WHY DO MEN HATE WOMEN IN FLIP-FLOPS?

Have you ever asked a guy his opinion about an outfit and you were wearing flip-flops? If so, did he stare at you with a complete look of disdain? In case you didn't get the memo, men, in general, really don't like us in flip-flops. I've heard comments like, "She looked great until you got down to her feet." Or, "Why do women keep wearing those things." The short answer is: because they're comfortable. Women get tired of maneuvering in heels. They really do kill the feet, fellas. 

Men are visual creatures and I suppose the popular thong sandal doesn't offer much in the way of aesthetics. And while I understand the logic of men, is that an oxymoron, I was a little surprised by the flip-flop backlash from my male friends. I have one friend that doesn't even like you to be out in public with him if you're wearing the casual sandal!

Now I do think us ladies can get a little carried away with these rubber shoes. Tackling a full day of shopping, it makes sense to wear a flat comfortable shoe. But wearing them on a date with your sweetie or even worse, wearing them to work, just doesn't make good fashion sense.

I do, however, believe that not all flip-flops are created equal. I uncovered a cute and arguably sexy pair by Steve Madden at Zappos.com.

If there are any guys out there with an opinion on women in flip-flops, we'd love to hear it!

Comments

[Michal]

There's way worse than flip-flops, which are a hell of alot of PRACTICALITY AND FUN to wear during summer: leggings and hot pants. People wearing these should be detained at Guantanamo Bay. What I don't get is why so many guys won't wear flips and why so many women absolutely have to show everyone every crack they have on the street. Easy people. Show some class.

[STYLEnosh]

I agree with you Michal. Leggings are horrific on 95% of the people who wear them.

[Roxy]

Flip-flops are incredibly lazy and trashy looking on both guys and gals. It makes absolutely no sense to me when I see a girl dolled up with make up, jewelery, nice hair, then all of a sudden... pajamas (or rather her sweats and flip-flops). For most of those women, that kind of stuff doesn't even look good on a man, so why do they think they can attract a man doing the same thing?

Other than that, flip-flops are a real safety hazard both in the workplace and while walking. If you're at a grocery store, buying stuff, there's always that off-chance of some nasty puddle or can falling on your foot -- You wear flip-flops, you're screwed. Also, think about cities... to think of all that pollution, bacteria and the fact that your shoes can just fall off any minute onto the train tracks! Oh, and let's not forget the knee pain that comes with them -- Apparently they make you walk funny and you damage your feet in the process. That's wonderful, especially when you lack an arch on the foot. And I always am reminded of that time when that classmate's flip-flops broke and she had to walk around barefoot.

Seriously, they don't belong anywhere except the beach, gym, spa, or home. If you want to show off your cute feet, wear some sandals instead.

[STYLEnosh]

I am amazed at the number of strong comments I continue to get about flip-flop! lol Keep 'em coming!

[JAMED E DHEEL II]

I think women have beautiful feet. I think feet should be kept under close toed shoes though. Feet are nasty to bring into public especially if you have really stinking feet.

[frank]

I like woman's feet, if what she is wearing shows off her feet that are nicely pedicured (like flip flops do) then I'm ok with them. I actually see nothing wrong with flip flops on women I think they look attractive. Even though I'm a guy, I myself wear flip flops (leather from Abercrombie) during the summer, and yes I take care of my feet. I wear them cause they are comfortable so I know what women are talking about when they say flip flops are comfortable. Your feet have to breathe sometime too u know?

[pudlsy@cheese.com]

I'm with a lot of the guys here in that women wearing flip flops seem like they just don't care how they look. Likewise, if they have really ugly feet, especially toes, flip flops are especially unflattering.

I prefer to see women in closed-toe mules. They can have the look and styling of almost any type of regular shoe, but they are backless. They can easily be slipped on or off. Style-wise, they range from casual to formal, sneakers to Maryjanes, Cinderella slippers to clogs, flats to high heels. Given the right style, they can be worn in almost any situation (except snow), while still suggesting a "bad girl" casual cache...even in a formal scenario.

If a gal really wants to go for the trailer trash look, she can always wear closed-back shoes, with the backs or back-straps folded under her heel.

