Irina Shayk Proves Burberry “Ugly” Sandals Are the Ultimate High-Fashion Anchor

When it comes to effortless off-duty dressing, Irina Shayk consistently builds her looks from the ground up—using statement footwear to anchor even the most minimal outfits.

During a series of New York City outings in summer 2021, she demonstrated a subtle but important evolution in her sandal rotation: starting with chunky, utilitarian flatforms defined by bold D-ring hardware, then shifting into Burberry’s more polished TB logo-plaque platform sandals in subsequent looks.

The progression not only highlights her instinct for balancing proportion and texture, but also shows how a single silhouette category—the so-called “ugly” sandal—can move from purely functional to distinctly luxurious with a change in design language.

Leather Pants & “Ugly” Sandals: Irina Shayk Makes Heavy Textures Feel Summer-Ready

While visiting the SlooMoo Institute in New York City in June 2021, the supermodel demonstrated how to transition heavy textures into the warmer months, pairing straight-leg black leather NiiHAi pants with a crisp, oversized white cropped tee from Burberry.

Irina Shayk keeps her off-duty look sleek and minimalist as she pushes daughter Lea’s stroller during a visit to the SlooMoo Institute in New York City on June 23, 2021 (Credit: Mega / WENN)

The ensemble showcased a deliberate balance of proportions, but the focal point remained her footwear choice. Shayk opted for one of the era’s most polarizing yet enduring silhouettes: the “ugly” sandal.

Irina Shayk spotlights her toned midriff in a Burberry cropped tee and black leather NiiHAi pants, grounding the look with chunky flatform sandals that add a deliberate, street-style edge (Credit: Mega / WENN)

She kept her accessories minimalist and high-end, featuring mismatched Chrome Hearts earrings, Celine squared sunglasses, and her frequently worn Burberry Small Olympia bag.

Available at Farfetch, the lambskin bag features a curved silhouette and a chunky chain strap that mirrors the hardware on her footwear.

Irina Shayk sharpens her off-duty look with a sleek center-parted bun, oversized Celine sunglasses, and mismatched Chrome Hearts earrings that add edge to her minimalist styling (Credit: Mega / WENN)

Her two-strap flatform sandals feature chunky soles and thick leather straps punctuated by gold-tone D-ring buckles, providing a grounded, architectural finish to the midriff-baring look.

Irina Shayk finishes her black leather pants with chunky two-strap flatform sandals, using the bold buckles and thick soles to give the streamlined look a grounded, utilitarian edge (Credit: Mega / WENN)

Mini Dress, White Shirt & Burberry TB Sandals: Irina Shayk Sharpens Soho Street Style

Earlier that same week in Soho, Shayk swapped her heavy leather textures for a classic leg-baring silhouette, proving her ‘ugly’ sandals are just as versatile with a mini dress.

Irina Shayk steps out in Soho on June 22, 2021, pairing a black mini dress with an oversized white button-down and chunky sandals as she walks hand in hand with her daughter (Credit: Mega / WENN)

She layered a $125 white button-down shirt from Frankie Shop over a form-fitting black mini dress, creating a sophisticated take on the “boyfriend shirt” trend.

Irina Shayk highlights her toned, sun-kissed legs in a sleek black bodycon mini dress, layering it with a crisp Frankie Shop boyfriend shirt and finishing the look with chunky Burberry platform sandals (Credit: Mega / WENN)

This second look further emphasized her preference for heavy-duty footwear. She completed the outfit with chunky black leather sandals from iconic British brand Burberry.

Irina Shayk keeps her beauty look effortless with a sleek, center-parted bun, barely-there makeup, and streamlined accessories that complement her polished street-style outfit (Credit: Mega / WENN)

These Burberry logo-plaque sandals exemplify the house’s “street-luxe” era under Riccardo Tisci, pairing a gold-plated TB monogram with adjustable ankle straps, engraved buckles, and a thick yet lightweight EVA flatform sole that delivers height without sacrificing comfort.

Irina Shayk completes her chic, off-duty look with Burberry’s chunky logo-plaque sandals, pairing the utilitarian platforms with delicate gold anklets for a polished street-style finish (Credit: Mega / WENN)

Crafted from smooth Italian calf leather and finished with a contoured footbed, the utilitarian silhouette—often dubbed an “ugly sandal”—has become a recurring Burberry staple.

Versatile and comfy summer footwear designed with Burberry’s logo plaque

Bodysuit, Olive Trousers & Burberry Platforms: Irina Shayk Rewears Her Signature Sandals With Ease

Later that same summer—and in the very same Burberry logo-plaque sandals—Irina Shayk proved the staying power of her go-to off-duty footwear, reworking the chunky silhouette to suit a more relaxed, late-season palette in New York City.

Irina Shayk offsets fluid olive trousers with structured Burberry logo-plaque sandals, using the chunky flatform sole and bold TB hardware to ground the relaxed silhouette with weight and polish in New York City on August 10, 2021 (Credit: Mega / WENN)

Her look leaned into a monochromatic base, contrasting a fitted black bodysuit with loose-fitting olive straight-leg pants.

Shielding her face with a soft beige shoulder bag, Irina Shayk keeps her look intentionally minimal—letting the gold-toned Burberry monogram at her feet act as the outfit’s only statement detail (Credit: Mega / WENN)

Despite the silhouette’s casual nature, the choice of accessories—including a bold gold pendant and a beige suede bag—anchored the outfit in a more polished aesthetic.

Walking through New York City, Irina Shayk highlights the versatility of her Burberry sandals, pairing the utilitarian flatforms with a streamlined bodysuit and loose, movement-driven tailoring (Credit: Mega / WENN)

The focal point of her ensemble, however, was her choice of footwear. Rather than reaching for standard sneakers, she opted for a pair of structured leather sandals from British luxury fashion house Burberry.

A closer look reveals Irina Shayk’s understated styling—sleek hair, delicate pendant, and neutral accessories—designed to contrast with the sculptural heft of her platform sandals (Credit: Mega / WENN)

Her sandals were crafted from buffed calfskin leather and featured a gold-tone TB logo plaque at the vamp. They also had open round toes, adjustable pin-buckle ankle straps, and orange buffed sheepskin footbeds.

Irina Shayk’s Burberry sandals feature thick leather straps, a contoured footbed, and a raised flatform sole, with the gold TB logo anchoring the open-toe design in signature house branding (Credit: Mega / WENN)

How Irina Shayk Uses Footwear to Define Off-Duty Street Style

Whether she’s balancing leather trousers with chunky flatforms or elevating a minimalist mini dress with statement sandals, Irina Shayk consistently relies on footwear to define the mood and structure of her off-duty looks—making her shoe choices just as influential as the clothes themselves.