The Great Flip-Flop Debate
Posted in Trend Watch and tagged with Trend Watch on 01/18/2010 11:43 pm by Recessionista Party
One thing about the internet is that, with the click of button, I learn that something I do, or wear, or think, or believe is widely criticized on public forums, warranting multiple blog posts and comments galore. Sometimes I chuckle and other times I simply scratch my head. Most of the time, I just wonder why people care so much about seemingly unimportant details. And then sometimes, I just get mad. The nerve of some people.
A while ago, I read this blog post, and found myself laughing while feeling slightly offended and puzzled all at the time. In a nutshell, the blog author HATES flip flops and thinks anyone wearing the blasted things, at places other than the pool, has created the ultimate fashion crime, not to mention has become a menace to society. OK…maybe that’s stretching it a little but you get the point. Really, though, this was the first time that I realized there was such a controversy regarding the beloved footwear.
I mean, really, who doesn’t wear flip flops? Come on, don’t be shy. And whatever happened to just wearing want you want, regardless what anyone thinks? When did the world become so critical? Or was it always that way?
I, for one, love ‘em and wear them all the time. Chacos are my first love and when warm weather permits, I wear Chacos or flip-flops 95% of the time. However, I do know when and where they are appropriate. I never wear them to church…never, ever….although I don’t really understand the difference between some dressy flip-flops and dressy sandals. And looky here -even the stars are wearing them, which usually means it’s gospel, right?
(photo source)
If Mrs. Beckham, known for her sleek fashion, can sport flips, than anyone can.
(photo source)
Hate ‘em?
Wear ‘em?
Don’t care either way?
I’d love to hear your opinion on this one.
Some people even go as far as labeling flip-flops the Fashion Anti-Christ….yikes
January 19th, 2010 at 9:50 am
I live on the beach in Florida – my husband rarely wears anything but flip flops (he works from home) – and I wear them everywhere but the office (you can even get away with them in church here!) I can see how some other climates it might not be as practical, but for me, I own more flip flops than pants.
January 19th, 2010 at 9:51 am
I'm with you. Love them and wear them BUT not to everything. There is a time and a place. I see some really great flip-flops, casual and dressy in your shop. I hope you are adding more!
Kate
January 19th, 2010 at 10:15 am
I live in Florida too! I wear flip flops to [almost] everything!
January 19th, 2010 at 10:53 am
LOVE THEM …when appropriate to be worn …how can you not love flippers???
January 19th, 2010 at 11:18 am
Flip Flops are very comfortable. But I agree…..not appropriate for church…….anywhere…..even Florida. That flip flopping noise totally wrecks the quiet, serene, and reverent atmosphere at church. Very distracting. So only casual places for flip flops it is for me. : D
January 19th, 2010 at 11:51 am
I have kinda crap circulation, so flip-flops are a no-go for me in colder climates. HOWEVER…once summer hits, the very thought of cramming my feet into shoes and socks, well, it makes me want to cry. I love flip-flops; I'm pretty sure I own about 6 different pairs. And my Chacos are my all-time favorite piece of summer footwear. LOVE 'EM…
January 19th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
It snowed a foot here last night and my seventeen year old daughter shows up to my office in flip flops this morning. We obviously couldn't live without them, even in the winter. We love, love, LOVE, them. We own way too many to count. But I'm so glad to see that I'm not the only one who thinks that they are TOTALLY inappropriate to wear to church.
January 19th, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Flip flops are a necessity! Although, I too agree that they should not be worn at church or any other special event.
January 19th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
I would die without my flips…which I use to call "thongs" (until someone invented butt floss and then that took over the term).
-CC
January 19th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
I can't believe there is actually someone out there who doesn't love flip flops!!!??? What is wrong with these people!? I live in my flip flops, but I do agree…they are NOT appropriate for special occasions or church (regardless of religion or church dress standards – casual or not.)
Thanks!
Karen P.
January 19th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Hey – Jesus wore sandals…and He IS "church"!
January 19th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
I bet if you were to look deep into the back dark corners of that blogger's closet you would find a pair of flip flops or two…he/she's simply a "closet flipper". Don't hate – flips are great!
January 19th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Flip flops are great and an absolute necessity in my California wardrobe! I love them and need them! BUT…I DO have MAJOR issues with the whole ginormous platform flip flop thing – you know the ones with a 3+ inch chunk of a platform!? They look simply ridiculous on ANYONE (especially anyone over 25)…and yet I probably see just as many 40+ year old women clunking around in them out here as I do teenagers. And don't get me started on white flip flops – NASTY! No one should EVER wear white flip flops! Tacky and gross…no one needs to see how dirty your feet are. All white flip flops should be burned, and anyone caught wearing them placed under Fashion Arrest!
January 19th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Love 'em. I have flip flops in just about every color to match anything I might wear. Old Navy 2 for $5 is where it's at!
January 19th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Love 'em! Wear them all the time! I think it's funny that people have strong feelings on both sides of the issue. So many more important things to be worrying about in this world!
January 19th, 2010 at 11:18 pm
Not a huge fan but don't care much either way — except in certain situations that demand a little more reverence or respect. I don't like the thing between the toes – which is why my Chacos are almost the only shoe I wear . . . everywhere but church. As for the difference between dressy sandals and flip flops for church — my rule of thumb is that if I can't wear nylons with them (I know – totally old-school, right? But I think church is a place for nylons), they don't belong there. HOWEVER, my mom actually bought some nylons from her favorite mail-order company and got a pair with the foot cut out completely, minus a string left to go between her big toe and her other toes. I imagine they were made for flip-flop-type sandals. And I think that's going a bit far!
January 19th, 2010 at 11:49 pm
Yuck on the "butt floss" nylons….that should be outlawed. I think nylons in general are yuck but that's just me. I'm still rolling on the floor from some of these comments, esp the Jesus one…hope I'm not struck down anytime soon.
Glad there's a support group for me and hooray for Chaco fans….I think we'd be friends, don't you agree?
January 21st, 2010 at 8:52 am
Love 'em. Don't wear anything but in the summer. Bad on my cracky heels, but I don't care.
I too called them thongs, but I did that once at church in front of a 14 year old kid and he almost passed out thinking I was talking about underwear. (I commented and said, "Look at that girl wearing thongs in the dead of winter!" He was shocked. I laughed.)
February 1st, 2010 at 1:44 am
Heehee, so I'm the author of the blog post on flip-flops; it's true, I don't care for them.
And PetalsnPearls is right, I DO own a pair. However, I wear them when I'm going to the pool, or to the beach, or if I would be in a water-fight (because this happens a lot?) I get that people love flip-flops, and those really beautiful leather ones can be breezy-brazilian-chic in the right time and place, but the thick tacky foam? The cheap plastic-y ones? I can't, I just can't.
But I'm always the girl in the sky-high heels, almost no matter what. I haven't stepped out of the house in a sweat pant since the Great Flu Epidemic in the condo in 1998; the last time I left the house in velour pants was on the way to the hospital in labor.
I can't do casual clothes/flip-flops, I feel ridiculous. Other people can't do formal clothes/heels, they feel ridiculous (who are these people?) Yes, in general, I think flip-flops aren't really flattering: they give you no extra oomph, no lift, and no elongation. I understand that people trade vanity for comfort, I don't understand it, but I realize it happens