The Best T-strap Shoes to Shop for Fall 2026, According to a Fashion Editor

For the past few years, flip-flops have dominated the footwear scene, but T-strap shoes are slowly replacing them on the throne. This new shoe du jour comes in a variety of silhouettes, including heeled and strappy or closed-toed and flat. And though it’s too soon to say this means the end of the thonged-sandal era, those who’ve been looking for a little more variety in their late-summer, early-fall shoe closets will finally have something to turn to instead.

A favorite of the flapper days of the 1920s, the extra strap running up the foot in T-strap shoes gave dancers extra security while tapping away on stage. It became a fashion staple over time and has recently made its way back into the fashion zeitgeist through designers like Christian Dior and Calvin Klein.

Both T-strap sandals and their closed-toe counterparts are gaining popularity; and if you ask me, both variations belong in a well-stocked shoe closet. I recently purchased a sporty-chic T-strap sandal, which I’ll link to below, that works both on mountains and at restaurants. My other purchase—a kitten-heel T-strap sandal from Jil Sander—has a more office-forward, polished silhouette.

Bianca Kratky

Bianca Kratky

And if I were to continue investing in the shoe economy, I’d start with the following T-strap heels, flats, and sandals. Your guide to the T-strap shoe trend, below.

The best T-strap heels

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