Buying Guide
Designer Sandals Worth Buying
Designer sandals worth buying come down to a few names that get the proportions right, and this edit gathers the pairs we'd actually wear all season. Think Miu Miu's slightly retro flats, Burberry's check trims, and the cleaner contemporary labels that fill the gap below £300. We've grouped them by where they sit on price and occasion, so you can find a flat for daily wear or a heeled pair for evening without scrolling past every variation in between.
Miu Miu and Burberry sandals
This is where the playful flats and low slingbacks live. Miu Miu leans into a slightly girlish, retro shape: rounded toes, thin straps, often a small buckle or bow. Burberry's pairs here bring the house check on a strap or footbed. Expect £400 and up for Miu Miu leather, less for the simpler Burberry styles. Buy these if you want a sandal that reads as a label without shouting. If your feet run narrow, the delicate straps suit you. Wide feet should size up half.
Burberry and contemporary styles
The contemporary half of the edit, where Burberry sits alongside Maje, Sandro and similar British and French labels. You get more flat slides, woven leather and minimal heeled sandals around the £150 to £350 mark. This is the sensible-money bracket: good leather, quiet design, easy to wear with trousers or a summer dress. Buy here first if you want one pair to carry the season. We'd skip anything with a thin synthetic sole, since it won't survive much pavement.
More sandals worth knowing
A wider sweep for when you know the shape you want but not the label. Heeled sandals for evening, flat slides for off-duty, a few statement pairs from the likes of Alexander McQueen or Acne Studios. Prices run broad, so use the filters to set your ceiling. This section rewards browsing: it's where you'll spot a colour or heel height the headline names didn't cover. Good place to find a second, less precious pair you can actually wear to the pub.
The buyer's brief
How to choose
A good sandal earns its keep on fit, materials and how often you'll reach for it. Here's how we'd weigh those before buying.
Decide flat or heeled first
It narrows everything else. A flat slide or low slingback is the pair you'll wear most, so we'd buy that first and treat a heeled sandal as the second purchase. If you only want one, go flat. Heels look great but spend more days in the wardrobe than on your feet.
Check the strap against your foot shape
Thin single straps suit narrow feet and look refined, but they can dig in if your foot is wider or higher in the instep. A wider band or two straps spread the pressure and stay comfortable all day. If you're between the two, the wider strap is the safer buy.
Look at the sole, not just the upper
A leather upper on a thin synthetic sole wears out fast and feels cheap underfoot. A proper leather or stacked sole costs more but holds up on real pavement. This is the single thing most worth paying for, so weigh it before the logo or the colour.
Match the price to how hard you'll wear it
A daily slide takes a beating, so a mid-price contemporary pair around £150 to £300 makes more sense than something precious. Save the £400-plus Miu Miu or McQueen pairs for occasions where they won't see gravel and rain. Spend where the wear actually happens.
Sizing runs label to label
Italian designer sandals often come up narrow, so size up half if you're unsure or have a wider foot. The cleaner contemporary labels tend to run closer to true. When a strap sits across the widest part of your foot, a touch of room beats a snug fit you'll regret by lunchtime.
Pick a colour you'll actually repeat
Tan, black and a soft neutral go with most of a summer wardrobe and never look dated. A bright or metallic pair is fun but earns fewer outings, so treat it as an extra rather than your main buy. If you're choosing one, neutral leather is the workhorse.
Good to know
Answered
For a pair you'll wear all summer, yes, mainly for the leather and the sole, which outlast cheaper versions. The logo is the part you pay a premium for and use the least. We'd put the budget into a well-made mid-price pair before a precious one you're scared to scuff.
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About this edit
Diligo's edits are curated by our editorial team and updated as ranges and availability change. Every product featured is hand-picked for design, quality and lasting appeal, so you can discover pieces worth buying without trawling dozens of sites.
Product availability and prices shown are indicative and refreshed regularly. Tap any product to continue to the brand.