How to Wear Espadrilles with Dresses in 2026: A Stylish Guide

Location: United States

By Sofia Laurent  |  London-based Fashion Editor  |  February 2026

Every season, I get asked the same question by clients who've just bought a pair of espadrilles and stalled out: how do I actually wear these with my dresses without looking like I'm heading to a Spanish market in 1987? And every season, my answer is the same. You're overthinking it. The espadrille — braided jute sole, flat or wedged, canvas or leather upper — is one of the most photogenic, proportionally intelligent shoes you can put under a dress. The trick is knowing which silhouettes, fabrics, and styling details make the pairing feel intentional rather than accidental.

In 2026, the dominant story in footwear is color confidence. According to Vogue's spring 2026 trend coverage, saturated hues are leading every footwear category — and espadrilles are no exception. Think fire-engine reds, cobalt blues, tangerine oranges, and fuchsias that don't apologize. Paired with the right dress, an espadrille in a bold shade or a neutral jute can completely transform how a look reads. I've broken down fifteen specific combinations below, organized by theme, so you can actually use this as a real reference — not just scroll through and forget about it.

One more thing before we get into it. Linen wrinkles. Embrace it, don't fight it. Some of the best looks in this guide involve linen dresses that will crease the moment you sit down, and that lived-in texture is genuinely part of the aesthetic. A stiff, just-ironed linen dress with espadrilles looks like a costume. A softly rumpled one looks like you live well.

Saturated and Unapologetic

There's a specific kind of courage required to wear a truly bright dress. Not the muted sage-green that Instagram has decided counts as "bold," but actual canary yellow, actual tangerine, actual fuchsia. The good news about pairing these saturates with espadrilles is that the shoe's natural materials — jute, canvas, rope — act as a visual anchor. They pull the look back from costume territory and root it in something tactile and real.

Look 1: Canary yellow midi + woven espadrilles — editorial studio.

This canary yellow midi is doing everything right. The dress length — hitting below the knee — balances the visual weight of a woven flat espadrille perfectly. Here's the trick with bright midi dresses: the hem needs to land at the narrowest point of your calf (or close to it) for the proportion to sing. Too long and the foot disappears; too short and the look tips into playful rather than polished. The woven jute espadrille here reads as neutral against the yellow, which means you can lean into accessories — a thin gold chain, small gold hoops — without the outfit fighting itself. This is an effortless brunch-to-gallery-visit combination that photographs beautifully in natural light.

Look 5: Tangerine orange mini + platform espadrilles — editorial close-up.

Platform espadrilles and a mini dress is a combination that works for one very specific reason: the platform adds height without the instability of a stiletto, which means you can move freely. The mistake most people make is choosing a platform that's so chunky it competes with the dress's hemline — the eye doesn't know where to look. Here, the tangerine orange mini sits high enough that the platform reads as a deliberate statement rather than a visual interruption. Pro tip — if you're wearing a mini with a platform espadrille, keep your legs bare. Tights, even sheer ones, cut the leg and shrink the silhouette. Platform espadrilles in a warm tan or natural jute are genuinely the most versatile choice here because they work under any color.


Look 3: Fuchsia pink wrap dress + matching espadrilles — brownstone backdrop.

I wore this exact combination — fuchsia wrap dress, fuchsia espadrilles — to a friend's private view at a gallery in Shoreditch last June. Three separate people stopped me before I'd even found the drinks table to ask about the shoes. The matching-shoe-to-dress approach feels audacious until you actually do it, at which point it just feels right. The wrap silhouette is doing a lot of heavy lifting here: it creates a defined waist regardless of body shape, the V-neckline is universally flattering, and the wrap tie means you can adjust the fit throughout the day. Wrap dresses also travel exceptionally well — pack one, re-wear it twice. If you're building a summer dress rotation, a quality wrap dress is worth every penny on cost-per-wear alone.

