I Need My Sandals to be Stylish and Practical—These 20 Pairs Fit the Bill

Hands up if you’ve fallen in love with a pair of sandals, only to try them on and realise that they meet all of the style criteria, but fall short on the practicality side. Me too. Walking away from dream shoes is always painful, especially if you’ve already started planning outfits around them—but not quite as painful as poorly designed footwear (I'm sure your ankles would agree).

And realistically, we’re all wearing our sandals for long days of sightseeing, beach-hopping or simply strolling around in the sun. That’s what summer is all about, but nothing dampens high spirits like a shoe that keeps slipping off. For this reason, I’ve turned to ankle strap sandals to tick all the important boxes.

And while, like every other fashion person at the moment, I love the look of a flip-flop, ankle strap sandals provide a little extra support that goes a long way in keeping your shoe in place. They also tend to cause less friction, since your foot isn’t constantly shifting around from lack of security. And if that wasn’t enough reason to add a pair to your summer rotation, there’s the bonus of adjustability: with multiple buckle holes on most, you can fasten the strap for a just-right fit.

Basically, if you're planning to walk further than fifty metres this summer, this sandal style is a sensible investment. And you can start your search for the perfect pair right here, because I've rounded up the best ankle strap sandals for every budget. Shop my top picks from brands like Whistles, Marks and Spencer, Ancient Greek Sandals and Toteme.

Shop the Best Ankle-Strap Sandals:

The Best Ankle-Strap Sandals Under £100:

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Ankle-Strap Leather Sandals

A great, versatile option from the high street.

Ancient Greek Sandals

Eleftheria Sandals

I love this take on an ankle strap.

MANGO

Suede Straps Sandals

These also come in bright red.

M&S Collection

Ankle Strap Buckle Flat Sandals

ZARA

Beaded Leather Sandals

These will elevate any outfit, day or night.

The Best Ankle-Strap Sandals Under £200

Whistles

Black Toe Loop Strappy Sandal

This simple design will go with all your summer outfits.

Reformation

Oceane Flat Sandal

A.Emery

Jalen Slim Leather Sandals

I think these look a lot more expensive than they are, thanks to the rich brown shade and criss-cross straps.

Reiss

Leather Plait Detail Sandals in Tan

These look really chic on.

ANCIENT GREEK SANDALS

Sfendoni Sandals

This brand is an influencer favourite. Expect classic, comfortable and long-lasting sandals.

The Best Ankle-Strap Sandals Under £500

There's something nostalgic about this pair.

EMME PARSONS

Aya Suede Sandals

Slot these into a ’70s boho-inspired look.

Toteme

Leather Crossover Sandals Off-White

The perfect summer evening shoe.

ISABEL MARANT

Jopee Studded Leather Sandals

Just one of many Isabel Marant designs I've been eyeing up lately.

Amanu

Kalahari Leather Sandals

I'm expecting to see these all over Instagram any day now.

The Best Ankle-Strap Sandals Under £1000

KHAITE

Loulou Leather Sandals

Perfectly minimal, for those who prefer pared-back style.

You can also pick these up in black leather.

Gucci

Women's Thong Sandal With Bamboo

When it comes to footwear, Gucci gets it right every time.

AQUAZZURA

Infinity Suede Sandals

Add something different to your warm weather wardrobe.