The second group is the one I think of as pool-deck slides. These are the pairs where the logo is the whole point, and the sole is usually rubber, so they are lighter and easier to wipe down than a leather slide. They are also the closest descendants of that 1972 shower slide, only with a louder label.

The Dolce&Gabbana Logo Pool Slide Sandals and the DG rubber slides in orange are the bright end of the range, and the orange pair is the one I would pick if my outfit were all neutral. Burberry has three here: the Furley Logo Slide Sandals and two simpler Logo Slides. Pick by how much of the lettering you want to see. MCM has the Monogram Print Rubber Slides, listed twice, and they are the easiest way to wear a monogram without carrying a bag.

Gucci's Logo Slide Sandals and the Givenchy Embossed Logo Slides are the quieter takes, since embossing reads more softly than a printed logo. Chloé's Woody Logo Slide Sandals bring the Woody logo to the same shape, and the Miu Miu Logo Slide Sandals are for anyone who likes a logo with a bit of attitude.

The two Valentino Garavani Wonderweb VLogo pairs are the dressier members of the group. One is metallic leather in gold and the other is leather in white. I would wear the gold pair with a black dress and the white pair with a linen suit.

For a quick test, hold the slide up to the light and look at the strap edges. A clean, even edge usually tells you the pair was finished with care, and on a logo slide it is the first place sloppiness shows.

The last grid is for the days I want more. Platforms add height without the tilt of a heel, and padding, faux fur and sparkle turn a slide into the thing you built the outfit around.

Fur-lined slides have a clear history. Gucci's fur-lined Princetown slides, which arrived with Alessandro Michele as creative director, became a hit in 2015 and sparked many fur-trimmed imitators, according to Footwear Plus magazine. Vogue also says Phoebe Philo showed fur-lined strapped sandals in 2013, a riff on an ugly sandal look that brought the shoe back into relevance. So when I see the Balenciaga Faux Fur Furry Slide Sandals, I read them as part of that family, only louder and fully faux. They are the one I would wear with a long coat and wide trousers.

For platforms, Chloé has the Swimming Cool Platform Slides and the Nama Platform Slides. Fendi has the Sunshine Flatform Slides, and Prada has the Matelassé Nappa Leather Flatform Slides and the Padded Nappa Leather Slides, whose padding is right in the name. A flatform gives height with a flat sole, and I find that easier to walk in than a wedge.

The sparkle belongs to Valentino Garavani, whose Flutterby Embellished Leather Slide Sandals appear twice, with another Flutterby pair in pink. Dolce&Gabbana's DG embellished slides come in metallic gold and in white. Gucci's GG canvas platform slides in pink are the softest of the group.

What I would skip: wearing a platform or a padded slide on a long walk without testing it first. The American Podiatric Medical Association lists flats and slides among the styles that can cause arch and heel pain from inadequate cushioning and support, and it advises avoiding prolonged wear and trying cushioned inserts. Treat these as short-trip shoes and carry flats in your bag if the day is long.

Here is how I choose. I try slides on at the end of the day, when my feet are at their widest, and I walk a full lap of the room before I decide. My toes should sit inside the front edge of the footbed, and the strap should hold my foot without leaving a red mark.

Then I decide what the pair is for. A flat leather slide covers errands and dinners, a logo pool slide covers travel and the beach, and a platform or an embellished pair is for the evening or a small outing. If I have only one pair to buy, it is a plain leather slide in a color I already own bags in.

Finally, I keep them simple. A slide is already the main event, so I pair it with clean denim, a slip skirt or tailoring in one solid color. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together The Flat That Can Replace Three Pairs of Heels and Loafers for Women.