Page 13 - My FlipBook 1

THE

An Easygoing

Shoe That

Works Hard All
Summer
SUEDE ESPADRILLES
($495) AND PONY-HAIR
ESPADRILLES ($650)
BY GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI. by DAVID BURTON

THE ESPADRILLE IS THE MOST EGALITAR- up—you can pick them up for a song at super- than plain, and because these are idlers’ shoes,
ian summer shoe. It eschews elitism, and it markets and gas stations. But for me, the Côte I always wear them with the backs folded flat
doesn’t differentiate between tax brackets, d’Azur is their true stomping (or maybe shuf- under my heels like mules. Espadrilles are by
much less genders. It doesn’t even discrimi- fling) ground. They’re ideal for lolling about at nature work-shy, and yet, paradoxically, they
nate between your left and right feet. (Really; home or hitting the market or the beach, yet are efficient multitaskers. In the summer, they
with old-school versions, you can switch it up.) ironically—for something traditionally made of do an admirable job of being all-day slippers
You can buy espadrilles in fancy boutiques braided rope and canvas—espadrilles are not (perfect with all-day pajamas), they make a
and online, but these are quintessentially sim- for sailing. A lot of water is the death of them, great nonslip alternative to flip-flops, and they
ple shoes, and best when you don’t muck about though a little does help the fitting process, as won’t overheat in the sun. Dressed up a bit,
with them. In their native Basque and Catalan the rope soles will swell and mold better to your they even double as loafers—as long as your
regions (straddling the border of France and feet. Still, their natural habitat is heat and dust. ankles have seen enough sun. Which reminds
Spain) and all of southern France—where I stock I prefer mine in marine-striped cotton rather me: No socks, please.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JOANNA MCCLURE
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