Summer is a great time of year for clothing; the colors are bright and the fabric is light and, though summer can be a time for fashion, the footwear can be neglected. When the summer hits, us Okanaganites start trading in our winter footwear for flip flops - boots, pumps, and flats all take a back seat to the plastic sandals with two straps.

Flip flops can be a great way to throw something on your feet when going to the gym or to the grocery store, but they can quickly turn an outfit from fashionable to confusing. Make it a goal this summer to expand your summer footwear!

A great alternative to the flip flop this season is the boat shoe. I love the boat shoe for both men and women because they can give personality to a casual and ordinary outfit. You can stand out by adding these to your shorts and t-shirt. Girls, pair them with your summer dresses and rompers this summer. Guys can wear these shoes with just about anything; with jeans and a shirt or chinos and a button up for date night.

(Photo: Rhys Albrecht - rhysalbrecht.com)

The boat shoe is just as easy and comfortable as the flip flop, but will give you that fashionable and put together look that can sometimes be hard to create in the heat. The boat shoe can be found in classic colors like navy, brown, and white but is also popping up in the seasons hottest colors like pink, yellow, and mint green. So, think out of the box this summer and grab a pair of classic and preppy boat shoes...and while you're at it, grab on drink at a dock or a boat!