It’s a puzzle as old as time: how do you chicly dress up the most comfortable pair of flats? Okay, maybe it’s not that old of a question, but it is very hard to find a pair of flat summer shoes that have enough whimsy to act as a counterpart to your gorgeous summer dresses (and I’m not talking about Giuseppe Zanotti’s fabulously adorned flat sandals; I’m talking closed-toe shoes).

Valentino seems to have mastered it, what with their quintessentially Italian way with easy glamour. Take a plain old pair of espadrilles, with classic rope snaking around the sole, and treat them with the most delicate of sheer lace. It’s like a whisper around your foot! (If you’re going to do lace, you might as go straight to the top.) Trimmed in black leather, they have a needed finished look. The result is a wonderfully rustic, walk-able shoe that will happily dress down formalwear or dress up denim and cotton. On Luisa Via Roma for $510.

Pair with: Take a cue from these espadrilles and be easy about it. 3.1 Phillip Lim’s silk crepe de chine shift has captivating details and a brilliant color, so you can be a minimalist with the rest of your look. On Net-a-Porter for $495.