Kiernan Shipka Co-Signs This “Ugly” Spring Shoe Trend

Because she’s been acting since she was a child, Kiernan Shipka has been around some of the biggest style icons ever — so it’s safe to say she knows a thing or two when it comes to the topic of fashion. In fact, at the ripe age of 19, the Mad Men and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina star has adopted her own style sense that feels uniquely her. However, that’s not to say she doesn’t dabble in a popular look or two every season. In fact one of the biggest of the season — the chunky sandals trend — has her attention.

Yes, similar to the chunky sneaker trend that dominated for all of 2018, sporty, touristy sandals are poised to take off — and Shipka's hers for it. “Down, always, give it to me,” the actor said of the trend when she sat down with The Zoe Report at this year’s ZOEasis event in Palm Springs. “Anything Sporty Spice — she’s my fashion icon.” Luckily, plenty of brands, including Teva, Chloe, and Prada are on board for the ride, offering large-and-in-charge sandals that Sporty Spice would totally approve of.

The actor explains that she doesn’t often take issue with style trends hitting the scene, even those that don’t necessarily align with her aesthetic, which she describes as “kinda basic, with lots of blacks and greys and a few glittery things.” Even the boldest and most outrageous look (here’s looking at you, dad sneakers). “Honestly, with trends, it’s like whatever you want to pull off,” she explains. “There’s really nothing I’m gonna say no to.” Same goes for some other major looks for spring, like lime green and boiler suits, which Shipka gave an enthusiastic thumbs up.

Her style POV centers on dressing for oneself, she explains. “I’m most inspired by people who aren’t afraid to be themselves,” she says. Over the years, this roster of style heroes has grown to include big names like Mad Men co-star and on-screen mother January Jones, Amandla Stenberg, and Susan Sarandon “Literally so many amazing and inspiring women who are so true to themselves and that’s key,” Shipka says.

This free-spirited outlook and approach to dressing spills into the actor’s strategy for Coachella and festival fashion in general, Shipka explains that this is the time of year where she likes to step out of her classic box and mix things up a bit. “I feel like my style isn’t very Coachella normally, so I kind of embrace it and go a different route for the weekend,” Shipka says. “I’m all about dressing for the event and doing something that’s a little out of the ordinary for me.”

If you’re of the same mindset in that you’d like to give a trend like chunky sandals a whirl and step out of your day-to-day style routine, you’re in luck. Below you’ll find some worthy options for the sporty and quintessentially ‘90s look. From the subtle to the, er, not so subtle here are the créme de la créme of chunky spring sandals.