How to dress like a grown up: The ugly 'dad sandal' got cool (original) (raw)

With just days to go till the end of August, it's time to broach the strangest footwear turnabout of the year: the suddenly fashionable, unfashionable sandal.

I refer to basic beach and walking footwear of the sort you might buy in a camping shop, or find at a beachside stand alongside the buckets and spades.

I mean anything that smacks of a geography teacher or 'Dad sandal'.

Supermodel Heidi Klum has been rocking the traditionally uncool Birkenstocks this summer

Anything that embraces the teutonic comfort of the Birkenstock or the good old-fashioned jelly shoe.

Basically, anything you had previously filed under 'only on holiday' has now been elevated into the style ranks of the deeply desirable.

This turnaround is down to the staff of American Vogue, who posted a video online about their secret love of cheapie sandals at the beginning of the summer.

To put it mildly, it was quite a surprising coming-out for a community you'd assume would never encase their well-pedicured tootsies in anything that isn't by Manolo Blahnik or Chanel.

I hasten to add that editor Anna Wintour did not participate in this mass confession. But, even so, if it's a thing at American Vogue... then, well, it's a thing.

And so it was with the (formerly) ugly sandal. Soon the internet was alive with praise for Dr Scholl's, Tevas (those velcro-fastening sandals with side strap), felt-lined Birkenstocks and a mass-market American hiking shoe brand called Chaco — which is famous for its deeply practical Z-strap style.

Basically, anything you had previously filed under 'only on holiday' has now been elevated into the style ranks of the deeply desirable

Other fashion influences have helped bolster this trend. One is that Celine's Creative director Phoebe Philo (who is regarded as the nearest thing to a goddess of chic), has showed furry-lined versions of Birkenstocks on the catwalk.

Second is that Miuccia Prada presented what looked like a camping and walking collection this summer.

Turns out that Theresa May is not the only middle-aged woman leader who likes hiking in mountains - Miuccia's been at it for absolutely ages.

Added to this is the fact that the comeback of Nineties fashion has been a strong undercurrent this summer.

So we're back to slip-dresses worn with Birkenstocks and tea-dresses worn with trainers — a look you may well have experimented with the last time around. But therein lies the problem for the grown up.

THE WAY TO WEAR THEM

Don't jolly this look up - plain white, black or tan looks most chic.

Confidently buy styles online as Velcro fastening is easily adjusted to fit.

Platform styles elongate your calves and slim your ankles.

No flowers on jelly shoes.

Ever. Leave those designs to the little girls.

There is the finest of lines between knowingly sporting a casual sandal in a modern-looking way — and the disaster of being assumed to have opted for a comfy granny-shoe.

My middle-way solution has been a pair of J. Crew's Malta, one-bar leather sandals (currently £19 at jcrew.com) which, I fancy, do not look too like something recommended by the chiropodist. Meanwhile Whistles have a Teva-esque style, now £60 at whistles.com.

If you don't want to splash out on Birkenstocks in the dying days of August, then H&M have a platform slide style for just £19.99 (hm.com).

So how to wear ugly sandals beautifully? I'd keep the look elegant with a long, slim dress, fluid cropped trousers or even a jumpsuit.

Avoid anything that might amplify the beach-sport/hiking side, in other words steer clear of shorts, cargo pants or any kind of ath-leisure wear.

There's something rather nice about a fashion turnaround of this kind — even if it will only be useful for about a fortnight. So grab a pair before the weather turns for good. Add a coral pedicure - and go.