By Gretta Monahan
You went to the trouble of remembering to get a pedicure, hemmed and hawed over choosing the polish color, sat still in the chair for an hour and ponied up the cash. So now are you seriously going to cover up those pretty tootsies all summer? No way. This is the season of toe-baring shoes — from super cute sandals on the beach and fun flip-flops by the pool to cocktail parties and even the office (think polished espadrilles and ladylike heels).
What sets off almost any toe color better than a metallic? For that effect, I love the Daybird Mini Wedge by Free People ($78 at zappos.com). With just a sliver of a rise, it wears almost more like a sculpted slide — one of this season’s biggest trends. They’re tough enough to take on a sandy picnic on the dunes, but are also cool enough to show off on an evening out in the city.
Speaking of showing off a little, it’s tough to beat the looks of envy you’ll get when you step out of the pool into a pair of Chanel’s patent leather slides in a Caribbean blue turquoise. Adorned with a Chanel emblem, they’re admittedly a splurge ($750 at chanel.com), but the statement they make — especially when you set their gorgeous blue against toes painted in bright coral or hot, hot pink — is worth every penny.
On the higher side of things, wedges are everywhere this season. And for darn good reason. We spend a good amount of our summers at garden parties, music festivals, on the beach and at outdoor weddings … who wants to traipse around with spindly heels that sink into the ground in seconds? So do yourself a favor and get yourself the Damita Wedge from Michael by Michael Kors ($99 at zappos.com). It’s basically an espadrille taken up a notch, with great details like the front-zip closure and a pedi-enhancing peep-toe. Meanwhile, the rope wrapping around the one-inch platform and the four-inch heel keep things summer casual, but also give you the height and comfort you need for almost any kind of day — including one spent at the office. Get them in rich tan suede — guaranteed to match most of your summer outfits — or go big with the mimosa weave, a bright orange statement hue.
Boho chic reigns supreme when you slip on the Annabelle Embellished Wedge Sandals by Mountain Sole ($59.99 at target.com). With their glammed-up crystal beaded thong, they’re a pretty addition to either a maxi dress or midi sundress, and equally fabulous casually tossed on with denim.
Boho gets even funkier — and downright psychedelic — when you slide on the Paradise Leather Platform Flip Flops by ESXRD ($85 on matchesfashion.com). Of course you can rock their brighter-than-bright, rainbow-striped tall platform at the beach, but they’re also far too cool not to also be worn around town with shorts or a miniskirt — the better to put the spotlight on them, and on an equally bright orange or electric yellow polish that they’d complement.
And before you start thinking that toe-baring styles are banned from most formal offices, consider the case of the Charv Sandal by Ted Baker London in “Painted Rose” ($194.95 at nordstrom.com). Sure, they’re proper enough for a wedding and pulled-together enough to pair with a casual pant or suit, but they’re also whimsically fun. With a luscious floral pattern, they’re like wearing a garden on your feet — even if you have to be at your desk all day.
