For the past few summers, I've been looking to far off lands when it's come time to pick a pair of go-to sandals. There's no need to buy a plane ticket and pack a suitcase (though that would be nice), because eBay can take you almost anywhere. First it was
Sweden. And then Greece and these classic
, 70s Jesus sandals (though I love what they're doing at
Ancient Greek Sandals, too — like,
whoa). This summer though, I let eBay take me to the shores of Barcelona, Spain from whence these perfectly pistachio
Avarcas — or Abarcas, or Menorquinas. Whatever you want to call them, they're a Spanish leather sandal hailing from the island of Menorca where they've been worn by men, women, and children of all ages for decades — you can always trust a shoe that grandmas are known for wearing (see especially
Worishofer). Avarcas are defined by their functionality, derived in large part from their non-slip soles which used to be made of actual recycled tires. They're totally minimal chic, you can walk in them, and I love them. I especially can't wait to take 'em boating.
You can also pick up a pair from
Avarcas USA — a company founded by a Spanish family living in San Diego who have brought Avarcas to the States — where there are a bunch of styles and colors to choose from including metallics and wedges. Vivavarcas!