WORDS BY JOSEPH FURNESS & STEPHEN YU
For the past few seasons, dad has been the style muse. Luxury brands have been slugging it out to create the most dad-ish fleeces, jeans, sweaters and sneakers; a rivalry that’s led to some of the ugliest (and coolest) trends in fashion history – from oversized boardroom blazers to freakishly oversized sneakers.
And now it’s time to take things up a notch by swapping-out your designer slides with a pair of super-comfy chunky-soled dad sandals. We’re talking the type redolent of Teva’s OG design; the sort your dad wears while manning the barbecue; the type Tyler the Creator and Kaia Gerber habitually wear with white socks and blue denim. Find yours in our carefully curated list below.
BALENCIAGA
Demna Gvasalia introduced the world to “dadcore” when he premiered the gargantuan Triple S sneaker at the highly ironic Balenciaga AW17 show. Now, Gvasalia is ushering in the latest chapter in dad fashion with the release of the Balenciaga Track sandals: the Paris-based brand’s take on velcro-strap dad sandals. Look familiar? That’s because it’s actually a deconstructed take on the Insta-famous Balenciaga Track.2 silhouette.
VERSACE
Dad sandals don’t get much more luxurious than these blacked-out, snakeskin-print Versace kicks, embossed with the Italian brand’s quintessential Greek-inspired pattern. The lightweight creps – created with polyester, leather, rubber and polyurethane – are a delight to wear, making them ideal for long-haul flights, boujee shopping trips and living your best life in general.
BURBERRY
The dad sandals trend has officially received the Riccardo Tisci stamp of approval with the release of Burberry’s logo-jacquard sandals. Featuring the brand’s contemporary logo, jacquard branding and buttery-soft calf leather, this ultra-refined take on the trend will see you (sartorially speaking) one step ahead of everyone in your inner circle.
SUICOKE
Cult Japanese brand Suicoke is a master of footwear, creating some of the most sought-after high-performance sandals on the market. Its mission? To ensure you never have to choose between flair or function again. Case in point: this pair of Vibram-soled, creamy-hued dad sandals.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Japanese streetwear brand Neighborhood doesn't entertain fads, meaning that the dad sandal isn’t going anywhere. Purchase the Neighborhood NHSK caged sandals and they’ll quickly become your go-tos. Extremely versatile and appropriate for almost all weather conditions, these easy-to-style black creps are, in many ways, the perfect dad sandals.
CAMPER
Family-run label Camper creates bohemian footwear on the small-but-beautiful island of Mallorca. Famous for its focus on comfort, it’s no surprise to see the brand release an uber-practical dad sandal. We love this statement color-block pair, accented with a neon yellow hue.
BIRKENSTOCK
These classic German sandals are renowned for their cork footbeds – said to have orthopaedic properties – and leather straps (complete with buckle details) that hint at the high-quality workmanship that goes into every design. With a seemingly endless array of colorways, the only question is: which pair of Birkenstocks should you opt for?