Summer officially arrived over the weekend. Did it ever! If you haven’t already put away the closed-toe shoes, it’s time to do so. But you can’t go barefoot all the time, right? Maybe at the beach, or around the house, but when you go places where you want service, you have to have shoes. I mean, unless you’re Britney Spears and you don’t mind walking into a gas station restroom with nothing between your bare feet and the…I can’t even go there. Flip flops are a great summer shoe, and there’s a time and place for inexpensive rubber or plastic ones you can get for a couple of bucks at a discount store. But there’s no reason why you can’t wear flip flops and still look dressed up. The Cole Haan Air Camille thong is just one beautiful dressy casual shoe.
This shoe comes in black patent, light pearlized copper, and pearlized silver, but my favorite is the ruby sugar patent option. First, I just like the name—ruby sugar. Doesn’t that sound opulent and yummy? As the name suggests, it’s a deep red color, but here’s the other thing I like about them—the black stones that decorate the top of the sandal. The other color options all have coordinating stones. The ruby one is the only one with contrast, and it really makes the shoe stand out. The shiny black stones against the deep red add a classy touch that make the shoe acceptable to wear to even the swankiest night spot, even though it’s essentially a flip flop. The upper is leather, as is the fully padded lining. The bottom of the shoe has a non-skid island to help you keep your footing. With a one-inch heel, you’ll stay comfortable no matter where you wear these ruby slippers. They’re usually $188.95, but are on sale right now for just $117.43 at Zappos.com.
Budget Saving Alternatives
If you like a decorated shoe but a little more color, Steve Madden’s Iconic ornamented flip flop is another great choice. I love it in turquoise. The upper is fabric with a slight sheen, but it gets a lot more sparkle from the multicolored beads that adorn it. The beads cover a wide range of colors such as white, pale blue, turquoise, gold, and copper. Some have a matte finish, some are pearly, and others are translucent, giving the shoe a lot of dimension and shine with every turn of your foot. The shoe also comes in bronze. The low profile of the shoe, provided by the quarter-inch heel, helps fight fatigue, so you can go from a day walking on the boardwalk to an evening at a beachside club and be comfortable the whole time. Get it for $69.95 at Endless.com.
If you really want some sparkle in your walk, try the Guess Gratefuly ornamented flip flop. The fabric upper is embossed with a snake print, but what makes the shoe are the rhinestones that line the top. Large oval stones are interspersed with smaller rounds and trillions, and the center oval is surrounded by a twist of tiny translucent beads in a coordinating color. The footbed is covered with metallic material, flashing a bit of color with every flip and flop. This green is a very fresh, summery color, but it’s also available in pink, gold, and black. The rubber sole not only provides a bit of cushion, but will keep you from slipping. A half-inch heel gives just enough distance between you and the sidewalk, and keeps your legs comfortable while walking. Normally $69.95, they’re currently only $59.81 on Endless.com.
