Summer is on the horizon! I try to pause to audit my wardrobe every season (I just shared my summer essentials checklist here), and footwear is one of my favorite categories to refresh.

Warms weather brings with it a rise in social events and time outdoors, so having the right options makes the difference in feeling comfortable (and of course, stylish!) all season. With that in mind, I wanted to share the best summer shoes for women.

Best Summer Shoes for Women

From comfortable sneakers to dressy sandals, these are the summer shoes that provide me with enough variety and practicality to be true multitaskers. What you need may vary a bit based on your lifestyle, but this list should get you started!

Go-With-Everything Sandals

The workhorse shoe of summer is a classic slide sandal you can dress up or down. I have Hermes Oran leather sandals on my radar (I’ll let you know if I spring for them).

For now, I’ve been very happy rotating these leather sandals, these woven sandals, and these cutout sandals.

Flat Dressy Sandals

When heels are a “no” and you don’t want to feel too dressed down, a flat sandal with special details like ruffles, bows, or pearls is perfect.

I have my eye on this pearl pair and metal pair.

Anthropologie, Loeffler Randall, and Mango are three places I check when I’m looking for sandals with that extra oompf!

Birkenstock Sandals

I’ve never been big on Birks, but Vince released these a few years ago, and they’re some of my most-worn summer shoes. And Birkenstock has my interest piqued with these thong sandals from their Staud collaboration.

Whatever your style, a reliably comfortable shoe is a must for errands, grocery runs, and walking on vacation.

Flip Flops

For the beach and the pool, I love TKEES. It’s nice to have a sandal you don’t need to worry about getting wet/dirty and can be worn casually if needed.

Be sure to get the matte versions as the glossy ones peel when left in the sun. I like the shade Cocobutter.

Dressy Heeled Sandals

Summer is such a social time, so there’s a good chance you’ll have a dressy event (wedding, shower, date night) to attend. A heeled sandal is perfect for these.

Lately, I’ve been loving this Loeffler Randall bow heel, but for an option that goes with everything, I recommend Schutz ankle strap sandals.

Block Heel Sandals

If you’ll be standing for long or attending an event on a lawn (or anywhere where a stiletto is impractical), a block heel or wedge sandal will be a lifesaver.

I wear this Amazon pair all the time but Vince Camuto, Schutz, and Matisse have great block heel selections.

Espadrilles

I just bought my first pair of Castaner wedge espadrilles, and now I fully get the hype!

They’re just as comfortable as they are stylish and go with everything from dresses to shorts, jeans, and skirts.

If you don’t want a wedge, flat espadrilles are a great option too.

White Sneakers

My Common Projects Achilles white sneakers are some of my most-worn shoes throughout the year. The slim silhouette looks especially good with summer dresses, but they’re also the pair I usually wear when we’re traveling, doing a lot of walking, etc.

If you’re not ready for an investment shoe, Frye makes a similar slim white sneaker, and I love my Sam Edelman Ethyl sneakers.

Keep in mind that this isn’t a complete list!

There are so many alternatives to consider, from loafers to slingbacks to slip-ons and ballet flats.

These are just the styles I reach for the most. Mix and match to create the best summer shoe selection for your lifestyle. Have fun!

If you’re looking for more of my suggestions for building your summer wardrobe, I shared 10 summer essentials to audit your closet for, summer dresses under $200, and summer bags worth investing in.