At first we thought the espadrille was out of date, or even in bad taste, in the image of an entire generation of vacation seekers who were always talking about the joys of camping. However, we didn't count on the unbelievable creativity of fashion and shoe designers. Today, the espadrille is  a far cry from the misshapen slipper that our parents and grand parents wore on the English beaches.

Even though the braided rope is still present, the morphology of this ex-has been has been profoundly modified. This season, we've been seeing more and more espadrilles transformed into sandals and designed with wedge heels of varying heights, and even platform soles to up the ante even more. 

Shown on every runway, straw rope has carved out a place among the must-haves of the moment, and we certainly want to stay on top of the trends this summer. Among the choices, opt for the updated flat shoe from Pare Gabia (1), to keep the traditional espadrille spirit, a braided-rope platform sandal from IKKS (2), to reach the fashion heights, or a court shoe with the heel covered in braided rope from Fornarina (3), for a stylish and chic look.

	(1) Pare Gabia - Coulsonne Model
	(2) IKKS - Beatriz Model
	(3) Fornarina - Gypsy Model

And what do I wear with these?

To go with our new generation espadrilles, it's best to avoid a really outdoorsy look, as the total "country" look can be difficult to pull off at work. However, feel free to try a pair of mini-shorts in stone washed denim with an ethnic inspired shirt for a bohemian look that is perfectly on trend. You can also try a fluid dress in funky colours, or, for a more casual look, black linen pants to highlight the  pastoral look of the straw sole.

As for you, how will you wear your espadrilles this summer?