I spent about four years buying black sandals in the wrong order. Bought the delicate, strappy one first because it photographed well on a hanger, wore it twice, both times spent the evening walking like I’d been recently injured. Then bought the sturdy one out of spite, the sort with a proper block heel and a footbed that doesn’t punish you for standing up at a party, and that’s the one that’s been to two weddings, a work thing in a car park in July, and a christening where I stood on gravel for forty minutes without incident. Order matters. Comfort first, then decide how delicate you’re feeling.
What I actually love about black sandals as a category is that they do the thing black clothing generally does, which is get out of the way and let everything else make sense, but with your feet involved, which raises the stakes more than people admit.
A good pair has some structure to it, a strap that sits where your foot actually bends rather than where the designer hoped it would, and a sole with enough grip that you’re not doing the little skid dance on tile floors outside restaurants. Skip anything that needs breaking in for an occasion you only get once.
Styling wise, they’re the least fussy decision you’ll make about an outfit and I mean that as praise. Bare legs with a slip dress for anything after 6pm.
With trousers, cropped, so the strap detail actually shows rather than disappearing under fabric like it never happened. With denim they do the job of making an outfit look considered without you trying, which my colleague Priya once described as “cheating but allowed.”
Occasion-wise, this is your summer wedding shoe, your garden party shoe, your dressed up dinner where you still have to walk from the tube shoe. Anything with a heel enough to feel like effort but a footbed that means you’re not sitting down by ten. I’d avoid the very flat, very minimal ones for anything involving cobbles, grass, or a night that ends later than planned, learned that one properly the hard way, ruined tights and all.
Top Picks
BLACK SANDALDR. SCHOLL'S SHOESDr. Scholl's Women's Makayla Block Heel Sandal Black Faux Leather DRSCH 7.0
$75.45
$39.99 DR. SCHOLL'S SHOES
BLACK SANDALCALVIN KLEINCalvin Klein Men's Men's Meiiny Sandal - Black
$59.00
$35.40 CALVIN KLEIN
BLACK SANDALSHIEKHWomen Justice-S Flat Sandal Black Sandal 10 Black
$24.99 SHIEKH
SHOEMALL.COMLady Couture of NY Liz Women's Black Sandal 10
$48.99 SHOEMALL.COM
SHOEMALL.COMJ. Renee Pomeline Women's Black Sandal 12
$129.95 SHOEMALL.COM
SHOEMALL.COMCorkys Chain Letter Women's Black Sandal 10
$39.99 SHOEMALL.COM
SHOEMALL.COMFree People Slice of Sun Sandal Women's Black Sandal 11
$98.00 SHOEMALL.COM
SHOEMALL.COMNinety Union Bali Women's Black Sandal 4
$48.30 SHOEMALL.COM
SHOEMALL.COMMasseys Cara Women's Black Sandal 6.5
$28.00 SHOEMALL.COM
SHOEMALL.COMSoftwalk Jenna Women's Black Sandal 7.5 W
$134.95 SHOEMALL.COM
SHOEMALL.COMEasy Street Essie Women's Black Sandal 10 W2
$59.95 SHOEMALL.COM
FRANCO SARTOFranco Sarto Shoes Franco Clemens Espadrille Wedge Sandal (Tan/black Fabric) 8.5 W Open Toe, Ankle Strap
$115.00 FRANCO SARTO
FRANCO SARTOFranco Sarto Shoes Franco Kaori Block Heel Slide Sandal (Black Leather) 6.5 M Slip On Fit, Square Toe, Slip
$140.00 FRANCO SARTO
SHOPBOPMadewell The Gabi Thong Slide Sandal Black 5.5
$78.00 SHOPBOP
LARROUDEMiso Wooden Platform Sandal In Black Suede - 5.5 / Black
$112.50 LARROUDE
DR. SCHOLL'S SHOESDr. Scholl's Men's Gaston Fisherman Sandal Black Leather DRSCH 10.0
$65.00 DR. SCHOLL'S SHOES
SHIEKHWomen Justice-S Flat Sandal Black Sandal 10 Black
$24.99 SHIEKH
W CONCEPT (US)Fairy Ruffle Slingback Sandal _ Black Pearl
$221.00 W CONCEPT (US)
