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Mexican-style sandals for spring

The traditional handmade Mexican shoes date back hundreds of years and are distinguished by their elaborately woven and layered leather tops. In the 1930s, recycled rubber tires made the soles more durable, and through the 1960s, huaraches spread beyond the working-class men and women who'd always worn them to become a laid-back wardrobe staple for hippies and surfers up and down the West Coast. Pictured: Mossimo Supply Co. "Winna" huarache, $19.99 at www.target.com.

The traditional handmade Mexican shoes date back hundreds of years and are distinguished by their elaborately woven and layered leather tops. In the 1930s, recycled rubber tires made the soles more durable, and through the 1960s, huaraches spread beyond the working-class men and women who’d always worn them to become a laid-back wardrobe staple for hippies and surfers up and down the West Coast.

Pictured: Mossimo Supply Co. “Winna” huarache, $19.99 at www.target.com.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Huarache sandal

If you go for the original -- I bought my flat, closed-toe pair on Olvera for $24.99 -- there are ways to make breaking in the stiff leather a lot more comfortable. Foot Petals makes thin, cushiony Strappy Strips that can be stuck inside a bothersome strap. And if you’re prone to blisters, anti-friction balm like the Dr. Scholl’s for Her Miracle Shield can also help.

These shoes may be perennials, but this season they also feel like a sign of the times -- practical, pared-down and accessible.

Pictured: Huarache sandal, $24.99 at stall C11 on Olvera Street.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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