The Best Leather Flip Flops for Women, and How They Should Fit
The Best Leather Flip Flops for Women, and How They Should Fit
The best leather flip flops for women have a soft leather toe post, a padded insole, an outsole with some rubber in it and a footbed long enough that your heel and toes stay on the sole. Our pick is the Fine Flip Flop in Black from St. Agni, with a sheepskin insole, a leather and rubber outsole and a 1.4cm heel. You will find it alongside the rest of our edit on the designer flip flops and slides page.
Key Facts
- Australians call flip flops “thongs”; the shoe is the same toe-post sandal.
- The American Podiatric Medical Association advises a sole long enough that toes and heels do not hang off the edge.
- A good flip flop bends at the ball of the foot and does not fold in half.
- St. Agni’s Fine Flip Flop and Everyday Thong use a bovine leather upper, a sheepskin insole and a leather and rubber outsole, made in India.
- St. Agni’s Jelly Flip Flop is the PVC alternative for water, made in Italy, and fits small.
Why Choose Leather Flip Flops
Rubber and foam flip flops are fine for the beach shower. Leather is what you wear to lunch afterwards. A leather strap softens and shapes to the foot with wear, and a leather insole feels drier against bare skin on a hot day than plastic does. Soft leather is also less likely to cause blisters along the strap, a point the American Podiatric Medical Association makes in its flip flop advice.
The trade-off is water. Leather and suede do not like a soaking, so most people who wear leather flip flops keep a cheaper pair for the pool. We cover that below.
Thongs, flip flops and toe-post sandals
Search for “leather thongs” in Australia and you get flip flops, not underwear. St. Agni, an Australian label, uses both words in its names: the Everyday Thong and the Fine Flip Flop. Our St. Agni thongs and flip flops guide compares the brand’s five toe-post styles in full.
How Leather Flip Flops Should Fit
Fit is the part most people get wrong. A flip flop has only one strap holding it on, so small errors show up fast as rubbing, slipping and sore arches.
| Check | What good looks like | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Heel and toes sit fully on the sole | Heel hanging off the back, toes over the front |
| Toe post | Sits comfortably between first and second toe | Too tight, which rubs; too loose, which lets the shoe slip |
| Strap | Lies flat across the top of the foot without digging in | Gaps at the side, red marks after an hour |
| Flex | Bends at the ball of the foot | A sole that folds in half |
| Insole | Some padding under the heel and forefoot | A completely flat, hard footbed |
When to size up
Most leather flip flops follow your usual shoe size. Size up if your heel reaches the very back edge of the sole in your normal size. Always read the product note too, because some styles are cut small. The St. Agni Jelly Flip Flop, for example, is noted as fitting small, with advice to size up one full size. For conversions, see our St. Agni size guide.
What flip flops are not for
Podiatry advice is consistent on this: flip flops are not for long walks and not for sport. Pack trainers for the sightseeing day and keep the flip flops for the hours around it.
The Best Leather Flip Flops at Coveti
Best slim strap: St. Agni Fine Flip Flop
The Fine Flip Flop has slim leather straps, a rounded toe, a softly padded sheepskin insole and a leather outsole with rubber, on a 1.4cm heel. It is made in India and noted as fitting true to size. Black is the everyday pair. The Fine Flip Flop in Pewter Metallic takes it to evening, and the Fine Flip Flop in Croc Embossed Coffee adds texture in a warm brown.
Best tapered strap: St. Agni Everyday Thong
The Everyday Thong has tapered straps that sit a little broader on the foot, a rounded toe and the same 1.4cm heel. It is also noted as fitting true to size. The Everyday Thong in Croc Embossed Black is the most forgiving finish for city wear, and the Everyday Thong in Parchment is the pale option for linen and white denim.
Best suede: St. Agni Everyday Thong in Coffee Suede
If you want a softer look, the Everyday Thong in Coffee Suede is made in goatskin with the same construction underneath. Suede is the least water-friendly choice here, so save it for dry days.
Best for the pool: St. Agni Jelly Flip Flop
Not leather, but worth knowing about. The Jelly Flip Flop in Smoke is 100 per cent PVC with a circular footbed and a 1cm heel, made in Italy. Pack it with a leather pair and you are covered from the sunlounger to dinner.
Other Designer Leather Flip Flops
Toteme and Christopher Esber both make leather flip flops in a similar minimal register. Read our guides to Toteme flip flops and Christopher Esber flip flops to compare. For heeled toe-post styles, which are a different buy, see designer thong sandals.
How to Care for Leather Flip Flops
Let them dry naturally if they get wet, away from direct heat. Brush sand off the footbed before it scratches the leather. Wipe smooth leather with a damp cloth, and use a suede brush on suede. Rotate pairs through a long summer so each gets time to air out. Like any shoe worn daily, flip flops wear down; replace a pair when the sole thins at the heel.
How to Wear Them Now
Summer is starting in Australia and New Zealand, and the Northern Hemisphere is planning winter sun. A slim leather flip flop works with a linen trouser, a slip dress and cut-off denim. For a full warm-weather wardrobe built around a pair like this, read our summer capsule wardrobe. For more St. Agni footwear, see St. Agni shoes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are leather flip flops worth it?
Leather flip flops cost more than rubber pairs, but the strap softens with wear and the insole feels drier against bare skin. Soft leather is also less likely to rub. They are worth it for everyday summer wear, with a cheaper pair kept for the pool.
How should leather flip flops fit?
Your heel and toes should sit fully on the sole, with nothing hanging over the edges. The toe post should sit comfortably without rubbing, and the sole should bend at the ball of the foot. If your heel reaches the back edge in your usual size, size up.
What do podiatrists say about flip flops?
The American Podiatric Medical Association advises choosing flip flops with a sole long enough for your whole foot and a soft strap that does not rub. It also advises against wearing flip flops for long walks and sport.
Can you get leather flip flops wet?
Leather flip flops can survive a splash, but soaking them is not a good idea, and suede is the most delicate. Let wet pairs dry naturally away from heat. For pools and beaches, a PVC pair such as the St. Agni Jelly Flip Flop is the safer choice.
What are the best leather flip flops for women?
Look for a soft leather strap, a padded insole and a leather and rubber outsole. At Coveti, the St. Agni Fine Flip Flop and Everyday Thong both have a sheepskin insole and a 1.4cm heel, and both are noted as fitting true to size.
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