The Olympic Games may be winding down, but the style inspo is ramping up. Case in point: Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, who has been representing the royal family in Paris and dressing to impress. Her latest look—worn to a Triathlon Tea at the U.K. Embassy—is no exception. Wearing an animal print wrap dress from Max Mara (similar here, $33), Sophie looks elegant and chic. But it’s her choice of comfy and stylish footwear that stood out to us: She skipped a white sneaker and opted for a pair of ‘Valencia’ espadrilles from Tom’s ($80).
Duchess Sophie Just Rocked Slip-on Espadrille Platforms in Paris—and They’re the Perfect White Sneaker Alternative
She paired them elegantly with a dress
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Published Aug 8, 2024
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Max Mumby/Getty Images
In fact, the shoes were so comfy, Sophie wore them twice—as evidenced by the above video posted by the Royal Family on Instagram, which shows Sophie congratulating Team Great Britain at the Olympics and pairing the same pair of Tom’s slip-ons with a white shirtdress.
Tom's
Tom's
A few important details about the slip-on before we get into all the reasons we’re super into Sophie’s choice: First, Tom’s as a brand is known for its style, but also its comfort. The Valencia in particular is chic—especially with the fun fringe—and includes a CloudBound insole (proprietary technology that delivers added arch support). The espadrille platform itself is one and a half inches in height, but features a padded heel so that it’s easier to trek around in and stand for long periods of time. (The style also comes in 10 different colors, FYI.)
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Which brings us back to Sophie. We’re certain her royal job in Paris involved a lot of mixing and mingling and being up on her feet. This choice of footwear is a creative and accessible pivot from a more expected white sneaker and one that feels summery and fresh. (We also love how affordable they are—and, even better, they’re still in stock.)
Credit to Sophie, who continues to encourage us to up our style game, even as the summer season starts to wind down.
