Nineties sandals weren’t supposed to come back so quickly. And yet, between wedge flip-flops worthy of Paris Hilton and minimalist Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy-style straps, cult models from the 1990s are resurfacing on both asphalt and sand. Worn with low-rise jeans or a slip dress, they shake up our sneaker reflexes to signify a much more open summer.
This return is not just about Y2K nostalgia. Series like , which highlights the style of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and rebroadcasts of revive the desire for refined silhouettes, small heels and thin straps. In this context, six main families of sandal trends from the 1990s are clearly essential for summer.
Why 1990s sandals are coming back this summer
Fashion comes full circle: after satin midi skirts and strapless tops, shoes logically follow. Thick-strap leather fisherman’s sandals and plastic jellyfish, worn as children at the water’s edge and returned to the city in the summer of 2024, have already set the stage. They showed that we could take on a very 90s detail without losing modernity.
And then the podiums decided. Summer sandals are worn very open, the flat becomes chic and brown stands out as the star color, from leather to cotton. Wedge flip-flops were brought back into fashion by Pierpaolo Piccioli on the podium of the Balenciaga spring-summer 2026 fashion show, while minimalist flip-flops were revisited at Chanel in 2024. Houses like Dior, Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu, Jonak and K.Jacques have also dedicated the return of very simple but ultra-worked shapes.
Wedge flip flops, kitten heels mules: the 6 key 90’s sandal trends
At the top of the wave, wedge flip-flops are appearing again, inherited from the Y2K era popularized by Paris Hilton. The minimalist strappy sandals, dear to Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, appeal to the generation who discovered her style through the series. Then come the kitten heel mules with a maximum heel of 5 centimeters, adopted on the red carpet by Brooke Shields, the ultra simple casual flip flops that Jennifer Aniston and Paris Hilton already wore in the 90’s, the leopard heeled sandals and finally the square heel sandals, signature of Sarah Michelle Gellar in .
To get your bearings, these six trends can be easily broken down:
- Wedge flip flops: perfect with flare jeans or a mini skirt.
- Minimalist strappy sandals: ideal with a satin dress or light suit.
- Kitten heel mules: small heel for the office or for a dinner.
- Casual flip-flops: very simple models, sober colors, for the city and the beach.
- Leopard heeled sandals: a strong touch on a monochrome outfit.
- Square heel sandals: stable heel, to slip under 7/8 jeans or a baby doll dress.
How to wear these 90’s sandals in your summer looks
The key is to dose the nineties wink. Casual flip-flops or flat mules work with canvas shorts, a shirt dress or straight-leg jeans for every day. Kitten heel mules and block heel sandals are best suited to the office or an evening, with flowing pants, an oversized blazer or a slip dress. Leopard sandals transform a little black dress into an effortless evening look.
In terms of colors, opting for brown, camel, black or nude instantly modernizes these retro shapes. A leopard print on a square heel is easy to wear with raw jeans. Translucent jellyfish or leather fisherman sandals can complete the outfit for beach days. And basically, the idea is not to copy the 90’s to the letter, but to choose an emblematic pair that fits your rhythm of life.
What 6 1990s sandals are trending this summer?
These are wedge flip flops, minimalist strappy sandals, kitten heel mules, sleek casual flip flops, leopard heeled sandals and square heel sandals inspired by heroines from 90’s series.
How to wear wedge flip flops without overdoing it?
Choose a model in a subdued color, like brown or black, and pair it with flare jeans, a midi skirt or a simple dress to calm down the Y2K effect.
Are kitten heel mules comfortable for everyday use?
With a heel limited to around 5 centimeters, kitten heel mules offer a good compromise between comfort and femininity, especially worn with flowing pants or a midi dress.
