There aren’t many trends that have transcended the “fashun” girl-muggle divide. Indeed, the former is not typically known for her predilection for a democratic price-point or concern with fashion functionality. Yet this season’s newfound obsession with the humble Havaiana shows that rules are there to be broken.
But then again, we’ve been here before. Who can forget the slip-slap sound that echoed throughout the Noughties? The perma-tanned girlies with their toe rings and Motorola Razrs. Beloved by celebrities (Paris Hilton, Kim K, Rihanna and Sienna et al) and “lads on tour” alike, the flip-flop belied social, economic and sartorial boundaries. So why now for a comeback?
Following Quiet Luxury’s seemingly endless tenure, perhaps we’re all craving a bit of… Lazy-Girl Glam? A sort of low-effort nonchalance that can only be achieved through the artistic tension between a £30 sandal peeking out beneath a pair of Alaïa horseshoe jeans or grounding a folkloric pleated skirt from Chopova. The flip-flop 2.0 is no longer the reserve of leisure centre showers and dodgy hostels, for 2024 it has range and, most importantly, the ability to be elevated (if The Row is jumping on the bandwagon, you know the transformation is complete).
But worry not, flip-flop loyalists, they haven’t lost any of their low-key charm. “There’s something quite physical about people’s disdain for the flip-flop, which makes them more radical,” fashion podcaster Biz Sherbert previously told Vogue. “They’re so deeply utilitarian. You roll up to the bar in a pair of Havaianas and you still look good? That’s cool.”
So, if your Birks are in need of a fallow season, why not consider returning to the Y2K appeal of the lazy-girl flip-flop? From Euros-ready football tops and jeans to holiday separates, scroll down to see and shop our flip-flop outfits for summer 2024.