You’ve nailed the clothes. You’ve layered the accessories.
Now, welcome to the grand finale of your Summer ’25 style playbook: the shoe drop.
This part is all about grounding your fits with the footwear that’s defining the season—from barely-there beach slides to nostalgic balletcore comebacks. Whether you’re sprinting from courtside to seaside or just showing off your post-match glow, your shoes speak volumes before you even say a word. Let’s get you laced, strapped, and ready to walk into the season like it’s your own runway.
Flip-Flop Fever: The Anti-It Shoe That’s Somehow So It:
I’ll end this article with your go-to capsule shoe edition this summer. Starting off strong with flip flops—yep, you heard me, flip flops! If you haven’t noticed and adopted the trend already, I’d like to advise you to seek comfort in it, wholeheartedly own it, and even dare to wear it outside the beach, as it somehow revives the cool, effortless Y2K aesthetic in the most laid-back, comfortable, and affordable fashion. Bonus: there’s no shame in having it as your go-to transition piece pre- and post-training. After all, you’re the girl who got the memo—so why not set the trend around the courts?
Sleek Sneakers Revival:
Not comfortable letting your feet breathe during the season and wanna stick to the comfort of the usual sneakers? No problem. Just make sure to ditch the chunky ones and instead aim for slimmer ones that are definitely dominating the scene as the hottest sneaker trend at the moment. Again, since everything is making a comeback, the classic Puma Speedcat from my old days (yes, I said “my old days” because I’m a 90s gal just like this trend) is also making a strong reappearance. As the referenced image shows, you can’t go wrong with a red Speedcat but feel free to opt for any alternative brand like Asics or New Balance as long as you’re going for their slimmer styles. Lastly, if red is too loud for you, feel free to tone it down with neutrals as it is also an in-trend color-palette for this sneaker type.
See Through Is The Way Through:
Third in line is the mesh ballet flats—well, first things first is the ballet flats trend since last year, but this time around make it mesh. Though correct me if I’m wrong, I feel that the squash lifestyle typically renders us comfortable in sneakers and less comfortable with anything sock-free, but trust me, this is the one shoe trend that’s worth trying out, especially if you’re the dainty type or the minimalist kind.
Again, it will pair perfectly with capri leggings, bermudas, and jorts, even classic denim regardless of whether shorts or straight-leg denim pants, the mesh ballerinas will refine and elevate practically any fit this season.
Balletcore, But Make It Sporty:
Into the ballet flats trend but still can’t let go of the comfort the sneakers provide you? Well, fashion has got you—because ladies and lovely ladies, this summer comes to you with the “sneakerina.” In other words, sporty ballet flats. Truthfully, not everyone’s cup of tea, but definitely growing in popularity again (yes, another y2k trend) in the fashion scene, and certainly a better alternative if you wanna change things up in your pre- and post-training attire.
Y2K At The Seaside:
Another interesting and fun take on ballet flats is the Jelly shoes, and it’s definitely worth a try. Think breathable European-summer/meet sandy-beaches/meet yet another take on Y2K. Safe to say though—it may also not be for everybody, nor is it typically easy to style. But trust me, it can go as easy as switching it for your typical shoe option when wearing your go-to beach denim shorts, or channel your femininity and wear it with a flowy dress or slip skirt, or even better—your favorite capri this summer, and you’ll be good to go!
Maritime Meets Preppy:
Last but not least (and I know you might hate me for this one)—but I promised to get you all the fashion-tea, even if it is seemingly off-putting at a first glance.
Trust me, soon enough you’ll find it taking over your feed. So, our final shoe contender that’s slowly taking over summer ‘25 is the fisherman shoes. I know it may seem rather an unusual pick for the modern days, but trust me—something nostalgic about it perfectly ties together the previously mentioned trends, as it pays an ode to the maritime preppy style as well as the easy breezy European summer trend.
You’ll be surprised how those sandals will add an interesting twist to linen straight-leg pants or a pair of classic denim shorts. Lastly, don’t shy away from opting for the jelly version if you want to lean into a more playful look or simply find your perfect beach pair that’s sand- and water-resistant.
Whether you’re team Speedcat or Jelly, flip-flops or fisherman shoes, your footwear can anchor your aesthetic or completely flip the vibe. The best part? You’re now armed with the trends, the tools, and the confidence to style your own summer story. Remember, your outfit isn’t just a look, it’s an energy.
So, go ahead: serve looks, serve game, and serve bold, unapologetic self-expression. And if you’re still unsure which trend to try first or how to tailor it to your vibe, send your questions my way. The next fashion drop is coming, and I’ve got you covered.
