The Summer Shoes Worth Buying in 2026

A lot of you have been asking me for summer shoe recommendations that aren't sneakers so I'm going to share my favourites with you. I've got more affordable options and I've also got luxury designer shoes and if anything is out of your budget there will be links to more affordable alternatives in the description box. If I go through every single alternative to every shoe we'll be here forever. Now it wouldn't be a summer shoe video without me talking about Birkenstocks they're the first shoe that comes to mind for me when I think about summer and it's probably the for a lot of you. Obviously you can't go wrong with a pair of Bostons, everyone knows that by now but if you want to keep your toes cool then I really like the look of their Kyoto model but if you want something a little bit more fashion forward then check out their 1774 line. Their 222 West model is a really cool looking mule and the pair that I go for personally and these are a blend of their very popular Arizona and Boston models. I love the buckle details on them it makes them look a bit more fashion forward and alternative which I really like and they come in black and white which are the most versatile colours out there. Also the fur versions of the Bostons and the Arizonas look really cool if you want a more classic silhouette and if you like a back strap on your mules then their London model is a great option. Their 1774 models are a lot more expensive than their regular models so you have to weigh up if they're worth it If not you can't go wrong with a black pair of Birkenstock Bostons in my opinion, they work with any summer outfit and they're a classic. If you want something a bit more elegant then I have to mention the Our Legacy Cameo mules. Regulars of the channel won't be shocked to hear me talking about these, I just got myself a pair quite recently and I've banged on about them quite a lot in recent videos and talking about recent videos some of you have mentioned that you've noticed that I'm I love my new haircut but we've got builders next door, we've got roadworks outside that all start at half seven in the morning and it's sweltering hot in this room so I have to get my videos filmed before they come so rather than wasting time styling my hair that's going to get sweaty anyway I'm just whacking a hat on at the moment so hopefully that's okay but let's get back to the video. But these shoes strike the perfect balance between a smart and casual shoe so you can get a lot of use out of them. When you wear them with a pair of trousers they look like a boot or a smarter shoe but pair them with a pair of shorts and they look very relaxed and casual, how lovely. The quality is also fantastic, they're made from leather and have a vibram sole and they feel really solid in hand. Mules for me in the summer are an absolute essential, I love how easy you can throw them on and off and they keep your feet a little bit cooler which is always nice. These shoes are expensive they cost around £400 but they're so versatile you'll definitely get your money's worth. Well if you like them of course, if you think they're gross then you won't get your money's worth because you won't want to wear them but you get what I mean. If you want something a bit more alternative and less common then this pair of mules from Anne de Meulemeester are really cool in my opinion. When I was looking at buying a pair of these they cost around £700 which is far too much for my liking but you can find them heavily discounted in the sales so keep your eyes open. Now some of you might be thinking is he going to talk about anything other than mules in this video and the answer is yes I am. The first shoe that's not a mule in the video is the Clarks Wallaby. Now the Clarks Wallaby is an absolute classic and I've had my pair for years now but I go through phases where I love wearing them and then I don't wear them at all. Sometimes I feel like they don't suit my style that well and sometimes they can feel a little bit too preppy for me but as soon as I see someone styling them well I remember why I bought a pair in the first place. And if you've never tried a pair of these shoes before they're surprisingly really comfortable. I thought they'd be uncomfortable when I first got them but no they're really comfortable and they never go out of style so there's never a bad time to pick a pair of these up. And a lot of people in the summer do go for the camel colourway in these and it does make sense they're a very summery colour but my personal favourites are the black pair. I just think the black pair look a little bit more luxurious and they're a lot more versatile for me and they don't get dirty as easily which is always a good thing. If you like the wallabies but you want something a bit different then I'd also recommend checking out the James Coward banana shoe. They've still got that same casual crepe sold feel but the asymmetrical lacing and the cleaner shape gives them a more interesting look whilst being sleek at the same time. These are more expensive, they are weird but if you want something a bit different these are well worth a look. Next up we've got the La Mer pipe slipper and I must admit the first time that I saw these I thought they were really weird looking and a little bit ugly too but the more I saw people styling these well the more I started to fall in love with them and now I think they're a great looking shoe. And these shoes are leather shoes and they come in a smooth leather version and also a pebbled leather version and I do prefer the pebbled pairs. There's something about the smooth version of these that look a little bit odd to me and I don't know what it is, they look a little bit like a wetsuit shoe maybe? I don't know but I do prefer the pebbled versions if you can't tell already. These come in a few different colours as well and you can often find these in the sale so there's no need to pay full retail price for these, just keep your eyes open. Next up we've got a pair of loafers from YSL and these have slowly become my favourite pair of loafers by a long mile. I think they can be styled in so many different ways and the way you style them can completely change the look they give off. You can make them look really alternative or you can make them look really preppy so I do feel these would work for anyone, well anyone who likes them that is and anyone who's willing to pay that kind of money on a pair. They do cost a small fortune. If the YSL pair are out of your budget another loafer I really like is the Ezra from Duke and Dexter. They're a lot more affordable, they've got a really nice silhouette and they hit that same sweet spot between smart and casual. Unfortunately they do sell out quickly but Duke and Dexter seem to restock them quite frequently so if they're out of stock right now then they will be restocked, don't worry. And if you're after something a little bit more classic then the Sabego Dan Loafer is always a solid choice. They're a proper staple and they won't destroy your bank account like the YSL pair will. And also I've got to mention them, I know they've been a bit overdone recently, well very overdone recently but the Doc Martens Adrian Loafers I still think they're a great shoe and the rub-off red kind of pair I think they're going to be great for the summer still. Now woven shoes are perfect for the summer and if you're looking for a pair then Yucatan do some great looking options. Their mules look really nice and the woven pattern not only makes them pop in your outfit but it also makes them more breathable too. If mules aren't your thing and you want something with a back to it then their Leo model might be a great option for you. And this shoe comes in a smooth black and brown leather version but it also comes in a black and brown calf hair version which I think look really cool. This pair have got a bit more chunk to them thanks to their chunkier Vibram soles and Supreme just did a collaboration with Yucatan on this shoe so they're going to be very popular right now. They're another one of those shoes like the Lemaire Pipe Slippers that actually look a little bit ugly but if you style them well they can look great. Unfortunately at the time of recording this the Supreme models are pretty much all sold out but if you want this shoe the regular Leo pairs look pretty much identical. I must admit I probably wouldn't rush out my way to get a pair of woven shoes myself but if I had a pair in my rotation I'd definitely wear them especially on holiday. And what do we think about fisherman sandals? I can't work out if I like them or if it's just the trends making me think that they look nicer than they are. What do you think? I think when Brian Garris from Knox Loose wore a pair to the Grammys it made me see them a little bit differently because they look classier. Before they always reminded me of that classic menswear style which has never really been my thing. As I mentioned a couple of times already there will be more affordable alternatives to all these shoes in the description box. I'm saying it again because people always say some of the shoes are too expensive but I always leave more affordable options in the description box. I hope this was helpful. I hope you enjoyed it. If you did please leave the video a like. Don't forget to hit subscribe and I will catch you in the next one. See you later!