Shoe of the Season: Sandals
WE might be late to the party, but we predict that sandals will be the shoe of choice for 2022.
We noticed this at the few dinner parties we’ve gone to through the latter part of the year, where both the men and the women wore flat sandals made with minimal fuss. The open-toed shoe has become an easy way to delineate the world inside and outside: one wears comfortable slippers at home, but we don’t see the point in wearing loafers for the short and infrequent grocery run, to sign for deliveries in the lobby, or to welcome the very small number of guests for a short dinner party. It’s dressing up your feet — without actually doing so. Some resort towns in the country have also begun to open up, and no other shoe feels right.
BIRKENSTOCK
We’re starting off with the basic Arizona, which has seen a resurgence thanks to a Gen Z penchant for ’90s nostalgia. The sandal, which has gone through the waves of geek to chic over the years, has been seen on the feet of the Jenner sisters, as well as on a host of other models.
HERMÈS
The Oran sandal from the brand that brought you the most coveted handbags in the world (both the Kelly and the Birkin) is a relatively easy way to gain access to the Hermès experience. Running at a little above $600 (P29,927.87 at our last check), the sandal is made of a flat leather sole, with a strap running across it shaped like the Hermès H. It’s turned into a uniform for the wealthy set to show that they are off-duty.
BOTTEGA VENETA
The Italian brand’s high-heeled Lido, which came out in 2019, has a more casual little sister. The Bottega Veneta Lido, made of soft lambskin, has a rubber-injected leather sole, and is made with the brand’s signature Intrecciato woven pattern. It’s been seen on celebrities such as Rihanna, and the Jenner-Kardashian sisters.
CHRISTIAN DIOR
Christian Dior is slowly becoming an icon of luxurious ease: case in point, the very casual Dior Book Tote, covered in the brand’s oblique pattern. The bag can have a matching shoe for that (expensive) lazy day look: the Dior Dway Slide, with the brand’s name running across the embroidered cotton strap. The leather insole is made with matte leather, while the rubber sole is engraved with a star, the founder’s lucky symbol. The shoe has been seen on local celebrities such as Heart Evangelista. — JLG
