Alessandra Ambrosio’s off-duty Los Angeles style has long been built around the kind of flat sandals that feel effortless but still photograph beautifully: slim straps, clean lines, and just enough polish to work with everything from denim cutoffs to breezy maxi dresses.
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Across different summers and family outings, the Brazilian model returned to similar thong and T-strap silhouettes, proving that barely-there sandals can be just as central to a look as a statement heel.
White Gucci “Tess” Sandals & Striped Maxi Dress
In August 2015, Alessandra Ambrosio’s daughter Anja celebrated her seventh birthday with cakes, glowing sleepover tents, and the kind of bohemian family setup that matched her mom’s laid-back California aesthetic.
A few days later, the mother-daughter moment continued in Los Angeles, where Anja joined Alessandra for an after-school shopping stop.
Alessandra Ambrosio accessorized her striped tube maxi dress with bold red cat-eye sunglasses and layered jewelry during a sunny afternoon outing in Los Angeles on August 26, 2015 (Credit: WENN / Instar / Apega)
Alessandra Ambrosio styled a striped tube maxi dress with white Gucci “Tess” thong sandals while shopping with her daughter Anja after school in Los Angeles, effortlessly channeling her signature laid-back California style
Alessandra Ambrosio shows off her neon coral pedicure in a pair of Gucci sandals
The same easy summer formula carried over into another family outing, this time with Alessandra keeping pace with her young son, Noah, as he rode his mini quad bike.
For the relaxed Los Angeles afternoon, the Victoria’s Secret model styled a striped tube maxi dress with red cat-eye sunglasses, a white shoulder bag, and white Gucci “Tess” thong sandals — a clean, beachy flat that kept the look casual without feeling unfinished.
Alessandra Ambrosio wears her brown hair up in a topknot as she plays with her son Noah
Two summers earlier, Alessandra leaned into a slightly sportier version of the same model-off-duty sandal formula during a shopping trip at Brentwood Country Mart in Los Angeles.
Victoria’s Secret T-Strap Flats & Denim Cutoffs
Spotted leaving Calypso with two armfuls of bags, she kept the look relaxed and practical while still giving the outfit a polished, accessories-finish.
On July 2, 2013, in Los Angeles, Alessandra Ambrosio was stylishly dressed in Black Orchid cutoff shorts, a Bella Dahl white button-down shirt, Victoria’s Secret white T-strap flats, accessorized with a neon yellow Michael Kors Selma messenger bag, Celine gold sunglasses, a Rolex watch, and a Jacquie Aiche blue topaz necklace (Credit: Michael Wright / WENN)
The lingerie model tweeted, “Shopping for summer pieces @calypsostbarth #calypsolovescali, can’t wait until the opening of the new Century City location.”
The outing doubled as a family day, with Noah and Anja Ambrosio Mazur tagging along as their mom moved between stores, bags, and ice cream stops.
At one point, Alessandra carried Noah when he got tired, making the casual denim-and-sandals look feel especially true to a busy summer afternoon rather than a styled street-style setup.
Effortlessly stylish, Alessandra Ambrosio departs Calypso in a crisp white blouse and stylish accessories at Brentwood Country Mart in Los Angeles on July 2, 2013 (Credit: Michael Wright / WENN)
Her outfit captured the easy California uniform she often returned to in the early 2010s: pinstriped Black Orchid cutoff shorts, a crisp white button-down blouse, layered gold jewelry, and flat Victoria’s Secret T-strap sandals.
She finished the look with a medium Michael Kors Selma messenger bag in bright yellow, using the neon accessory to sharpen an otherwise neutral, laid-back outfit.
Black Orchid’s “Black Star” cutoff shorts in the Skyfall Pinstripe wash originally retailed for $132, pairing faded pinstripes with frayed hems for a relaxed, beach-ready take on classic summer denim
The look fit neatly into Alessandra’s broader summer style at the time: beach-ready, family-friendly, and anchored by flat sandals that made even a shopping run feel polished.
Family day out: Alessandra Ambrosio and her children exit Calypso, blending casual chic with family time
Like the white Gucci thong sandals she wore in 2015, Alessandra’s Victoria’s Secret T-strap flats show why minimal sandals remain such a reliable warm-weather staple: they frame the foot, show off a pedicure, and work just as easily with denim shorts as they do with a printed maxi dress.
Alessandra Ambrosio highlights her pedicure in elegant t-strap sandals during a sunny day out
Why T-Strap Sandals Stay in Style
From Alessandra Ambrosio’s flat Victoria’s Secret sandals in 2013 to her white Gucci “Tess” thong sandals two summers later, the appeal of the T-strap silhouette has remained remarkably consistent. The slim center strap naturally elongates the foot while keeping the overall look light, minimal, and easy to style — whether paired with cutoff shorts, breezy maxi dresses, or polished eveningwear.
That versatility helps explain why T-strap sandals continue to resurface across celebrity street style and red carpets alike. Some versions lean sleek and barely there, while others embrace embellishment, metallic finishes, or wedge soles, but the silhouette’s clean, foot-framing shape rarely loses its warm-weather appeal.
👠 Explore More T-Strap Sandal & T-Bar Shoe Moments:
- ✨ Our essential guide to T-strap heels and shoes traces the silhouette from flapper-era glamour to modern sandals, pumps, and everyday styling ideas.
- 🖤 Emmy Rossum’s Jimmy Choo T-strap sandals gave her sculpted black Altuzarra dress a sleek, leg-lengthening red-carpet finish.
- 💎 Sarah Hyland’s crystal-embellished T-strap sandals sharpened her Amanda Wakeley look with a jewelry-like flash at the foot.
- 🌟 Cameron Diaz’s studded Prada T-strap sandals brought a polished, high-shine edge to her Stella McCartney jumpsuit.
- 🐆 Diane von Fürstenberg’s leopard-accented T-strap sandals show the silhouette’s more relaxed, bohemian side with practical warm-weather ease.
- 👡 Elizabeth Banks and Ginnifer Goodwin’s Jimmy Choo T-strap sandals highlight why the barely-there T-bar shape became a celebrity favorite.
A closer look at Alessandra Ambrosio’s Victoria’s Secret Supermodel Essentials T-Strap Flats, priced at $68