Spring’s sharpest shoe edit puts the bounce back right where it belongs

By: Afika Jadezweni

Crocs, ‘stocks and socks — plus a few pairs that prefer to go it alone. Look forward to a Spring shoe edit that moves between the playful, the polished and even the slightly unexpected. 

Spring is the season to ease out of winter boots and chunky trainers, but that doesn’t mean going straight to sandals. Instead, Mary Janes, loafers, slingbacks and ballerina flats offer a lighter, more versatile middle ground.

The easiest way to make this footwear transition feel effortless is to stop treating socks and hosiery as a merely functional detail. A pair of loafers or your Birks with a white sock, Mary Janes with a sheer ankle sock, or a sandal worn with fine ribbed hosiery can completely change the proportion and mood of an outfit.

Umbro x Crocs classic clog

The Crocs Clog has never been short on personality, but this collaboration gives it a different kind of swagger. Umbro brings a sporty sensibility to the famously divisive shape, with Bone and Slate Grey making the result feel surprisingly restrained. It is still unmistakably a Croc, of course, but one that has swapped the garden path for something a little more streetwise.

R1 599.90, Shelflife online 

Fhulufhelo slingback flat mule

The Fhulufhelo takes the easy, substantial shape of a Boston-style clog and pares it back into something lighter and more polished. Its rounded toe and enclosed upper retain that effortless, throw-on quality, while the slingback strap and statement buckle give the silhouette a sharper finish. Think of it as the accessible answer to that cult, backless-clog ease — only a little more pulled together.

R399, AYANA

Vans LX Mary Jane slip-on

Vans gives the Mary Jane some much-needed attitude. The low profile and slip-on construction bring a skate sensibility to the neat, strapped silhouette, while the red colourway makes sure it does not disappear into the rest of your outfit. It is playful and graphic enough to carry a simple look on its own.

R1 899.95, Archive on Bash 

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Rock & Co Cryptic Mary Jane flats

Available in Black and Chocolate

The other Mary Jane in the edit takes a more traditional route, keeping close to the clean proportions that made the shape a wardrobe staple in the first place. An almond toe, slim ankle strap and metallic buckle give it just enough detail, while the low profile makes it feel less like a statement shoe (although noteworthy) and more like the kind of pair you’ll keep reaching for because it’s easy to style.

R649, Bash (online exclusive) 

Birkenstock Milano big buckle

The Milano has always been the practical Birkenstock, but the Big Buckle version gives it considerably more presence. Oversized gold buckles and a glossy leather turn the familiar sandal into a slightly more pristine style, while the backstrap and footbed keep its utilitarian credentials intact. A fine ribbed sock adds interest beneath a full-length trouser, but cropped hems and bare feet put the focus exactly where it belongs: on those buckles.

R4499 at Birkenstock and selected retailers

Luella ruched penny loafers

Available in Black and Brown

The penny loafer gets softened up. Ruched detailing takes the formality out of the classic silhouette and makes it far more at ease with the wide, relaxed proportions dominating wardrobes now. It still has the intelligence of a traditional loafer, but none of the stiffness; this is a pair that looks equally convincing with tailoring and denim.

R759, Foschini and Bash.com

Classic ballerina flats

The ballet flat has outlasted the comeback cycle and earned its place in wardrobes again. This version keeps the familiar round toe but adds a small gold detail to elevate the appeal of this fashion-fave flat. A sheer ankle sock shifts it into more considered territory, but this is one pair that looks strongest when the styling is allowed to breathe.

R149.99, MRP

Block ankle-strap heel

The ankle-strap heel is the practical answer for those who want a little height without committing to a precarious stiletto all day long. All the delicacy sits up top while the common sense lives underneath. Consider this the shoe equivalent of dressing up and still catching the last Gautrain home.

R616, Superbalist.com

Stand out

Animal print Heather heel

While most of this edit leans into muted, practical get-up-and-go silhouettes, every shoe collection needs something memorable to put a pep in your step on those less-than-ordinary days. So why not conquer the concrete jungle in a touch of animal print?

R1999, Country Road

This article was not sponsored and contains no affiliate links. All opinions expressed are those of the editorial team.