It's Here: The Summer 2026 Way to Wear a Dress With Sandals

Every summer has that one outfit formula that suddenly clicks amongst the fashion crowd, and this season, I keep coming back to dresses with flip-flops. I know, I know—it sounds almost too simple. But that's exactly why it works. After countless summers of chunky or strappy sandals and overly complicated summer shoe trends, there's something about a minimal pair of flip-flops that makes a dress feel instantly effortless. It's easy and unfussy, perfect for hot summer days where simply even putting on clothing is a challenge (much less thinking about your footwear).

I've been spotting the combination everywhere lately, from Paros vacation photo dumps to Parisian city street style shots. A breezy linen dress, a pretty satin slip, a cotton poplin maxi—they all feel a little more relaxed with simple flip-flops instead of overly intricate footwear. No need to go out and buy a whole new summer wardrobe, just looking at the pieces you already own a little differently. Ahead, I'm sharing the dress-and-flip-flop pairings I'm loving most this summer, plus the pieces I'd shop for each.