Summer Sandal Styles That Look Great on Petite Feet

Updated on February 24, 2023.

The illusion of added height is what every short girl wants every time she puts on a pair of shoes. In the summer months that can be a little tricky. We are always reaching for a comfortable summer sandal and many times those are flat or very low heels. With this in mind, how do we make sure our petite feet look as long and slender as possible?

There are certain styles and features in a shoe that can help us achieve that. It just takes trying on lots of shoes and figuring out what looks best on your tiny feet. Just for the record, I have LOTS of experience doing this. I wear a size 5 shoe AND I am a confessed shoeaholic.

A great sandal by Marmi that can be dressed up or down all summer long

Summer Sandal Styles That Look Great on Petite Feet

So before we start talking about all things sandals there are a few other posts that you might like to read. I do love my shoes and have lots of experience finding the options that look best on small feet and a petite body.

• Best Places to Shop for Shoes for Small Feet
• Best Boots for Petites: How to Find The Ones for Your Short Legs
• The Best Shoes Styles to Wear if You Are Petite
• Best White Sneakers for Women With Petite Feet

What is a Petite Foot?

The average shoe size for women in the United States is 8.5 to 9. Worldwide the average shoe size for a woman is 8. Interesting, huh. Taking those statistics into account, a small foot is someone who wears a size 8 or smaller. Petite feet belong to women who wear a size 6 or below.

Yes, there are many of us out there that wear a size 6 or below. The sad thing is that many brands start their sizing at size 6. With this in mind, what do the petite feet ladies do for shoes?

Know Where to Shop

Big department stores, like Nordstrom , are great places to start your search for small sized shoes. I also find that shopping on a designer’s site that make small sizes regularly is a great way to find what you are looking for. Many times they will even have alerts if they are currently out of your size so that you can get first dibs on a recut. I share all of my favorite places to shop for shoes in my post Best Places to Shop for Shoes for Small Feet. It is a great resource.

Shop Early in the Season

Ever notice that when it actually gets warm there aren’t many sandals to choose from in your size? Sadly, brands and designers don’t make much inventory in smaller sizes. So my advice (from lots of lost purchasing opportunities) is to buy early in the season. Yes, before you can think about showing your toes because it is still chilly out is the time to order your sandals for the season.

Know What Looks Good and Feels Comfortable On Your Feet

We all know what we like to wear. Is it always what looks best on our feet? Well, I believe that we can have both for our little feet. I have broken down the styles that look best on petites in my post The Best Shoe Styles to Wear if You Are Petite. As you keep reading I am going to suggest some summer shoes that will look great on your feet and be comfortable. Remember to always wear new shoes around in the house a few times especially if it is a brand that is new to you before deciding that they are going to live in your closet. Shoes for little feet can be expensive and we want to make sure that we WANT to wear them.

Best Styles of Summer Sandal for Petite Feet

If you have petite feet, these shoe styles will always help you with that illusion of height and help to make your legs look longer. Every short girl’s dream, right?

Pointy Toe Shoes

Ok, I know that this is all about summer sandals. However, a great shoe to keep around in the summer is a pointy toe mule. They are a great transition shoe from winter to spring. Another great reasont to have a pair in your closet is for those days that the pedicure isn’t looking so good. Finally, some people just don’t like to show their toes for one reason or another.

Nude or Skin Colored Shoes

Nude or skin colored shoes always look good on a woman with short legs. It helps give the illusion of a longer leg whether you are wearing shorts, skirts, dresses or pants. It’s always good to have a pair in the closet. I also love the clean straps on sandals the last few seasons. Another way for us to get that extra length illusion.

Light colored sandals

This is the time of year to break out the light colored sandals. It could mean creams/whites or soft pastels. Yes, if you like pastels, find some that speak to you and wear them with your favorite whatever this season.

Wedge Sandals

Wedges are always one of my favorite ways to wear heels in the warm weather months. When you are looking for a wedge, just make sure the platform isn’t real thick. The thick platform at the toes can be too heavy on a little foot and they are usually with a really high heel which can look out of proportion with our petite frames. Here are some that I like this season.

Slingback Sandals

Who doesn’t love a sexy slingback sandal? They are just flattering and elongating to a small foot. Personally, I think they look better in a lighter color or metallic on small feet. But if you find one in a fun color that you love to use as a “pop” of color give it a try. It’s always fun to experiment.

Shoe Shopping Tips

Yes, I have sold shoes in my sales past. That means I know and understand a little about the construction of shoes. Knowing a little about shoe construction can come in handy when you are purchasing in store or online. This guide will help familiarize you with some commonly used shoe terminology.

My nugget of knowledge that I love to share is this. Once you find a designer that you love and a style of shoe that makes your feet happy find out which other shoes are made on the same last. Designers can use the same last for more than a couples of styles. That means that all of those styles should fit your feet the same. After you figure that out, it will simplify finding shoes to fit your petite feet.

Sandals That Don’t Flatter Petite Feet

When you are petite scale is such an important factor to determine if something works for you or not. There are certain styles of shoes that can easily be too “heavy” for our little feet causing the entire look to be off. The other thing that we have to consider is that we want to always have the illusion of longer legs so a sandal with ankle straps or ties going up the legs are not our friends. In other words, when you are shopping for shoes these are some styles that you probably don’t want to add to cart.

• Platform Shoes
• Wedges with high platforms and thick heels
• Gladiator Sandals
• Ankle Straps (especially that are not skin tones)

THANKS

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by my little corner of the internet and reading this post. It means the world to me. I have had lots of practice shopping for shoes for petite feet over the years. A great summer sandal is always a favorite of mine to add to cart. Hope this helped you as you navigate summer sandal season.