If you’re heading to the beach, then you need to make sure that you have a good bathing suit—but it’s also important to ensure that you have all the accessories to go with it. The right footwear is a must when you’re at the beach, both to complete your outfit and protect your feet, but finding the right pair of shoes can be a pain. Here’s the Swimsuits Direct guide to picking the best sandals for your swimsuit.
Practicality
First of all, keep a few guidelines in mind that apply to all beach shoes. Although it’s important to find a pair that’s stylish, the main purpose of your beach shoes is to protect your feet from hot sand and debris like sticks, rocks, and shells. You’ll want them to be comfortable enough to walk in, especially if you have to travel some distance from your vehicle to the shoreline, but they should also be easily removable so that you can slip than on and off as you hop in and out of the water.
Comfort
Although heels can be cute, avoid anything higher than a slight wedge, since high heels and unstable ground are a very bad mix. Also, steer away from closed-toe shoes or sandals with tight straps that can catch sand, or else you’ll end up very uncomfortable. Finally, be sure that you get shoes that are the right size—if they are too large, then they’ll slide everywhere and make walking difficult; too small and they’ll pinch your feet. When in doubt, though, it’s better to have beach shoes that are slightly too big than slightly too small.
Durability
You should also be aware that your beach shoes will have to hold up in rough conditions. Steer away from non-waterproof shoes at all costs or they’ll be ruined within a matter of hours. Also, the shoes should be able to stand up to abrasive sand, or should be cheap enough that wearing them out isn’t a problem. Finally, make sure that they’re easy to clean, since they’re certain to pick up muck, mud, or sand while you’re swimming or walking around. Rubber, foam, and resin are all great choices for material if you’re trying to find good beach shoes.
Appeal
If you’re going to be walking around in other areas, though, you’ll also want to make sure that you have shoes that you can wear with confidence in public. Flip-flops with a swimsuit is a classic effortless look, although you can also choose t-strap or sport sandals to compliment your look.
Accent Colors
When you’re trying to choose sandals that go well with your swimsuit, make the same considerations that you would with your other accessories. Are you trying to add a contrasting statement piece to your outfit? Pick a bright color or bold pattern. This works particularly well if you choose to match the sandals with other accessories like a hat or bag but not with the suit itself.
Neutral Shades
If you want a pair of shoes that will go with any suit, though, then you might want to consider getting them in a neutral color such as white, black, or tan, which will go with just about anything. If you want to get a little more creative with your neutral sandal, opt for metallic colors like silver or gold, or choose a sandal with subtle embellishments like hardware or small seashells.
A Perfect Match
Finally, if you want everything to go well together, try to find a sandal that matches the color of your swimsuit. Since beach footwear is often one of the least expensive parts of your ensemble, you can even pick out a different shoe to go with every swimsuit you own. Finding the right beach outfit doesn’t have to be difficult, especially if you follow these handy tips.