Flipping and Flopping

HANK: I did it! And it means summer is here. I broke out--the flip flops! I love flip flops, I'm sorry to say, especially since some report just came out saying they're bad for your feet. No arch support, no toe protection, probably dangerous. Whatever. I don't wear them to the grocery store (which seems a little skeevy), or out in public to anywhere but the beach, but I do wear them at home! Like bare feet, only cuter.

Thing is, they are SO CHEAP and somehow I find them irresistible. I even just bought some from the MBTA, the subway system in Boston, because they have a map of the subways on them. Silly, yes. I have some that are stars and stripes for the Fourth of July. One foot is stars, one foot is stripes. And since they often only cost five dollars, you get all the fun of buying shoes without any of the drawbacks. (Drawbacks being spending too much money.)

If I showed you how many flip flops I have, I'd be embarrassed. But let me say there is a place in our house my husband calls the flip-flop room. He is, of course, exaggerating.

But wearing flip flops is such a sign of summer to me! What's your, um, stand on flip flops? Let's talk about your summer footwear. Espadrilles? Wedges? Bare feet?

RHYS: I go barefoot most of the year (in the house and garden) but I've never been good with flip flops. Strange feet, I guess. My summer uniform is a pair of Naturalizer Natural Sport sandals that are supportive enough to use for hiking. I have been looking for a pair of cute but elegant espadrilles because I decided that flat is too dorky. Could not find any. Either so high that I had to duck through the doorposts, or flat. What happened to the two inch heel for people who are not Hank and thus in danger of breaking their ankles in high heels?

ROSEMARY: Flip-flops...at home, on the beach or in hotels. Nowhere else. It drives me batty when I see girls dressed for work or an evening out and wearing flip-flops on the streets of New York. I see broken glass, rocks and just plain schmutz! Why would you subject your freshly pedicured little piggies to that without some protection? But what do I know - I still wear Crocs.

It does kill me to put my beloved cowboy boots on hiatus for the summer. I'm just not one of those gals who can wear boots with a floral dress without feeling like I should have a hat and a guitar. My go-to summer footwear? Wedges. As high as I can find them so I look as tall as Hank.

(HANK: Have you seen these very cute very French-looking Tom's espadrille wedges?? Love them.)

JAN: I'm with you Ro, I always feel a little bit of sadness when I put away my Uggs and Frye Boots for the summer. My feet look a lot better covered all the way up to the knees, but I love flip flops. Not to sound like a commercial or anything, but I especially love the "fit flops" (any brand will do) because they offer such support for your foot that you can wear them anywhere. I think someone should pay me a royalty for saying that, though, don't you?

HANK: OOh. What are fit flops?

DEBS: I live in Texas, dearies. I put on my flip flops the beginning of April and wear them until October. I go barefoot most of the time in the house, or wear molded spa flips flops. Can't wear Hank's $5 pairs--foam bottoms have zero arch support. If I'm doing something that requires a bit more support than the spa flips, like cleaning or gardening, I wear my incredibly dorky Tevas. (And don't tell anyone, but in the winter I wear the Tevas in the house with hand-knitted socks. The epitome of dorkiness.)

HANK: We'll never tell!

DEBS: And yes, I wear flip flops out. Everyone here does. I have several nice leather pairs. But next year I want fit flops (and yes, Jan, I think you should get royalties). I bought a pair of Sketcher tone up-boots last winter (same principle, I think), and loved them so much I practically had to be pried out of them. And I'm sure my rear end looked the better for wearing them:-)

ROBERTA: Debs, I've got you beat in the dorky department: Birkenstocks with socks:). I can't wear flip-flops because of chronic plantar fasciitis. But I have four or five pairs of Mephisto sandals in different colors--expensive but I can walk just about anywhere in them and that means a lot! I can't imagine there's a pair of shoes out there that would cause me to have to duck under a door Rhys!

HALLIE: I have no idea why but I cannot wear any shoe with a toe thong... or you know that, whatchacallit. In the house all summer I'm barefoot.

I just bought a wonderful pair of sandals from a company (Alegria) that (okay, I know this sounds REALLY dorky) designs shoes for women whose jobs require them to stand a lot (nurses) - they're cute though not remotely sexy and incredibly comfy. And I can wear them on an all-day walking-around visit to New York, though I carry a pair of ankle socks in my purse if my feet start to hurt. Talk about dorkiness squared.

Running out right now and googling Mephisto...

JAN: Fit Flops, for the uninitiated (and this gets me even more royalties) are supposedly designed so you tone up your legs and butt while you walk. I sort of doubt that (here's where they deduct royalties) but they are designed with thick, and supposedly contoured bottoms, that let you walk as far as you might with good walking/running shoes. Much more support than say, Keds. I have foot problems too, Roberta, but maybe different ones.

ROSEMARY: Roberta, I knew you had Birkenstocks...ever since you posted that picture of yourself in overalls. I thought "that girl has worn Birkenstocks!"
;-)
I have a pair of Mephistos, very comfy. And in Hank's honor, I bought two pairs of flip-flops today at Wal-Mart...sequins and a slight wedge for drinks on the deck and plain red for everyday. I'm all set. BTW..I also bought a hula hoop! Will keep you posted on how that goes.

HANK: You know, you guys are all SO CUTE. You really are.

How about you other Reds? Summer shoes?