Square-toe sandals lead the coastal grandmother summer minimalism revival

Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy still defines the kind of summer dressing that looks expensive without trying, and square-toe sandals are the cleanest way into that mood right now. ELLE has pushed the shape as one of summer 2026’s key shoes, and Marks & Spencer’s £46 strappy wedge gives the idea a high-low usefulness that fits linen tailoring, capri pants and Bermuda shorts without disturbing the line of the outfit.

Why the square toe works

The square toe has the right amount of structure for coastal grandmother dressing. A rounded or delicate sandal can disappear under long shorts and soft tailoring; a square front adds a crisp ending to the leg and keeps the look polished, which is exactly what makes the silhouette feel modern rather than nostalgic.

That matters because coastal grandmother style has never been about costume. Lex Nicoleta coined the phrase on TikTok in 2022, and the image stuck because it felt legible: Nancy Meyers films, Ina Garten ease, beach-house light, and the kind of wardrobe that looks equally at home on a ferry deck or at a long lunch. Square-toe sandals slide neatly into that world because they read as practical first, pretty second, and that balance is the whole point.

The new minimalism is more specific than a trend cycle

ELLE’s case for the shape is less about a loud sandal moment and more about a subtle return to 1990s minimalism. That framing is what gives the shoe its staying power: it feels like a wardrobe edit, not a wardrobe takeover. You do not need a new personality for it, just a cleaner line at the foot.

The collection of styles on the market shows how broad the idea has become. ELLE points to square-toe versions from Marks & Spencer, Massimo Dutti and Arket, and the shape appears across wedges, mules and softer resort styles rather than locking itself into one heel height. That spread is important, because the coastal grandmother wardrobe is built from pieces that do not compete with one another, they collaborate quietly.

Why M&S is the sharpest high-street translation

The M&S pair at £46 is the shareable detail here because it lands the aesthetic without the luxury markup. ELLE also highlights an M&S leather block-heel mule at £50, which keeps the price point in the same accessible lane and proves the retailer has treated the square toe as more than a one-off fashion flourish.

M&S’s own women’s sandals offering currently leans into exactly the kind of practical polish coastal grandmother dressing needs. The line includes sliders, wedges and block heels, with leather and vegan-friendly straps, while the wedge-sandal pages emphasize cushioned soles and Insolia technology for comfort from day to night. That combination matters when the outfit is linen trousers, a sleeveless top and long shorts, because the shoe has to look neat at brunch and still feel wearable by dinner.

How to wear them with linen, capri pants and longer shorts

Square-toe sandals work best when the rest of the outfit keeps the same disciplined calm. Breezy linen tailoring makes the most obvious pair, but capri pants and Bermuda shorts are just as convincing because the sandal’s straight front echoes the cleaner hemline of those cuts. In coastal grandmother terms, the shoe is there to sharpen the silhouette, not decorate it.

A satin version pushes the look a little further. M&S’s satin strappy wedge heel sandals are described as a sophisticated pairing for occasionwear, with a high wedge heel and square toe completing the design, which makes them useful for summer dinners, garden parties and any event where you want polish without the stiffness of a closed pump. The satin finish adds a little gleam, but the square toe keeps it from drifting into fussy territory.

For daytime, the leather and vegan-friendly versions are the most convincing. They keep the outfit grounded with white tailoring, brass-button details, striped knits or a crisp poplin shirt, all of which fit the Hamptons-adjacent shorthand that keeps resurfacing in retail edits. The point is not to dress like you are on a mood board; it is to look like your clothes make sense against a salt-air backdrop.

The real appeal is accessibility

Luxury labels have spent years selling minimal sandals as objects of taste, but this is a category where the high street can move quickly and convincingly. A £46 M&S sandal does not dilute the idea, it makes it more relevant, because the coastal grandmother wardrobe is built on pieces that look expensive in motion, not just in a product shot.

That is why the square toe has become such a strong retail signifier. It gives linen a cleaner finish, gives longer shorts a more deliberate edge, and gives the whole coastal grandmother vocabulary a shoe that feels current without shouting for attention. In a season full of broad sandal options, the square toe is the one that makes the minimalism look intentional, which is exactly why it keeps coming back.