Memorial Day marks the start of summer for retailers & everywhere you look, cut-off shorts, maxi dresses, & swimsuits are invading the racks at some of my favorite stores. Also, you’ll find plenty of flip-flop options, including ones with leopard print, metallic finished, & rhinestone details, which are perfect for mixing & matching with a variety of summer staples. In my search to share some of the best deals, I couldn’t help but see these trends all over, including at luxury department stores by big brand names. Of course, my goal here is to find the most affordable picks, & that it’s so easy to find look-alikes without breaking the bank.

First, I love the look of animal inspiration for flip-flops, which can work with a polka dot shorts romper, neon bathing suit, or blouse & mini skirt look. That’s why I found the Sam Edelman Gracie flat sandal ($60.00) from Neiman Marcus, & compared it to the American Eagle Twinkle flat flip-flop ($7.99) from Payless.

Next, @Steve Madden, you can find the Sandstrom flip flop ($49.95) in platinum, but you can also achieve the metallic look with the faux leather thong sandals ($8.80) in silver from Forever 21, which are also available in black, gold, & rose. Also, dress up your flip-flops with a little sparkle, as seen with the GUESS flip-flop sandals ($49.00) from Bloomingdale’s. However, for your next barbecue or beachside getaway, check out the rhinestone strap jelly flip-flop ($14.50) in black from Charlotte Russe, which is also where you can score the Buy 1 Get 1 for $12.50 deal on footwear!

Which is your favorite flip-flop trend? How do you like to wear flip-flops? For more posts on affordable fashion, check out the best maxi skirts of the season, 7 must-have sale items for under $100, & a sneak peek at 3.1 Philip Lim’s collaboration with Target! Happy Styling!