Heeled thong sandals revive '90s minimalism for summer 2026

On June 2, 2026, Katie Holmes wore Malone Souliers’ Koko Embossed Thong Sandals in New York City with a blue pinstriped button-down and wide-leg denim trousers. Heeled thong sandals are having their cleanest, sharpest comeback in years because the silhouette strips summer dressing down to a thin strap, a low kitten heel and a long line through the foot, then lets the rest of the outfit do the work. That restraint is the point: it is ’90s minimalism with commercial instincts, the kind of shoe that can move from polished to casual without asking for a wardrobe reset.

Why this throwback keeps returning

Fashion Magazine called the thong kitten heel a “timeless classic” and a capsule item that has “consistently cycled back into relevance for over thirty years.” The shape solves a perennial styling problem by making jeans look intentional, softening tailored pieces and keeping summer dresses from feeling overly precious.

The broader fashion mood also helps. After seasons dominated by heavy platforms and oversized soles, the market is leaning toward lighter footwear and an easier kind of luxury, one that looks considered without appearing overworked. Heeled thong sandals fit that shift neatly: they feel refined, but they read as effortless.

The celebrity proof is already on the street

Holmes’ shoe is a 45mm thong mule and was listed at $595, which places it squarely in the designer sweet spot between aspirational and accessible.

Other celebrities were already wearing similar low-heeled versions in spring 2026, including Kylie Jenner. Last summer, Hailey Bieber and Kaia Gerber repeatedly wore heeled flip-flops, helping push the style from a niche favorite into a recognizable part of the fashion conversation. Bieber also wore the style with polka dot capris and straight-legged jeans.

What makes the silhouette so wearable

The strength of the thong heel is that it does not demand a specific silhouette above it. It can sit under flouncy capris, cutoffs, straight-leg jeans, slip skirts and breezy dresses without fighting the proportions. That flexibility is why the shoe feels more useful than a louder sandal: it gives height and polish, but keeps the outfit visually light.

It also has a rare double life. Worn with denim, the style reads relaxed and slightly nonchalant. Paired with a dress or tailored trousers, it sharpens the look without introducing stiffness. That is why the shoe keeps showing up in the places modern wardrobes actually live, from weekend errands to evening plans.

Brands are already building around the demand

Steve Madden has already dropped several versions of thong kitten heels ahead of summer 2026, which is usually the clearest sign that a look has crossed from fashion interest into mass-market confidence.

Paris Texas made the same bet when it expanded its Lidia family with thong styles on February 13, 2026. Founder and creative director Annamaria Brivio described the update as a bolder, more untamed reimagining that still keeps wearability central. The update preserves the stripped-back shape, then adjusts the finish, heel height or material so it feels a little fresher than the last round.

How to wear it without overthinking it

Heeled thong sandals pull a look together quickly.

A few combinations already define the mood:

• Wide-leg denim and a crisp shirt, as Katie Holmes wore in New York City, for a look that feels easy but finished.

• Straight-legged jeans with a minimal top, echoing the Hailey Bieber formula, for a clean line that feels very current.

• Polka dot capris or cropped tailoring when you want the shoe to read as part of the outfit, not merely an afterthought.

• Slip skirts and breezy summer dresses, where the barely-there structure keeps the look from tipping too far into sweetness.