Slippers are trending for summer

SINGAPORE – Exposed toes, it would appear, are finally in vogue.

The latest trending shoe taking over street style is not a designer ballet flat or high heel, but the humble slipper.

The recently concluded Paris Fashion Week that took place in a record-breaking heatwave saw toes fill the streets, as fashionistas ditched their layers and covered shoes for a stab at ventilation. Thankfully for them, the designers on show echoed their approval – by sending models down the runway in open-toed sandals and slippers – including Tokyo-based brand Auralee.

If the data has it, flip-flops have flip-flopped back into desirability.

The Lyst Index, the industry’s quarterly ranking of fashion’s hottest brands and products, crowned the Dune flip-flop from quiet luxury label The Row the hottest product of the second quarter of 2025, with searches up 162 per cent. From April to June 2025, demand for Brazilian flip-flop giant Havaianas surged 173 per cent on Lyst, marking the brand’s biggest seasonal jump in years.

The fervour has carried into 2026. June data from Lyst showed that flip-flops are up 41 per cent month on month, with brands such as Saint Laurent, COS and Havaianas driving conversion in a relaxed luxury direction.

For decades, the criticism that “sloppy” Singaporeans love a good slippers-and-shorts combo has curtailed all debate that the nation has style. With the fashion world giving its stamp of approval, might this slander finally be put to bed?

Retailers here have already seen increased demand. A spokesperson for Melissa Singapore notes that walk-ins and inquiries around jelly flip-flops and thong sandals have picked up noticeably this season, with jelly shoes emerging as “one of the most unexpected and exciting sandal trends of the year”.

Timely launches of new styles such as the Brazil-born brand’s Flip Flop Kitten Heels and M Lover Thong Platform, alongside trend-led collaborations with Danish fashion brand Ganni and Italian label Diesel (launching July 22), have further driven demand.

“We’ve seen celebrities like Hailey Bieber embracing the flip-flop look, and that’s definitely helped shape and accelerate the wave globally. Especially in Singapore, our year-round warm climate makes flip-flops a practical must-have, so the jelly flip-flop naturally found strong demand here too. It fits both the lifestyle and the trend,” adds the spokesperson.

Meanwhile, Havaianas, the millennial’s go-to flip-flops, has been having a moment, says Debra Toh, brand manager for Havaianas Singapore.

“In Singapore, we received approximately 40 per cent more inquiries about newer shapes and silhouettes – including the Slim Square, Slim Point and Puffed collections,” she says. The brand also recorded a 15 per cent uplift in sales in Singapore compared with 2025.

Its Puffed collection – a collaboration with the film The Devil Wears Prada 2 launched in June – achieved a 70 per cent sell-through within its first month, demonstrating that customers are embracing more fashion-forward options, adds Toh.

She believes this momentum coincides with Brazil increasingly being in the global spotlight. Just in time, as Havaianas recently unveiled Brazilian football star Vinicius Jr as the face of its latest global campaign.

Toh says: “The category is having a renewed fashion moment, but for Havaianas, it is more than a seasonal trend. As one of Brazil’s most recognisable products, Havaianas represents the country’s sense of colour, confidence, joy and effortless style.”

Global relevance, local practicality

Thong sandals have been gaining speed for a while now. The Row, founded by former actresses Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, normalised pricey leather thongs – popular styles cost from US$690 (S$890) – while in 2025, a social media trend of influencers wearing slippers in a “Copenhagen way” sparked backlash over the Eurocentric gentrification of footwear once classed as lowly, associated with the working class in South-east Asia.

Can something really be new or trendy if it was already a way of life? Singaporeans may have been ahead of the curve, then, in the humid Republic.

What feels different now is that the interest is not limited to the classic flip-flop silhouette. Slippers are increasingly being treated as a considered part of an outfit, says Toh.

Havaianas has long been the go-to flip-flop brand for many Singaporeans, so there is already a high level of familiarity and trust, she notes. “What we are seeing now is customers becoming more adventurous within the brand. The demand is also coming from a broad range of age groups.”

The flip-flop and thong sandal have been elevated in both design and perception, echoes Melissa’s spokesperson. “They are no longer seen as just casual beach shoes. They have become genuine style staples, worn by ‘it’ girls and celebrities, and styled with everything from tailored trousers to dresses.

“Within that, the jelly iteration added a playful, nostalgic layer that has brought a new generation of shoppers into the trend. For some, nostalgia brings them back to a style they wore growing up. For younger Gen Z shoppers, it’s a fresh Y2K-inspired discovery. It’s what we believe gives this cycle more staying power than previous ones.”

Content creator Charlotte Wang figures she is in something open-toed about 80 per cent of the time. The 33-year-old rotates between six regular pairs – including leather and suede ones from Copse Studio, heeled thongs from Glassons and rubber Havaianas – and just added another to her collection.

A slippers advocate since her polytechnic days, she found herself wearing them more frequently in the last six years. They go well with her relaxed personal style, says Wang, who draws inspiration from the Olsen twins. “I love how they pair it with everything, whether it’s a silk dress or a knit and jeans, and that’s definitely how I do it as well.

“It just completes the look I’m going for – effortless and breezy,” she adds. “My friends comment that although I wear my flip-flops all the time, they don’t look sloppy, and I’ve instead inspired them to wear theirs more too.

