5 Footwear Styles to Cultivate the Perfect Summer Rotation
It’s warming up, and it’s high time to begin putting away your weatherproofed boots and bringing out footwear that is far more sunny-weather-ready.
Your footwear is one of the hardest-working categories in your wardrobe. Getting a good rotation of styles means you can give your shoes a rest between wears and not lose out on being seasonally appropriate is a key step in making a foolproof summer wardrobe. The right choices can set the groundwork for a season of dressing well and feeling like you nailed the exuberant vibe of summer. The wrong choices can result in a confused and impractical look.
Here are the shoes you should consider to cultivate an ideal summer footwear rotation.
Mules & Slippers
The shoe of the moment, low-profile, slip-on shoes, have been gracing the catwalks of some of menswear’s most beloved brands as of late. Leather slippers work as a more elevated take on styles that have been trending in recent years, like the Birkenstock Boston — when worn with a loose pair of shorts or relaxed leg and light wash denim, a mule-style shoe can kick your look up a notch into something more discerning, without lacking in the comfort department.
Loafers
A slightly more formal slip-on option that still dresses down nicely with shorts or denim, loafers are a classic menswear item that is a longstanding favorite for both luxury and emerging brands (and for this writer’s own personal rotation).
Penny loafers are an easy go-to option, thanks to their relative ubiquity and broad spectrum in terms of price point, but loafers are a varied category, so don’t limit your search to the simpler options if a style like the Lemaire Piped Loafer is more fitting for your personal rotation.
Sneakers
An obvious, but important addition – sunny days and sneakers go hand in hand. Whether it be a statement-making, bold choice or something more classic, your more casual and comfortable footwear should be a firm contender for the season’s most-worn.
It’s best to make sure you don’t have to rely too much on just one pair of sneakers, and bringing in a good spread of silhouettes — something low-top and classic, a runner shape and then a more trend-led style like a thin-sole option should see you right through to fall and make sure that you’re able to give your sneakers a well-earned rest in between wears.
Sandals
The summer shoe staple, sandals, are quite literally made for this time of year and deserve a place in your rotation. The sandal du jour for summer 2025? Fisherman sandals. A closed-toe option that sits in between something more familiar (like a strappy sandal) and a derby shoe. Fisherman sandals work great with tailored trouser options to embrace a truly Mediterranean summer (we hope).
Moccains & Boat Shoes
Boat shoes have long been a summer staple, and while their reputation leans preppy, modern iterations (in neutral suedes or deconstructed builds) feel far more wearable than the yacht-club clichés of old. Worn without socks and paired with cuffed chinos or drawstring trousers, they lend themselves well to warm weather without going full coastal cosplay.
Moccasins — and more simple (albeit, iconic) styles like the Clarks Wallabee — have also carved out their lane in summer dressing. With a crepe sole and distinctive toe shape, Wallabees offer a slightly offbeat but grounded silhouette that works surprisingly well with relaxed tailoring or a laid-back short-and-shirt combo. This is a winning direction to explore if you're after something that feels simultaneously easygoing and distinctive.