our services
- E-RESERVE - Pick up your product in store within 2 hours
- FAST DELIVERY to your home/station within 48/72h
- CLICK & COLLECT - Pick up your parcel in store
- E-RESERVE - Pick up your product in store within 2 hours
- FAST DELIVERY to your home/station within 48/72h
- CLICK & COLLECT - Pick up your parcel in store
Women's Shoes – Flip-Flops / Thong Sandals
Summer is traditionally the season for showing off your toes: whether at home or on the beach, vacationers eagerly shed their heavy winter shoes and enjoy the high temperatures by freeing their feet in minimalist shoes. These often consist of nothing more than a sole with two very thin Y-shaped straps on top: the famous flip-flop or thong sandal, an ultra-light and delicate sandal that poses a real challenge for those who choose to wear a pair, even if only for a casual shopping trip or a stroll by the sea. It reveals a part of the foot usually hidden under thick socks.
Women and men eager to wear flip-flops often prepare in advance by undergoing a thorough pedicure to ensure that, when the time comes, their nails and skin are immaculate and ready to be on display.
Matching Flip-Flops and Nail Polish
Often, women anticipate this by selecting nail polish that matches their future flip-flops (and vice versa). The colors of the various models in the Besson Shoes catalog cover a wide range of solid or contrasting shades, from yellow, turquoise, red, brown, light green, blue, and silver straps on brown, white, or black soles.
The diversity of shapes and styles is similarly varied: classic, minimalistic flat flip-flops with a thin strap that fits delicately between the big toe (hallux) and the second toe (secundus). There are also flip-flops with wider straps on thick, soft, cushioned soles, or flip-flops adorned with two pleated pieces of fabric serving as straps.
Often confused – mistakenly – with slides, flip-flops are distinguished by their central thong strap, a feature absent in slides, which have a wide upper strap covering the instep without involving the toes (thus, the questionable aesthetic choice of mixing socks and sandals is possible with slides, but not with flip-flops!).
The Global History of Flip-Flops
Iconographic evidence shows the use of "flip-flops" in the literal sense of the term as early as the Pharaohs' era (-3200 BCE). The Egyptians made their soles from papyrus and inserted leather straps into them. This universal sandal was worn by many civilizations: the Romans and Persians adopted it, as did the Japanese, who named them "geta" and "zōri." These sandals heavily influenced the Brazilians, who created the modern flip-flop, globally known under the brand Havaianas, which has been entirely produced in rubber by the company Alpargatas since the 1960s.
Etymologically, the French word "tong" derives from the English term "thong," which means "strap."
Flip-Flops for Leisure or Walking
Long associated with the beach, camping, or the pool, this sandal has gradually expanded its domain from sand to pavement: designers have recognized the product's potential, making it a fashion accessory within the women's wardrobe, especially since the late 20th century. This trend was highlighted in 2019 by Steve Madden, who, in a nostalgic move, reintroduced the platform flip-flop, which had first emerged twenty years earlier and was popularized among teenagers by the fictional character Lizzie McGuire or the British pop group Spice Girls.
Besson Shoes' offering reflects this diversity by expanding formats and designs to satisfy a wide range of tastes and aesthetic preferences: in addition to timeless classics suited for beach vacations, you’ll find models specifically designed for walking, such as thong sandals with a 3-centimeter thick cork sole. For dressed-up evenings, try flip-flops with wide padded straps or straps featuring perforated and scaled patterns.