The new Japanese-style flip flops set to take over summer

published 25 June 2020

Welcome to woman&home’s online shopping guides, where we reveal where to buy the most popular and top-rated products. This guide is about the new Japanese-style flip flops, but you may also be interested in our edits of the Monsoon dresses our fashion team are obsessed with, lightweight summer sleepwear and where to buy face masks.

Every summer there’s a pair of stand out sandals that drip down from the catwalk, flood social media and make it onto a high street shelf near you. This summer meet The Row’s 'Ginza' slides, responsible for the new stylish platform flip flops that are currently making waves on the fashion scene.

At a whopping £725 (and a waiting list longer than you nearest supermarket queue) they might be off your menu. However, we’ve found loads of stylish alternatives, including a chic range at FitFlop, whose Microwobbleboard midsole are designed to help absorb shock and diffuse underfoot pressure - delivering extraordinary comfort without forgoing style.

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The platform thong shoe is certainly not a new design; its inspiration lies in the ancient Japanese Zori shoes – a rounded sandal usually worn with a kimono. Traditionally, Zori are low but modern styles can have platforms in varying heights. For those of us lacking in the height department this new style not only adds a few extra inches, they are perfect for slipping on to nip to the supermarket or into the garden.

Even the iconic Brazilian flip-flop brand Havaianas has been inspired. They’ve ramped up their best selling beach flip flops with the new 'Tradi Zori' shape - the first Havaianas sandal designed for urban style. With a square base and fabric strap, these babies come in at £130!

For some serious style inspiration check out Monikh, the stylish instagram influencer who mixes her sandals up with sophisticated neutrals and soft summer tailoring. Our styling advice is to avoid busy prints such as florals or polka dots, sticking to sophisticated muted tones or large abstract prints. Think loose palazzo pants, white shirts, shirt dresses and off white or Japanese indigo denim.

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Here’s our pick of the best style you can buy now…

Metallic stripe toe thong, £55, FitFlop

Available in white and rose gold too.

VIEW NOW: Metallic stripe toe thong, £55, FitFlop

Pearla ecru wedge mules, £25.20 (was £36), Topshop

Also available in black.

VIEW NOW: Pearla ecru wedge mules, £25.20 (was £36), Topshop

Tradi Zori platform flip flops, £130, Havaianas x Mastermind

VIEW NOW: Tradi Zori platform flip flops, £130, Havaianas x Mastermind

Basket weave thongs, £75, FitFlop

Also available in black, blue and pink.

VIEW NOW: Basket weave thongs, £75, FitFlop

75mm leather thong platforms, £312 (was £520), Simon Miller at farfetch

VIEW NOW: 75mm leather thong platforms, £312 (was £520), Simon Miller at farfetch

Faux leather platform flip flops, £32.60, yesstyle.com

Also available in white.

VIEW NOW: Faux leather platform flip flops, £32.60, yesstyle.com

Rose gold toe post sandals, £55, FitFlop

Also available in silver, gold and black.

VIEW NOW: Rose gold toe post sandals, £55, FitFlop

Iridescent thongs, £60, FitFlop

Also available in black, soft pink and white.

VIEW NOW: Iridescent thongs, £60, FitFlop

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Hannah Hughes is Group Fashion Editor at Future Publishing. Her work appears in woman&home, Woman, Woman's Own, and Woman's Weekly magazines. She is a fashion creative with over fifteen years of solid experience in editorial, commercial, and celebrity styling. She has an in-depth knowledge of the luxury, mid and high-street fashion sectors, which she developed over a decade spent as Fashion Director at some of the UK's most widely read women's magazines, including You Magazine and Look Magazine.