Hooray for Sandal Season!

My name is the DC Goodwill Fashionista and I have a shoe addiction.  Dear readers, I have not one, not two, but four shoe organizers in my home.  And truth be told, I really need a fifth!  It’s not my fault, I swear, the shoes call out to me every time I go to Goodwill and who am I to say no?  Even when I’m not there looking for shoes, I can feel the magnetism of the shoe section pulling me in.  I’ve been getting out my summer shoes and started thinking about the must have categories for summer sandals.
First, let’s talk about how to get your feet sandal ready.  Chances are your sandals are going to show off your toes, so make sure your nails are neat and clean.  To polish or not is a personal preference, with many people rethinking their mani pedis after the New York Times’ stunning expose, but whether or not you polish, your toenails should be shaped and looking good.  Sandals put your feet on display, so show them a little extra TLC.  Banish those cracked heels by using an exfoliating scrub and get rid of those callouses and dead skin with a skin shaver.  Trust me, your feet, and the people around you, will thank you!

My go to shoes for the summer are flats.  When I’m running errands, I want to be chic but comfortable and flat sandals fit the bill. I think think every fashionista needs at least two pairs of flat sandals: a neutral and a bright.  If you’ve got that covered, think about adding a metallic or textured sandal.
Flats are great for every day activities, but when I want to dress up a bit, I reach for my wedges.  I’ve pretty much given up all my heels in favor of wedges.  The height is a personal preference but I think the higher, the better.  With wedges, you want to make sure the straps are at least as wide as your finger.  Straps that are too thin will start to dig into your feet because of the pressure of having your feet at an incline and by lunch time you’ll be regretting your shoes decision.


Some of you might notice that flip flops are missing from list.  Yep, that’s not an omission, I am strongly anti-flip flop.  Flip flops have their place: around the house, at the beach or pool, in your back yard.  But that’s it.  Repeat after me, “Flip flops are not for fashionistas!”
What are your favorite summer sandals?  Have you found a way to keep thin straps from digging into your feet?  Share your sandal tips below in the comments!