As someone who has spent all of her life living in sunny California, a good sandal has been the number one shoe staple in my closet. And living blocks from the beach has made me somewhat of a flip-flop expert. I don’t know about you, but I like my sandals uncomplicated. I just want to slip them on and go – no frills, no buckles, no adjustment. Flip-flops get that job done. But flip-flops, or “thong sandals,” while easy and convenient, don’t usually have the flash to take an outfit from day to night. Here are some hot sandals that can easily make the transition from beach to club, all under $50.

Rampage Ramira Sandal

A fun thong sandal with edge stitch details and a fun rose embellishment, the fuchsia color has enough pop to liven up a simple spring dress without looking like you’re trying too hard. Available at Piperlime for a cool $45.00.

Diba’s Shana Sandal

Available in black or gold, these sexy sandals have just enough edge to add some toughness and glamour to your pretty pink pedicure. Heels.com will hook you up with these for only $49.99

Wanted Akhet Sandal

These cute sandals feature an adjustable buckle slingback and super fun braided detailing on the straps. I love the two-tone color in the braiding, since black and white match nearly everything. Pair up with some cute short shorts and get outside! Snag them on Piperlime for only $29.99!

Payless’ Scarlet Fringe Sandal

Woah, Payless. You’ve out done yourself. These hot commodities come in black or a ridiculously hot skyblue shade, are only $19.99 and have some really fun gladiator-meets-fringe influence. Grab yourself a pair before they’re sold out everywhere!

Mossimo Supply CO. Winna Hurache Sandals

Ooh, Hurache’s are back? Love it! Being Mexican-American, I’ve worn these my whole life. Target takes them one step further with multi-color details. I own these, and they are so comfortable and so fun. They work with so many outfits and really complement any color pedicure. I may have to buy another pair in white, just in case I wear these out! And at only $19.99 a pop, they won’t break my bank.

March begins a maddening time for most 20 something males. While some ladies also like to join the ranks, it’s definitely something most men look forward to. Forget the springtime weather, they just crave those men in shorts!

I figured since this March Madness is attacking me from all corners of the world, I would feature a post that put a twist on the crazy times. Forget the basketball net, forget the colleges (although might I say, “Go Pitt”) and forget the brackets. Here are a few select pairs of shoes that remind us that March Madness can also refer to maddening and amazing footwear!

Emulating the orange basketball, I thought it’d be fun to feature orange shoes. Orange is not only a great color to bring out in the spring and summer, it’s a color that goes unchosen for much of the time. Not anymore! Our March Madness means “Orange Madness”.

Gladiator sandals + orange = perfection! These Enzo Angiolini Tells Gladiators are spunky, bright and fun (just what you want in a sandal). They would finish off a jean skirt or a pair of bermudas perfectly on your upcoming vacation.

If you are going to be watching the games court side, then you’re going to have to have the appropriate footwear to accompany you. Try these Nicole Agnes Moccasins. They are a patent leather orange flat that are as comfortable as they appear to be collegiate prep!

Making that basketball jersey all your on requires style, flair and a great pair of shoes. These Guess? Carrie Orange Stilettos would make that jersey feminine, chic and certainly stand out from the crowd.

So many trends, so little time. But one hot shoe trend you should invest in for this spring is the caged shoe. Powerfully sexy and fiercely flirtatious, this style of shoe is one that can easily last through fall by pairing it with matching opaque tights, so you get more bang for your buck. 

What exactly is a caged shoe? A caged shoe features a trellis-type design that literally cages the foot. It’s different than a gladiator sandal, which is designed with a center vertical strap with connected horizontal straps. A caged shoe will more than likely involve more straps in the design, in various configurations, giving it a more aggressive look than the gladiator. 

One tip when wearing your caged shoes this spring and summer: wear sunscreen on your feet. Avoid getting a tan while wearing these intricate, strappy shoes, or you could end up with some funky-looking tan lines. See below for recommended caged shoes from Heels.com:

This sandy-colored pair from L.A.M.B. is by far my favorite!

The electric blue highlights of this caged shoe from Pour La Victoire brings into play another hot spring trend: electric hues.

You’ll keep this pair from Jessica Simpson forever. And the price is incredibly economical.