These Affordable Spring And Summer Espadrilles Are A Royal Favorite
Royalty-approved shoes on the average girl’s budget? Yes, please!
I don’t know about you, but honestly, shoes are sometimes the hardest part of an outfit. You have to figure out how to match them to the rest of your outfit, yet they still need to be versatile so they go with most of your wardrobe.
And if you’re like me, in the spring and summer, you want a cute shoe that isn’t too dressy. Nude pumps are a good color for this time of year, but feel too dressy for most things. Sneakers, as cute as they are, can feel too casual. Luckily, the royals discovered the perfect solution — the espadrille.
The great thing about the espadrille is that it solves the open-toed problem of the sandal. Because as cute as they are, I’m just not someone who has a perfectly unchipped pedicure all the time, so I want a spring and summer shoe option that’s closed-toe but still really cute. And the espadrille fits the bill perfectly!
Castañer Espadrilles
Both Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle have the same favorite espadrille maker in common. And it’s Castañer. The company was founded in 1927 and became world-renowned for creating the first wedge espadrille in the ‘70s for Yves Saint Laurent. Now, in case hearing that designer label is making you worried that these shoes are going to be super crazy expensive, don’t, because they aren’t. Their shoes aren’t exactly cheap, but they aren’t going to cost you an arm and a leg either.
The most popular pair will run you about $106.00. And for high-quality shoes made in Spain that have been seen on the likes of Grace Kelly, Jackie Kennedy, and of course, the royal ladies, that's not bad at all.
How To Wear Espadrilles
If you’re asking yourself, how would I wear these? The answer is pretty much any way you want. They’re super versatile! But to get a truly royal look, stick to midi and maxi dresses when you wear these shoes.
Wear Them with a Floral Dress
Want to leave them wondering, was that Kate there just now? Okay, so you’d probably have to be a doppelganger to achieve that effect, but Kate really loves to pair wedge espadrilles with a floral dress. And it’s easy to see why, it’s the perfect spring or summer outfit.
Balance Out Print
At first glance, you might think of the espadrille as a statement shoe just because the wrap tie is attention-calling, but it’s actually really easy to wear even with prints if you make sure to choose a neutral color. The tie just adds a nice feminine flair!
With a More Casual Dress
Meghan also loved to wear espadrilles with her more casual dresses. The wedge helps to dress things up, as opposed to a flat sandal which looks much more casual.
Go All Out Beachy
Espadrilles have a very easy, breezy beachy vibe. And it totally showed when Meghan wore this tropical-inspired dress on her and Prince Harry’s visit to Fiji.
Buy Your Pair
Right after the royal ladies were seen in these, you can imagine how fast these sold out, especially with the price being as reasonable as it is. Luckily, the style Kate and Meghan are each fondest of has come back in stock.
Both Kate and Meghan are most fond of the Carina 80 wedge espadrilles. And so am I! These are gorgeous shoes without being over the top or too formal for the typical things women do in the summer like go to lunch, the store, or spend time outside. That in-between formal and casual vibe the shoe has is probably the reason why Kate and Meghan each chose to wear it on tour for days where the activities would be a bit more casual in nature. (As casual as a Duchess gets anyway.)
They’re still sold out in Kate’s tan color. I know, I was disappointed too. But I think that the ivory is still a really great option if you want to go for Kate’s look since it’s also a light neutral.
And if Meghan’s color scheme is a bit more your vibe, then you’re in luck because the black pair she wore all throughout the tour she went on with Prince Harry is still in stock on Net-a-Porter.
But if you were really stuck on the color Kate had, they do make the camel in a suede style. So it’s not exactly the same model as the Duchess of Cambridge herself wore but it’s pretty close.
And if you get bored of neutrals, they make a gorgeous rose shade in the same style shoe. I mean, aren’t these just to die for?
Let’s say you don’t like the Castañer tie or just want to get your toes wet with the whole espadrille thing before spending that amount of money on a pair from Castañer, this cheap pair from J. Crew Factory that comes in flax, navy, and black is a good option. But hurry, because these won’t be on sale long! And as a bonus, Kate’s been seen in a similar style.
Closing Thoughts
The espadrille is on my must-have list for spring and summer this year. I’m actually thinking of getting a pair from Castañer in ivory and in black since I wear dresses so often and they’re such a good choice for this time of year. I have a feeling I’m really going to like them, and I think you will too.