[Thomas White]

I am attracted to women with attractive feet(no long second toe either). I do not have a foot fetish but it is a definite part of the female body that accentuate a woman's appearance. Flip flops are fine at the beach or pool or around the house. My wife had very dainty attractive feet and she loved for me to massage them, or just touch them. So, she enjoyed showing them off(to men and women). She was a dancer so had no trouble walking in heels and liked to wear them. Luckily I never had to make it a point to refuse to go out in public with her if she was wearing flip flops. But, I did make it abundantly clear that women wearing any type of sandal that did not have an anklestrap or covered the heel was completely unprofessional at the work place. Men like to see a pretty foot, but do not want to see the bottom of a woman's foot or to hear the annoying "flip flop" sound,thus the name, or see the elongated second toe. To be fair men absolutely should never wear sandals of any kind, as men's feet should not be seen in public. If a woman has the long second toe,you may enjoy the shoes,but you will not get the attention from men you might be looking for. You are wasting your time. If anything you have just turned off any men that you may be trying to attract.

[Large Shoes]

I think the trend is increasing as people need flexibility and suitability.

The wear rubber shoes in being trends and people are now not feeling odd while see this.

[Isaiah]

Flip flops are absolutely horrible. While your point is very well stated and I "appreciate" what you're saying about walking around all day in heels. No one is asking you to wear heels all the time(although they make every woman look better). Flip-flops are lazy and slovenly. It's like you're saying to the world, "Laces are too complicated"

To me, flip-flops are 3rd World footwear. Where people still share drinking water with animals.

Have you ever heard a man say, "Wow, those flip-flops are hot." But I'm sure you've heard the the F-Me Pumps, right? Flip-flops bring even the hottest woman down several notches on the hotness ladder. Whenever you watch a romantic comedy and the woman is going out on the "big date", is she wearing flip-flops? She sure as hell isn't because the movie would be over.

And lastly, nobody wants to see your feet? Nobody, has pretty feet. You could get pedicures between now and Doomsday and they'll still be gross.

Flip-flops are completely and utterly unflattering on everyone, men & women combined.

Ladies please, stop wearing flip-flops, you're doing yourself a disservice.

[Jonathan]

Why is there so much hassle over women showing their feet off or wearing flip flops? I myself like to see a nice set of feet out in public, but sometimes the really cheap, no arch sandals eally let the foot get pretty dirty, which is not really something id like to see. Guys on the other hand, I really dont wear flip flops because I dont like the sound or the way you have to walk to keep them on youe foot or quiet them down. Ill wear them around my dorm room and the immediate outside if i step out for a minute because you really can't wear shoes 24/7, nature didnt intend that. But other than that plenty of guys also wear flip flops just step out into a public place, you'll see. And yes, I am attracted to women wearing flip flops, but more so those that wear open-toe sandals too.

[Amber]

I can understand not wearing them to dressy events or to work (depending on ones job). However in extremely hot climates like where i live it is a bit cruel and illogical to expect people to wear closed shoes at all times.

I have foot problems from wearing heels and other dress shoes in high school trying to appease vain boys, now that i am in my mid 20's i need to be able to wear comfortable shoes or i literally can not walk. And talk about nasy, whats nasty is someone who wears closed toe shoes on a hot day then takes them off and their feet are sweaty and stink (i doesnt matter how much foot powder you use they will smell vile).

Besides there are plenty of stylish sandels/flip flops they dont have to be the stereotypical cheap plastic ones, and it is not that hard to keep said shoes clean and free of grime and such, dont blame that on the shoe style blame it on the hygenically challenged individual.

Bottom line if anyone man or otherwise can not respect another persons basic human need for comfort and pain free foot wear then sad to say they are not much of a person.

[Rick]

I'm frankly amazed at the overwhelmingly negative responses here. Personally I would rather see a pretty woman in flip-flops or flat leather sandals than in high-heeled pumps or strappy heeled sandals that make feet look all pinched and uncomfortable. There's something super sexy about a sandal that displays the female foot so openly and looks like it could fall off any second. My gut tells me that there are a lot more men out there who like flip-flops on women than this thread suggests! I think that women should be more aware of the effect their feet and footwear can have on men--I bet you get more "checks" than you realize... Please ladies, keep wearing 'em!

