Espadrilles are back — and it’s all down to Kate
HONESTLY, espadrilles are not the hot news of summer 2020.
A few years ago, Castaner ankle-tie espadrilles were high in the fashion charts. But, this summer, if you’re looking for ontrend footwear, that’ll be a variation on the two-strap Birkenstock.
However, saying that, did you see Kate Middleton, the week before last, at a public engagement?
She was wearing a Faithfull The Brand floral print crepe midi dress (just the right side of pretty) and, on her feet, espadrilles with a nude leather toe, jute heel and leather ankle strap.
She looked — at the height of the heatwave — perfect, and a third of the reason for that fashion bullseye was the espadrilles.
Remember Kate running around at that charity polo match in 2018 (in the same espadrilles)? Or on the royal tour of India, when she stood at the cricket wicket in a floaty dress and canvas court espadrilles and whacked the ball for six?
Or at last year’s Chelsea Flower Show, when she wore a long floral, high-necked Erdem dress and tan lace-up wedges?
Over the years, Kate has made espadrilles her trademark, not least because she might at any moment be asked to join in an egg-andspoon race.
But who doesn’t want to wear espadrilles in summer? If there is a better all-round shoe for this season, I’d like to know about it.
No footwear works better on pavement, cobbles, sand, grass or a slippery dance floor, unless it’s a FitFlop, which may have the edge if you’re sightseeing all day, but aesthetically there’s no contest.
ESPADRILLES — the ones with the ankle straps in particular — are very flattering. You can get them in any colour and most heights. Spanish label Castaner does a range of four.
For those of us who worry we might get stuck in trainers or flip-flops for the rest of our lives, they are the easy route back to feminine footwear and, because they’re wedges, leg-lengthening without the impracticality of a heel.
Then there’s the way they soften up formal wear and make it more summery and youthful. So, when Kate is wearing long and smart dresses, but doesn’t want to look too stiff, on go the Carina Castaners with the suede toe (€120, castaner.com).
Stuck for what to wear with a frock to a wedding? Do as Lady Amelia Windsor did last May (it has to be said espadrilles are very popular with the royals) and add a white pair with an ankle strap (€175, penelope
chilvers.com). Meghan prefers black canvas Castaners (€120, castaner.com).
The best espadrille style for this dressing-down, dressingup is one with a leather toe — skip the canvas peep toes and slingbacks — and either an ankle strap (Hobbs do a suede style called Julie in red or navy suede, €105, hobbs.com) or ribbon ties. But beware, ties can look fussy and heavy.
Speaking as a fan of all espadrilles, I keep my ankle ties for holidays and wear them with an ankle-grazing skirt, so it’s not all about the ribbons.
Also, in my experience, you’re much more likely to wear any espadrille if it’s a 60mm wedge or less. The best of the bunch are Castaner’s Carina 60mm canvas espadrilles (€95, matches
fashion.com), the original wedge style made in 1970 for Yves Saint Laurent.
Don’t be afraid to get them in cream (it goes with everything). If you want to be able to run in them, try the Carina 30mm.
My favourites are by Penelope Chilvers (not cheap, but happily on sale). The Mary Jane in pewter leather (€99,
penelopechilvers.com) is top of my wish list along with the (too-high-but-nevermind), apple-green leather sandals (€225 penelopechilvers.com).
Can you go wrong? Well, yes. Heavy leather styles can look galumphing. A thick rubber sole will kill the Pyrenees vibe, and a leather court can look frumpy.
Otherwise, you can wear espadrilles from now until October — and I recommend you do.