“I think flip-flops in fashion work because they are just an unexpected choice of footwear. I love seeing them paired with something formal, giving that model an off-duty look – just a bit relaxed and not trying too hard.”

All about styling

It begs the age-old question: How appropriate are flip-flops in the office or formal settings?

Fashion stylist Josiah Chua adopts a case-by-case outlook. “I don’t believe in hard fashion rules, but I do believe in reading the room. Flip-flops are inherently casual and rooted in warm-weather dressing, so context and dress codes still matter.

“I probably wouldn’t finish a formal ensemble with a basic rubber pair unless the design itself has been elevated – through luxurious materials, a sculptural platform or an artistic silhouette that transforms it into a statement piece rather than just beachwear.

“Rather than asking whether we should wear flip-flops, I’m more interested in how we can style them bolder and better,” he adds.

Consider styling flip-flops with colourful toeless socks for a playful tone-on-tone effect, paired with a baby tee and relaxed barrel jeans. Or lean into a more artful approach – with accessories like ornate toe rings, delicate anklets and a perfectly matched pedicure to elevate the humble flip-flop into something considered and intentional, he says.

Havaianas’ Toh says relaxing dress codes have helped soften the lines. “The way consumers dress has become more relaxed, expressive and individual. People are increasingly looking for footwear that combines comfort with personality, rather than feeling that they must choose between the two.”

Gen Z consumers, in particular, have embraced the brand’s colours and customisation possibilities.

“They are less concerned with conventional rules and more interested in using footwear to express their personal style. What began as renewed interest in nostalgic and understated footwear has developed into a wider appreciation for flip-flops as a legitimate fashion category,” Toh adds.

Havaianas has looked to new colours, shapes, materials and collaborations to expand beyond its traditional associations with beaches and holidays. Tie-ups with fashion brands such as Isabel Marant and cult Spanish label Gimaguas helped introduce Havaianas to a broader fashion audience – and show that the product can sit in elevated, contemporary wardrobes.

Toh, herself a content creator, says the key is to treat slippers as an intentional footwear choice, in the same way you would approach sneakers, loafers or boots.

“For Singapore’s climate, flip-flops work with a well-cut summer dress, linen separates, relaxed tailoring or a tank top with denim. A Slim Square or Slim Point silhouette can make a simple outfit feel more polished, while a platform or embellished style can become the focal point of the look,” Toh says.

Proportion is also important, she adds. Wider trousers gel with a sleeker flip-flop, while shorter dresses and skirts can be balanced with a thicker platform silhouette.

She says: “Ultimately, looking polished is more about how the entire outfit is put together. When the proportions feel balanced and the wearer feels comfortable and confident, flip-flops can look effortless rather than sloppy.”

Unless a dress code strictly forbids it, you will probably catch Wang in flip-flops. She likes pairing them with baggy light-wash denim, a strappy silk top and tiny bag for a night-out look.

Red slippers add a nice pop of colour to all-black outfits, she adds. “I’ve been getting into toe rings as well, so that’s just been another fun way to accessorise.”

For a more formal event, she might break out a pair with slimmer straps and in a nice leather and a heel.

The fit of the strap is one detail people miss out, says Wang. That, and the flip-flop itself should be in a decent and clean condition. “If it’s too loose, it’s going to not only be uncomfortable, but also look awkward. I know the most comfortable pairs are the ones that are worn in, but I’ll reserve those for neighbourhood walks.”

It has always been acceptable to wear slippers to town, she adds. “Just have clean feet.”

5 places for chic thongs

Havaianas

Founded in Brazil in 1962, the OG flip-flop brand once dominated Brazil’s pavements so thoroughly – worn mainly by the working class – that in 1980, the Brazilian government classified Havaianas as an essential good. It reached mass saturation globally by the mid-2010s, but is poised for a comeback.

The brand will open a new store at Takashimaya Shopping Centre (B1-52) on July 25 and launch the Exuberance Made of Brazil collection (priced at $65), a vibrant capsule in homage to the country, exclusively there.

Melissa

Known for its scented jelly shoes, Melissa is also a Brazilian brand, founded in 1979. Take a break from its iconic Possession fisherman sandals and free your toes with stylish kitten heel options like the Flip Flop Kitten Heels ($119) that come in four summery colourways.

Skechers

Before you brush off Skechers as just another “auntie” brand, take a second browse for orthopaedic options. The On-The-Go Gowalk 7 Sandal ($61) has a contoured foot bed and lightweight cushioning for all-day support. Mesh straps give a sporty feel.

Palola

Home-grown leather footwear brand Palola’s collaboration with Singaporean content creator Amanda Leong turns thong sandals into a classy day-to-night option.

The former beauty queen and shoe fiend designed and personally tested the heeled sandals. The Miranda 55 heeled sandal ($445) reinterprets the classic T-bar sandal, elevated with a 55mm kitten heel to be elegant enough for evening wear.

Zara

Trusty high-street brand Zara has a plethora of slipper options in materials spanning leather to polyester, in varying heel heights. These Flat Leather Sandals ($39.90) feature a braided toe post strap and metal applique detail for some edge.