Open Toe Block Heel Sandals with Thin Straps

Open toe block heel sandals made of three thin straps

Three thin straps, a square toe and a block heel: that is the whole sandal. One strap crosses the toes, two cross the instep at an angle, and the back is open so you slide your foot in.

They come in pale nude, off white and black, in sizes 35 to 42. The supplier calls the heel low and the fit true to size.

At a glance

The piece: strappy mules by Classy Ballet Flats

The sandals are sold under the label Classy Ballet Flats. Our supplier lists PU leather and rubber, a low heel and a true-to-size fit, and ships them without a box. PU leather is a man-made material with a leather look.

No heel height in centimetres is given. In the photos the heel is a solid block in the same colour as the straps, and the insole carries the printed word "fashion". That print is on the footbed and is covered when you wear them.

Who they're for

For you if you want a dressier summer shoe and do not want to wobble. A block heel has a wide base, so it stands steadier on cobbles and grass than a thin heel does.

Thin straps show a lot of foot. If you prefer more hold, look for a sandal with an ankle strap; these are backless.

Closer look: straps, toe and heel

• Backless slip-on (photos)
• Open, square toe (supplier title and photos)
• Three thin straps, two of them crossing the instep (photos)
• Low block heel in the strap colour (supplier and photos)
• PU leather and rubber (supplier)
• Shipped without a box (supplier)

Materials and build

The supplier names PU leather and rubber, without saying which part is made of which. In the photos the straps are smooth and matte and look rolled, like thin cords.

Size: true to size, 35 to 42

Order your usual size, the supplier advises. Its chart gives a foot length per size, from 22.4 cm for size 35 to 25.9 cm for size 42, converted from inches and rounded to one decimal.

With an open, square toe your toes should stay on the footbed. If your foot length sits exactly on a size, that size is right; if you are in between, take the larger one and check that the straps still hold.

Size chart (cm)

Source: the supplier's size chart, given in inches and converted to centimetres by us (1 inch = 2.54 cm).

Styling: skirts, cropped trousers, bare ankles

The photos pair them with a long polka dot skirt. Midi lengths suit a low block heel, and so do cropped trousers that end above the ankle.

Pale nude lengthens the leg because it stays close to skin tones. Off white looks fresh with jeans. Black is the one that also works in the evening.

Occasions

Summer at the office, a garden party, a wedding as a guest, dinner on holiday. They are light to pack and go with most of a summer suitcase.

Care

The supplier gives no care instructions. PU is usually wiped clean with a soft damp cloth. Let the sandals dry in the air and keep the pale colours away from dark jeans that can rub off.

The wow detail: the crossing straps

Two of the three straps run at an angle and cross on top of the foot. That diagonal is what gives a simple mule its shape: it draws a line from the little toe towards the ankle and makes the sandal look lighter than it is.

Fashion that gives back

5% of each sale goes to a cause you choose. The causes are matched to 11 of the 17 SDGs, the global goals set by the United Nations, and you decide where your share goes.

Our promise

Ships from the supplier's warehouse overseas, with tracking. The supplier lists 11–14 business days for this item. Delivery is free within the EU on orders from €69; below that it costs €4.95 in the Netherlands and €6.95 elsewhere in the EU.

You have 14 days after delivery to ask for a return, as long as the pair is unworn and still has its tags. Our promise is plain: if what arrives does not match what this page says, send it back within 14 days and we refund you.

More sandals, flats and boots are in our shoes collection.