The 11 Summer Shoes On My Mind

Everything in my rotation and on my radar for hot, hot heat.

Summer is still technically a month away, but, at least in LA, the sun is out, and all I want to do is bask in it. It’s also put my mind onto shoes — seemingly the least important factor of a summer outfit, but actually the one thing that can tie it all together. Below, I’ve outlined eleven of my favorites, including a few I already own (marked with an asterisk below).

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Pane Light Training No-Gi - $250-280*

Pane’s website should be live next month, and you’ll finally be able to purchase stateside, but rest assured, they are worth the wait. Their Light Training No-Gi series is made from a partially unlined suede and leather upper in the style of the traditional German Army Trainers (colloquially, GATs). Like tabis are for womenswear, the GAT was reproduced by Margiela and a handful of other designers and has historically been an in-code, signifying that you know (and have access to) the reference material that has inspired some of the most esteemed high fashion designers. Pane’s take is a measured upgrade, with higher quality materials, lighter weight, and options for just about any aesthetic. Yes, they come in black, too.

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Tretorn Nylite Canvas Sneakers - $40-60*

3 stacks, a past Tretorn collaborator

You may know Tretorn if you were around for the #menswear boom of the early 2010s—the PR agency I later worked for seeded them out to a handful of bloggers, including myself. What many don’t know, unless they were around the tennis scene in the 70s or have done their research, is that they were the de facto tennis shoe for preppies and their girlfriends (per The Official Preppy Handbook). Worn mainly by women (the men seem to have favored Stan Smiths), what I love about these is that they have the sort of deep sole cushioning and padded collar you might expect from a chunkier shoe, but sandwich it into a more elegant Keds-like silhouette with an almost-lace-to-toe upper that visually narrows the front profile. Ingenious design at an affordable price, though somehow, not for everybody. It is for me, though.

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Todd Snyder Nomad Suede Crossover Sandal - $268

Manish’s review of Rondini’s crossover sandal has put my mind on them, and Todd Snyder’s crossover sandals have been a sleeper hit for years due to their simplicity and versatility. In full Italian hairy suede with a molded foam footbed and a wider strap than the Rondini ones, I imagine they’re quite comfortable too.