The 'old-school' fashion item making a comeback this summer

Footwear trends come and go, but this one you may already have at home.

Let’s be real, everyone owns a pair of thongs.

Whilst they’re rarely considered the most stylish option, they’re unbeatable when you’re looking for the perfect shoe for a grocery run, beach trip, or even just a communal shower.

But, this summer, things are looking up for the humble thong, as it heads into ‘shoe of the summer’ territory.

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Havaianas are having a comeback. Image: TikTok / @hannahlizzy_.

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They're back and (hopefully) here to stay

Looking back on the ‘90s and noughties, just about everyone had a pair of Havaianas, and not only did they own them, they rocked them. They were the go-to shoe for just about any occasion, and if you didn’t have a pair? Well… I don’t know what to tell you.

But, in the years following, the Brazilian brand hasn’t quite been at the forefront of footwear trends, taking a step back for every new pair of slides, cowboy boots and white sneakers which would become ‘all the rage’.

It’s not that less people had them - because I dare say, you still do - they just weren’t what you’d prefer to be seen out in.

Earlier this year, though, things changed for Havaianas with the release of the Slim Square Toe Thongs.

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Can thongs be chic?

The style took over in the US this summer, with influencers labelling Havaianas the ‘comeback brand of the year’.

“I have literally never seen a comeback like what they just did,” @hannahlizzy_ said on TikTok.

“Last year, people were not wearing flip flops, and if they were, they were wearing the rainbow flip flops to the beach. This year, Havaianas comes out with these square toe flip flops… and these Flatform flip flops… then they collab with Dolce&Gabbana.

“Flip flops are now chic. They’re now being considered ‘quiet luxury’, where flip flops were literally never ever a luxury looking item.”

Now, the trend is starting to pick up in Australia as the weather warms up, with some sizes in the square-toe thongs specifically sold out continuously.

One Aussie woman took to TikTok this week donning her Havaianas, gauging others’ thoughts on the trend.

“Do you think anyone in Penrith knows I’m wearing these Havaianas in a chic way & not a bogan way?” she captioned her now-viral video.

Commenters on the video were split on the matter, with plenty saying it’s not possible to make Havaianas cool again.

“There’s no such thing as Havaianas in a chic way,” one person said.

“Havaianas are still thongs and you can’t wear thongs in a chic way,” another agreed.

However, she also had plenty of commenters to back her up.

“I get it girl,” said one commenter.

“Such a niche thought, yet I’ve had the same one,” added another.

Creator @lansrosem shared a similar sentiment, giving into the Havaianas trend.

"I just love them," she said.

"They were $50. Pretty good. I think they're chic!"

Originally published as The 'old-school' fashion item making a comeback this summer