The Flip Flop, Elevated: Why Staud's Summer Sandals Are the Season's Most Covetable Shoes
There is a particular kind of shoe that does all the talking for you. Not a stiletto demanding an occasion, not a trainer asking you to slow down — but the kind of sandal that says: I know exactly where I'm going, and I'll look incredible getting there. The block heel flip flop — the designer-elevated thong sandal — has officially arrived as the footwear story of summer 2025. And at the centre of it all is Staud.
The Los Angeles label, founded by Sarah Staudinger and George Augusto in 2015, has always understood something that many luxury brands miss: that real women want clothes and accessories that feel effortless without appearing careless. Their footwear follows the same philosophy. Think easy silhouettes with a considered twist — the kind of shoe you reach for without thinking, then receive compliments on all day.
The Block Heel Flip Flop Moment
The Sloane is the sandal everyone in the know has been waiting for. Constructed in natural raffia — a material synonymous with sun-drenched destination dressing — it takes the open-toe, thong-strap silhouette that has dominated poolside aesthetics and elevates it with a sturdy, architectural block heel. The result? A shoe that transitions seamlessly from a morning beach walk to an open-air dinner without a single change of outfit required.
Block heel flip flops have had a certain cultural resonance this season — think the Marni fussbett silhouette that sparked a global conversation about what a "serious" shoe could look like. Staud's approach is no less intentional, but unmistakably more wearable: the Sloane is grounded in practicality without surrendering an ounce of personality.
Explore the full Staud Summer 25 collection →
Three Shoes, One Summer
Staud's Summer '25 footwear edit doesn't stop at one statement. This season offers a trio of distinct moods — each one a complete editorial in miniature.
The Freja is for the woman who wants her shoes to feel like jewellery — cream leather dusted with shell paillette embellishments that catch the light with every step. The Brigitte, rendered in a warm porcini tone with a clear PVC strap, leans into the barely-there aesthetic that has defined the best dressed feet of recent resort seasons. Both sit at a kitten or low heel height — the sweet spot between comfort and polish.
Discover the full Staud edit at Lola Dré →
How to Dress Around Them
The Sloane's raffia texture calls for equally considered companions. Pair with a flowing linen mini — the Wells Floral Embroidered Mini Dress in white multi is a natural match, its intricate hand-stitched blooms echoing the artisanal spirit of the sandal below.
Wells Floral Embroidered Mini Dress
Staud — $395
Tiki Natural Raffia Bucket Bag
Staud — $350
Carry the texture story through to your accessories with the Tiki Raffia Bucket Bag — woven in the same natural tones as the Sloane sandal for a head-to-toe resort look that feels thoughtfully assembled rather than matchy-matchy. It's the kind of cohesion that comes from a brand with a clear design vision.
Explore Staud Shoulder Bags & Totes →
From Pool to Promenade
No summer footwear story is complete without addressing where the shoes actually start: the pool deck. The Sloane makes its most compelling case as a beach-to-bar sandal, slipped on over Staud's Summer '25 swimwear — the beaded Laird Halter Bikini Top in flame, for instance, brings the same artisanal energy as the woven raffia underfoot.
Slip on a beach cover-up, add the Sloane sandal, and what was a poolside moment becomes an effortlessly polished afternoon look — no rethinking required.
Discover Staud Bikinis & Swimwear →
Explore Staud Beach Cover Ups →
The Designer Flip Flop, Reconsidered
The conversation around designer flip flops and elevated thong sandals — whether you're drawn to the Staud block heel approach or the sculptural statements coming out of labels like Marni — ultimately speaks to a larger shift in how we think about summer dressing. Ease is no longer at odds with elegance. The most considered summer wardrobe reaches for a sandal that understands both.
At Lola Dré, the full Staud Summer '25 edit is waiting — from the shoes that start the conversation, to the dresses, bags, and swimwear that complete it.
