The Souvenir: Rondini Sandals

Around 25 years ago, my husband Matt was in St Tropez on a photo shoot and brought me back a pair of sandals from Rondini, the family-owned sandal business that has been making them just shy of 100 years (since 1927!). Sadly, they were a bit big, and I never wore them, but I also never got rid of them, because they just felt like this piece of a place that I dreamed about. Earlier this summer I finally stayed in St Tropez—I had only ever driven past it in super high season, so we never stopped—and this was my first time. My first stop was Rondini, where they sized me and I picked out the above sandals. As can happen with sandals, they look and feel great when you’re in the store, but somehow you get home and they don’t work, or the sole is so flat that you can’t wear them for very long. These were perfect—I have worn the criss-cross sandal (called the British) for entire days into evenings in NYC, and have had no issues. Okay, they don’t have the cushion of a Birkenstock, but they are supportive, and they look great. —Y.E.