In the UK, two phenomena are inevitable when the sun comes out. The first: no matter the temperature or day of the week, pub gardens will be teeming with pint-thirsty people. The second: toes will, in one way or another, be out. Ask any London nail tech, and they’ll tell you that as the UV index soars, so, too, does the demands for pedicures.
Read more: The 7 Sandal Trends To Invest In Ahead Of Summer 2026
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Havaianas has long been a popular brand for anyone craving a classic, barely-there sandal, and in recent years they’ve shifted from being a staple worn almost exclusively on holiday – on the beach or poolside – to peddling the city circuits. Concrete pavements may not be a Havaianas’ natural habitat, but the wider fashion industry’s co-signing of flip-flops – a movement that can be largely credited to The Row’s luxury styles – has led to their steady rise. (By no coincidence, the Olsens are fans of Havaianas, and wear them alongside their own flip-flops from The Row.)
The flip-flop market is varied, spanning luxury and high street, with little differentiation on appearance, but Havaianas set the blueprint. The brand introduced its first model in 1962, inspired by Japanese Zori sandals with a modernised rubber sole instead of woven rice straw, a design that was patented in 1966, becoming a key facet of Brazilian style. Many colourways, silhouettes and finishes have followed in the decades since, including a version stamped with the Brazilian flag on the strap released in 1998 to mark the World Cup, which remains a bestseller, alongside the brand’s most recent “puffed up” flip-flop.
“Since launching in Brazil in 1962, Havaianas has always been grounded in simplicity, comfort and a certain laid-back confidence. What’s changed is the context in which people are choosing to wear them,” global CMO Maria Fernanda Albuquerque tells Vogue. “Havaianas has moved far beyond its beachside origins and is now part of a more expressive, fashion-led wardrobe, worn in the city, on commutes, or styled with a sense of contrast against more elevated pieces. For us, it’s never been about reinventing the product, but about evolving it thoughtfully”.
Those who’ve worn them beyond the sand, with trousers and jackets rather than bikinis, have favoured classic black and neutral shades, but the widespread departure from “quiet luxury” has positioned the brand’s brighter takes as go-tos among the street-style set. However you style them, and whether you choose to embrace them for reasons other than a vacation (on your commute, for example) is down to personal choice. The memo? Sun’s out, toes out.
