12 of the Best Summer Work Shoes
Working during the hot summer months is sometimes the last thing you want to be doing. I somewhat recently learned about Summer Fridays, and I wish so much my workplace had those! (In case you’re not familiar, it’s when you have Fridays off during the summer months.) I’m definitely pro-30 hour work week year-round but especially during the summer months! It’s just too nice out (usually, ha) to be stuck instead all day long (the exception is when it’s 100 degrees out and you want nothing more than to be in A/C).
Dressing for work in the summer has its challenges, especially if you’re commuting. It’s often much cooler in the morning than it is in the afternoon when you’re leaving work. You’re also expected to dress nicely, even when it’s hot AF outside and all you want to wear is a crop top and shorts (until you get inside and the A/C is blasting!).
One of the best ways to feel stylish and confident in the hot summer months is to refresh your work footwear with some new styles. Below, I rounded up 12 comfortable, functional, and stylish pairs of shoes that go well with work-appropriate summer outfits! Each pair of shoes fits into one of six overarching shoe categories. Hit the heart next to Get Sale Alert in the widgets to be notified when your favorite pairs go on sale.
12 of the Best Summer Work Shoes
Whether you’re looking for open-toed summer shoes, closed-toe summer shoes, black summer shoes, or dress shoes for work: You’ve come to the right place! Be sure to share your favorite summer work shoes/styles in the comments. 🤗
Leather Crossover Sandal
Sandals can be work appropriate, as long as you pick the right styles! My current favorite sandal style is the crossover, which features two thick straps wrapped around your feet. My favorite pair of leather crossover sandals are the Day Crossover Sandal by Everlane. I own them in five colors now! 🙈 They’re some of the most comfortable sandals I own (they required no break-in time) and they look nice enough for any occasion, especially work. I wear them all the time!
I also love the Menorca padded leather twist-knot sandals by J.Crew! They even come in a fun metallic gold color; I own a couple of pairs of gold sandals myself and they really dress up regular ol’ casual work outfits.
Block Heel Sandals
For a dressier work shoe option, try a pair of block heel sandals! You can opt for a pair of heeled sandals with or without a platform. Platforms are having a moment right now, so you’ll see them in a lot of retailers. They’re great options for petite women that want a little extra height! I like them because they’re comfier than flat sandals, and the difference between the ball of your foot and your heel isn’t too substantial. Block heel sandals work great with dresses, skirts, and work pants, even wide leg pants.
I own a pair of All-Day Open Toe Clogs by Nisolo (currently on sale). Since they’re a clog, they feature a platform under the whole foot. Another great block heel option is their new Stella Go-To Block Heel Sandal that is selling quickly! I included a bunch of other block heel and platform sandals available now in the widget below.
Huarache Sandals
This might be a random pick because I don’t currently own a pair of huarache sandals…but I’ve had my eyes on them for years! Huarache sandals are a fun pseudo-closed-toe sandal option; the toe isn’t fully closed, so they aren’t safe for, say, a laboratory environment with dangerous chemicals, but they’re the perfect warm-weather alternative to the open-toe sandals and might be better suited in some work environments.
The best-known huarache sandal is the Nisolo huarache sandal (this is the one I’ve been eyeing in desert rose, which is really close to my skin tone). The brandy color is also beautiful! Zappos has a wide variety of huarache sandals, and if your size is available in the Comfortiva huarache sandals, they’re another great option!
Mules & Loafers
Looking for closed-toe summer work shoes? Try a mule or loafer! These are an especially great shoe option if you’re a fan of a more masculine shoe. If you like the style but aren’t a fan of black shoes in the summer, there are a ton of lighter color options! Mules are basically just the front half of a loafer. They’re perfect for the hot summer months because your foot can breathe a little bit. They can be tricky to walk in because you may need to grip more with your toes to keep them on but they technically count as a closed-toe shoe!
Chunkier lugsoles are having a moment right now, and if you want to try a pair of those, check out the Corrine Lugsole Loafer by Madewell! The dried maple color is a perfect year-round color. The streamlined, simple shape of the Cole Haan Piper loafer mule is perfect. I rounded up so many other mule and loafer options to shop in the widget below!
ballet Flats
Another option for a closed toe summer work shoe is a ballet flat! Ballet flats are a classic summer dress shoe for work that never go out of style. There are ballet flat styles available every year, but the trends change just a little bit. Some years the toe is rounded, other times it’s more pointed. Pointed toes have been having a moment for years now, and I’m a big fan of pointed toes. They make your feet look narrow! Plus I always feel like a boss when wearing pointy shoes. Watch out, I’m gonna get ya! 😆
Ballet flats are definitely on the preppier side of the style spectrum. They look so good with a tailored pair of straight leg pants. I tend to reach for more substantial shoes with wide leg jeans and pants. I still own some really old pairs of ballet flats that are no longer available, but if you’re in the market for a pair now, check out the variety of styles I rounded up in the widget below! I’ve heard such good things about the Italian Leather Day Glove by Everlane (it comes in so many colors!). If you want to splurge, check out the Sarah Flint Natalie Flat (and see how I styled them in a summer work outfit)!
Leather Pumps
Leather pumps are another classic summer dress shoe for work that never go out of style. While I don’t personally reach for a pair of pumps in my every day work life, I know a lot of you do! And it’s nice to have a pair around just in case. I recommend at least a pair that matches your skin tone, but it’s also ideal to have a black pair around in case the occasion calls for it.
Comfort is key when it comes to wearing shoes with heels, especially high heels. I own a pair of old Cole Haan leather pumps that are still my go-to when I need to wear pumps. I love the updated pointed-toe style; it looks so much more streamlined than the rounded toes of years past.
If you’re in the market for a pair of leather pumps, I recommended a pair by Cole Haan (perhaps the Grand Ambition style), and if you are looking to splurge, I’ve also heard excellent things about the comfort of the Sarah Flint Perfect Pump 85mm.