What do Emily Ratajkowski, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya and the entire GLAMOUR UK office have in common? A penchant for really good, really comfortable flat shoes.
We don’t mean the type of fleeting shoe trends currently dividing a nation (are you team ‘sneakerina’ or are you jumping on the jelly flats revival?); we’re talking footwear that strikes the balance between sensible and fashion-footward. Ones that earn their cost-per-wear in the first month. Those easy-to-wear styles that make getting dressed – and looking effortlessly put-together – as straightforward as possible.
We’re talking about TOMS. You’re probably already familiar with the brand’s most famous shoe, the Alpargata, which has attracted a glittering roster of celebrity fans since the brand’s inception in Venice Beach, Los Angeles, in 2006 – as well as the above, the likes of Emma Stone, Charlize Theron and Jennifer Garner have also been spotted running errands in the comfy, slip-on canvas espadrille. The A-list are more frequently photographed wearing their Alpargatas with a pair of skinny or straight-leg jeans and a tee, but in the GLAMOUR UK office, you’ll find editors styling theirs with floaty dresses and linen co-ords as we step into summer.
More recently, the Alpargata received a 2025 upgrade thanks to a limited-edition collection designed by celebrity stylist Jamie Mizrahi, using rich colours like jewel-toned purple, ruby red and deliciously dark navy.
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But TOMS’ commitment to versatility and wearability extends way beyond the OG Alpargata – their latest range includes every style you could need for the season ahead: strappy sandals, leopard print slingbacks, and everyday slip-ons. A firm favourite in the GLAMOUR office, particularly as we edge into summer, is the suede Santiago Mule, available for both women and men. Continuing fashion’s ongoing love affair with mules, this loafer-inspired pair uses a luxe beige suede on the upper, while the rope-wrapped midsole gives them a breezy summer feel. We wear ours to the office with an oversized blazer, plain white tee and high-waist jeans, and will be wearing them poolside on our summer holidays with a bikini and a crochet cover-up.
Another endlessly wearable option is the Marin Sandal. Available in cream, black or just-launched leopard print suede, these go-with-anything slingbacks feature a molded footbed that hugs the contours of your feet for comfortable everyday stomping.
Also noteworthy is the brand’s commitment to social responsibility – and no, this isn’t just virtue-signalling. For almost two decades, TOMS has been donating to organisations that support children’s education, health and wellbeing, from those helping refugee girls displaced by conflict to teen mental health services. As a result, TOMS estimates that it’s been able to support over 105 million people worldwide. The brand has received its B-Corp certification, which means it’s been recognised for its social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency – meaning it is officially recognised for doing good.
