The high end of summer always serves as a turning point, with many either choosing to focus their attention on building their pre-autumn wardrobes or double down on the season at hand and continue to invest in a few key balmy pieces. But as the perennial appearance of mesh shoes—one of the biggest trans-seasonal shoe trends—proves, you don’t actually have to choose between either mode when you wear something truly timeless.

When compared to a pair of jelly sandals or wedge trainers, mesh shoes are instantly set apart by their inherently minimal and decisively sophisticated silhouette. Without any superfluous design elements, saccharine textures or intentionally divisive hybrids, mesh shoes are unique in the way they subvert traditional footwear archetypes with a sensual edge.

This sheer finish transforms everything it covers, from a ballet flat to a heeled mule or even a sock-esque bootie, into something more refined and elegant. It’s this reason why countless designers who focus on pure forms, clean lines and delicate fabrics feature mesh shoes in their collections, and the customers who wear them always appear nonchalant and chic.

Dear Frances, the London-based accessories brand that specialises in Italian mesh, was one of the pioneers of this trend, and speaking to the brand’s founder, Jane Frances, she explains that the appeal of mesh shoes lies in their effortless elegance. “I believe that true style comes from an ease of wear,” she explains, adding that mesh shoes “create a fluidity which is both subtly sensual and unexpected.” The mesh material is special as it also portrays a subtle strength; it’s refined and revealing, but does so very quietly,” Frances adds