Sandal season has finally arrived, and I, for one, couldn’t be gladder. Open-toed shoes signify summer, which means so many of my favourite things: holidays, socialising outdoors, and freedom from my winter wardrobe. (I need a break from my wool coat and boots, thank you very much.) At the start of every new season, I look for inspiration to refresh my wardrobe. And like many, I turn to Instagram. One of my favourite people to follow is stylist Oluwaseun Ogunsola, who consistently creates vibrant looks that artfully mix vintage, high-street and designer pieces. Each time I scroll her feed, I find myself rapidly googling new It items and adding them to my basket. The fashion art director, stylist, influencer and all-round cool girl is also a shoe fanatic much like myself. “I’m definitely more of a shoe gal than I am a bag gal. When choosing a style, I first think about versatility: Can I wear them with at least four to five outfits? Are they just a trend piece, or will I still want to wear them next summer? If the answer is yes, then I’m good to go,” she tells me.
Unsurprisingly, one of Ogunsola’s go-to footwear brands is Ugg. Founded in 1978 by an Australian surfer on the coast of California, UGG is a global lifestyle brand renowned for its iconic Classic boot which were as important to the early and mid 2000s as Paris Hilton and indie sleaze. But it has since grown exponentially, offering a wide range of styles including boots, trainers, slippers and, of course, sandals and slides. Two of Ugg’s most popular styles for the summer months are the Aww Yeah and FoamO slides. “My summer shoe rotation is filled with chunky, colourful sandals in all shapes and sizes, so these styles pretty much hit the nail on the head. Adding to this, I would say two key elements when it comes to my personal style are comfort and fun, and Ugg does both so well,” Ogunsola tells me. With their thick, supportive yet soft soles, chunky silhouette and bold colours, these shoes are perfect for any maximalist looking for a sandal that fuses comfort and cool. They’re also so easy to style—really, they can be worn for just about any casual occasion and will always guarantee a subtle statement with a street style edge.
To give you some style inspiration, I asked Ogunsola to put together four summer-friendly looks—two for each shoe. She’s curated killer ensembles that the whole Who What Wear team has been cooing over since we saw them. Scroll on, and be warned: These looks may cause a severe desire to shop.
Take this as a cool girl’s guide to festival dressing. The pink Aww Yeah shoes pop when styled with double denim, a signature Y2K trend. Has anyone done this look so well since Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears? Because the Aww Yeah shoe has a wedge heel, you can easily get away with a baggier jean, which is the trending jeans silhouette for 2023. Pair this with a more fitted top like Ogunsola’s to further enhance the noughties vibe, and finish it with a matching pink baguette bag. Whilst everyone else at the event may be in mesh minidresses and short shorts, this is much more sophisticated.
Styling Tip: Don’t be afraid to mix and match denim shades. As you can see here, the pink hue of the Aww Yeah looks equally good with bleached and dark jeans.
One thing Ogunsola proves better than anyone is that office attire needn’t be boring. Whilst there are occasions that require formal attire, the days of a traditional “young professional” uniform of pencil skirts and court shoes are generally a thing of the past. You may often see this slide on the beach or by the pool, but its chunky aesthetic pared back with a black tank top and pants elevates it and gives a fresh take on minimalist dressing.
Styling Tip: Want to add a sportier edge to these slides? Just add socks.
Baggier jeans may be the trending silhouette this year, but the denim item I’ve seen the most over the last few seasons has to be the jean skirt. Whether you like a midi or maxi style, choose your fighter and run with it because it’s not going anywhere. I often get asked which shoes to style a denim skirt with, and whilst a ballet flat or sneaker may feel—for lack of a better word—flat, the cushioned sole of the Aww Yeah adds a little height and dimension and remains unequivocally fashion-forward.
Styling Tip: Wear this look with a baby tee or motif-printed mesh top to give it a playful edge, or wear a striped shirt to make it feel more structured.
This is casual styling at its finest. Like the slides, a graphic tee and cargo trouser bridge the gap between comfort and cool, which can be difficult to achieve. These camo pants also nod to the Y2K resurgence, making this outfit feel fresh. If you’re heading away for a city break, this ensemble should speak to you. Whilst the shoes are vibrant, they also offer some support (unlike other flat sandals with thin leather straps), so they’re ideal if you’re going to be on your feet for city strolls and sightseeing. But I would wear this look to any low-key occasion.
Styling Tip: Want to take this look from transitional-weather days to high-summer style? Swap out the pants for a slip skirt, and you’ll be able to embrace the warmer weather.
For even more summer styles, shop the full Ugg collection here.
