A former fashion editor at Condé Nast Traveller UK has made the case for buying less and packing smarter — centred on a single pair of flat sandals she has taken on every sunny trip for the past six years. Her pick: the Eleftheria style from Ancient Greek Sandals, the Athens-based label founded by designer Christina Martini. The shoes are made locally in Greece, with leather that softens with age and a signature wing-shaped buckle nodding to Greek mythology.
The author's argument is refreshingly anti-haul. After years working in fashion and buying impulsively, she says the sandals became one of the few purchases that genuinely lasted — worn on city breaks, beach holidays and weddings abroad, and flat enough to slip into a carry-on without taking up space. Her pair is the metallic gold version with braided straps, which she has styled everywhere from Mykonos to the cliffs of Mallorca to evenings out in Italy.
The practical takeaway is a packing formula, not a product plug. For beach days, she pairs the sandals with a linen shirt and sarong over swimwear — an outfit that doubles as a lunch look. For city exploring, the softened leather holds up for hours of walking, and a light co-ord with a raffia tote and sunglasses takes the look from casual to put-together. For evenings, she skips heels entirely: minimal-strap flats with a maxi dress or kaftan, plus a bit of jewellery, feel dressed up without the pain.
She rounds out the edit with three alternatives worth considering. Jelly sandals — like the shell-decorated Iro style in black — are the playful, less timeless option of the season. Suede fisherman sandals in soft brown come with a removable wrap-around ankle strap, effectively two shoes in one, and should outlast the current trend. And simple black leather toe-strap sandals pack completely flat, though the advice is to wear them in before a full day of sightseeing so the leather has time to soften.
For travellers, the point is a capsule approach to holiday luggage: a few versatile pieces that work across beach, city and dinner mean a lighter bag and less decision fatigue. If you're tired of packing a different shoe for every occasion, one well-chosen flat sandal — broken in before you fly — may be the highest-impact item in your suitcase.
Story first reported by Condé Nast Traveller UK.