Elevated Ground: The Case for Rope Platform Sandals This Season
There is something quietly triumphant about a sandal that lifts you — literally and figuratively — without demanding that you suffer for it. The rope platform sandal occupies a very particular place in the luxury wardrobe: part artisan craft, part coastal glamour, entirely practical. Whether wound into a jute espadrille wedge or twisted into a natural raffia slide, rope and woven textures have become the signature sole of the considered summer wardrobe.
This season, the rope wedge sandal has moved well beyond its Mediterranean origins. Designers from Milan to New York are revisiting the silhouette — injecting it with embroidery, logo hardware, and elevated fabrications that place it firmly in luxury platform sandal territory. The result? A shoe that earns its height.
Why the Rope Wedge Endures
The espadrille has been a fixture of Mediterranean dress since the 13th century — originally a working shoe, humble and practical. What luxury fashion has done is remarkable: taken that same jute rope construction and married it to hand-embroidery, silk ribbons, and refined leathers, transforming it into one of the most covetable silhouettes of the warm-weather season. Dolce & Gabbana's interpretation above is the archetype — their signature floral embroidery climbing a sculpted espadrille platform, the kind of sandal that belongs equally on a Positano terrace or a rooftop dinner.
Natural raffia is rope's close cousin and equally compelling. Dolce & Gabbana's woven slide captures the same artisan spirit in a flat, effortless format.
Natural Raffia Logo Embellished Slide Sandal
Dolce & Gabbana — $825
Marielle Leather Slingback Wedge Sandal
Paris Texas — $338
Left: Dolce & Gabbana's artisan raffia slide. Right: Paris Texas brings Italian craftsmanship to the slingback wedge.
Paris Texas — the Rome-based label that has quietly become one of Italy's most respected footwear names — brings a different sensibility to the rope wedge sandal conversation. Their Marielle slingback forgoes the jute for sleek leather, but the elevated platform sole carries the same architectural intention: height without compromise. It's the wedge for the woman who wants lift but refuses to sacrifice stride.
Explore the full Dolce & Gabbana Flat Sandals collection →
The Platform as Evening Proposition
Luxury platform sandals are no longer confined to daylight hours. At Loeffler Randall — a label that has mastered the intersection of accessible luxury and genuine craft — the platform takes a decidedly after-dark turn. The Loretta in black velvet is the kind of sandal that reframes an entire outfit. Paired with wide-leg trousers or a bias-cut slip dress, it grounds the look with quiet authority.
Loretta Black Velvet Platform Sandal
Loeffler Randall — $180
Angelina Cream Moiré Bow Wedge
Loeffler Randall — $158
Pamela Champagne Mignon Knot Wedge
Loeffler Randall — $99
What makes Loeffler Randall's wedge offering so compelling is the range of occasion. The Angelina — with its moiré bow and cream-and-natural colourway — speaks to garden parties and destination weddings. The Pamela Knot Wedge, meanwhile, offers a natural jute sole married to a delicate champagne upper, a pairing that recalls the best of rope wedge sandal dressing: effortless, sun-warmed, considered.
Explore the full Loeffler Randall Heeled Sandals collection →
How to Style a Platform Sandal: Four Rules Worth Keeping
- Let the leg breathe. Platform sandals — rope or otherwise — work best with hemlines that end above the ankle. Midi skirts with a side slit, wide-leg linen trousers cropped at the calf, or the classic mini all allow the shoe to register.
- Match the texture to the mood. Woven jute or rope reads relaxed and coastal; velvet or leather platform reads evening and considered. Dress the occasion, not just the outfit.
- Trust the stability. A true wedge distributes weight evenly — making rope wedge sandals among the most wearable of heeled styles. They're an intelligent choice for long days and warm evenings alike.
- Keep accessories minimal. A sculptural platform sole carries visual weight. Let it. Simple jewellery and an unfussy bag allow the shoe to anchor the look as it should.
Explore the full Women's Designer Sandals collection →
At Lola Dré, our edit of luxury platform sandals draws from the full breadth of the category — from the artisan espadrille to the refined velvet platform, from natural raffia to polished leather wedges. What unites them is a shared belief that height should never come at the cost of ease, and that the right sandal makes every step feel intentional.
