This summer, wear your personality in accessories and put those summer sandals to good use. Nothing defines an outfit more than trending footwear, so investing in a pair of statement sandals this season should never be put off. Footwear shouldn’t be an afterthought, and summer is the perfect season to step away from neutrals and embrace bold colour blocking. Here are a few of my favourites:

Sam Edelman Sophie wedge sandal

This pair may look familiar because it was featured in InStyle magazine. For many reasons, this footwear exudes an image of luxury and sensibility. Colour blocking can be as simple as black and white, but Sam Edelman perfects the trend with a snakeskin-print toe strap offset by a thick black ankle strap. This sophisticated look is striking with both colour and pattern contrast, but the modest wedge makes this a great statement piece for office-to-evening ensembles. Dress these sandals up with leather leggings or dress them down with a pair of boyfriend jeans. Either way, the possibilities are endless with this timeless black and white combination.

DV by Dolce Vita Aiden sandal

This two-tone duo incorporates the best of trends this summer: accent colours, prints and metallics. Often the misperception is that footwear and outfits only coordinate well when they match similar shades of colour, but this sandal is trend-perfect and eye-grabbing all on its own. Hot coral amps up any outfit and can give even the blandest ensemble colour-defying character. Hot coral is trending and will even highlight faint shades or shimmers of colour in your outfit. My favourite feature, aside from the comfortable design, is the added versatility; metallic accents turn this fun and flirty sandal into chic wear for both day and night.

Sam Edelman Gigi sandal

This sandal’s sleek and simple design draws attention to this trending shade of blue. The eye candy of all footwear starts with this burst of vibrant indigo but the pièce de résistance is the comfort of the padded foot bed and toe thong. Comfort and colour, the best of both worlds for footwear fiends, is the Sam Edelman branding so you can’t go wrong with this summer investment. The comfort of slipping in and out of these on the go also packs the added convenience of staying fashionable in more than those clumsy rubber flip-flops. The Gigi sandal comes in a variety of other colours and will quickly become your go-to summer slip ons.

Local fashion shoe retailer Heel Boy, located on Princess St., stocks up on all the summer sandal trends and is a great place to see how designers are incorporating colour blocking in playful ways.

Online shopping is also a convenient alternative for straight-to-your-door deliveries, but always remember to check reviews before selecting sizes to see if a particular pair of shoes will run true to size. Either way, summer sandals are a worthy investment and can really bring together an outfit by defining your fashion sensibility, dynamism and personality.