Although I occasionally dabble with tan, red, and white, I’d still say that 90% of my shoe collection is made up of black footwear. The reason for this? Versatility. Seldom will I wear an outfit black shoes don’t look good with. I find that when I wear pastel and lighter tones, black sandals give my look the edge I so crave. As for busier ensembles, they act as the perfect neutraliser. And in summer, even with the gorgeous array of colours on standby, I always come back to black shoes. This is particularly handy in 2024, where all of summer’s top sandal trends tend to have this colour in common.

Of course, ’90s strappy sandals have received serious backing from almost every brand going, from Reformation to Arket. Similarly, gladiator sandals have been given a stylish seal of approval, thanks largely to brands like Chloé and Tom Ford, whose designs have become regulars on our feeds and sparked a legion of high-street homages. In fact, after months of extensive research, I’ve come to the conclusion that summer can be defined by six black sandal styles, with each serving as the solution to any sartorial dilemma the next few months can throw at you.