Cobalt Is Having Its Moment

If 2026 has a signature color, cobalt blue is making the strongest argument. It photographs like nothing else — deep, saturated, almost electric — and it works against every skin tone in a way that, say, royal blue or navy simply doesn't. The reason cobalt looks so good with espadrilles specifically is contrast of texture: smooth or slightly structured woven fabric against the raw, handmade quality of jute sole. Your eye notices the difference. That tension is what makes an outfit feel considered rather than thrown together.


Look 2: Cobalt blue linen + espadrille wedges — minimalist sun-drenched setting.

This cobalt linen dress and espadrille wedge combination is what I'd call a "smart casual non-negotiable." The wedge sole adds two to three inches without looking dressed up, which means you get the comfort of a flat and the proportion of a heel. For linen specifically, the wedge is almost always the better choice over a flat espadrille — linen dresses tend to be relaxed in cut, and the wedge adds a small amount of structure to the overall look that keeps it from feeling too casual. One small change elevates the whole look: cinch the waist with a thin woven belt in tan or natural. It breaks the solid color, creates definition, and adds another layer of the natural-material texture that makes this aesthetic work.


Look 8: Cobalt blue off-shoulder maxi + espadrille platforms — desert backdrop.

This is drama. An off-shoulder maxi in cobalt, platform espadrilles, and a desert backdrop — and somehow it still feels wearable rather than theatrical. The off-shoulder neckline is doing something very specific here for proportions: it widens the shoulder visually, which creates a more balanced silhouette against the floor-length skirt. If you're petite and you've been avoiding maxis because of proportion anxiety, this neckline is your answer. The platform espadrille is the right sole height for a maxi, too — a flat espadrille under a full-length dress can make you look shorter than you are, while the platform keeps you visible in the skirt. Occasion-wise, this reads as evening drinks, a rooftop event, or honestly any moment where you want to walk into a room and have it land.


Look 14: Cobalt blue belted A-line + matching canvas espadrilles — brick wall.

The belted A-line silhouette is, in my professional opinion, the most broadly flattering dress shape in existence. It nips at the narrowest point, skims over hips, and creates a clean A from shoulder to hem that works on every body. Pair it with matching canvas espadrilles in the same cobalt, as shown here, and you get that tonal dressing effect that Who What Wear's 2026 trend editors have been championing — same-shade shoes that elongate the leg line without breaking it. Against the graphic contrast of brick wall architecture, the unbroken column of cobalt reads as genuinely modern. Structured. Clean.

Red Alert (In the Best Way)

What is it about fire-engine red that makes people hesitate? It's not subtle. That's the point. Red on red — dress and shoes in the same family — is one of the most powerful moves in the monochromatic playbook, and espadrilles are uniquely suited to pulling it off because the natural jute sole breaks the all-red surface just enough. It's the visual equivalent of a breath between sentences.


Look 6: Fire-engine red midi + red espadrille wedges — monochromatic summer.

The midi length works here for the same reason it works with the canary yellow in Look 1 — the leg visible below the hem creates a natural break so the look doesn't read as one undifferentiated red mass. Keep accessories minimal: a small gold ring, a woven straw bag. The goal is for the color to do the work. This is a hostess look, a summer garden party look, a "yes I planned this" look.


Look 12: Fire-engine red linen midi + flat espadrilles — urban street setting.

Same red, completely different energy. Linen instead of a smooth weave, flat espadrilles instead of a wedge, urban concrete instead of a sun-drenched garden. This is daytime red — the Saturday-afternoon-in-the-city version. What makes it work on a practical level is the fabric. Linen breathes in a way most fabrics don't, which matters for a city day in July when you're walking ten thousand steps on pavement. The crinkle of linen also softens the boldness of the color — it feels more tactile and human than the glossier version in Look 6. Flat espadrilles are the correct choice here over a wedge; the graphic architecture in the background already has enough height, and the flat keeps the look grounded and street-appropriate.

If you're new to red dressing, start with the linen version. The fabric does the work of keeping it approachable.

Emerald, Ribbon Ties, and Why This Works So Well

Green is the color that most people underestimate, particularly in dress form. Emerald specifically — not the muted sage, not the dark bottle green, but that saturated jewel tone — has a particular quality in daylight. It shifts. Under direct sun it looks almost warm; in shade it deepens to something cooler and richer. That versatility is exactly why it photographs so well outdoors, and why it pairs so naturally with espadrilles rather than polished leather shoes. You want a shoe with a handmade quality to stand up to that kind of color depth.


