HOW TO DRESS LIKE A GROWN UP
Book that pedicure! The ‘naked’ sandal is in
THERE is no easy way to say this: the high maintenance sandal is heading our way this summer.
We’re talking about the flimsiest of straps — a sliver across the toe and around the back of the heel, another slim lash across the top of the foot, or wrapped around the ankle — and a heel of course, anywhere from mid height to three inches and counting.
It’s called the naked sandal because there’s very little of it (it’s also called the barely-there) and it’s the sort of shoe you would generally expect to see on the red carpet, on gleaming fashion editors on the front row, or worn by Carrie in Sex And The City.
It’s basically right at the opposite end of the spectrum to trainers and those nice solid boots we’ve got used to.
Let’s get the downsides out of the way first, because, for the normal civilian woman, the naked sandal does seem like a major headache.
The big one is exposure: the naked sandal is essentially a flimsy vehicle for showing off your beautifully groomed feet. Your toes are on show, as are your heels. Everything from the ankle down is revealed to the elements and (even more of a worry) everyone can see the condition your feet are in. WITH
the naked sandal there is nowhere to hide horny toenails and crusty heels, so you’ll need to commit to some proper foot maintenance.
The easiest option would be to nip to a nail bar and get yourself a regular pedicure, starting now to ensure your feet are the best possible version of themselves come June. Otherwise we’re talking foot files, softening creams, exfoliating socks, whatever it takes to get your feet ready for their close-up.
You could cheat and wear tights, but that’s only an option if they are a fashion statement in themselves — spangled or sequin- striped — and we can’t see that working for most women.
Now for the upsides and the reasons why it’s worth sourcing the right naked sandals.
The main one is simple: they look elegant and cool and they are (if you follow the grooming rules) very flattering on the feet. Aside from that, they add an injection of lightness that lifts everything you wear.
Skimpy sandals add just the right amount of femininity to High style: Elle Macpherson masculine trousers, they lighten up a long-line, longsleeved dress, they look great with jeans, pretty with a unisex boiler suit, and cute with a sweater and a slip midi skirt.
They’re a dash of ladylike chic, which means the only time you probably shouldn’t wear them is with your ladylike chic dress.
Because they’re so naked they look best with just a few inches of ankle on show, especially with cropped trousers or jeans. If you want to show a lot of bare leg in a short skirt, these heels are not the way to
go. If you’re a regular highheeled sandal wearer, this will be a walk in the park for you and there are plenty of options on the High Street from & Other Stories’ khaki sandals with an asymmetric strap (£69, stories.com) to Dune’s natural reptile stilettos (£65, dunelondon.com).
Still, the naked sandals that are going to work for most of us, most of the time, will be the ones with a mid to lowish heel and a strap across the top of the foot (less dressy than an ankle strap).
Among the most wearable styles are Topshop’s block heeled, Venus style in cream or snakeskin (£46, topshop.
com) or its chunkier squareheeled black Dallas (£29).
One advantage of the barelythere sandal is that they don’t look heavy in black, and black always looks smart and works whatever your skintone. Marks & Spencer have the blockiest heeled ones (£19.50, marks
andspencer.com) in black or stone, but they are mules.
Remember, with the naked sandal the heel can be chunky, but the straps should always be super slim. That’s what makes it naked. That and the minimalism of them. No twists or buckles or trims this time, and they should be all one colour. Book the pedicure now.