Ask a Vogue editor for their summer shoe suitcase essential – and while they may meditate over The Row’s It-girl adored Ginza thongs, Hermès’s chunky Chypre’s or Chanel’s “Dad” sandals – it’s likely that several will land on a simple rubber Havaianas flip-flop.
Insouciant, subtly sporty and simplistic, a Havaianas flip-flop speaks of salty toes on the shoreline, breezy white dresses and boxer shorts. They’re as pared back as a hand luggage-only toiletry bag, as low-key as a Greek salad in a local taverna, and as drama-free as uninstalling the Mail app from your phone after you’ve activated your out of office. When fashion’s current fervour for the bells (beads) and whistles of the boho trend is reaching an all-time high, a Havaianas flip-flop feels refreshingly fuss and feather free.
They’ve also been the summer footwear favourite of a multitude of A-listers, from Noughties-era Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian, to J-Lo, who loves nothing more than swapping her vertiginous wedges for an ergonomic sandal, when sauntering around the Amalfi Coast.
While fashion insiders may adore Havaianas flip-flops for their low-key allure, our long-standing interest has been piqued once again by the Brazil-based brand’s latest iteration of the humble 1962-founded rubber thong.