Dress Sandals
Because you can't wear brogues to the beach.
3. The Mules
The sandals most likely to crop up in the NBA tunnel this season deserve a spot in your starting lineup too.
