Can you believe that summer is pretty much here? It’s crazy to think that not too long ago we were donning our cosiest duvet coats and dodging the frost by taking shelter in coffee shops – but now we’re planning our getaways to tropical destinations and daydreaming of the sandy beaches that await us.
Gearing up for our summer holidays after two years of living through a global pandemic means that it’s literally never been more exciting. And now that my tickets are booked, hotel room reserved and itinerary planned, I can begin my favourite part – planning my outfits. To me there’s nothing more important than styling up the Instagram-worthy looks I want to wear while I’m away – whether that be abroad or on a staycation. I’m already planning what to wear to the breakfast buffet, the day-long beach trip and then dinner in the evening – for 14 days on the trot -which means I’ve got my work cut out.
When planning my warm-weather wardrobe, finding the ultimate summer shoe is the most important (and usually hardest) feat. Summer shoes and sandals have to tick so many boxes, which is why they’re so hard to come by. They need to be stylish enough to jazz up my basics, full of summer fun, seriously comfortable, and lightweight enough to pack in my already overflowing suitcase – which is why this new collection from FitFlop is a total godsend. My go-to brand for shoes that can handle a full day on my feet, FitFlop has released a brand new collaboration with London-based artist Yinka Ilori for his first ever footwear collection - and it was made for days in the sun.
Yinka’s fun and funky work interweaves narratives while using vibrant colours and fabrics inspired by his British-Nigerian heritage, and for his SS22 FitFlop collection, it encompasses all of the above and more. Boasting of a joyful vibe that has now been imprinted onto a slew of the brand’s most popular ergonomic sandal silhouettes, Yinka has given FitFlop’s characteristically comfortable sandals a complete makeover for this season, making them the perfect summer shoes for my summer getaways – and yours.
Scroll on to discover the four vibrant styles I'm squeezing into my suitcase, in a variety of colours and prints guaranteed to take your holiday staples to the next level.