Practically Barefoot

Sandals can very easily be called the official shoe of summer for both men and women, but I think the ladies tend to wear them more. There are hundreds of styles and brands of sandals to choose from, but there is one brand that stands out as the mother of all sandals: Bernardo.

Founded in 1946 by Bernard Rudofsky, once a noted architect and engineer, Bernardo is an affordable luxury brand that has a deep history in fashion. Bernardo moved into the world of designing footwear for what would become the country’s most successful sandal company.

Bernardo and his wife, Berta, later expanded the footwear line and today it includes shoes and boots, all the while remaining one of the most iconic brands of sandals in history. This practically legendary brand has definitely stood the test of time over the years. Several of today's most popular Bernardo styles, like the timeless "Miami" sandal, were originally designed in the 1940s. Yet mainly because of their chic simplicity, this and most other Bernardo styles remain just as fresh, relevant, and sophisticated as they were over 60 years ago during the brand’s heyday.

Wikipedia has the following information:

“The first collection was presented at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Manhattan, and featured only six designs. All six designs consisted of strappy uppers on an asymmetrical leather sole that was pancake flat. The collection received overnight success, and many high-end fashion magazines such as Vogue and Harper's Bazaar regularly featured Bernardo sandals in fashion editorials.”

Famous fashionistas of all walks of life, including Jackie Kennedy, owned at least one pair of these practically legendary sandals. It was said that the then-Mrs. Kennedy owned 16 colors of the same pair.

Today this label is still worn by fashionistas of all ages all over the world and is still a favorite sandal choice for many celebrities like Halle Berry, Beyoncé, Reese Witherspoon, and Courtney Cox.

bernardofootwear.com

Any fashionista worth her salt knows this “barely there sandal” by sight. They are incredibly delicate-looking, and I don’t think you could get much closer to barefoot than in a pair of these sandals. What I find interesting is such an iconic and high-quality shoe is quite affordable. I expected it to be pretty pricey, especially with its iconic status, but if I were a fan of ultra-flat sandals I would definitely own a pair. 

The actual company website is in the process of getting a bit of a facelift, but according to another retail website, Zappos.com, all Bernardo sandals and shoes are conceptually designed. The site goes on to say that each style is handcrafted with impeccable attention to detail and fit. In addition to simply being a cool summer choice for a sandal, the Bernardo collection of women’s footwear is an especially perfect addition to your summer shoe wardrobe this year. Its iconic style is perfect for the retro and contemporary trends that are going on in fashion this summer.