I’m Replacing My Birkenstock Bostons With These Nicer-Looking Slip-ons

A minimalist mule with the soul of a house slipper. Myinstepis on the higher side, so these were snug to start, and to get them on all the way I had to knock my toe into the ground and wedge my foot in — which only sounds annoying and definitely never stopped me from wearing them. It’s also not something I need to worry about anymore, since the upper is thin and supple and stretched quickly. I went with the butter-yellow shade, which didn’t really turn out to be the versatile neutral I’d hoped and is the main reason I’m not wearing them all the time. Had I gotten them in trustyblack, they’d probably be in the winners’ circle.

Senior writerLiza Corsilloand contributorAngela Tafoyareally like these fisherman sandals, and so do I. They’re simple, low profile, and versatile; they’re well-made, washable, and very comfortable; and, perhaps best of all for my purposes, the strap is stretchy enough that I can pull them on without undoing the buckle. (I don’t think this will stretch it to the point of being unwearable — I have a pair ofRothy’s Mary Janesthat still fit like new after literal years of wear, so I have faith in this pair’s structural integrity.) The only reason they’re a runner-up is because, despite not having to unbuckle the strap, I still need to do a little bit of extra maneuvering to wriggle my foot into place. This doesn’t necessarily stop me from wearing them, but it’s still an issue I don’t have with any of my top picks.

Yet another pair that’s stuck under the runner-up subhead because the shoes aren’t not 100 percent hands-free — I need to use my index finger to pull the socklike upper up and over my heel, which is even less maneuvering than the Rothy’s fisherman sandals require, but still. Other than that, they’re fantastic: comfortable, breathable, and easy to wear while chasing down a child. They’re notnotan orthopedic style, but they’re actually, surprisingly, quite chic — think avant-garde, ortho-lite ballet flat. Also, woven uppers are everywhere these days, so the whole thing is very on-point.

I struggled with whether to include these on my list at all because they areexpensive.(Full disclosure: I was gifted this pair.) Not only does $527 feel contradictory to my new “busy mom of two” ethos, I’ve also never spent anything close to that amount on a pair of shoes — and I don’t expect you to, either.However…These are really,reallynice shoes. They’re incredibly well-made from 100 percent leather, and the leather outsole is so thick and sturdy you could use it as a weapon. They’re also so pretty and so thoughtfully designed with a wide, square-toed welt, thick sole, and sturdy block heel that looks balanced rather than bulky. Most important, my foot slides in easily and stays in with zero toe gripping whatsoever. In other words, these are fantastic shoes that, fortunately or unfortunately, are worth their price. If they’re in your budget, absolutely go for it. If not, see my much cheaper winning pairs below.

In my “Strategist Brain,” I speculated that a pair of VIBAe mules might be the “nice blend” of fashion and function I was looking for. And I was right. Just like Birkenstocks, VIBAe shoes look a bit potato-y from certain angles, and can easily fall into the crunchy-granola category — but only if you let them. I ended up going with the best-selling Roma mule in smooth black leather, which feels even more sedately fashionable than theRoma WovenI first had my eye on. The upper is more streamlined than expected (the sizable welt that seems to make the footbed so stable also makes the upper appear wider than it actually is), and the supple, veg-tanned leather molds to the foot in a way that looks expensive rather than sloppy. Especially for a style with such strong hippy-dippy potential, these lookgood.

They feel just as good. There’s the pliable leather upper, the flexible and bouncy rubber outsole, and the proprietary, barefoot-style, arch-supporting, anti-microbial Carbon Step footbed, which also molds to your foot over time andcan be replacedif (and in my case, when) you wear it out — a huge plus, since I’ll be wearing these enough to merit a new set sooner rather than later.

An artisanal babouche with the refined air of a bespoke smoking slipper. I don’t wear these out regularly just yet, because the (very,very)nice leather sole is still pretty slippery inside and out. Instead, I’ve been putting them on whenever I’m child-free to help scuff up the outsole for added friction and encourage the insole to mold to my foot. Once that happens, I’ll be wearing them everywhere — they look nice with simple black trousers but also withfancy track shortsand asummery schmatte. They’re certainly not inexpensive, but they’re incredibly well-made, and I think they’ll just get better with age (as all Sabahs seem to do), so hopefully it’s a good return on investment. For a more affordable option, try one ofSabah’s non-woven Babas, which are a bit more casual but just as great-looking and reliable and half the price.

You know how Blundstone boots aren’t necessarily cool anymore buteveryone still loves thembecause they’re incredibly comfortable and well-made and look good even when they’ve been beaten down by years of wear? Well these are that, just in clog form. They are cushiony and cozy. The outsole is sturdy, and even though there’s no actual heel, my foot feels as cradled and secure as if I were wearing actual boots. They’re one of the least refined-looking pairs on my list, but they do look industrial-chic if you style them correctly. They also might be the most comfortable pair I tried, and I find myself instinctually choosing them whenever I need to pop out for a quick dog walk or a trip to the playground. Because it’s July in Los Angeles and I don’t want swamp foot, I’m not wearing them exclusively yet. But once it’s officially too cold to leave the house without socks on, I may very well be living in these.

Yet another success story from Sabah, and this time not with a slip-on but a slip-in, since I can step into this classic pair, heel and all, completely hands-free. Granted, it might become harder to do over time — Sabah shoes are known to mold to your feet the more you wear them, so the upper might not stay as open and upright as it is currently — but I’ll continue to take advantage of this unexpected feature for as long as I can. Comfort and ease-of-use aside, they’re also a totally versatile style that’s equally at home on a sandy beach or a bit more dressed up for dinner. (Picky Guy, senior writer, and all-around tastemaker Michael Zhao also cited them asa perfect day-to-night style, so you can take his word for it, too.) I want them in every color.