Short answer
Three things decide a shoe in the heat: material, sole and whether the strap adjusts. Leather and suede breathe; fully closed synthetics don't. A thick rubber sole cuts the heat coming off the asphalt. Feet swell through the day, so a buckle or an adjustable strap is what makes a shoe wearable by evening.
Material: who solves the sweating
Feet sweat in heat; the aim isn't to prevent that but to choose a material that lets the moisture out. Natural leather and suede are porous, so they pass it through. Fully closed synthetic surfaces don't: the foot stays wet, slides inside the shoe, and the odds of a blister by evening go up.
- Leather — breathes, moulds to the foot, ages well.
- Suede — very comfortable, but open to dust and water marks. Good on dry summer ground.
- Canvas — light and washable; practical for long walks.
- Synthetic — acceptable in occasion shoes, not in something worn all day.
Sole: stone streets, hot asphalt, wet tiles
The island offers three surfaces and each asks for a different sole. On a summer afternoon the asphalt gets genuinely hot, and a thin-soled sandal passes that heat straight to your foot. A thick rubber sole cuts it, and absorbs the impact of a long walk while it's at it.
The stone streets of the old quarters are uneven: heels drop into the gaps and thin leather soles slide on polished stone. Poolside and terrace tiles are the most slippery ground there is when wet — there, a patterned rubber sole is a safety question, not a style one.
Day, evening, occasion: which shoe
| When | Shoe | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime, in town | Sandal with adjustable straps | Adapts to a swelling foot, lets air through |
| Long walk | Thick-soled sneaker | Cuts heat and impact |
| Dinner | Flat or low block heel | Safe on stone, wearable for hours |
| Wedding, occasion | Block or thick heel | Doesn't sink into grass or paving gaps |
| Beach, pool | Rubber slides | Get wet, dry off, don't slip |
Heel height and the ground under it
The base of the heel matters more than its height. A thin heel loads all your weight onto one point: it sinks into grass, drops into paving gaps and catches on decking. A block heel gives you the same height with the weight spread. Since most venues here are outdoors, the practical answer is simple: buy the same height on a block.
There is also the matter of standing all evening. Four or five centimetres on a block is in far better shape at midnight than nine centimetres on a stiletto.
Size: feet grow over the summer
Heat and hours on your feet make them swell, so a shoe that fits perfectly in the morning is tight by evening. Two practical consequences:
- Try shoes on in the late afternoon, not first thing. That's when you see your foot at its widest.
- In summer shoes, look for an adjustable strap, buckle or lace. A sandal with fixed straps is a shoe for one hour.
Buying online, ask for the insole length in centimetres rather than the size number. Sizing drifts between brands; centimetres don't. Measure the insole of your most comfortable pair with a ruler and compare.