In the 2006 comedy, The Devil Wears Prada, Miranda Priestly (played by Meryl Streep) delivers an iconic monologue during which she lectures Andy Sachs (played by Anne Hathaway) about her cerulean sweater. Miranda traces Andy’s ugly sweater back to the fashion decisions that ultimately dictate mainstream style. If, for some reason, you missed this unforgettable moment in cinema, you should know that this monologue is not a fictional representation of the fashion industry. Whether it’s cargo pants, ballet flats, or sheer dressing, the high-fashion industry has a remarkable influence on everyday street style trends. As summer comes to an end and the weather gets hotter, we are entering another fashion craze predicted by high fashion brands: flip flops.
Ready-to-wear runway shows for the spring and summer (S/S) seasons are released months in advance, ensuring collections hit stores in time for each season. The S/S 2025 collections debuted from June to October of 2024—long before the summer of 2025. Across several Fashion Weeks, countless pairs of flip flops made their way down the runway:
Miu Miu’s S/S 2025 models sported rubber flip flops alongside elevated swimwear. Auralee, a contemporary Japanese menswear brand, made flip flops this summer’s “It Shoe”. Their S/S 2025 collection featured chic leather flip-flops as the brand reimagined the style with a new iteration unveiled on the S/S 2026 runway this past June. Following in Auralee’s footsteps, Prada premiered their version of a classic flip flop in their S/S 2026 collection.
This obsession with open-toed shoes, seemingly calculated by high fashion brands since the launch of their spring and summer collections, is following the trajectory of Crocs and Birkenstocks: both are viral beach and loungewear reimagined by high fashion. In 2017, Balenciaga featured crocs in their Spring/Summer 2018 ready-to-wear show at Paris Fashion Week. In 2022, Dior collaborated with Birkenstock on the Men’s Fall/Winter 2022 runway. Now dominating the fashion world of footwear, it’s safe to say flip flops are on their way to becoming a street style staple. But how does high fashion translate to casual dressing?
In Los Angeles alone, flip flops have become a growing sensation among young people, where they were once strictly considered beachwear. Both social media and celebrity culture draw inspiration from designer fashion. Surfwear, beachwear, and other style niches ultimately allow fashion brands to create innovative looks, which consumers then adapt and reinterpret into their own wardrobes.
Although polarizing, flip flops are some of the most accessible and democratic footwear trends we’ve seen in a while. They’re a practical summer shoe with lots of versatility. Like Birkenstocks, and Crocs before them, designer fashion has refreshed our perception of summer footwear in 2025. While it’s not revolutionary, flip flops are a noteworthy summer fashion trend. In the hallways and on the runway, it’s clear others agree. As Miranda Priestly once reminded us, even the simplest item can carry the weight of high fashion—this summer, it happens to be flip flops.
