Wedge sandals return for summer 2026 in sleeker, minimalist form

Luxury fashion has found a way to make one of the most divisive ’90s shoes look newly desirable again. For summer 2026, the wedge sandal is returning in a sleeker register, with Khaite, Aeyde, Reformation and Staud swapping the old sky-high cork platforms and mall-era clunk for cleaner lines, sculptural heels and a far more polished silhouette.

The difference is immediate. Today’s wedges lean minimalist, with micro proportions, wedge thong sandals and refined heel shapes that read closer to quiet luxury than nostalgia bait. Stylist Sammie M., founder of the vintage resale destination Carte Blanche Shop, calls the revival “edited,” and that word gets to the point. The louder versions of the past were built around chunky cork soles, rhinestones, contrast stitching, visible logos and thick straps. The new ones look pared back enough to sit beside sharp tailoring, slip dresses and the kind of crisp summer wardrobe that does not need extra explanation.

That restraint is showing up across the market. Harper’s Bazaar says boho wedges are moving beyond raffia into suede and leather, a shift that gives the shoe more depth and less craft-fair baggage. It also points to minimalist strappy sandals at The Row and Toteme, which helps explain why the wedge now feels aligned with the broader quiet-luxury mood. Selena Gomez has already helped sharpen the look’s visibility in brown wedge sandals with a toe-ring strap, a styling move that makes the trend feel current rather than costume-y.

The brand collections back up the shift. Khaite’s Spring/Summer 2026 footwear assortment includes wedge and tied-sandal styles, while Aeyde’s SS26 direction emphasizes fresh silhouettes and leatherwork, shaped by “collective recollections of childhood.” Staud’s summer 2026 lineup includes the Remy Thong Wedge and Juno Wedge, and the brand describes its wedges as lightweight and comfortable, a useful correction after years when the category was more about height than ease. Styled with pared-back tailoring and occasion dresses, as Khaite has done, the wedge starts to read less like a throwback and more like a deliberate accessory choice.

Who What Wear says the style has already become common among chic dressers in New York and Europe, with broader adoption expected by June. That tracks with the larger swing in fashion right now: the wedge is not returning as a joke or a relic, but as a cleaner, sharper sandal with just enough nostalgia to feel familiar and just enough restraint to feel expensive.