Don’t Fight It, Embrace the Flip Flop

For years, flip flops have been relegated to poolside duty and locker room transitions—functional, sure, but far from fashionable. Then more guys started embracing stylish open-toed styles like slides and fisherman sandals. Now, this summer, the long-held perception on flip flops has started to shift. Thanks in part to stylish guys like Jonathan Bailey and Bradley Cooper confidently stepping out in sleek, minimalist pairs, the once-maligned thong sandal is getting a well-deserved reappraisal. Their looks prove that flip flops can be casual without looking careless, and that you can flash some toe without being inappropriate.

Today's flip flops are more refined, often made from premium materials and designed with a streamlined silhouette that elevates them from dorm-room default to genuinely stylish summer essential. Whether paired with relaxed linen trousers or some wide-leg shorts, they add a laid-back ease that feels perfectly in step with the season. And maybe best of all? You no longer have to be afraid of looking like you just left a dorm bathroom—because the cool guys have already paved the way.