Forget Last Year’s Flip Flops, These Pairs Are Even Chicer for 2026

By Swedan MargenFebruary 20, 2026

It feels like these days there are no longer flip flop skeptics, just flip flop converts. The easy beach shoe has long been associated with vacation and tourists. Then, fashion week guests started wearing it to runway shows. Havianas, long a staple in Brazil, suddenly became a fixture at Copenhagen Fashion Week functions, against all odds.

It wasn't long before the look started to become popular in major fashion capitals like New York and Paris. And while at first the shoe raised eyebrows and plenty of people weren't sold on its capability to work in their not-on-PTO wardrobe, the appeal started to become obvious. Discomfort was out. Shoes that could really take you places, were in.

Above all, flip flops are comfortable and casual, which means wearing them gives you an air of nonchalance. They work so well with capital-F fashion outfits because they look out of place. It's the wrong shoe theory at work! Flip flops out of context makes an outfit more interesting. The fact that you can just slide into them makes them appear as an afterthought—but in the best way.

As we gear up for the second spring and summer season where flip flops aren't just accepted but highly encouraged outside of the beach, it's worth noting that a couple of things have changed. There's more fashionable flip flops to shop then ever before. Of course everyone needs a classic pair of the OG Havianas but a freaky pair is also fun to have.

Flip flops right now aren't just flat and plain. Some are platformed to give the height of the heel without the discomfort. Others' have adornments on the strap that jingle with each step you take. There are flip flop kitten heels and flip flop boots if you want a different silhouette that still frees your toes. We're likely to see a bit of a ballet-flat-flip-flop-hybrid emerge in the coming months after being spotted on runways like Operasport in Copenhagen and Jacquemus in Paris. These days a flip flop can be whatever you want it to be. The possibilities feel endless and they all look good.