When devising the ideal summer wardrobe, perhaps no decision is more vexing than your choice of shoes. It’s all well and good stocking your warm-weather wardrobe with an array of T-shirts, shorts and laid-back linen shirts, but if your footwear isn’t up to scratch, then that whole easy, breezy vision you have of soaking up the sun, starts to come apart at the seams. To help you on your quest, and with a little help from a handful of our favourite brands, we’ve put together a guide to some of this season’s most stylish pairs to get you started.

No, nobody on that video call can see what’s going on below your desk, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dress your feet for the occasion. Slipping off your slippers for something a little more formal, just like putting on a tie, can go a small part of the way in helping feel like you’re “ready” to work. Of course, comfort should still be a priority, and in the heat, it shouldn’t come at the cost of robustness: your choice of summer work shoes should be tough enough to stand up to the rigours of daily wear and tear, too. The quality of leather is paramount in this respect: Berluti’s lace-ups are made from the French brand’s signature Venezia calf leather in mahogany (or, to be more precise, a rich hue the label refers to as “mogano”) – the patination process enhances the natural suppleness of the hide (and bestows them with an otherworldly lustre) without forfeiting its hard-wearing properties.

For similar results (and provided summer rains stay at bay), suede is an equally smart option. John Lobb’s Northampton-made Harlyn Derby shoes in a sleek shade of chocolate brown are equipped with Goodyear-welted rubber soles for durability and apron-stitched uppers for a roomy fit. And we probably don’t need to spend much time convincing you that loafers are an undisputed seasonal staple. Who better to turn to here than the brand largely responsible for their mainstream popularity? G.H. Bass & Co.’s Weejuns tasselled pair aren’t too far off from the brand’s original design, which debuted in the 1930s. They will look particularly good with this summer’s softly tailored suiting.

Don’t fret, we’re not about to suggest sneakers are summer-specific footwear; as a constituent part of most men’s wardrobes these days, they’ve become so much more than a fair-weather friend. That being said, with summertime living being easy, we can all but promise your kicks will get a lot more wear this at time of year (perhaps even more so during our so-called “new normal”). For evidence of how far this once humble item of sportswear has infiltrated our every day, just consider the minimalist merits of Mr P.’s Larry sneakers. You could even get away with wearing them at work (if, that is, your office is open for business).

Equally classic are Diemme’s black sneakers, which are versatile enough to wear night and day, with both smarter and more casual get-ups. The Italian brand made its name as a mountaineering specialist, so it’s hardly surprising that marrying form and function is where it excels. This skate-inspired Iseo pair, for instance, boasts slightly thicker (and therefore more comfortable) soles, and is made from flexible full-grain Nappa leather. For the weekend, your options are even greater. Sneakers, after all, are just like the rest of your wardrobe: practical, but also a means of personal expression. If you’ve yet to dip your toe into the chunky-sneaker trend, Y-3’s Yohji Star are an excellent starting point. Dreamed up by legendary avant-garde Japanese designer Mr Yohji Yamamoto (that’s his signature scrawled down the side), they’re an exaggerated version of adidas’ best-selling Superstar sneakers, created to commemorate the silhouette’s 50th anniversary.

It wasn’t that long ago we’d have had to convince even the most fashion-forward of gentlemen that sandals were an acceptable form of footwear to wear anywhere other than the beach. (Remember the beach?) Now, pairs such as Birkenstock’s iconic Arizona double-strap sandals – once a quasi-orthopaedic choice (they are pretty comfortable, after all) and now embraced by style-minded swathes – are considered suitable fare for city settings. The same could have been said of espadrilles, but thanks to the clever addition of rubber-backed jute soles – as in the case with Brunello Cucinelli’s sleek suede pair – they’re now more than up to the task of strolling the (somewhat deserted) streets.

Also falling firmly in the distinctly summery shoe camp is the humble boat shoe – a preppy stalwart since they were introduced to the well-heeled residents of Connecticut in 1935 by Mr Paul A Sperry. His eponymous shoe brand is still going strong. The above pair – appropriately dubbed the Authentic – is a near-faithful facsimile of the original models right down to the non-slip white soles, but here reimagined in a fresh two-tone army green and aubergine colour combination. Don’t forget, too, that small tweaks can make even typically formal shoes feel intrinsically summery. Take Dunhill’s Chiltern penny loafers, which, in black leather, might be too formal for a weekend jaunt, but here, in a buttery soft taupe suede are practically begging to be paired with lightweight linen trews and a Breton tee.