The ’90s Thong Sandal Is Back and Better Than Ever

May 31, 2023

40 Incredibly Chic Pairs of the Best Thong Sandals to Slip Into This Summer

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

You heard it here first, fashion folks: The thong sandal, a masterfully minimal shoe style made popular in the ’90s, is back and better than ever before. And thanks to styles from The Row and Toteme, plus Tory Burch and Mango, the best thong sandals for summer are chic as ever. The comeback style first caught our eye back when we reported on another standout shoe of the season: the kitten heel. Proving that less really is more, heeled thong sandals from Cos and Zara to Proenza Schouler and Aeyde are the soon-to-be centerpieces of your summer capsule wardrobes. A summer-in-the-city outfit is built from the ground up, after all.

Vogue’s Thong Sandal Wish List:

The Fashion Flip-Flop: The Row rubber flip-flops, $650
The Kitten Heel: Tory Burch kitten heel sandals, $248
The Resort-Ready Flip-Flop: Chloé + Eres broderie anglaise flip-flops, $725
The High Street Hero: Mango kitten heel sandals, $60
The Bright White Thong Sandal: Proenza Schouler square thong sandals, $675
The Elegant Evening Sandal: COS thong heeled sandals, $150
The Timeless Thong Sandal: Toteme The T-Strap leather sandals, $490
The Metallic Thong Sandal: Aeyde Wilma laminated sandals, $345
The Platform Sandal: Prada Soft padded thong sandals, $1,050
The Comfortable, Yet Chic Thong Sandal: Loewe Ease embellished sandals, $1,045

Back to the fashion flip-flop: Just days ago at Cannes, celebrities chose to forgo their heels on the red carpet all together in favor of the barely there thong sandal. Most notably modeled by Jennifer Lawrence, the minimalist summer shoe style is clearly here to stay.