We live in an enlightened time, when it comes to menswear anyway. There's no longer one way of dressing or a single, narrow path to what's considered good style. Nowadays, it's more about embracing what feels good and what looks good on you. We're all for it, since it opens up all sorts of new things to try. Like huaraches. The Mexican woven leather sandals seem to be having a moment but, of course, they've been around forever.

The footwear actually dates back to the pre-Columbian era—traced to the rural communities of Yucatan, Michoacan and Jalisco. Every region in Mexico specializes in different huarache styles, often influenced by an area's terrain and climate. Once mostly associated with Mexico's farm workers, the huarache took off in the States in the 1960s. The sandals were name-checked in both Kerouac's On the Road and the Beach Boys' summer smash “Surfin' U.S.A.” Soon, the woven slip-ons were standard issue for hippies, surfers and artists—or anyone who wanted to align with that insouciant lifestyle.

The shoes themselves toe an interesting line. They're at once rugged and refined. Cut from tough strips of leather, these are durable sandals meant to get beat up and dragged through sand and dirt only to come out still looking sharp. Yes, they're masculine but the intricate woven patterns are almost dainty. Paired with some cuffed chinos or a pair of shorts, they show so much anima that a guy comes off looking like a badass. Here, we've pulled a few of our favorite pairs.