Look 4: Emerald green fit-and-flare + ribbon-tied espadrilles — European street style.

Ribbon-tied espadrilles are the most elegant version of the shoe, and they're disproportionately underused. The ribbon wraps around the ankle and ties, which does two things: it keeps the shoe secure (genuinely important if you're walking on cobblestones or uneven pavement) and it creates a delicate visual detail at the ankle that elongates the leg line. Against an emerald fit-and-flare, that ankle detail becomes the finishing touch that takes the look from "dress and shoe" to actual outfit. The fit-and-flare silhouette here is ideal for this aesthetic — the fitted bodice shows the fabric's color richly, and the flare creates movement that reads beautifully when you walk.


Look 10: Emerald green linen wrap + striped espadrille wedges — European summer.

I had a version of this look on in Lisbon two summers ago — an emerald linen wrap, striped espadrille wedges, nothing else — and I genuinely wore it four days in a row because it required absolutely no thought and always looked correct. The striped espadrille is particularly good with solid-color dresses because the stripe adds pattern without competing with the dress's color. It creates interest at the foot level, which draws the eye down and makes the leg look longer in the process. The linen wrap is forgiving in travel too — it packs in almost nothing, and the wrap tie means no zipper to stress about. This is a linen midi dress situation worth investing in. You will wear it constantly.

Can Espadrilles Actually Work at the Office?

Yes. With conditions. The espadrille's reputation as purely weekend footwear is a convention, not a rule — and the office-appropriate version of this shoe exists, it just requires the right dress doing the right amount of work.


Look 7: Canary yellow wrap dress + neutral jute espadrilles — boardroom meets weekend.

This is the professional case made for espadrilles. A canary yellow wrap dress in a structured (not billowy) fabric, neutral jute espadrilles with a low wedge, and the overall silhouette kept clean and intentional. The key to making espadrilles work in a professional setting is the fabric of the dress — if the dress reads as "work," the shoe follows its lead. A wrap dress in a matte crepe or ponte fabric signals professional context; the same dress in floaty cotton signals weekend. The neutral jute heel here is deliberate too. A brightly colored espadrille would tip the look into casual; the natural jute reads as a considered neutral, which is why it holds up against a work backdrop. If you're navigating a creative office dress code, this is a smart combination. I've worn similar configurations to editorial meetings in London and nobody bats an eye — in fact, it usually generates a compliment. For more inspiration on building office looks that actually feel like you, the chic work outfit guides on this site are worth bookmarking.


Look 13: Canary yellow eyelet sundress + platform espadrille wedges — daytime polish.

The eyelet sundress is one of those pieces that exists in the exact middle ground between casual and dressed-up — and platform espadrille wedges push it firmly toward the polished end of that scale. The eyelet fabric has a delicate, artisanal quality that rhymes beautifully with the woven jute of the espadrille. They're both hand-crafted in a visual sense — both have texture and detail that a camera loves. The platform here adds height and confidence. This is a Saturday lunch look, a botanical garden visit, a "soft power" daytime outfit that somehow manages to be relaxed and put-together at once.

Fuchsia, Bias Cut, and the Art of Showing Up

This final group is where things get interesting. These are the looks for the long afternoon, the loft party, the evening that starts at six and ends when you lose track of time. Different silhouettes, different occasions, but held together by a shared commitment to looking like you actually meant to be there.


Look 9: Fuchsia pink smocked dress + ankle-tied espadrille flats — city afternoon.

A smocked dress has built-in stretch at the bodice, which makes it one of the most comfortable dress silhouettes you can own — it accommodates your body rather than requiring you to accommodate it. Paired with ankle-tied espadrille flats (note that ankle tie again, creating that elongating detail at the leg), this becomes the ideal city-exploring outfit. Fuchsia reads as joyful without trying to be cute, if that makes sense. It's confident color, not girlish color. Wear this to a farmers' market, a gallery opening, a long walk around a neighborhood you've never visited. The flat espadrille means you can actually walk, which matters.


