I Tried on a Bunch of Sandals at Steve Madden

I’m into the elevated flip-flop trend and like these vegan patent sandals. They have a stylish square toe and a slightly padded footbed that feels nice underfoot. But as a thong-style shoe, they would have a long break-in period. The Trella comes in vegan patent leather, vegan suede, and jelly material, though I wish it came in a matte leather option as well.

These slide sandals were very nice and comfortable. I like how simple they are with the flat wide strap and square toe. They are made of a real leather upper that feels soft and smooth across my bunions, and they have a cushioned footbed. I can imagine wearing these all summer.

These slides, on the other hand, were not very comfortable. A convincing dupe of the Hermès Oran sandals, the cutouts dug into my bunions. If you don’t have my podiatric issues, they are a cute option and are available in leather, mesh, beribboned, and raffia styles.

I loved these fisherman sandals that looked more expensive than they actually are. They’re made of real leather and have a dainty pointed toe.

These were an immediate winner. I had seen them online and knew I had to try them. They remind me of my beloved Maryam Nassir Zadeh Olympia Wedges, which are the sexiest, most versatile heels I own. They also look a little bit like these Chloe PVC platforms. The Steve Maddens have a wide, clear strap (with side ventilation holes) and a lightweight cork wedge that is extremely comfortable and easy to walk in despite their four-inch height. I took these home with me. I plan on wearing them on more casual, daytime occasions, saving my MNZs for nights out.

I always wanted a pair of these platforms as a teen but never got them. They’re still as comfortable as when I tried them on multiple occasions at the Nordstrom at the Glendale Galleria.

Very comfortable and padded, the more walkable of the thongs I tried on. These are meant for long summer days outside.

If you’re jelly-curious, Steve Madden is a good place to experiment. These platforms are cute and surprisingly comfortable considering the hard platform soles and thongs.

These kitten-heel jellies are a little more walkable and extremely cute.

Love the colorful raffia on these. Perfect for a Mediterranean vacation.

I like the idea of these heels, but the toe strap is rigid and flat and dug between my toes. Sadly, they were the least comfortable of the sandals I tried on that day. (I had a similar pair from Steve Madden a couple of years ago, and they tore up my feet.)

I have been looking for a pair of ’90s-style mule heels, and these were pretty close to what I was imagining. The three-inch heel is a comfortable height for day and night, and the genuine patent leather is nice.

Modern in that Phoebe Philo–era Celine-esque way.

These jellies aren’t technically sandals, but because they’re open throughout, I threw them into the mix. I had always been curious about this style of jelly ever since The Row put them out a few summers ago, and now they’re everywhere. I have to say that they are not easy to walk in. The jelly-cage design is restricting and sticks to the top of your foot. Can’t deny how cute they are, though. Steve Madden’s take comes in a few colors, including a bedazzled version.

Not something I would ever think to try on, but glad I did. Surprisingly cute and comfortable.

I had initially passed these over, but when I shared a photo of the Steve Madden shelves to the Strategist chat, my colleague Amelia Jerden called attention to “the tabi jelly mary-jane mule situation,” and then I had to try them on. Unfortunately, they are way cuter and more comfortable than they have any business being. A “freaky shoe to the max with the flesh-toned jelly texture” is how fellow Strategist senior writer Dominique Pariso described them.

And finally, another Row dupe. These mesh slingbacks are cute but thin and don’t provide enough support for my feet.