13 Fresh Ways to Wear a Dress with Sandals

Sun's out, toes out.

Time waits for no fashion girlie and pedicure season has arrived. We can no longer hide our winter-calloused heels in Chelsea boots. The season of dresses and sandals is now upon us. Truth be told, we've been waiting to slip on our favorite cute frocks and open-toed shoes for a while, but that doesn't mean this deceptively simple style pairing is easy to put together or pull off.

Sandals tend to fall into two categories: very casual and incredibly chic. While dresses are relatively simple to dress up or down with the right outer layers and accessories, it's more or less impossible to style a flip-flop for a formal event. The same goes for sleek stiletto sandals. Even paired with an oversized T-shirt dress, they're just not made for a day at the beach. That said, there are plenty of ways to mix luxe sandals with casual dresses and vice versa — you just have to know which fashion puzzle pieces fit together.

The 13 dress and sandal outfit ideas ahead provide a masterclass in this often perplexing style pairing so you can step out into pedicure season in style.

Stripes and Platform Slides

This summer-ready dress and sandals pairing brings together timelessness and trendiness in a street-style symphony. The long look of the striped maxi dress is lengthened further by simple platform slides, a style that ruled the world of open-toed shoes in the early aughts and is currently seeing a major resurgence.

Sheer Crochet and Strappy Flats

An intricate crocheted dress is a statement-maker all on its own and, as such, calls for a subtle sandal that can match its energy without pulling focus. A pair of strappy leather flat sandals strikes a perfect balance between elevated and understated so that your dress's crochet craftsmanship stays center stage.

Delicate Details and Knee-High Sandals

A mini dress adorned with fringe, embroidery, or other dainty details worn with knee-high or higher gladiator sandals is a showstopper worthy of semi-formal evenings out as well as nights out on the town. To keep this eye-catching and detail-driven look cohesive, keep your dress, sandals, and accessories in the same color family.

Delicate Ruffles and Wooden Heels

Happy Boho revival season, folks! The return of this iconic aesthetic, marked by airy dresses and chunky wooden sandals, is an excellent blueprint for an OOTD-worthy dress and sandals pairing. The longer and more the relaxed the dress and chunkier the sandal sole, the bigger the boho energy, but you can achieve a similar effect with midi dresses and slightly sleeker heels.

Embellishments and Sporty Sandals

Something about the down-to-earth utility of sport or athletic sandals balances out over-the-top embellished dresses like no other shoe quite can. While dresses with more relaxed fits are most in sync with hiking-worthy sandals, you can add even more casual vibes by wearing a simple white tee under an embellished mini to keep the look cool and cohesive.

Summer Whites with Woven Wedges

Lightweight white summer dresses practically beg to be worn with raffia wedge sandals or espadrilles, and we're more than happy to oblige. For more casual white dresses, we recommend adding a pair of strappy or platform wedges, while fitted or formal white dresses work well with woven wedges featuring sleek silhouettes.

Moody Florals and Fisherman Sandals

Fisherman sandals can be rugged and casual, like the Doc Martens pair featured above, or chic and sophisticated. Either style pairs well with a long floral maxi dress. To bring out the best of this sandal style, we recommend opting for moodier floral patterns featuring tropical or dark-toned motifs.

An LBD and Lace-Ups

Deciding what shoes to wear with a black dress is always a fun challenge. The timelessness of the little black dress deserves an equally timeless sandal style. Lace-up sandals that tie at the ankle with ribbons or straps are the perfect sandals for any number of LBD styles. We especially love the look of low block-heel or wedge lace-up sandals when worn with a black mini dress. They'll create a "legs for days" effect without leaving your feet sore like a higher pair of heels might.

Fun Prints and Flip-Flops

As we mentioned, it's hard to elevate flip-flops. Even so, platform sandals are an elevated choice, quite literally, making them ideal for long, curve-hugging dress styles that embody street style chicness. Lean into the carefree energy of this sandal style by wearing them with a maxi dress featuring a fun and vibrant print.

Sleek Lines and Statement Sandals

The clean lines of a long-sleeve midi dress, with or without mock-neck detailing, receive a fashion-forward boost from a pair of sculptural high-heel sandals. The foolproof formula of this dress and sandals provides endless space for imaginative experimentation. The more streamlined the dress, the more daring the sandals can — and should! — be.

Lace and Lug Soles

A lacy mini paired with chunky lug sole sandals is another dress with sandals outfit that benefits from its high levels of contrast. Don't be scared to pair your daintiest lace dress with your clunkiest sandals, but do keep things coordinated by sticking to a single, neutral color palette.

Cottagecore and Chunky Platforms

Much the magical combination of a lacy mini dress with lug sole sandals, a loose-fitting nap dress worn with chunky sandals delivers edginess and romance in equal measure. This 'fit draws inspiration from street style toughness as much as from soft-focus Cottagecore whimsy. Best of all, both dress and sandals are comfortable enough for your busiest day of errands and leisure.

A Silky Maxi and Minimal Flats

At first glance, this dress and sandals outfit might seem to blend high and low brow elements, but in fact, it's 100% luxe. A pair of elegant cut-out leather sandals is a perfect match for a silky slip dress with equally luxurious energy, perfect for a summer date night or party.

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