Summer wedges – if you need to dress up amidst this scorcher of a heatwave – are the best shoe you can choose. When need the height of a heel but the comfort of a flat sandal, a wedge sandal is an absolute blessing – ‘cos who really has the energy to be teetering around in a sky-high heel?
Kate Middleton will tell you so.
Maintaining the comfort we’ve grown accustomed to over the past two-and-a-bit-years, Castañer summer wedges reign supreme as The Duchess of Cambridge’s summer shoe of choice – and they have done ever since she was first spotted in a pair back in 2019.
More recently, she was spotted wearing a pair in June this year, and as per, fans went wild. Castañer, a family-run brand, has been reinventing the espadrille since 1927; in the late 60s, they gained prominence after creating the first ankle tie-clad wedge for Yves Saint Laurent. Wedge sandals are certainly a winner, whether you’re off to a friend’s wedding or for brunch in the sun.
Sure, Castañer upwards-of-£80 price tag for a pair of summer wedges is a little expensive (~ahem~ cost of living crisis), so we’ve found a whole bunch of lookalikes from our favourite high street stores that will have you feeling just as good. And luckily, if the jute-soled summer wedge isn’t your bag, there are a whole bunch of summer wedges in different styles which prove the controversial style has come a long way since the early 2000s. Think: sleek slides, minimalist mules, chunky platforms and styles with a touch of cork.
Style your chunky shoes with a summer dress or playsuit – or make like Dries Van Noten who proved summer wedges can pair well with a silky midi skirt or a sequin dress. And when autumn rolls around, you can pair them with cute socks à la the models in Dsquared’s resort 2022 collection show.
After more footwear content? Shop our edit of shoe brands or our round-ups of the best summer sandals — including dad sandals and sandals that cover your toes — fashion trainers, gym trainers, white trainers, loafers, wedding guest shoes and ballet pumps.
Scroll for our full edit of the best summer wedges to shop this season.
