Sandals To Flip Over

By Lisa McLaughlin

Flip-flops have been the universal summer footwear for years--cheap and utilitarian, if not particularly fashionable. But the humble rubber thong is this summer's stylish shoe. Havaianas, colorful flip-flops from Brazil, are selling out at high-end boutiques and cropping up in style magazines like Vogue, Elle and Cosmopolitan; they were recently seen on the Paris catwalk of designer Jean-Paul Gaultier. Selling for just $3 in Brazil, the shoes are fetching from $12 to $80 in the U.S. For fashionistas seeking a more formal summer look, Sigerson Morrison has created a new silhouette for the flip-flop by adding a chic kitten heel. The sandals are available online at vivre.com for $85. --By Lisa McLaughlin