Growing up in Australia meant either being happy to have a piece of rubber between your big toe and second toe, or not.

For a very long time, I was firmly in the latter camp because of one particularly awful experience with a cheap knock-off pair of thongs that left a blister on my foot for weeks.

But when I spotted Havaianas’ new slim square toe variety — with a flatter top to them than the traditional curved edge — I decided to put down my Birkenstocks and try styling them for work, the beach and beyond.

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They were a favourite on the feet of influencers, stylists and designers at last year’s Australian Fashion Week and now that I’ve been wearing them almost non-stop for a fortnight, I can understand why.

For some reason the “plug” of the sandal isn’t bothering me at all and I’ve come away with nary a whisper of torn skin — no blisters in sight.

They come in a range of colours but you can’t go wrong with the classic black, brown, pink and white models, although there are plenty of sparkles and metallic edges if you want to elevate your look.

I’ve worn these into the office with jeans, they can be paired with a skirt or dress in the summertime and take you straight back home again, out for drinks or to bruch with ease.

And I’m not the only one converted back to the $50 classic thongs.

“This updated squared toe on the Havaiana is so pretty. I have four pairs from this brand and I have had three of them for a decade. Truly this flip flop is indestructible and well worth the price. It’s nice to see an updated footbed with the new toe,” one customer wrote online.

“Havaianas make the best sandals! These are comfy and the square toe adds a cute flare. Definitely recommend!” Said another.

A third added: “Really cute, the shape at the toe is different but I really like them. They are waterproof and I took them to Costa Rica and they were perfect with many of my outfits”.

So if you want to switch up your shoe game this summer, consider the square toe Havaianas.