[William]

Robert! You poor, misguided "sole" you! Flip flops on a woman are (to me) the equivalent of looking at the Mona Lisa or an expensive Picasso.
For someone who 'claims' to hate feet and find them unattractive, you just boiled down into a few paragraphs, the things that those of us men with a "healthy admiration" for the female peds, love:
1) The "dirty toeprints": Sheer ambrosia to the rabid lover female feet. The message it sends: The female wearer has tootsies that get a little 'moist' during the day and she wears her fav flip-flops to soak up all of that moisture. I've even PAID a woman to wear a pair of white flip-flops for me for 6 months just so that she could 'bless' them with her dark, and very visible toeprints.
2)"Toes flying up in the air as if gasping for air": Next to a pair of female flip-flops with visible prints, there is no site more beautiful than a set of toes coming at you from up the street in a pair of them! Delicious!
3) "Women standing on one foot, playing with one flip-flop": You can drop me off to wherever and whenever this 'show' is going on! The act, which is known in foot fetish circles as "dipping" or "shoeplay", inspires erotic thoughts of a woman's bare tootsie.
So you see Robert, not everyone shares your disdain for female feet, clad in a cheap, piece of rubber, held together with a strap between her gorgeous toe, left dirty with her footprint and her soles pink, soft soles exposed with every step. Viva La Flip-Flop!

[STYLEnosh]

Thanks William for such an impassioned argument FOR women in flip-flops! I don't think we've seen it expressed quite that vividly before.

[William]

Poor Robert! With all of your reasons for not liking women wearing flip-flops, I can think of many more as to why I do!!
You'd have to have an 'appreciation' for the feet of women to equally appreciate the female flip-flop: The dirty footprints left behind because of constant wear; the bare-soled slapping sounds when she walks in them; the shoeplay or 'dipping' as it's known in foot fetish circles, when she slips one foot out of her flip-flops and puts on a show by playing with it with her foot.
All these are just a part of the fascination with the female feet in flip-flops. I repeat: Poor Robert!!

[Nik]

When u can by ten pairs of "shoes" for 10 bucks, you know you're wearing a piece of crap. and when u wear a piece of crap, naturally you are going to appear as a piece of crap.

but look, if u wanna wear a piece of Styrofoam on the bottom of your feet, and you think this does your body justice, go right ahead. I will be wearing shoes that reflect the respect i have for myself and my appearance.

So please, continue to make us non flip flop wearing people look classier and classier everyday.

[Jade]

I'm a young Australian woman and flip flops (I feel weird saying that as we have always called flip flops thongs in Australia) are standard footwear here. I have never heard a man say he didn't like a woman in them. It's funny the differences between countries :)

[STYLEnosh]

@ Jade Thanks for leaving the comment and giving us some insight into the Australian perception of flip flops "thongs". I find the differences between countries to be quite fascinating. :)

[Djkrugger]

Well, a lot of opinions here! i must say that i understand that wearing heels after a work day is hard for anyone, but, ladies, i'm telling you this as a man with my heart in my hand: Any kind of flat shoe makes you look wide and short legged, even if you are 7 feet tall. Sorry but gladiators where men and flip-flops are for the beach. If you are tired wear tennis shoes or stay at home. And... guys, in your case it's worst women's feet can look sexy in sandals but as a men i cannot stand to see another male toes if there's no water involved!!!

[Gerald]

I like it when a woman takes care of her feet. You can be fine as all get out, but if your feet are jacked up, keep stepping. I love to see a woman in classic thong sandals.I think that's so sexy. Most men fantasize about a woman naked in high heels; not me. Naked in a pair of thong sandals is my forte. In fact, the last woman that I dated, I bought her 3 pair; pink, white & turquoise. Whenever we'd have sex all I'd have to do is tell her which pair that I wanted to see her in and when I got to her place all she'd have on is the pair of sandals that I requested and nothing else.

[raj]

I never used to like seeing girls in flip flops before but now I think it looks very nice & like em in open toe heels & coloured nails make em look even better

[STYLEnosh]

Thanks for the comments Gerald and Raj!

[footluvr78]

I love feet. Pretty ones anyway. So I have no problem with a woman wearing flip flops. Just take care of your feet ladies and a real man won't care about your shoe. The shoe doesn't make the woman. I love seeing pretty feet in flip flops.

[STYLEnosh]

Thanks for the comment footluvr78! Us ladies appreciate the validation.