Something has been happening in the world of men’s fashion. Guys – like regular, everyday guys – are starting to step up their sartorial game.  They’re adding pocket squares to their suits and wearing linen pants in the summer (with actual shoes or sandals – instead of just sneakers or flip-flops).

I suspect it has something to do with social media – so many of the influencers focusing on men’s fashion frequently use well-dressed Europeans as examples, even for an American audience. And honestly? I’m not complaining. At this point, my guys have something of a summer uniform that they’ve just been repeating for years. It’s so useful that it works both when traveling abroad AND if they need to dress up a bit in the summer. And one of the most important parts?

The shoes.

So. Let me propose a few easy summer shoe upgrades for guys.  Nothing too crazy, nothing too far out of a comfort-loving man’s comfort zone.  There are basically just four types of shoes that can completely transform your guy’s summer shoe wardrobe: sandals, espadrilles, canvas shoes, and cool, retro-inspired sneakers.

While I know man-sandals can be a polarizing topic in general…I’m a fan! That said, sandals are tricky – you definitley need the right sort of sandal. I have more on that below, but the safest place to start is with Birkenstocks (or any sandal that is vaguely Birkenstock-shaped). That said, a cool pair of canvas shoes (slip-on Vans, perhaps??) can easily be worn in place of sandals.

If you are looking for ONE casual summer shoe that can be used to dress up your guys’ outfit…it’s an espadrille. In fact, if you are planning a summer trip to Europe, my number one shoe for guys (the one all three of my guys have sworn by for years) is this exact pair of Rivieras. Designed in France and made in Spain, these shoes are a cool espadrille/loafer hybrid and have been an easy win no matter where we are in Europe.

And just so we’re clear:  Classic Crocs are not real shoes worn by adult men. I said what I said. Flip-flops, however? I’m a fan – especially if it’s a classic pair of Rainbows or something simple. I mean…what else are you going to wear, riding a bike at the shore?

So. Here are a bunch of seriously awesome guy-shoes that can get your man through almost any casual summer situation.  

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1. The Best Sandals For Men

Featured: Quince Fisherman Sandals | Scarosso Antonio Sandals | Birkenstock Solana Slide Sandal | Birkenstock Soft Arizona

When in doubt, go with a classic pair of Birkenstocks – especially the ‘soft’ Arizona style. They need no breaking-in, will last forever, and always look cool. That said, sandals for men have come a REALLY long way in the last few years, and I’m especially loving woven pairs, both a traditional fisherman style or – even better – a woven fisherman mule. That said, there are a ton of leather slides to choose from right now that all have a similar casual-cool vibe.

Here are my favorite sandal picks for guys:

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2. The Best Espadrilles For Men

Featured: Rivieras | Pataras

For us, Rivieras have seriously earned their weight in our closet. Since my boys became teens, all three of my guys (hubs, and two boys) have been wearing Rivieras. My husband wears his all summer, and our boys wear theirs when traveling to Europe or for dressing up. These espadrille/loafer hybrids have a rubber sole, so they’re comfortable for walking around all day, dressy enough for most summer situations (the guys wore them – with linen suits – to my sister’s beach wedding), and, quite frankly, can take a beating. Mike also has a pair of colorful Rivieras which are also really cool (and surprisingly, look good with everything).

Colorful Rivieras

That said, if you really want a leather espadrille option, Rivieras does make a suede version, or Banana Republic’s suede espadrilles also look great.

Lastly, a classic Spanish brand like Viscata (made in Barcelona!) is always a safe bet, too!

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 3. The Best Canvas Shoes For Men

Featured: Slip-On Vans | Vans Authentic | Converse X Madhappy | Hey Dude Wally

Our favorite canvas slip-ons, each year, tend to be limited edition slip-on Vans. While the classic colors work, I often look for a pair with extra texture (chambray, herringbone, etc) or some kind of cool pattern. For this year, specifically, my favorite slip-on Vans for guys are either this muted checkerboard colorway (in ‘incense’) or this seriously cool floral pair (in ‘marshmallow white’).

Also of note? Converse’s collab with Madhappy has resulted in the best striped sneakers I’ve seen, like, ever. Not too bright and just a little broken-in, they’re perfect.

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4. The Best Summer Sneakers For Men

Featured: New Balance | Autry Men Windspin | Autry Running Shoe (brown) | Asics | Adidas

I’m loving all of the retro running sneakers that have been dominating the trends recently. Color, suede, and old-school pairs from New Balance and Asics – literally nothing is more comfortable. My younger guys love the chunkier pairs (like New Balance 990s, or even 574s, as well as Asics), but on my husband, I tend to stick to lower profile sneakers, in saturated color (like Adidas Italias 70’s or Handball Spezials in this really cool green). It’s just a fresher look.

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xo,

S