I’ve recently become fixated on what is and isn’t an acceptable summer work shoe. Are open-toed sandals allowed in the office? Won’t HR get mad at me for having my dogs out in the workplace? Or is it not a disciplinary offense if I choose one of summer 2025’s top trending shoes, like a subtle peep-toe or strappy fisherman sandal, and always—always—pair them with a fresh pedicure?
I don’t have the answers—and I don’t even know if there are any to be found, considering no one dress code fits all professional settings. But I do have hard-earned discernment that I’ve forged over my many years as a fashion editor, commuting into various Manhattan offices from June through September. I’ve also spent the last month and a half curating Marie Claire’s comprehensive guide to all of summer 2025’s trends, combing over 99 designer collections (yes, I counted), and dedicating countless hours to tracking street style in the Big Four fashion capitals of New York, London, Milan, and Paris.
All that to say is that I’ve developed my own rubric for appropriate summer work shoes that toe the line between trendy and professional. Some are classic no-brainers that always look put-together, like the best slingback heels for a lady who lunches but is never late for her afternoon meetings. Other shoes are more marginal but provide office-proof polish through their fabrications; I’m much more inclined to a sturdy toe ring sandal made of Napa leather than, say, a flimsy mesh slipper that’s just one step up from what I wear around the nail salon.
