Getting the balance right between chic and comfortable shoes is more important than ever. With walking saving our sanity over lockdown (the step-count obsession continues), it’s a habit we’re keen to keep up. But now that we’re socialising more, we need something that looks good, too. For winter, it’s easy to turn to your most reliable boots and trainers, but for summer, finding a pair of cute, blister-free sandals is a tougher feat. Lucky for you, as the heatwaves start rolling in (finally), we think we can safely say we’ve found the perfect pair.
You may already be familiar with Fitflop, but if you’re not, your feet are in for a treat. The brand, founded by entrepreneur Marcia Kilgore (who also founded Beauty Pie—this woman knows what she’s doing), was the first to integrate wellness into walking and has been serving us ergonomic footwear since 2007, selling over 69 million pairs since then. There are now more than 300 designs to choose from, but its very first pair, the Walkstar, remains the most popular. The original style dropped out of production as the brand expanded, but after years of desperate calls from dedicated fans, it’s finally decided to bring the style back for 2021.
What makes them so comfortable, you ask? Well, here’s the science bit. Designed alongside a pair of biomechanists, the triple-density Microwobbleboard™ technology disperses pressure in the sole of the foot with a super-cushioned heel strike and a medium-density push-off platform to propel you while you walk. Plus, they’re all wide-fit, so no digging in here. According to Kilgore, the “Walkstar sandals are like a yoga class for your feet. Slip a pair on for a daily ‘reboot’ for your alignment, and your whole body will feel the difference.” Sold.
With an impressive roster of celebrity devotees including Michelle Obama, Laura Bailey, Nigella Lawson, Penélope Cruz and ex–Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman, it’s clear there’s something special about the Walkstar. So we decided it was only right for us to try them out and put them through their paces with some of summer’s go-to outfits.
The classic webbing design gives us major sports-luxe vibes—great for everyday wear. But it was the versatile leather versions that really caught our eye for this season. After all, chunky flip-flops are the footwear choice of the summer, so finding a pair that looks good with dresses and jeans and doesn’t cause us pain is a win in our eyes. And you know what? Those 69 million people aren’t wrong. They’re the comfiest sandals ever.
Keep scrolling to see how we styled ours, and then shop every version of the new Walkstar, from colour-pop stripes to limited-edition leathers.