DR. SCHOLL'S SHOESDr. Scholl's Beyond Comfort Women's Free To Move Pain Relief Sandal Black Leather DRSBC 9.0
$100.00 DR. SCHOLL'S SHOES
FRANCO SARTOSarto By Franco Sarto Shoes Sarto Kayla Block Heel Sandal (Black Leather) 11.0 M Slip On Fit, Square Toe, Slip
$150.00 FRANCO SARTO
FRANCO SARTOSarto By Franco Sarto Shoes Sarto Frances Sandal (Black Leather) 5.5 M Square Toe, Buckle Closure
$150.00 FRANCO SARTO
FRANCO SARTOSarto By Franco Sarto Shoes Sarto Talea Wedge Sandal (Black Leather) 6.5 M Slip On Fit, Round Toe, Slip-On Fit, Platform Heels
$140.00 FRANCO SARTO
RYKARyka Viv Slingback Sandal Black 9.0 W
$59.99 RYKA
LARROUDEMiso Sandal In Beige Raffia and Black Trimming - 6 / Beige
$99.00 LARROUDE
FRANCO SARTOFranco Sarto Shoes Franco Emilana Sandal (Black Faux Raffia) 9.5 M Round Toe
$110.00 FRANCO SARTO
KARMALOOPFINNA-01 Strap Low Heel Sandal
$29.99 KARMALOOP
LARROUDEFlorence Broderie Flat Sandal Tie Dye - 7 / Tie-dye Black and Purple
$87.00 LARROUDE
FARMRIOBlack Studded Embossed Wedge Sandal, BLACK
$398.00 FARMRIO
LARROUDEDolly Verona Low Sandal In Black Suede - 6 / Black
$375.00 LARROUDE
RYKARyka Devotion Max Sandal White/Black Mesh Fabric 11.0 W Arch Support
$79.99 RYKA
LARROUDEMary Kate Flat Sandal In Black Leather - 6 / Black
$46.00 LARROUDE
−85%
SHIEKHWomen JELLY FLAT SANDAL Sandals 5 Black$19.93
$2.99 SHIEKH
−71%
SHIEKHWomen Womens Sophia-01 BLACK Sandal 6 BLACK$34.45
$9.99 SHIEKH
−40%
SHIEKHWomen S-LS9995 Sandal BLACK Sandals 5 BLACK$24.98
$14.99 SHIEKH
−63%
SHIEKHBoys Toddler-Classic Flames Clog BLACK/MULTI Sandal 5 BLACK/MULTI$40.51
$14.99 SHIEKH
−50%
DR. SCHOLL'S SHOESDr. Scholl's Women's Sun Dreamer Slide Sandal Black Faux Leather DRSCH 10.0$59.98
$29.99 DR. SCHOLL'S SHOES
−40%
CALVIN KLEINCalvin Klein Men's Men's Meiiny Sandal - Black$59.00
$35.40 CALVIN KLEIN
−47%
DR. SCHOLL'S SHOESDr. Scholl's Women's Makayla Block Heel Sandal Black Faux Leather DRSCH 7.0$75.45
$39.99 DR. SCHOLL'S SHOES
−43%
LIFESTRIDELifeStride Shoes Yaya Sandal (Black) Fabric 8.5 W$70.16
$39.99 LIFESTRIDE
−33%
DR. SCHOLL'S SHOESDr. Scholl's Men's Donnar 2.0 Thong Sandal Black Faux Leather DRSCH 12.0$59.69
$39.99 DR. SCHOLL'S SHOES
−24%
LIFESTRIDELifeStride Shoes Cheerful Strappy Sandal (Black Waxy Fabric) 10.0$74.99
$56.99 LIFESTRIDE
−14%
DR. SCHOLL'S SHOESDr. Scholl's Women's Free Love Platform Sandal Black Faux Leather DRSCH 7.0$69.76
$59.99 DR. SCHOLL'S SHOES
−25%
LIFESTRIDELifeStride Shoes Miami Wedge Sandal (Black Faux Leather) 6.5 W$79.99
$59.99 LIFESTRIDE
−25%
LIFESTRIDELifeStride Shoes Genevieve Flat Sandal (Black Faux Leather) Fabric 12.0$79.99
$59.99 LIFESTRIDE
−29%
DR. SCHOLL'S SHOESDr. Scholl's Women's Adelle Sandal Black Fabric DRSCH Leather 11.0$84.49
$59.99 DR. SCHOLL'S SHOES
−46%
NATURALIZERNaturalizer Heidi Dress Sandal Shoes, Black Textured Faux Leather, 6.5M Strappy Style, Open Toe, Block Heels, Ankle Strap$120.35
$64.99 NATURALIZER
−24%
LIFESTRIDELifeStride Shoes Tahlia Wedge Dress Sandal (Black Fabric) 9.0 W$89.46
$67.99 LIFESTRIDE
−25%
LIFESTRIDELifeStride Shoes Adrianna Dress Sandal (Black Faux Leather) Fabric 8.0 W$99.99
$74.99 LIFESTRIDE
−25%
LIFESTRIDELifeStride Shoes Haute Platform Espadrille Sandal (Black Microfiber) Fabric 8.0 W$99.99
$74.99 LIFESTRIDE
−25%
LIFESTRIDELifeStride Shoes Smile Wedge Sandal (Black Cheetah Fabric) 8.5 W$99.99
$74.99 LIFESTRIDE
−58%
KATE SPADE OUTLETKate Spade Flora Slide Sandal, Black - 9.5$178.57
$75.00 KATE SPADE OUTLET
−27%
NATURALIZERSoul Cindi Sandal Wedge Sandals, Black Leather, 6.5M Strappy Style, Round Toe, Zip Closure$109.58
$79.99 NATURALIZER
−24%
REBECCA MINKOFF USRebecca Minkoff Sandal With Buckles$197.37
$150.00 REBECCA MINKOFF US
