Something Pretty Sandals for Women, built for the long summer
The right sandals for women do more work than any other shoe you own. From October to March they are what you reach for every morning, so they need to be comfortable enough for a full day and refined enough for dinner. In this range you will find flat leather styles, strappy evening pairs, easy slides and low platforms you can actually walk in, alongside the rest of our shoes edit. Limited runs keep your look your own. Delivery is quick, tracked, and nationwide.
Summer sandals for ladies
Start with the shapes you will wear on repeat. A flat leather sandal is the daily default, easy with linen pants or a slip dress. A low block adds gentle height for dinners and workdays. Flatforms give lift with comfort and hold up on gravel and lawn where a heel will not. Choose tan, ivory or black for maximum mileage, then add one metallic to refresh the rotation. Worn with the silk skirts for women edit, a flat sandal keeps a fluid hem from reading fussy.
Flat sandals and slides
Flat sandals and slides sit at the easiest end of the range. A flat leather sandal carries a market morning, a long lunch and the school run without complaint. Slides are the pool and beach choice, the pair you can rinse off and wear again an hour later. Both look best kept simple, with linen clothing or a soft top and nothing fussy above. They are the natural partner to anything in the skirts edit on a hot day.
Platform and heeled sandals
A platform sandal is the shape of the season, and for good reason. It gives you the height of a heel with far more stability, which matters on a Winelands lawn or a cobbled street. A heeled or strappy sandal is the occasion piece, best saved for dinners and weddings. Pair either with the elegant dresses or evening dresses edits when the night calls for it.
Black, white and gold sandals
Colour decides how often a pair leaves the cupboard. A black sandal is the workhorse and will carry almost everything you own. White sandals read crisp and modern in summer light and sit beautifully against linen and a fine blouse. Gold sandals are the quiet luxury choice, and they lift a plain dress further than any heel height. Tan and natural leather sits between the three and softens as it wears.
Leather sandals and what quality feels like
Real leather softens and moulds to the foot within a week. Synthetic does not, which is why it rubs in the same place every time. Look for a leather footbed rather than a printed lining, stitching rather than glue where the strap joins, and a sole with some give when you bend it. A well-made leather sandal lasts several summers and only looks better with each one.
What sandals look good with dresses
This is the question we are asked most in store. A flat leather sandal keeps a summer dress relaxed and daytime. A strappy or gold pair lifts the same dress for evening without changing anything else. For a maxi or a longer hem, choose a low block or platform so the hem clears the floor cleanly when you walk. Work through the dresses edit with the shoe in mind rather than after the fact, and remember the wedding guest dresses range is where this pairing matters most.
Fit and comfort notes
Take your usual size in a slide or platform, where a snug fit will pinch. Size down in a slim strappy style so the straps hold the foot rather than gape. Adjustable ankle straps let you fine-tune the fit. Feet swell in the heat, so try sandals on later in the day. If a pair is uncomfortable in the first ten minutes, it will not improve.
Materials and craft
Expect leather footbeds, soft linings and hardware chosen to resist tarnish. Metallic finishes are selected for lasting shine rather than a season of it. Look for a contoured bed that supports the arch and a strap across the widest part of the foot. These are the details that separate a sandal you wear for years from one you retire in March.
Care guide
Wipe with a soft, damp cloth after beach or pool days, because salt and chlorine dry leather out. Avoid abrasive cleaners on metallics. Let them air dry away from direct heat and sun, which cracks leather and fades colour. A little conditioner once a season keeps straps supple. Store flat rather than piled in a box.
Sandals styling notes
Keep the outfit clean and let the sandal finish it. Metallic pairs sit best with neutral dresses or a silk shirt and tailored shorts. For weekends, wear a flat sandal with a ribbed tank and a piece from the skirts or silk skirts edits. With jeans or the denim edit, a low platform lifts the leg line without effort. Add a tonal bag and fine jewellery and stop there.
Ready to step into the season? Fresh pairs land through summer in new arrivals, and the good ones go first because we buy in limited runs. Order now for careful packaging and fast, tracked delivery across South Africa, free on orders over R1,500, with a Fast Track option for next-day where it matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sandals are trending in summer 2026?
Low platforms and clean leather flats in tan, white and gold are leading. The chunky sporty shapes have softened into more elegant platforms that are easier to wear with a dress. Strappy gold sandals remain the evening default. Buy the shape that suits your foot rather than the shape of the moment, because a well-made leather sandal outlasts any single season.
What sandals look good with dresses?
A flat leather sandal keeps a summer dress relaxed and daytime. A strappy or gold sandal lifts the same dress for evening. For a maxi length, choose a low block or platform so the hem clears the floor cleanly when you walk. As a rule, the longer and fuller the dress, the more height the sandal can carry without looking heavy.
Where can I buy sandals for women in South Africa?
You can shop sandals for women online at somethingpretty.co.za, in leather, gold, black and white across flat, strappy, platform and slide styles. Orders ship nationwide within 2 to 4 business days, with free delivery on orders over R1,500. You can also try them on at our three Cape Town stores at Constantia Village, Cavendish Square and Sea Point.
Are flat or heeled sandals better for summer?
Flat sandals win for everyday, because our summers are long and you will be on your feet. Keep a heeled or strappy pair for dinners and events. If you want height you can walk in, a low platform gives you the lift of a heel with far more stability, which is why it has become the most worn shape of the season.
How do I choose comfortable sandals?
Look at the footbed first. A contoured bed that supports the arch beats a flat printed lining at any price. Check that a strap sits across the widest part of your foot so it does not slide, and keep the heel under about five centimetres for all-day wear. Real leather softens to your foot within a week. Synthetic will rub in the same spot every time.
Do sandals run true to size?
Mostly, but the style changes the answer. Size down in a slim strappy sandal so the straps hold the foot, and stay true to size in a slide or platform where a snug fit will pinch. Feet swell in the heat, so try them on later in the day. Our size guide lists measurements per style if you are between sizes.