Sorry, Flip-Flops—Chic Women in Paris and London Are Trading You In for This Elevated Alternative

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Two photos from Pia Mance and Eliza Huber of Bottega Veneta's extended thong sandals.
(Image credit: @piamance; @elizagracehuber)
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I know it's still winter outside, but in order to get through these very cold (and very snowy) months, I need to look ahead to sunnier climates—and the trends set to join them. One such trend resides in the footwear category and is quickly becoming the shoe to watch for spring 2026, a season that will *fingers crossed* be here before we know it. For years, we've leaned on basic flip-flops when it comes to warm-weather sandals, wearing them with jeans, trousers, skirts, and dresses, and rewriting their controversial reputation in the process through strategic styling. Now, they're getting yet another upgrade, but this time, there will be no rubber or plastic involved.

I'm calling them stretch thong sandals, or thong sandals with an extra-long, well, thong. For some time now, brands like The Row, Proenza Schouler, and Bottega Veneta have been experimenting with this sleeker, more elongated silhouette, and for 2026, other high-end shoe designers like Christen, Jude, and Alexandre Birman are joining the party. Made of sleek leather or supple suede—or, in the case of Alaïa, soft velvet—the stretch thong sandals you're about to scroll through only share one quality with flip-flops: the thong part. Everything else about them is far more luxurious, which is probably why so many It girls are already buying and wearing them, even despite the cold temps sweeping the globe.

Ahead, you'll find plenty of styling tips and inspirational outfits pertaining to stretch thong sandals, courtesy of only the best dressers, from L.A.'s Elsa Hosk and Pia Mance to London's Marilyn Nwakulor-Kazemaks. They've also been spotted in Copenhagen and Paris, among other particularly stylish cities. Score your pair below.

Styling Ideas

@nlmarilyn wearing a white T-shirt, black skirt, and stretch thong sandals.

(Image credit: @nlmarilyn)

Get the look: White T-shirt + A-line skirt + Stretch thong sandals

Pia Mance wearing a white tank top, gray pants, and stretch thong sandals.

(Image credit: @piamance)

Get the look: White tank top + Tailored trousers + Stretch thong sandals

Hanna MW wearing a leather cape jacket, black pants, and stretch thong sandals.

(Image credit: @hannamw)

Get the look: Leather cape coat + Black flare pants + Stretch thong sandals

@shayinjune wearing a white suit and stretch thong sandals.

(Image credit: @shayinjune)

Get the look: Ivory suit + Sweater + Stretch thong sandals

Eliza Huber wearing a white dress with stretch thong sandals.

(Image credit: @elizagracehuber)

Get the look: White sundress + Stretch thong sandals

Elsa Hosk wearing a white button-down shirt, yellow pants, and stretch thong sandals.

(Image credit: @hoskelsa)

Get the look: White button-down shirt + Silk pants + Bandana + Stretch thong sandals

Shop Stretch Thong Sandals

Eliza Huber
Eliza Huber
Associate Editorial Director

Eliza Huber is currently the Associate Editorial Director at Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2021 as a fashion editor after starting her career as a writer at Refinery29, where she worked for four years. During her time at WWW, she launched Go Sports, the publication's sports vertical, and published four (and counting) quarterly issues tied to the WNBA, Formula One, and more. She also created two franchises, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, Gracie Abrams, and Sabrina Carpenter for WWW's monthly cover features; and reported on new seasonal trends, up-and-coming designers, and celebrity style.