7 inspirational quotes from the IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2026
7 inspirational quotes from the IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2026

Shayna Healy

This unique Shankill home is all about light and space
This unique Shankill home is all about light and space

IMAGE

Executive Chef at Fallon & Byrne Hugh Higgins shares his life in food
Executive Chef at Fallon & Byrne Hugh Higgins shares his life in food

Sarah Gill

See all the pictures from The IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2026
See all the pictures from The IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2026

IMAGE

These outdoor furniture sets will elevate any garden this summer
These outdoor furniture sets will elevate any garden this summer

IMAGE

The IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2026 winners are…
The IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2026 winners are…

Leonie Corcoran

Real Weddings: Anna and Steve’s intimate Cork city celebration
Real Weddings: Anna and Steve’s intimate Cork city celebration

Edaein OConnell

Social pictures: The launch of the Volvo EX60
Social pictures: The launch of the Volvo EX60

Megan Burns

Page Turners: ‘One Year’ author Susan Bennett
Page Turners: ‘One Year’ author Susan Bennett

Sarah Gill

Natalie Farrell: A week in my wardrobe
Natalie Farrell: A week in my wardrobe

Edaein OConnell

Image / Fashion

Is this ugly shoe the sandal of the summer?


By Holly O'Neill
30th Apr 2020
Is this ugly shoe the sandal of the summer?

Fashion trolling has a new victim — the thong sandal


Just when you thought trainers couldn’t get more offensively hideous, the sandal steps in to take their reign. Is fashion trolling us? Between the revival of tie-dye everything, fanny packs and low-rise jeans, woundingly expensive micro-bags that you wouldn’t fit a lighter in, senior citizen sandals, Crocs and all things dad (dad jeans, dad sandals, dad shirts), and shoes with stains on them (!!!) the Emperor’s New Clothes trends prevail (is everyone joking?).

As fashion news writer Emilia Petrarca puts it, “luxury is being in on the joke. And brands are laughing all the way to the bank.”

The performance art of proudly repulsive fashion continues this summer with the chunky thong sandal. It’s like the cheap sandal you wore on your holidays when you were 14, but uglier — sturdy, bulky, platformed. All the worst words.

If you’re deep in the world of fashion’s preoccupation with the ugly shoe, you already know the sandal I’m talking about. It’s the Ginza leather sandal by The Row, at the preposterous price of €780.

I hate that I love them.

Look, don’t come crying to me about it, I don’t make the rules. Take it up with the influencers.

I’ve put together an edit of the most hideous ones I could find and a selection of influencers wearing them if you still need convincing. I know, I know. The joke is on us.

@monikh

@lucywilliams02

@pernilleteisbaek

@brittanybathgate

Shop our edit of chunky thong sandals below.

The Row Ginza leather sandals, €780

The Row Ginza leather sandals, €780

Arket flatform thong sandal, €135

Monki platform flip flops, €35

Ecco corksphere sandal, €103.50

ATP Atelier Black Melitto leather flatform sandals, €282

& Other Stories T-Bar strap leather sandals, €69

Neous leather platform sandals, €414

Photography by @monikh.

Read more: 7 pieces of bubble gum bright jewellery to give your mood a lift

Read more: Here are the 10 items fashion lovers were buying during the first four months of the year

Read more: Everything we want from Villanelle’s season 3 Killing Eve wardrobe (so far)