High-Heeled Flip-Flops: Friend or Foe?

The fashion industry loves to take pieces that were previously considered a faux pas and transform them into the must-have item of the season. There have been quite a few examples lately: fanny packs, dad sneakers, tourist shirts, etc. Each of these tends to stir up more than a little controversy, especially from those looking at them from an outsider’s perspective. The flip-flop is the latest hot-button trend on our radar, which we saw all over the SS19 runways, but this newest iteration is slightly more elevated—literally.

Many a luxury designer has released their version of the flip-flop heel—think Gianvito Rossi and Yeezy. Ignore the ’90s throwback platform version you’re likely imagining, because these are a much sleeker option with a slim heel. They do slightly coincide with the rise of the “barely there” shoe trend, but can the high heel shake the stigma that we typically associate with flip-flops (namely, that they’re cheap and somewhat lazy)? For today’s debate, we polled a few people in our office for their opinions on this controversial shoe du jour.

Hannah Baxter

Editor

“I’m actually a major flip-flop fan thanks to the Olsen twins, but it’s taking me a bit longer to embrace the high-heeled version. With multiple brands debuting their take on the style this spring, I’m starting to see people I admire styling them so they appear modern and cool. Still, I can’t justify spending much more than $50 on a pair of my own. I’ll stick with my dollar-store style and instead invest in the perfect slouchy trousers and paper-thin white tee to wear with them for the warmer months ahead.”