Letter-from-rose-hayleigh
A letter from Rose, Rowan & Rose, Sydney. October 2026
Her prettiest sandals live in the box. Her most comfortable ones live by the back door. She wishes they were the same pair.
On the six things that made me choose the Hayleigh, how it compares to what you have been wearing, and why it is $89.95 in our Retirement Sale.
This is the one.
I am Rose. For years my husband and I have watched women choose their summer sandals with their heads instead of their hearts.
The pretty pair has thin straps and a flat, hard sole. Lovely for an hour. Then your arches start to ache and you are looking for a bench.
The comfortable pair has a proper footbed and all the charm of a hospital slipper. You wear them anyway, because your feet win every argument in the end.
I never accepted that a sandal had to be one or the other.
The Hayleigh is my answer. Hand-finished braided straps on a contoured cork footbed, with a toe loop and a buckle that keep it exactly where it should be. There were six things I would not do without.
A cork footbed that holds your arch
Shaped to your foot, not flat against it.
This is the thing I checked first. The Hayleigh has a contoured cork footbed with natural arch support, topped with a soft, cushioned insole. Your foot is held, not left to flatten out on a hard sole. You feel it most at the end of a long day.
★★★★★
"The first sandals in years that don't leave my arches aching by the afternoon."
Sara, Melbourne
Braided straps with a handmade look
Soft suede-look braids.
The straps are braided in a soft suede-look finish that feels gentle on the top of the foot and looks handcrafted. It gives even a plain linen dress a little more interest.
★★★★★
"Everyone thinks I bought them at a market in Bali. They look so special."
Angelique, Sydney
A toe loop and buckle that keep it in place
Flat sandals have a habit of slipping off on stairs and sand. The Hayleigh has a toe loop that keeps your foot centred and a gold-tone buckle you can adjust to your exact fit. Set it once, and it stays.
★★★★★
"They stay on properly, even walking down to the beach. No more slipping."
Miriam, Sydney
A non-slip sole for steady steps
Underneath is a non-slip rubber sole that grips on wet pavers, tiles and boardwalks. You walk with your head up, not your eyes on the ground.
★★★★★
"Walked around the pool deck all afternoon and felt completely steady."
Mariette, Palm Beach
From morning walk to evening dinner
With shorts on the way to the bakery. With a midi dress for a long lunch. With white trousers for dinner on the deck. The Hayleigh is comfortable enough for the first and pretty enough for the last.
★★★★★
"Wore them all day on our holiday, morning to night. My feet were fine."
Lisa, Palm Beach
Four colours, AU 5 to 12, with half sizes
Green, Beige, Khaki and Black.
Every size from AU 5 to 12, including half sizes, at one price. Check the size guide at the end of the product photos before you order, so the fit is right the first time.
★★★★★
"So glad they do half sizes. The 7.5 fits perfectly."
Lisanne, Parramatta
The Hayleigh, against what you have been wearing
| The usual summer sandals | The Hayleigh | |
|---|---|---|
| Support | Flat, hard sole | Contoured cork footbed with arch support |
| Look | Pretty or comfortable, never both | Handcrafted braided straps |
| Fit | Slips off on stairs and sand | Toe loop and adjustable buckle |
| Grip | Slippery when wet | Non-slip rubber sole |
| Sizing | Whole sizes only | AU 5 to 12, with half sizes |
I refuse to sell a woman a sandal that makes her choose between her feet and her outfit. That is the whole reason the Hayleigh is in our shop.
Why it is $89.95
The Hayleigh is part of our Retirement Sale. Rowan and I are slowing down, and we would rather our last pieces go to women who will wear them than sit on a shelf.
And I would rather they went now than in February. This is the sandal summer is for. Beach walks, long lunches, warm evenings outside.
When a size sells out, it will not come back.
The Hayleigh, in our Retirement Sale.
- Contoured cork footbed with arch support
- Soft, cushioned insole
- Braided suede-look straps
- Toe loop and adjustable gold-tone buckle
- Non-slip rubber sole
- Four colours, AU 5 to 12 with half sizes
- Free shipping across Australia and New Zealand
Combine pieces and save up to 20% extra. Discounts are applied automatically at checkout.
I have watched a lot of women try on sandals like these. They stand still at first, feeling for the arch. Then they walk to the window and back.
And they look down and smile. Because this time the pretty pair is the comfortable pair too.
You are allowed both. Go and find your size.
With love,
Rose, Rowan & Rose
Free shipping across Australia and New Zealand. 30-day money-back guarantee. Rowan & Rose, Sydney.