The sandal category is full of options that work in theory and fall apart the moment you actually try to build an outfit around them. Too minimal and they look like an afterthought. Too heavily strapped and you’ve somehow made casual footwear into a conversation piece nobody asked for. The three strap sandal sits in exactly the right place. Enough structure to look considered, enough simplicity to work with shorts, lightweight trousers, or even a linen suit if you’ve got the nerve. We’ve been looking specifically at leather construction and footbed quality, because those are what separate a sandal that lasts three summers from one that gives up by August. Colour matters too. Tan and brown carry the most weight across different outfits, but we’ve included a few other options where the case was strong enough. These are the ones we’d wear to an aperitivo and feel no need to explain.