How To Style Huaraches This Summer (And A Nisolo Review!)
Summary: I tried Nisolo‘s classic huaraches for a gender-neutral and slightly elevated take on my regular summer sandals. Handcrafted with Leather Working Group Certified leather by artisans in Mexico, these high quality shoes are versatile, breathable, and sleek. While they do need a break-in period, once softened they quickly became a go-to staple in my summer wardrobe.
Pros
- The sandals are high quality and made to last; in fact, they only get better with age!
- Easy to slip on and as breathable as any flip flop, but with toe coverage, making it slightly more sophisticated (and even office-appropriate!).
Cons
- The investment is $138, which can be cost-prohibitive for some.
- Handmade leather requires a breaking-in period!
The sandals in my wardrobe are all well-worn, dinged and creased like all loved shoes are, and boast slick soles thanks to how many miles I’ve walked in them. Yet even on the warmest days I haven’t yet worn them thanks to my ghostly pale legs and chipped nail polish on my toes (those things shouldn’t matter, but hey! We all get a little self-conscious sometimes).
But hear me out…what if there was a sandal that covered your toes without looking bulky or weighing down an outfit? Enter huaraches. This season I’m relying on Nisolo, a beloved B Corp shoe brand, for the cutest and most responsibly made version of these classic sandals.
“But hear me out…what if there was a sandal that covered your toes without looking bulky or weighing down an outfit?”
Huaraches are not a new shoe — they can be traced back to Indigenous Mexico before Columbus arrived (and probably were in use for even longer). The name itself comes from the Purépecha language word kwarachi, which translates into English as “sandal.” Just as the name and its translation infers, these sandals are simple, useful, and resourceful, even being used for centuries as a minimal running shoe for the Indigenous Tarahumara runners.
Huaraches gained traction in the US during the 1960s counterculture movement, and have steadily gained popularity since (Nike even named a shoe the “Huarache,” although it looks nothing like the sandal).
Today, you’ll find both men and women sporting the style across many different aesthetics, but these sandals are especially popular in the summer. Nisolo, the go-to sustainable shoe brand since its founding in 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee, has been designing and crafting huarache sandals in Mexico since the beginning.
Collaborating with local makers, Nisolo ensures everyone has a safe and fair wage work environment for every shoe that it creates. Nisolo also uses Leather Working Group Certified leather, and thanks to the brand’s offsets and sustainability initiatives, each product produces 0% net emissions — that’s right, zero.
But how about the shoes themselves? As someone who’s worn Nisolos for years, I can happily say I’m always thrilled with the longevity and timelessness of the designs. When I finally got my hands on huaraches, I found them to be as high quality as the rest (no cheapo Amazon straps that’ll snap within a few wears).
“As someone who’s worn Nisolos for years, I can happily say I’m always thrilled with the longevity and timelessness of the designs.”
Nisolo’s huaraches come in five colors (I *love* the “Bone” color), run in women’s sizes 5 through 11 and mens sizes 8 through 13. The brand does recommend selecting half a size down, and I agree—I usually fall between sizes 6.5 and 7, and found that a 6.5 in the huarache works great for me.
They’re super breathable and I’m glad the sole isn’t too slick — there’s a bit of grip so you’ll stay safe during any unexpected summer rain showers.
These shoes come with a price tag of $138, which may be steep if you’re comparing to typical Target or Walmart prices, but the cost makes sense when you consider Nisolo’s responsible practices and high quality craftsmanship!
The quality doesn’t come without a little challenge, though — the shoes do take a little while to break in, for which Nisolo outlines many helpful tips here. Honestly, in my experience wearing leather shoes throughout the years, this isn’t new or surprising — usually the more handcrafted and authentic the shoe, the more you’ll have to be patient with the break in process. (My colleague successfully thrifted a pair of Nisolo huaraches that were already well-loved, and wears them everywhere.)
I was excited to play around with styling these shoes, and found they’re a great fit for work, brunch, errands, even nights out! Here are some of my own wardrobe essentials I’ll be pairing with these huaraches this summer (leggings and t-shirt not included, although you know it’ll be a favorite):
But you might be looking for even more ways to wear huaraches—we’ve pulled together a simple four-question quiz to help you get started building an outfit with your Nisolos. You’ll get your personalized recommendation on the results page, but keep scrolling to see all the outfits we’ve dreamt up!
How To Style Huarache Sandals
Which huarache outfit idea did you get? Find all the details below, and be sure to drop a comment to let us know your fave ✨
This post is in partnership with our friends at Nisolo.
Emily McGowan is the Editorial Director at The Good Trade. She studied Creative Writing and Business at Indiana University, and has over ten years of experience as a writer and editor in sustainability and lifestyle spaces. Since 2017, she’s been discovering and reviewing the top sustainable home, fashion, beauty, and wellness products so readers can make their most informed decisions. Her editorial work has been recognized by major publications like The New York Times and BBC Worklife. You can usually find her in her colorful Los Angeles apartment journaling, caring for her rabbits and cat, or gaming. Say hi on Instagram!
