Designers can’t seem to settle on a name for them, but whatever you call them – wooden sandals, slides, clog-inspired slide sandals, even exercise sandals – for better or worse they are back again for SS2016. 

The iconic sandal has, for decades, cultivated fans and foes alike, mostly due to its wooden footbed. Some find it extraordinarily comfortable. Others, not so much.

Truth is, finding your footing in these wooden slides can be pretty tricky unless you happen upon the perfect pair. The good news is, never has there been a better time to go in search of them. Reinterpreted for the season, you’ll find wooden sandals in a variety of colors and patterns, and with as much or as little detailing as you’d like.

And if you’re like me, and you’ve been around for awhile, you might be able to dig deep into your closet archives and pull out a pair from your past that suddenly look current again.

Mine are from Gucci… 

Next week I’ll show you how I styled these for a casual night out, putting a modern spin on a true classic.

And speaking of classics, Dr. Scholl’s Original Exercise Sandal – a name synonymous with wooden sandals – is still going strong with a refreshed design being sold exclusively at J.Crew. Check out some of their newest looks below along with several other unique offerings.

How do you feel about wooden sandals? Fan or Foe?

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top image via J.Crew.