Written by Rakelle Maurici in Essentials on the 21st June 2016

As the warmer months set in, it’s not just our clothing that needs to change to contend with the climate – our footwear choices do to. When it comes to appropriate footwear for this summer you need to consider what is comfortable for the heat, what looks good and what will allow your feet to breathe. With this in mind here are this season’s must have shoe styles.

Boat Shoes 

A casual nautical style. The boat shoe will be a go-to option for day time wear this summer. With a rubber sole and leather or suede upper means they are practical as well as stylish. Commonly in taupe, shades of blue and tan, these are versatile while giving your outfit a preppy finish. If you like to have a bit more fun with the tailoring side of things these also work well with shorts, cargo pants and jeans.

Slip Ons 

An informal style which can add texture and pattern to your shoes. While your regular slip ons are in leather, suede, horsehair or felted fabrics, for a lighter more breathable style there is the mesh or woven choice - treat them as a smarter espadrille. For this style it is best to keep to subtle colours such as tan, grey or black leathers and wear with linen and light cotton fabrics.

Canvas Sneakers 

The more continental sneaker is made from canvas, so you won’t stand out like a tourist while on that gondola in Venice this summer. Not only are these versatile and comfortable, they’re an elegant sneaker to wear with jeans, chinos and shorts. This is simply because you can find them in an array of colours, patterns and styles.

Driving Shoes 

The softer boat shoe, the driving shoe, is similar to that of your regular suede loafer however more relaxed, which is just what we want during summer. The name describes exactly what they were made for, the back of the heel has rubber on it to make them easy to drive in while not damaging the heal material over time. They look good with invisible socks and to make the most of them, buy them in a versatile colour such as grey, navy or tan - black may be a little harsh, while on the contrary, greens and reds could be a great way to add some colour if you wanted to. This type of shoe is very wearable, whether with jeans, chinos or a polo shirt.

Suede Derbys 

A Derby shoes is a popular shoe choice for any time of year, however for those summer weddings choose a suede Derby - they don't look too polished like the leather styles. You can team these with either a dapper two or three piece suit, or tailored separates. When it comes to colour, pick something fairly neutral such as camel, tan, pastels and khaki since the darker colours may fade quicker. However, if you want to add a little colour opt for a brick coloured sole instead of your regular white or brown.

We feature Boat Shoes, Slip Ons, Canvas trainers, driving shoes and suede derbys in this guide to 5 Shoe Styles to Consider this Summer.