The designer footwear market is more crowded than ever, making it extremely hard for a pair of shoes to stand out and earn true It status. However, a pair breaks through now and then, often thanks to Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's influence and The Row’s quiet luxury label stitched into it.
Enter The Row’s Emi flatform sandals—these understated slides have quickly become the most sought-after shoes of the summer. Crafted from black patent leather (they're also available in a khaki hue), the Emi sandals feature a thick platform sole and a subtle open-toe silhouette, resembling a peep-toe design, as they reveal just three or four toes instead of five. Subtle, minimal, and effortlessly elegant—they epitomize everything The Row is known for.
While celebrities often help catapult The Row's pieces into the spotlight, this time it’s Instagram influencers driving the buzz. One standout is Ilana Torbiner, a Chicago-based content creator who has been wearing the Emi sandals since May. She’s worn them around the city with relaxed jeans and a crisp button-down, and she has even taken them along on her travels to Provence, where she styled them with linen dresses and drawstring pants for a laid-back European vibe. Over in New York, fashion icon Leandra Medine Cohen has also been spotted in the Emis, pairing them on multiple occasions with straight-leg jeans and simple tank tops.
Although The Row is best known for its everyday wardrobe staples, its footwear continues to win over the fashion set (think its Zipped Boots and Bare Leather Heels). The price tag is steep, but the styles are timeless, classic, and versatile. And with shoes like the Emi, you get exactly that: an understated staple you can wear daily, style endlessly, and rely on for seasons to come.
Tempted to invest in a pair? Keep scrolling to shop The Row’s Emi flatform sandals and a few chic alternatives.
Shop The Row's Emi Flatform Sandals
Nordstrom is one of the few retailers that still has these sandals in most sizes.
Some similar sandals
If you don't like a flatform, this sleek Emi iteration is for you.
If you couldn't tell, slides—especially peep-toe ones—are having a moment. This pair is at the top of our wish lists.
These are the type of sandals that only innately chic dressers own.
Whichever Row sandals you get your hands on, you can look forward to wearing them for a long time.
This summer, every fashion person in the Hamptons will be styling these with white linen dresses and retro sunglasses.
If you own satin sandals, I know you have expensive taste.
Timeless, classic, and chic.
-
I’m Bored With My Closet—These 33 ChicReplica Store Pieces Have the Power to Turn Things AroundEffortless and expensive-looking is the vibe.
-
Michael Rider Brings a French-American Take On Preppy-Bourgeoisie Style to His Stellar Celine DebutInside the spring 2026 collection.
-
Believe Me—You'll Still Want These 36 Items in 2026 (and '27 and '28)Timeless with a capital T.
-
Honestly? These 7 Summer Shoe Trends Feel a Little DatedBut these seven styles feel very 2025.
-
I'm Basically My Sister's Personal Stylist—36 Chic, Summer-Ready Zara Pieces I'm Sending Her WayPlus, some hot new arrivals.
-
The Most Talked-About Under-$800 Fashion Finds of the Summer? They're Right HereTassels, shell pendants, and silk scarves—oh my!
-
The Expensive-Looking Sandal Trend Fashion Girls Are Wearing With Baggy Jeans and White T-ShirtsA highly chic outfit lies ahead.
-
I'm a Shopping Editor—These 31 Under-$50 Amazon Finds Are Giving Main Character EnergyThese were really hard not to gatekeep.
