How to Style Men’s Sandals And Open-Toed Shoes (Without Looking Like You’re at the Beach)

Open-toed shoes have had a rough run in men’s fashion. For years, the only acceptable place to wear them was between the front door and the beach, with a towel in one hand and sunscreen in the other.  

But sandals have moved on. A good leather pair can look incredibly cool with trousers, fisherman sandals work well with denim and even slides can look stylish when the rest of your outfit is on point (and wearing them isn’t just reserved for holidays anymore). 

The trick is knowing which ones to buy, and what to wear with them. Here’s how to nail the open-toe shoe look, plus some of our favourite sandals and slides on the market right now. 

The Best Open-Toed Shoes for Men

Leather Sandals

Leather sandals are the easiest open-toe shoes to style without looking like you’re headed to the beach. When shopping for a pair, opt for simple straps, a thick sole, and a deep brown, black, or tan shade that breaks in with age. Because they typically have quite a bit of structure, they can easily be worn to lunch or a casual dinner without feeling like you’re underdressed.

As stylist Charlie Rincon tells Man of Many, the secret to pulling off open-toed footwear comes down to the effort you put in.

“Sandals work as long as the look shows that there is intent behind the outfit,” he says.

“A minimalist design in a good quality leather goes a long way and can be dressed up or down. Rubber or plastic materials can look like an afterthought and make a look feel as if they were thrown on last minute.”

What to pair them with: Linen trousers, relaxed chinos, unbuttoned camp-collar shirts.

Fisherman Sandals

With crisscrossed leather straps that cover more of the foot, fisherman sandals give you a much stronger, more architectural shape than a basic strap option. They also have plenty of personality, so they’re a great sandal to pair with an otherwise simple outfit.  

What to pair them with: Straight-leg denim, wide-leg cotton trousers, or tailored Bermuda shorts.

Sport Sandals

Built for utility, sport sandals have officially crossed over into daggy-cool territory. With their nylon straps, technical buckles, and heavy rubber soles, they’re inherently casual, so let them lean all the way into that aesthetic.

What to pair them with: Cargo pants, bermuda shorts, and oversized streetwear tees.

Thongs

Aussies love a good thong. It’s practically our national footwear. But traditional rubber thongs are strictly beach territory. If you can’t bear to part with your thongs but want a stylish upgrade, a leather pair changes the entire context of this humble shoe. They’re still a highly casual shoe, but the leather finish means you can wear them to a Sunday pub session or a lunch without looking like you just got back from a surf. Look for a pair with thicker straps for a more elevated and versatile pair. 

• What to pair them with: Tailored shorts, denim Bermuda shorts, wide-leg trousers, and a relaxed linen shirt.

Slides

Slides are definitely more casual, but they’re as easy to slip on as it gets. You’ve got the good old faithful Birkenstock (unbeatable for backyard BBQs or pub lunches), but if you want to elevate things to smart casual, a leather pair of slides is a must. Leave the plastic pool slides for the beach, and get some good leather on your feet, and you’re set for everything from a Sunday brunch to afternoon drinks.

• What to pair them with: Wide-leg pants, pleated shorts, and a simple boxy tee.

How to Style Open-Toed Shoes

The easiest way to wear sandals and open-toed shoes is to keep the rest of the outfit simple. Think flowing linen, block colours, wide-leg trousers and boxy cropped tees.

How to Style Open-Toed Shoes with Trousers

Sandals with trousers are often easier to wear than sandals with shorts. Linen trousers are the obvious choice, but relaxed chinos, cotton trousers, cropped pants and loose denim all work too. The hem should either sit just above the sandal or fall neatly onto it. If the fabric is bunching around your ankle, get the trousers altered or roll them once.

Rincon recommends leaning heavily into looser cuts when choosing your trousers. “Opt for more loose silhouettes. They should feel relaxed and easy, in lightweight fabrics,” he says.

“If we go for a slim or skinny pant, the legs just look awkward when paired with a sandal. Again, the idea is for it to look intentional, not like you’ve thrown them on purely for convenience.”

For the top, try a linen shirt, a knit polo or a boxy T-shirt. You can tuck it in if the trousers are tailored, or leave it loose if the whole outfit is more relaxed. Dark brown sandals with cream trousers are a great combination, while black sandals and faded denim are another easy style win. 

How to Style Open-Toed Shoes with Shorts

Sandals and shorts are the classic pairing, but the wrong shorts make it very easy to slip into ‘just left the beach’ territory. 

Board shorts, gym shorts and anything with a giant logo are better kept for casual situations like a picnic or backyard BBQ. 

Instead, try tailored shorts, pleated shorts, or Bermuda shorts. A longer short (like Bermudas) usually gives the outfit a bit more shape, especially with a leather sandal or fisherman sandal.

A boxy T-shirt is the easiest top to pair with shorts and sandals. Or, if the dress code is smart casual, a knit polo, camp-collar shirt or linen shirt will elevate the look. If your shorts are wide, choose a top that’s a bit more fitted and slightly cropped. 

Here’s a quick guide to what shoe pairs best with shorts:

• Leather sandals for tailored shorts
• Fisherman sandals for denim and workwear
• Sports sandals with cargo shorts, nylon shorts and other casual shorts

Choosing the Right Sandal Colour

Black, brown, tan and dark olive are the best colours to start with because they pair with almost everything. Black sandals look good with denim, grey trousers and darker outfits. Brown and tan are more relaxed and work with cream, white, navy, olive and faded blue.

If you’re buying just one pair, we’d go with dark brown or black because they’ll work with most of what you already own. 

And, in good news, you don’t need to match your sandals exactly to your belt. The old rule about every piece of leather being identical has had its day. Just don’t choose a black belt with brown shoes; they have to at least be in the same colour tone. 

Socks With Sandals: Yay or Nay?

Socks and sandals used to be an absolute no-go, reserved only for a late-night grocery run where you were guaranteed not to run into anyone you knew. But these days, it’s one of the easiest ways to add some personality to your outfit.

You can definitely pull it off, but it all comes down to the shoe:

• White crew socks: The safest, easiest starting point. They work with chunky slides, fisherman sandals, and sport sandals.
• Darker socks: Try a charcoal or black ribbed sock paired with black sandals and wide-leg trousers for a cleaner, continuous line.
• A pop of colour: If the rest of your outfit is stripped-back and simple, a colored sock like red, green or blue gives it an immediate lift.

All that being said, you need to know when to draw the line. For example, if you’re wearing leather sandals, we’d probably suggest skipping the socks. 

Of course, not everyone is sold on the trend. If you ask Rincon, the answer is simple: “Not in my book, no. Never.”

Can You Wear Sandals to the Office?

To sandal or not to sandal in the office completely comes down to your workplace. Law firm? Probably not. Creative agency? It’s probably okay. 

Basically, if your office is more on the relaxed side, a pair of leather sandals with tailored trousers and a shirt can work really well. But if you’re heading into client meetings or working somewhere conservative, it’s safer to keep your toes covered.

That said, casual styles like slides and sport sandals should remain as weekend wear (they’re just a bit too relaxed for an office setting, no matter how casual the dress code is).

If you’re really keen to wear open-toed shoes to the office, ask the higher-ups if there are any strict policies against freeing your toes. 

Looking After Your Feet

Perhaps the most important rule of all: if you’re wearing open-toed shoes, you need to look after your feet. This means keeping your toenails trimmed, and moisturing your feet so you don’t have cracked heels peeping through your shoes. It’s probably a good idea to book in for a routine pedicure (yes, you can get a pedicure without the polish, don’t worry).

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