"But seriously, folks, flip-flops are for the beach or maybe washing the car or spaniel. They are not the next big thing. They are the last sad thing on the road to stylistic surrender." - Glenn O'Brien in August's GQ.
Jul 28, 2008 @ 12:30pm
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posted by FashionIntelligentsia
Jul 28, 2008 1:17PM
Have you seen how dirty one's feet look after wearing flip flops? Definitely not my shoe of choice. AND when there are so many cute sandals out there these days, why should they be?
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posted by guest
Jul 28, 2008 1:35PM
i have a hard time believing there are more than a handful of people who've never worn flip flops other than at the beach.
i think it's fine to say that if flip flops are the only shoes you own, then chances are your relative fashion IQ is a bit on the low side - but to act like it's utterly wrong to wear them at all is a bit over the top.
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posted by guest
Jul 28, 2008 1:43PM
The more vehement the denial, the more I'm inclined to believe that these "flip flops are the end-all of all end-alls in fashion" comments actually do reflect the general snobbery of the fashion world. As an fashion enthusiast I can tell you that half the designs roaming the runways nowadays isn't worthy enough to be deemed "fashion" or "fashionable" at all.
FashionIntelligentsia, flip flops weren't made for hiking. Stop wearing them out in the dirt and maybe your feet won't get so dirty, okay?
I know it probably doesn't cross your minds very often (if even at all), but there are people who would consider it a blessing to even own a pair of flip flops. Get over yourselves and quit the bitching.
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posted by guest
Jul 28, 2008 3:04PM
Wear whatever you want and wear it with pride and confidence. I hate uggs, but when someone happily wears them, who am I to judge if he or she is looking and feeling good? The comments and posts on fashionista have been a little catty recently. I love fashionista, but what happened to the lightheartedness?
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posted by guest
Jul 28, 2008 3:18PM
I can see where he's coming from, but I also love flip fops. Ironically, I HATE wearing them on the beach because they flip sand up at my ass while I'm walking, and it pisses me off.
In general, though, I'm very fond of them for casual occasions (let's not forget the White House incident a couple years ago...) and running errands.
But if I want to look cute, I certainly wouldn't grab flip flops in lieu of deck shoes, topsliders, or my man gladiators (a relic from my father's fashon-forward days in the 70s)
Samuel James
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posted by guest
Jul 28, 2008 3:19PM
wait-- are people saying that flip-flops, regardless of how they look, are a GOOD choice for the city?! that's not true!! First, they aren't comfortable. Second, they make it impossible to do the fleet-footed maneuvering I found necessary earlier this morning, when I had to jump over dog poop AND a dead rat in quick succession. Since I am lazy by nature, I find it is best not to own any flip-flops, because, even knowing what i know (and feeling as i do about their sartorial value) i would probably still slip them on half the time since they are so easy.
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posted by guest
Jul 28, 2008 3:55PM
so, given the ubiquity of gladiators this season and the annual ubiquity of flip flops, what exactly is the difference? gladiators have more straps so they are more fashionable?? your feet are exposed in both so i don't understand how they would get more dirty in one versus the other. maybe it's just me but this debate over which one is more fashionable seems totally contrived. maybe gladiators are more trendy, but shoes are just one element of an overall look and i don't see how you can judge one or the other in isolation...
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posted by guest
Jul 28, 2008 4:29PM
Thank you Samuel James. Some people were testy with me which is fine it all a matter of opinion at the end of the day. All I am saying is men and women have better alternatives to flip flops and still be comfy and cute. You have options Top Siders, Toms shoes, ballerina pumps, loafers, gladiator sandals. Glenn O Brians right on quote was to just make people think about dressing better and use alternatives other than flip flops. I speak about these things on my blog all the time.
Cheers,
Ryan Mac
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posted by guest
Jul 28, 2008 4:51PM
I have never understood why you americans wear flip flops all the time, even with very expensive and/or elegant clothes or even with dresses in night time!
I'm italian and we use flip flop for going to the swimmingpool or for staying at home, never outside! They're NOT elegant at all, better are sandals!
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posted by gen
Jul 28, 2008 5:57PM
Thank you, Glenn O'Brien. If only more magazine folk would express this opinion.
Aside from their propensity to make pretty dresses look unimaginative and render the otherwise chic & casual just plain sloppy [on men or women], they're so uncomfortable! Clearly a world of people must think otherwise, but I can't fathom how anyone can walk about with their sole slapping at their heel, and two bits of rubber pulling at the skin between their toes. Ugh. Ouch! A low-heeled sandal or a loose, flat leather ankle-boot works just fine for me in this weather. I know it's warm, but god, flip-flops are unsightly.
Gladiators, like em or not, at least have an element of style about them, a definite line, something to decide for or against. The numerous straps mean it's possible to design a very elegant, interesting and flattering shoe, though I grant this frequently isn't the case.
[And if we are being catty, we are only doing it where other fashion-interested folk will see it - flip-flop wearers will either be the sartorially inclined who read sites like this and will make up their own minds and not be shattered by the comments here, or the type who really couldn't give a good goddamn what a bunch of fashion-obsessives think anyway. I see no harm in us all expressing our opinions here.]
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posted by guest
Jul 28, 2008 10:02PM
In San Diego, where one could always have just been at the beach, I make an allowance and wear my flip flops... I barely ever find any sandals for men that look good though. No chacos for me though.
It seems kind of narrow to rule out certain pieces of clothing for the entire population... I'm sure some people can make it work.
NOT Ryan Mac haha
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posted by Julia
Jul 31, 2008 6:18PM
I seriously wear flip flops to work like, every day. True, they're not three dollar flip flops from wal-mart, they're twenty seven dollar havaianas from Aritzia, but why not? Plus they look good with straight legged jeans.
I used to wear them alot more, but I've started catching preference towards those sequined slides that you can get in Chinatown for like, five bucks. They're a bit more dressy, and your feet don't get as dirty (but that might be because I live in Calgary, and theres not much here for dirt slash dust)
I'd wear other shoes work-wise, but sitting all day, my feet start to suffocate.
I have flat feet also, so if I wear anything with too much of an arch in it I am in tremendous pain after more than an hour of standing. I learned this the hard way when I decided to wear my Lacoste runners for a jog, and ended up limping home.
I'm not defending flip flops or anything here though, and my flat feet aren't an excuse. Personally, I'm stoked on the old school classic black flats, both pointy (a la Audrey Hepburn) and round toed. They're good to wear in hot weather, and they never go out of style. And If I'm going out and I know I'm going to wreck my shoes I have no problem with going out to like, H+M or whatever and finding a pair that are cheap enough that I don't care if I completely slaughter them.
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posted by guest
Aug 03, 2008 7:09PM
haha! i posted this same thing on m livejournal! i read this guy's column every month, he is not a snob. he just keeps men...in Manly check. i live in atlanta and it is the most disgusting thing to look at in restaurants, a bunch of gross people flip flopping around all half sweaty in flip flops, cuts and bruises and seeing tar black the whole bottom of their feet, people's nasty piggly toes all wiggling around while you're trying to eat. it forces you to go to more expensive places just to avoid gagging. i'm sorry, but death to flip flops.
posted by guest
Jul 28, 2008 12:35PM
Oh whatever, what a snob. In the summer when it is fluctuating between torrential rainfall or ungodly heat and you are out all day doing errands a pair of flip flops is totally acceptable.