From a distance, the heeled thong still reads as something close to a flip-flop. It is only on second glance that the heel reveals itself, shifting the entire perception of the shoe itself. That tension—between what it appears to be and what it actually is—is integral to the heeled thong’s appeal.
Its practicality feels specific to the current moment. Dressing has become more flexible again, as the 9-to-5 increasingly bleeds into the 5-to-9—and heeled thongs fill a gap between shoes that feel too flat and those that feel too formal. It occupies a sweet spot few footwear manage to hit: polished enough for dinner, casual enough for a grocery run—not to mention being comfortable enough to wear through the long hours, in pursuit of lifemaxxing, perhaps. It is, in effect, an easy answer to dressing that no longer adheres strictly to day or night.
And so, somewhere between the return of square-toed sandals (have you seen the new Haivanas?) and the proliferation of kitten heels, the heeled thong has quietly become the shoe of the summer. Its versatility across different evolutions adds to its charm, appearing in an all-denim variant, as a platform wedge, and of course, a plethora of loud statement hues perfect for summer.
As the thong sandal continues its ascent from beach essential to wardrobe staple, the heeled version has emerged as its slightly more sophisticated sibling. Ahead, here are a few ways to style the silhouette currently earning its keep in many a summer wardrobe.
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Downtown sleaze
Think: Missy Elliot, Aaliyah, Lil Kim. Baggy pants and a crop top are elevated with the kitten heel thong—a little irreverent and just enough sleaze to feel effortless without feeling overly polished. Statement jewellery rounds off the look, tying together with the elevated heel to add a spot of playful girlishness to the look.
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St. Agni patent-leather wedge sandals, $560
Available at Net-A-Porter.
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White on white on white
Nothing like an all-white, monochrome moment to make a statement—perhaps the fashion equivalent of living life on the edge. One rogue coffee stain and the entire operation could come undone, but isn’t that part of the charm? Styled with sheer socks and wide lens, the look leans into a sense of futurist, nomadic tailoring; while the draped top and skirt add fluidity and movement to the monochromatic silhouette.
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Bruno Cucinelli cashmere turtleneck sweater, $4,342
Available at Farfetch.
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Khaite shay tie-detailed draped cotton-poplin wrap midi skirt $2,839
Available at Farfetch.
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Elevated basics with a twist
Prints have been having a bit of a revival as of late, as is the trend of basics with a twist. In this case, the “twist” in question is the heeled thong—here, styled with a mini black dachshund bag, upside down sunglasses, and a dash of pointillism with a sheer umbrella skirt—turning even the simplest of outfits into a statement.
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Henrik Vibskov upside down sunglasses, $450
Available at Net-A-Porter.
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Valentino Garavino crepe-trimmed wool-blend tweed jacket, $,2,476
Available at Net-A-Porter.
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Susa Musa meadow skirt in butter polka dot, $194
Available at Susa Musa.
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Maison Mihara Yasuhiro dolls dachshund leather shoulder bag, $1,387
Available at Farfetch.
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MM6 Maison Margiela anatomic leather flip flop mules, $815
Available at Maison Margiela.
