Espadrilles, now a mainstay on the runways, were first worn to battle by the foot soldiers in the Kingdom of Aragon in the 13th century. Today, the rope-soled shoes are a must have, not for warriors, but for weekends and designers from Ralph Lauren to Salvatore Ferragamo have made the shoe a summer staple.
“Espadrilles are the shoes of summer,” says Eric Jennings Saks men’s fashion director. “They’re perfect for trekking to the beach or enjoying sunset cocktails. Most likely you’ve seen canvas espadrilles but these by Ralph Lauren have an orange suede upper, which dresses them up a notch and gives them a pop of summer color.”
Salvatore Ferragamo’s Burt Strap Espadrille is a hybrid of the original silhouette combined with a leather sandal strap back for greater breathability. Ferragamo sent them down the runway with everything from summer suits to casual weekend wear.