Shelve Your Heels—These Are the 5 Flat-Shoe Trends That Will Define Summer 2025

Fashion people in the know are already stepping out in these flat shoes ahead of summer. I've rounded up the best styles for you to peruse and shop now.

If there’s one thing my friends can count on me for, it’s knowing which trends are about to hit the mainstream. "Soph," they say, "what's in fashion, and what should I be buying?" Right now, I’m advising my nearest and dearest to invest in their summer footwear. It’s the quickest way to upgrade your spring outfits and take them one step closer to summer (pun fully intended). Open-toe season is officially here, and it's time to book in that pedi.

In terms of what's trending, I’m calling it: flat shoes will rule summer 2025, so I'm eschewing trainers and heels in favour of comfy styles that feel elegant and put-together for both day and evening. There's a plethora of flats on offer for summer, which are equally as chic (and sometimes even chicer) than their heeled counterparts. With the sun high in the sky and the mercury rising, there's no better time to experiment a little, and footwear is my favourite way to give a look real intention and style.

Christie Tyler wears black mesh ballet flats.

(Image credit: Christie Tyler)

Whilst researching summer’s strongest shoe trends, a few things became clear. Strappy sandals are so back, in leather and suede variations, pared-back neutrals and head-turning colours. There are also some closed-toe options coming to the fore, with barely-there mesh flats and jelly styles which have been given luxe updates (don’t be deceived; you still may want to have your toes done for these two). And finally, of course, there's the humble flip-flop. Traditionally banished to the poolside, the oft-misunderstood sandal is going through a renaissance period, and fashion people can't get enough.

Scroll on for my pick of the best flat-shoe trends for summer 2025.

1. Colour-Pop Strappy Sandals

Devin Arielle wears red strappy sandals.

(Image credit: Devin Arielle)

Style Notes: If you're typically a minimalist dresser but fancy a little flourish of artful colour to ring in the sunshine, look no further. I've noticed fashion people who tend to dress in neutral, pared-back tones choosing colour-pop sandals with skinny straps and simple profiles. Choose a bright primary tone to give your simple looks a dopamine hit.

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2. '90s-Style Flip-Flops

Monikh wears 90s style flip-flops

(Image credit: Monikh )

Style Notes: There's no denying that flip-flops are bang on trend. The V-shape thong silhouette gives a leg-lengthening effect, which is great for petite people, and not only that, but the sheer ease of slipping them on allows you to simply go about your day. If you're looking for a dose of Olsen energy in your daily 'fits (The Row pioneered luxury flip-flops), this is the summer shoe for you. It's so '90s and yet so very now.

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3. Mesh Ballet Flats

Anne-Laure Mais wears red mesh flats

(Image credit: Anne-Laure Mais)

Style Notes: We atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK have been singing the praises of mesh ballet flats for a while now, but this summer, you really will see them everywhere. Keep it simple with a sheer or nude hue, or spice up your look with a solid block colour.

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4. Suede Strappy Sandals

Marianne Smyth wears strappy suede sandals.

(Image credit: Marianne Smyth)

Style Notes: I know, suede sandals are nothing new. However, this summer, they've become more luxurious and polished than ever. Retire your dusty Birkenstocks and invest in a style which is more unique, grown-up and considered. Your feet (and your 'fit pics) will thank you for it.

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5. Netted Jelly Shoes

Courtney Grow wears clear jelly shoes.

(Image credit: Courtney Grow)

Style Notes: The Row sent the internet into a frenzy when it launched its netted jelly flats last summer. The rest of the world is finally catching on and falling (back, if you were a kid in the '90s) in love with jelly sandals in 2025, hook, line and sinker. Mary-Jane shapes and ballet-flat updates make the trend feel contemporary and tasteful.

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Sophie Robyn Watson
Acting Fashion Editor

Sophie Robyn Watson is a London-based style editor with over 10 years of experience in the fashion, luxury and retail industries. She has worked at esteemed companies such as WGSN, ASOS, LFW, Alexander McQueen and GANNI. After graduating with a first-class honours degree in Fashion Promotion Imaging, she moved into the luxury editorial sector with a focus on menswear, firstly at Wallpaper* and later Mr Porter, where she worked her way up from Fashion Assistant to become Fashion Editor. At Mr Porter, she worked on global marketing shoots, celebrity profiles and luxury shopping edits. In her role asBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK’s Acting Fashion Editor, Sophie is chiefly interested in celebrating new and emerging brands that the cool-girls ought to know now.