BUSY SCHEDULE? HERE'S WHAT SHOES TO WEAR FOR ALL YOUR OCCASIONS

By Sarah Waldron, 1 June 2026

Summer is the season of occasions. The weather is (usually) better and the vibes are immaculate, so it's only right your outfits should be too. And with multiple different events on the horizon, you may be wondering which shoes to wear with said outfits. Don't worry – we've taken the guesswork out of it with this handy guide, featuring new drops from all your favourite brands.

FOR A SUMMER WEDDING: LOAFERS

There’s something about loafers that just speaks to summer tailoring – they ground lighter fabrics that little bit better than heavier brogues or boots. A lightweight, flexible loafer is exactly what you need for an all-day affair, especially in hot weather. You can have a bit more fun with your shoes at a wedding – we like the chunky sole and tassels on Dr. Martens’ version, while ASOS DESIGN’s pair has a latticed upper that’s cool without being wacky. Monochrome suits will really, ahem, suit NOAK’s two-tone style. Match your cufflinks to the gold snaffle.

GET THE LOOK:

Dr Martens Unisex Adrian Ben tassel loafer in butterscotch brown, £155
NOAK made in Portugal loafers in black and white leather with gold snaffle, £85
SEQWL Charlie loafer in taupe micro, £25
ASOS DESIGN penny loafer in natural weave, £38

FOR A FESTIVAL: STURDY BOOTS

Do a poll of your friends asking their least fun parts of a festival weekend and mud will be right up there with the portaloos. British weather is the kind of unpredictable that means you could either encounter rain-sodden fields or arid, dusty ones – possibly both. A solid pair of boots will have you covered in both eventualities. Hunter’s wellies are a perennial favourite, having tested their mettle in several decades’ worth of rainy festivals. If you’re not wedded to wellies, try biker boots or a solid hiking pair from a technical brand like The North Face.

GET THE LOOK:

Hunter Unisex Downpour short wellington boot in dark olive, £95
Hunter Unisex Downpour tall wellington boot in black, £100
ASOS DESIGN brogue lace up boots in black, £50
The North Face Back-To-Berkeley IV waterproof hiking boots in black, £135

FOR WATCHING THE FOOTY: TRAINERS

You have your pick of the trainers for watching the footy this summer, as we’ve got new drops from Nike, adidas, New Balance, Asics, On (and on, and on). There are no prerequisites – after all, you’ll be watching and not playing, unless your name happens to be Declan Rice. Lo-pro pairs from adidas are always a winner, and there are so many options that you can quite literally match the colour to your national team’s flag. And Nike’s new mesh angle on the Waffle Racers makes a classic even lighter and more agile – exactly what you need on a hot evening in the beer garden.

GET THE LOOK:

adidas Originals Japan trainers in red and light pink, from £90
Nike Waffle Racer mesh trainers in lime green, £79.99
Asics Gel-Cumulus 16 trainers in black, £145
New Balance 740 trainers in navy and white, £100

FOR A SUN HOLIDAY: SMART SANDALS

Pictures: ASOS

The sun holiday makes big demands of us all. You’ll have dinners to head to and cobbled streets to explore (why are they always cobbled?), so you’ll need sturdy and smart sandals. You can’t get more foolproof than Birkenstocks. The two-strap Arizona style is an undisputed classic, but if you want to push the boat out a little, go for the Naples – it’s got the same comfy sole, but is something in-between a loafer and a slipper. Elsewhere, it’s a good idea to look for something with wide straps, and keep the colour palette relatively neutral to make sure it goes with everything in your suitcase.

GET THE LOOK:

Birkenstock Naples wrapped loafer in concrete grey suede, £150
ASOS DESIGN cross over sandals in brown leather, £35
Pull&Bear Technical sandals in taupe, £35.99
Birkenstock Arizona sandals in black oiled leather, £105