I have little patience for sandals that borrow Saint-Tropez as a mood board, then ignore the reason the form works. K Jacques St Tropez is more interesting because the sandal is the subject, not a decorative detour, a clean arrangement of straps that has to hold the foot, sit securely, and leave the outfit room to breathe. The Abako nubuck and leather thong sandals make sense when I think about the walk between lunch and the water, not a staged arrival, and the Widow metallic leather thong sandals make the same argument in a dressier finish. I would start with the pair whose straps feel settled against the foot, then consider whether the shape earns its place beyond one holiday. A polished surface can look special, but the best choice is the one you reach for without planning the rest of your clothes around it.

Here is my test for a Tropezienne sandal: can I wear it with a linen trouser in the morning and still want it on after dinner. These sandals are strongest when they stay practical, with the straps doing enough to keep the foot secure and no extra ornament asking for attention. I would skip buying a second near-identical pair just because the first looks good in a campaign. Wear the pair you own, notice where it softens, and replace it only when the fit or condition gives you a reason. If you are choosing now, prioritise how the straps sit across your foot, because a beautiful profile is not worth much if you spend the day adjusting it. The appeal here is not nostalgia for the Riviera, it is a sandal designed around real walking, and that is a more convincing kind of summer dressing. If you take one thing away, judge the pair by the walk it survives, not by the photograph it makes on the first afternoon.