Look 11: Tangerine wrap midi + espadrille wedges — loft party.

This is evening espadrille territory. The tangerine wrap midi is cut to move — every step you take, the fabric responds — and the wedge espadrille provides enough height to give that movement drama. The wrap silhouette ties at the side, which means you can control exactly how much leg you show and adjust the neckline depth to your preference. For a loft party or indoor evening setting, tangerine is an unexpected choice that reads as genuinely sophisticated rather than tropical. It's a color that flatters warm skin tones especially, though it photographs beautifully against cooler complexions too. According to Harper's Bazaar, warm citrus tones are among the strongest color stories running through spring 2026 collections — you are, in other words, perfectly on trend.


Look 15: Fuchsia bias-cut slip dress + espadrille wedges — beachy femininity.

The bias-cut slip dress is the single most underrated piece in the summer dress category. It's cut on the diagonal of the fabric, which means it clings softly rather than stiffly — it follows the body instead of imposing a shape onto it. This works for every body type because the bias cut moves with you, creating soft drape over curves and a clean fall on straighter silhouettes. Against espadrille wedges, the slip's fluid, almost liquid quality creates a beautiful contrast with the structured rope and jute of the shoe. The fuchsia here is rich enough that you don't need much else — maybe a single delicate necklace, maybe nothing at all. This reads as beach-to-bar, or late afternoon anywhere warm. If you're interested in exploring other shoe styles that bring this kind of effortless-cool energy to your wardrobe, the guide to slip-on sneakers and how to style them is worth a read for the days when you want the same ease in a different direction.

One important styling note on slip dresses specifically: the bra situation matters. A strapless or adhesive bra is ideal; a regular bra with visible straps will read as an afterthought under the thin fabric. If you're not comfortable going strapless, a well-fitted built-in bra slip dress eliminates the problem entirely.

Before You Go: The Mistakes Worth Avoiding

The mistake most people make with espadrilles and dresses is treating the espadrille as an afterthought — the shoe they reach for when nothing else seems right. But that mindset produces exactly the non-outfit it sounds like. Espadrilles deserve to be chosen deliberately, not settled for.

A few specific things that undermine the pairing: overly formal dresses (structured blazer dresses, sharp suiting dresses — the espadrille's casual DNA will clash rather than complement); very heavy or voluminous skirts (a full tulle hem visually crushes a flat espadrille; opt for a wedge to hold your own against volume); and super-sheer fabrics in delicate pastels (the espadrille's texture is robust and can overwhelm something truly fragile-looking — save those pairings for strappy sandals instead).

What works brilliantly, always: linen, cotton, crepe, jersey, and eyelet fabrics. Midi and mini hemlines in particular. Natural-fiber accessories — woven bags, rattan clutches, wooden jewelry — that rhyme with the espadrille's own material story.

If you're building out your warm-weather shoe wardrobe and want to think beyond espadrilles, the Chelsea boot styling guide here is a good next read for the shoulder seasons — when you love the dress but need something with a bit more structure for cooler evenings.

The 2026 Color Takeaway

If these fifteen looks have a throughline, it's this: 2026 is not the year for hedging your color bets. The combinations that work best here — cobalt with cobalt, red with red, tangerine against desert gold, fuchsia against everything — are built on commitment. Half-measures in color produce half-results in outfits.

The espadrille's specific contribution to all of this is grounding. Whatever saturated color you choose for your dress, the natural jute sole brings you back to earth. It connects an outfit to something tactile, handmade, and human. That's why these combinations feel less "fashion editorial" and more "person who has their life together." Which, ultimately, is the better compliment. ✔

And for those cooler transition weeks when an espadrille alone isn't quite enough — early June, late August — know that a thin linen shirt worn open over any of these dress looks buys you two or three extra weeks of wear time without compromising any of the outfits above. If you enjoy thinking about seasonal layering in depth, the year-round knit cardigan guide covers a lot of the same territory for cooler days. Wear what you love, wear it with intention, and let the shoes do their job.

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