Here’s why Sandals are NOT out of fashion for men

Did you know that the most expensive pair of sandals cost $18000? By taking a look at the history of sandals the English term “sandals” originated from the ancient Greek word “sandalon” meaning ”wooden shoes”. Sandals have been in the fashion industry for centuries made from wood, rope, tatami, leather, etcetera materials, especially for men. They were worn by Greek and Roman soldiers in battles. Fast forward to today, they are still in fashion for their comfort and durability. Sandals are a traditional way of expressing someone’s style and personality.

The sandals have taken different forms in the past centuries from back lace to no back lace from flat bottom to heel bottom and many more, either way, they have changed the fashion industry for men forever. There seems to be a lot of different opinions about how to wear sandals amongst male consumers. Sandals for men have given a spike to many controversies and arguments as to if they should be in fashion or not for men.

A Guide To Sandals

There are many different types of men’s sandals for men such as hiking sandals, running sandals, slides, leather sandals, teva, luna, hawaiian, chaco, cork sandals, and many more. To touch on slides specifically, luxurious brands like Gucci, Dior, Adidas, Nike, Givenchy, Balenciaga, and Ralph Lauren have designed their own slides in the past decades which gradually increased their popularity and comfort. Brands like Alexander McQueen, Berluti, Dolce & Gabbana, and Louis Vuitton launching their own designs of sandals for men have attracted eyes to fashion and have given them a different perspective. 

From wearing socks under sandals being an offensive choice to it being fashionable says a lot about the rapid shifts and growth of how men see sandals as a piece to their outfit. Unlike before, now there isn’t a specific location or setting where someone could wear sandals, it could be in the gym, beach, on a casual day out, hiking, or traveling. This transition of mindset has encouraged men to still wear Sandals on a daily basis. 

How To Style Your Sandals For Men

Speaking from a traditional perspective, there is a set of rules that need to be maintained. First of no socks of any form. Second, lessen the severity of high-low contrast. Flip-flops are not encouraged as they are too casual. Plain dark colored sandals with no visible logos are the best option for a more traditional approach. Always choose a dark trouser to pair with sandals to keep a clean line. To finish the look throw on a neutral colored shirt or kurti and you are good to go. Lastly, to fulfill the traditional implications men still wear Sandals at traditional events and festivals.

The simplest and most popular form of wearing sandals is wearing them with a summer outfit on a beach holiday with a floral shirt and casual shorts with a pair of sunglasses. One of the other ways is throwing them on with a pair of loose jeans, a simple t-shirt, and a backpack or maybe no backpack to give you that stylish look for a casual day out or running some errands. 

To approach a more fashionable and high class look men pair them with a designer shirt or baggy jeans with socks. They could also be worn with suits which are not the most popular but still in fashion. 

To talk about their comfort, they are the best choice for sunny weather as there is more space for air to pass through. And in the case of rainy weather, they are less icky and dry quicker when they get wet. 

Conclusion

After talking to a local stylist, Mehsan (@mehsan02) about his opinions on sandals for men being still in the fashion industry, he said quote “I think the importance of functionality and comfort in fashion is paramount, especially in Bangladeshi climate and sandals are the most laid back type of footwear I can think of. Easy to slip in and out of and come in different silhouettes; Slimmer ones you can wear with ethnic looks and even chunkier ones that go well with street looks, with or without socks. So stylistically and from a comfort point of view, they are meant for a hot climate like ours.”

Men think about sandals differently as time passes by, sandals have impacted the young millennials and gen z’s fashion very much and continue to improve their looks in their blogs, posts, and stories on their beloved social platforms. 

Lastly, with the increase in men’s attraction toward sandals as the centerpiece of their outfits, the fashion industries have increased the scale of production for sandals. And we are able to see more designs and stocks starting from luxury brands to local stores.