JOANNE Watkinson
GETTING A SANDAL ON SUMMER FOOTWEAR
I ADORE a trainer. It’s a love affair that isn’t going away.
It’s not just a comfort thing, and just to be clear, gym trainers are not included in this. Gym trainers have their own role, but not all trainers are created equal.
I wear trainers with the majority of my wardrobe. Like any other shoe, not every shape, design or colour works with every outfit, which is why I constantly spot pairs that would add something to my wardrobe.
Chloe’s Nama sneakers, £595 at chloe.com
The most recent are the eco-designed Nama sneakers by Chloe. It’s a pair I will never own due to the £595 price tag, but they are great-looking shoes, and 40% of their weight is made of recycled debris.
Like any good sneakerhead, I look after my trainers. They mostly go back in the box after use.
My favourites I even re-stuff to prevent the dreaded toe wrinkles, which may seem fussy, but looking after your clothes and footwear is the first step to becoming more sustainable.
The longer they look as good as new, the longer you will enjoy wearing them, prolonging their life.
Thanks to our unpredictable weather in the UK, trainers are a wardrobe mainstay, but I do feel the need to make a few footwear switches when the sun really has its hat on, which is when sandals make their shortlived seasonal appearance.
Much like the Chloe trainers, there are sandals I admire that I will never own due to their astronomical price point.
This season it’s the Celine Clea Triomphe gladiator sandals – a snip at £650.
But there are plenty of great sandals around with much more reasonable price tags.
If gladiators are top of your list but you’re struggling to find any online, it could be that the new souped-up name for them seems to be ‘fisherman sandals’.
These are a caged sandal with a modern chunky sole.
Russell and Bromley and Warehouse have great options coming in at between £50-£200.
Is now a good time to talk about wearing socks with fisherman sandals?
Perhaps I will save that little gem for another column.