According to Lisa Illis, head of womenswear design at M&S, this summer’s best-selling styles include ballet flats, Mary Janes and glove flats, particularly in crochet, woven and openwork leather or suede finishes. Flat slingbacks have also proved popular, especially those with pointed or chisel toes. “As for sandals, this summer the refined flip-flop has dominated. Details that elevate the classic toe post shoe, such as a wedge or kitten heel, have been sought after, as have leather compositions. Customers seeking a pop of colour have gravitated towards thong sandals in red,” she told Vogue.
Other success stories include a pair of £30 red rope sandals that we called out last month, which bear a striking resemblance to Miu Miu’s spring/summer 2024 version of the hiking shoe, but come with the kind of practical moulded footbed that M&S loyalists return to. Meanwhile, Vogue’s Olivia Allen has already waxed lyrical about her M&S mules.
“I stumbled upon these mules while trying to exit the food court on Oxford Street. A week later, the green goddess salad was going limp in the fridge, but these trusty slip-ons hadn’t left my feet. I’d been searching for something Charvet-slipperesque for all those times I’m rushing out the door, and trusty Marks and Sparks came through with this perfect pair at approximately 1 per cent of the cost,” Allen says.
In terms of styling, Illis has seen buyers use thong sandals to temper more formal pieces. “A leather flip-flop can dress down an evening-ready silhouette like a slip dress or draped midi-dress, helping you get more wear out of your existing wardrobe. I’m also very in favour of statement red flip-flops being used as a styling tool. That intentional bold flash of colour can sharpen an everyday basic like a white tee or cargo trousers or dress-down tailored pieces from lightweight suits to crisp white shirts.”
