fashion

12 Backless Summer Shoes That Are Easy to Slip On & Take Off

If you’re fortunate enough to work from home, you might also be unfortunate enough to learn what happens to your feet when you stop wearing shoes on hard floors—collapsed arches much? So, shoes it is! But, if your pandemic-phobia has led you to designate separate indoor and outdoor shoes, easy access is key. Who wants to spend time swapping shoes and tying laces every time you need to take the trash out? Here, 12 backless summer shoes that will make your WFH situation much more stylish.

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Zou Xou

1. Mule In Black Glaze By Zou Xou

Designer Katherine Theobalds founded Zou Xou to practice slow fashion—her kicks are produced in small quantities with responsible manufacturing practices. The result? A range of sandals, flats and heels that are “well-made, unfussy and minimal.” We’re a fan of these mules because they’re polished and professional enough to wear when you (eventually) return to the office.

Buy it ($245)

Loza Maléombho

2. Cla By Loza Maléombho

These handmade slides from Loza Maléombho also come in a transparent PVC version. Fear not: the red fringe is the showstopper on both versions.

Buy it ($80)

Brother Vellies

3. Greg Shoe In Cow By Brother Vellies

Getting a ‘90s flashback? These slip-ons are reminiscent of your beloved Birkenstock clogs but, dare we say, much more special. Just look at that Western-style buckle. Plus, they’re handmade with cow hair, an animal byproduct. You can read more about Brother Vellies' sustainability model here.

Aminah Abdul Jillil

4. Blush Flip Flop By Aminah Abdul Jillil

Awarded Accessory Designer of The Year by Essence Magazine, Aminah Abdul-Jillil’s luxury footwear is bold yet feminine. We can see these flip flops paired with jeans and a white tee or dressed up with a silk midi.

Made Trade

5. Magenta And Rose Tatreez Mule By Darzah

Yes, these bright and beautiful shoes are a sight for sore eyes. But there's also more to the story; they're hand-crafted by refugee and low-income women artisans using tatreez embroidery, a centuries-old Palestinian art form.

Anthropologie

6. Patent Leather Slip-on Loafers By Weejuns

So what if that Google Hangout can’t see your feet? You mean business in these black and white dress shoes.

Anthropologie

7. Panama Mules By Matisse

The espadrille sole screams summer, but the bow means business.

Anthropologie

8. Gloria Slides By Cecelia New York

Add a little shimmer to your home office with these comfortable-but-chic mules…that also happen to hide your botched at-home pedicure.

9. Maci Sky Milled Nubuck By Dansko

Don’t be fooled. These trendy clogs have arch support that’s infused with Dankso’s EVA footbed, including memory foam cushioning.

Zappos

10. Neon Yellow Swedish Hasbeens

Speaking of clogs…we’re living for this ‘70s-inspired neon. Made with chrome-free natural-grain leather upper, these do soften and slightly stretch as you wear them, but according to reviews, they do tend to run small and narrow.

Soludos

11. Kiki Tassel Espadrille Mule By Soludos

This breezy footwear from Soho brand Soludos sure makes you feel like you’re on vacay even if you’re filing TPS reports from your couch.

Buy it ($75)

Nordstrom

12. Cairo Mule By Steve Madden

It’s a little heel with a lot of style. BTW, anything woven is trending hard this summer.

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Dara Katz

Executive Editor, Frazzled Mom, Bravo-Holic

Dara Katz is PureWow's Executive Editor, focusing on relationships, sex, horoscopes, travel and pets. Dara joined PureWow in 2016 and now dresses so much better. A lifestyle...
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Why You Should Trust Us

PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.