Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , B1F, the men's shoe section is buzzing with excitement over the "WORLD SANDAL MARKET" pop-up store, which brings together popular sandals from around the world!
This year in particular, sports-mix style sandals are very popular, but for those of you who are hesitant because you "can't wear them to work barefoot," how about coordinating them with socks, which are available on the same floor? Men's shoe buyer Tomoyasu Tabata and underwear, socks, and nightwear buyer Takahiro Kunitomo will suggest beginner, intermediate, and advanced sandal + sock combinations.
Click here for the Isetan Online Store special feature page.


My outfit is business casual, but I wear the same shoes all year round!

With an increased number of brands and items from Tomoyasu Tabata , the "World Sandal Market" now boasts a wider variety of sandals. Its theme is "Making men's summer footwear more stylish and more comfortable," and coordinating with socks is actually a key selling point this year.

Takahiro Kunitomo: Sandals have become a staple for women's footwear when commuting, and many women are styling them cutely and fashionably with socks.

While men in fields and farms often dress in a cool-biz style during the summer, their footwear remains the same year-round, lacking variety. Therefore, I recommend trying popular sports-mix sandals with added socks.

Men in Kunitomo also have many choices for bottoms in the summer, such as slacks, jeans, and shorts, so please enjoy the combination of sandals and socks.


Why is it better to wear socks with sandals?

The reason I recommend wearing socks over going barefoot when wearing sandals for farming is that your feet are one of the parts of your body that sweats the most. Also, socks give you a sense of protection, making them more comfortable to wear. And men tend to neglect toenail care, too...

The sense of security and comfort you get from wearing Kunitomo socks is significant. Socks are essential for making your favorite sandals last longer.

Choosing Tabata socks becomes more fun, and they allow you to express a new kind of individuality depending on how they match with your bottoms. Plus, if you wear them with sandals that cover the top of your foot, you can even wear them to work.

Kunitomo : Also, if you wear socks, the straps of your sandals won't rub against your feet as much and cause pain, so they're essential for outdoor events where you'll be doing a lot of walking, like summer festivals!

TEVA sandals "HURRICANE XLT" ¥7,884 (View product) , ISETAN MEN'S socks ¥1,404, CORGI socks ¥3,888

For beginners wearing sandals with socks, try wearing full-length socks!

Tabata: Among the sandals at the "World Sandal Market," Teva 's "Hurricane XLT" is popular for its excellent balance of design and comfort. It's a representative model of the brand, featuring a unique strap system that holds the foot in three points, and its appeal lies in the fact that it can be worn with both jacket styles and casual wear. This year, blue and khaki are particularly popular.

For simple strappy sandals like those from Kunitomo Teva , I recommend starting with white ribbed socks. These white socks are from ISETAN MEN'S , but it would also be nice to enjoy the color transition from white to gray with something like CORGI 's gray melange socks.


Maison U sandals ¥19,440 (View product) , STANCE socks ¥2,592

For intermediate-level sandal and sock combinations, enjoy the originality of the patterns.

Maison U is a brand that has attracted attention with its "luxury sandals" that fit the feet of Japanese people. The sharp-looking heel and the way the air sole is made give them an impactful appearance, and the design that looks like it would be easy to wear is popular.

If the beginner level of pairing Kunitomo sandals with plain socks is simple, the intermediate level focuses on coordinating with colors and patterns. This brand, originating from California, is characterized by its colorful and impactful color schemes and patterns, treating socks as a canvas. Furthermore, the arch support elevates the arch of the foot, making them an even better match for sandals.

Like Shaka Tabata's signature "HIKER" and KEEN 's iconic "UNEEK," these shoes have a design that's somewhere between a shoe and a sandal, covering the instep, so you can wear them to the office when paired with socks.


SHAKA sandals "HIKER" ¥9,504 (View product) , KEEN sandals "UNEEK" ¥12,960, rasox socks (front ¥1,620, center ¥1,728, back ¥1,512)

For a more advanced sandal and sock look, try tie-dye or melange!

Popular brands like Tabata Teva , Shaka, and KEEN often offer sports-mix style sandals in single colors, so you can create a unique look by cleverly using different colored or patterned socks.

Kunitomo's men's sizes offer a playful approach to color with the Isetan-exclusive Maison U sandals, featuring tie-dye and melange fabrics from Rasox. Tie-dye, a color you might not normally wear, can be easily incorporated into a fun look when paired with shorts and sandals.

Tabata Sports MIX type sandals prioritize functionality such as ease of walking, so please enjoy even more comfort by pairing them with socks.


TOWN/Town Sandals "MALECON" ¥14,040 View Product Olukai/Olukai Sandals "Ohana" ¥8,964 View Product

That said, there are some sandals I want to wear barefoot!

Tabata: This time, we're introducing socks with the theme of "wearing sandals more stylishly and comfortably," but for sandals from this season's featured brands like Town Sandals and Olukai's thong-type sandals, they look neater with bare feet, so please enjoy them as they are.

Kunitomo Sandals and Socks are located next to each other on the first basement floor of Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building . So, if you're looking for socks to match your sandals or sandals to match your socks, you can ask our stylists to bring the items and try out different combinations even before you make a purchase. This is especially helpful for socks, as you can't try them on beforehand, so please don't hesitate to ask.

Hopefully, this has given you a real sense of just how much more freedom there is in wearing sandals.
The hot weather is still going strong, so enjoy stylish footwear with sandals and socks!

World Sandal Market
□July 20th (Wednesday) - August 9th (Tuesday)
□ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , B1F = Men's Shoes
*The sandals shown above are also available for purchase at the Isetan online store. Click here for details .

inquiry
Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , B1F = Men's Shoes / Men's Underwear, Nightwear, Socks
03-3352-1111 (main representative)