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Finding the right pair of gold sandals is like walking into a room filled with glitter or witnessing the sunrise—a sudden burst of light that enlivens everything around it. The shoe just has this special power to make any outfit it touches suddenly all the more interesting and elevated.
What other shoe can work as well with both a quiet-luxury daytime look as it does a late-night party outfit? Silver tones may be on trend this season, but golden sandals remain the forever favorite for special occasions and everyday wear. They’re a hit this summer, and they will be so next year too. So really, it’s just a matter of finding your preferred style.
We’ve gathered all the gold sandals that are currently on trend this season and even shared our recommendations for how to style them. See you next summer.
All the gold sandals that are in style this summer…
The most basic version of this shoe acquired fame back in 1997, when Pierre Hardy created the Oran model for Hermès. His intention back then? To create a shoe that conveyed the impression of going barefoot—minimalist and very subtle. Since then it has been reimagined in hundreds of different ways, but the gold-colored versions remain the most vibrant.
What to look for: Gold slides with a completely flat sole and a rectangular one-piece leather area to fit the foot. Jewel details, links, or bows aren’t necessary but add to the fun.
What to wear them with: If you want to lean into the quiet luxury of it all, style with linen shorts and sailor-striped or white T-shirts. A minimalist black dress, as seen above, also pairs well.
Practical and comfortable, this style is perhaps the most versatile golden sandal you can wear this season. There are the quirky jellies that are so nostalgic for kids of the ’80s and ’90s, as seen above, while the leather version calls to mind a seaside destination. Not for nothing, they’re a favorite of stylish celebrities like Alexa Chung and Blake Lively.
What to look for: They are flat and formed by a network of straps that culminate in a closed, rounded toe. There’s usually a buckle at the ankle, and they can be found in all kinds of colors, including a golden finish.
What to wear them with: Anything, really. Try a strappy dress or denim shorts if you want to enhance the childish aura these give or something more unexpected like a pair of wide-leg pants or a white maxiskirt.
Strappy gold sandals are perhaps the most recurring shoe in our closets, thanks to their versatility and the thousand ways to arrange the straps in different shapes. What’s more, they are as elegant as any high heel.
What to look for: Shoes with a completely flat sole that feature different straps across the instep. Look for ones with a buckle strap at the ankle to enhance support or a lace-up tie. If the straps are wrapped around the leg, they can become gladiators or Roman sandals.
What to wear them with: We prefer to match ours with maxidresses and maxiskirts, whether it’s a preppy shirtdress or something more bohemian.
They come straight from the ’50s, when kitten heels were intended for young women to familiarize themselves with new heights. Now the shoe is popular and easy to wear for all—no matter their taste in heels.
What to look for: These are characterized by a heel of about 1.5 to 2 inches tall that’s medium girth and without a platform. They usually feature a medium-thick strap over the toes and, sometimes, another one holding the heel from behind.
What to wear them with: Continue with the ’50s inspiration and reach for a midiskirt or midi-dress.
We can thank Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, and their cohort for the popularity of thong sandals, along with wide belts and low-waisted pants, in the early aughts. These shoes are Y2K style in its purest form. Today they’re back on trend—most often seen in heel form.
What to look for: Their name comes from the peculiar shape of the straps, which sprout from the sides of the foot to join in the central area and stay between the first and second toe. The 2024 trend has them with a trumpet-shaped heel—wider at the top, thinner in the center, and again wider at the base.
What to wear them with: Capri pants, as Bella Hadid and company would do, or a summery knit or crochet dress.
Low and wide, the block heel has been arguably the most widely worn style in recent years among stylish women. Since it’s chic but easy to walk in, we never hesitate to pair the summer shoe with our best outfits.
What to look for: There is no platform here, but the height of the heel doesn’t require it ,so walking in these is still quite easy. The heel is wide and usually square.
What to wear them with: Anything and everything—they suit just about every look. We wear them with all kinds of miniskirts and midi-dresses, especially ones with a tube silhouette or draped neckline. They also work well with cropped linen pants or jeans.
Not too high, not too low, not too thin, not too wide, these golden sandals would be Goldilocks’s dream. They were popular in the ’70s, the ’80s, and the ’90s, and remain so today due to their practicality.
What to look for: They should have a heel of about 2 to 3 inches in a medium thickness. And though they don’t have a platform per se, there should be a bit of a front sole to balance the equation.
What to wear them with: Everything you can think of, because this type of heel adapts to your entire wardrobe, including shorts, as seen above. They also make the perfect wedding guest shoes.
The most desired…and the most feared. Their height and absolute lack of platform make these heels a double-edged sword: They’re not suitable for those unaccustomed to heels, but oh, how good they look.
What to look for: We are talking heels that are a good 3 to 5 inches, and to make it more complicated, they must be stilettos—that is to say, as thin as can be. While absolutely stunning in appearance, these heels do not understand mercy. So don’t wear them for the first time if you have a long evening ahead, because you will undoubtedly end up with them in hand by the end of the night.
What to wear them with: It’s best to go literal and pair them with evening dresses or see how they look with jeans and a sexy party top.
Here comes the highest on the list, though that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the most uncomfortable. While the season’s tallest platforms may have an over-the-top heel, their rounded platform helps compensate for it without any problems.
What to look for: These heels can reach a whopping 6 inches in the most daring cases, but the platform can extend quite high to make the challenge less than it seems. The important thing is that you have a good bracelet attached to the ankle to hold the foot well.
What to wear them with: They actually make great wedding shoes, because they allow you to wear heels without sacrificing comfort or elegance. They’re a good match for anything you want to wear for a night spent dancing, really.
This post was originally published in Glamour Spain.